WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE DEVIL UP TO



WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE DEVIL UP TO

NEHEMIAH 6: 1-17

• In warfare , it’s vital to know the strategy of the devil.

• It’s foolish to be ignorant of the enemy.

o Our Enemy, The Devil Is Real.

o He Is A Determined Fiend

▪ He Never Gives Up.

o He Is A Destructive Force.

o But Thanks Be To God

o He Is A Defeated Foe.

• The book of Nehemiah is the story about the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem.

• The people of God saw a task that ought to be done, and they arose and began to build. However, when the people of God under the leadership of Nehemiah set out to work, the enemy set out to wreck.

• If you want to know what the enemy is going to do, you find out what he has done.

o We can find out through the Word of God which declares that we are not ignorant of the devil’s devices.

• THE ENEMY WILL….

ATTEMPT TO ATTACK YOUR MIND IN ORDER TO DESTROY YOU

• Nehemiah 6:2 (King James Version)

That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

• Some of the greatest attacks of the devil take place in the mind of men.

• When the devil wants to destroy a man, his first target is simply the man’s mind.

• Every battle you fight in life starts in your mind.

o He attempts to change our mind by

▪ challenging our thinking

▪ find some common ground to fellowship –

▪ meet us halfway.

▪ Don't Let The Enemy Con You Into Talking With Him. Truth And Error Do Not Meet At Conference Table

A. The Awareness Of The Enemy (vs 1)

1. He Knows What You Are Doing.

B. The Approach Of The Enemy

C. The Approach Was Very Subtle.

1. He Received An Invitation From The Enemy

a. Beware of the devil’s smiles.

2. Nehemiah Recognized The Intent Of The Enemy

3. Nehemiah Responded With Insight To The Enemy.

a. HE REALIZED THE INTEGRITY OF HIS SERVICE "doing a great work"

• Illus: A pedestrian was walking by a work site and he asked the same question of three different people who were working there. He said to the first, "what are you doing?" The first said, "I am earning my wages." He came to the second and he said, "what are you doing?" The second said, "I am laying bricks." He came to the third and he asked the same question again, "what you are doing?" The third said, "I am building a cathedral." Three different people, all are doing the same thing, all having a different sense of what they were doing. The third had an understanding of the greatness of his task. Nehemiah had an understanding of his task.

4. HE REALIZED THE INFLUENCE OF HIS SERVICE--"Why should the work of cease, whilst I leave, and come down to you.

ATTEMPT TO ACCUSE YOUR MOTIVE IN ORDER TO DISCREDIT YOU

• Nehemiah 6:5-9 (King James Version)

5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

A. The Enemy Attempts Now To Slander Nehemiah.

B. Nehemiah Received An Open Letter--This open letter was like a letter to the editor.

1. Attacked The Person Of Nehemiah

2. Attacked The Purpose Of Nehemiah--Accused Nehemiah of building the wall so that one day he could become king.

C. Nehemiah refuted the obvious lie--He made a simple denial, and kept on working.

ATTEMPT ALTER YOUR MISSION IN ORDER TO DIVERT YOU

• Nehemiah 6:10-14 (King James Version)

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear

• The devil will attempt to alter the mission of the church.

A. Listen to the recommendation to Nehemiah—

• V10….. Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

1. There is an attempt to alter the mission by getting Nehemiah to disregard the Word of God.

B. Learn from the resolve of Nehemiah (vs. 11) His Faithfulness whatever the cost.

1. He resisted the enemy (vs. 11

2. He recognized the enemy (vs. 12) Anyone who goes contrary to the Bible is your enemy.

C. Look at the request made by Nehemiah V14 He turned it over to God refused to be diverted.

Conclusion: 

A. In spite of the opposition, the wall is finished in 52 days –

B. a remarkable accomplishment for a task regarded as well nigh impossible. However, Nehemiah had to fight the devil all the way.[pic]

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