The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "When Under Attack" (11/2/2011)

Nehemiah 4:1-4a Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews. He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “That stone wall they are building any fox going up on it would break it down!” Hear, O our God, for we are despised…

The syncope that was just read is about the prophet Nehemiah coming under attack when he heard that Jerusalem’s walls were in ruins, leaving the city vulnerable to attack so he turned to God in prayer to weep and mourn for his city (Neh.1:4). The Lord gave him favor with King Artaxerxes. The ruler not only let Nehemiah take a leave of absence from his post as a cupbearer, he also supplied him (the exiles) with building materials and military protection (Neh. 2:5-9) The king even gave him letters addressed to all provincial governors on the way to Jerusalem so they would allow him and the other Jews to pass through their lands. Time and time again, Nehemiah sought the Lord whenever he faced a problem or threat. He turned to God for the strength to keep going despite criticism and discouragement (Neh. 4:1-5). Nehemiah was not trained to build walls or gates. But, Nehemiah trusted God and obeyed Him anyway. As a result, the Jews rebuilt the wall in 52 days.

When the Lord tells you to do something, He hasn’t made a mistake. The adversaries and the naysayers will make us feel that we can’t do what the Lord has called us to do; they will put us under attack. The Lord will never call you to do something that you can’t do through His power and strength. God uses our weaknesses to draw us closer to Him and teaches us how to rely on Him more completely. God will cover our mistakes and pick us up when we fail. Our job is simply to obey Him and listen to his call. As children of God, we have the awesome privilege of falling on our knees and talking to the Almighty God when we are under attack of our adversaries or the naysayers. Don’t take this precious gift of praying for granted. Humbly approach the throne of grace, confess your sin, and admit that life’s challenges are too much to handle alone. The Almighty Father will reveal His plans and equip you with all you need to succeed. The adversary wants us to be fearful and not believing in the grace and mercy of God. God doesn’t want us to go through life with fear and doubt, wondering if He will respond to our prayers. God has given us a spirit of power. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Because we belong to Christ, we can pray with authority and trust that the Father will answer our prayers. We will never accomplish what God wants us to do –such as live holy lives or spread the gospels until we put our confidence in Him.

When under attack, radical problems often necessitate radical solutions. To extinguish an oil-well fire, dynamite is sometimes used. The stupendous power of the explosion is the only way to “blow out” the raging inferno. In medicine, the seemingly radical act of amputating a limb preserves life by stopping the progress of cancer or gangrene. Many old buildings are best “renovated” by tearing down, clearing the rubble, and building anew. Before God can build into your life, there may be things he needs to blast and remove: bad habits, selfish attitudes, walls of indifference, and closets of secret sin. Have possessions in your life become the focus of your affection? Are people in your life tearing you down rather than building you up? Do pursuits in your life oppose rather than promote the kingdom of God? We must pray through problems. There is much we can learn by studying Nehemiah’s problems, reactions, and prayers. The struggles and tragedies of this life need not affect your joy as a Child of God. True joy is based on the spiritual realities that God is good and God is faithful regardless of your situation. You have no need to fear or to be anxious. Despite whatever is going on in your life, you can “glorify in his holy name,” and your heart can rejoice as you seek him and the strength he offers. Jeremiah 33:6 says “I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security,” declares the LORD.” The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Trust him, and be filled with joy, peace and hope. The precise extent that we trust God, we are able to live in His peace without fear for today or apprehension for the future. When under attack, Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Pray and trust in the Lord when under attack and He will be there in your time of need.