Effective Christian Living - Nehemiah
4 - Chapter 4
We turn our attention now to Nehemiah chapter four. This chapter reveals to us some important principles of spiritual warfare. Behind all opposition to the work of the Lord lies Satan. He is our main adversary. We read in Ephesians 6 verse 12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". The Apostle Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5 verse 8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour".
Nehemiah faced the growing opposition of Sanballet and Tobiah. In verse 1 they seek to undermine and ridicule Gods people. They said, "What are these feeble Jews doing?" Satan will draw our attention to our weaknesses. He hopes that we will feel incompetent and give up the challenge of serving the Lord in a hostile world. Remember, our sufficiency is in the Lord. On our own we can achieve nothing. Paul the Apostle tells us in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 5, "Our competence comes from God". In 2 Corinthians 12 verses 9 to 10, the Lord says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". So Paul concludes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong".
The first principle of spiritual warfare is total dependence on God for the success of your work for Him. When God works through our weaknesses He receives all the glory for all that is accomplished. You also find your strength in Him to face all the onslaught of the enemy. The scripture teaches, in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 27, "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong". Are you facing hardships and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel? Do you feel insignificant and weak? Don't lose heart! You're actually in the best position for being of great use in the service of God. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4 verse 4, "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you".
The second principle of spiritual warfare is prayer. Nehemiah mentions prayer in verses 4 and 9. You may feel that Nehemiah's prayer is somewhat unkind and even unloving. He says in verse 4, "Turn their insults back on their heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity". There is no doubt that we must pray for God to save those who persecute us. There is also a time to hand over to God in prayer those who persist in defiant opposition to God's cause. David prayed in a similar tone in Psalm 139. 21-22, "Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? I count them enemies". This may seem strange language for a prayer but David's concern was for the glory of God.
Jesus taught us in Luke 6 verse 27-28, "Love your enemies, pray for those who mistreat you". We have His own example on the cross in Luke 23 verse 24. He said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing." The Lord Jesus also spoke with equal clarity about judging those who refuse the invitation of His love. He said in Matthew 23 verse 33, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" How should this effect your prayers? Certainly pray for the salvation of all men. Pray that men and woman will be saved from their sin and rebellion to God. If it becomes necessary pray that they might be overthrown by a divine intervention on your behalf, so that the cause of the Gospel may prosper and not be hindered. In praying like that you are on the offensive against Satan and his tactics. This is part of the spiritual weaponry we may use in the battle of the Lord.
The third principle of spiritual warfare is determination. We read in verse 6, "The people worked with all their heart". The enemies of the Gospel will not find it easy to weaken the resolve of a determined Christian. Satan isn't bothered about a sluggish Christian. He doesn't see him as a threat. A keen believer is another thing. You can expect a battle on your hands when you seek to serve the Lord with enthusiasm. It's good to be whole-hearted in your devotion to Jesus Christ and his work. The scripture encourages in Galatians 6 verse 9, "Let us not be weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up".
A fourth principle of spiritual warfare is remembering the greatness of your God. In verse 13 Nehemiah says, "Remember the Lord who is great and awesome". Satan will attempt to make the enemy look powerful and menacing. Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed by the opposition of family and friends to your Christian living. The Jews were getting discouraged. They said in verse 10, "The strength of the labourers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot build the wall". Does the task of serving God where you are seem large and foreboding? God is bigger than all your problems. If the enemy seems powerful and great, God is more powerful and greater still. The Apostle John says in 1 John 4 verse 4, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world". When your work for God appears daunting remember the Lord. He promises to be with you as your helper. In Hebrews chapter 13 and verses 5 and 6 we read, "God has said, Never will I leave you never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Another important principle of spiritual warfare is watchfulness. Nehemiah was aware that the enemy would attack at any time. They had threatened in verse 11, "We will kill them and put an end to the work". This is always Satan's objective. How did Nehemiah respond? Verse 13 says that he, "Stationed some of the people at exposed places with their swords". They were on the alert. Jesus said in Matthew 26 verse 41, "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation". We must not leave any exposed areas so that Satan can gain entrance into our lives and spoil our work and ruin our testimony.
Each man was equipped with his sword. He was ready to use it. In verse 18, we are told, "And each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked". The principle of spiritual warfare here is the importance of holding onto and using the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Be familiar with scripture. Jesus used the scripture when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. In Matthew 4 verses 4, 7, and 10, He said, "It is written" and quoted from the scriptures. As Martin Luther wrote in his hymn "A word will quickly slay him".
The last principle I want you to notice is sacrifice. In verse 23 Nehemiah tells us, "Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards took off our clothes". They sacrificed their own comforts so that the work of God would continue. C T Studd a famous missionary, once said, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him". May we put these principles of spiritual warfare into practice and see the enemy overcome and the work of God's kingdom flourish.