8.8 Deflection & Redirection

The technical term for shooing the birds is “deflection and redirection.”  God expects us to put up a fight.  We’re not helpless.  When our gates are attacked, we need to have a plan to turn back the Enemy.  God will meet us there.  Isaiah 28:6 says,
He (God) will be a spirit of justice to him [...]

5:1 The Next Attack

Nehemiah: Chapter 4
 

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in [...]

4:8 Unlocking the Gates

Ten gates are mentioned in Chapter 3, and their names are significant. Each is a symbol representing an aspect of our Christian walk.2 Let’s take a walk around the city with Nehemiah and unlock the meaning for each of the gates as we go.
Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1)
Through this gate, sacrificial sheep were brought to [...]

4:7 A Vested Interest

Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house…Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region…Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, [...]

4:6 Pride and the Sin of Compare-A-Son

The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.  (Nehemiah 3:5) 
What a disgrace!  The nobles of Tekoa were too good to join in this great work.  Apparently, they were the only ones who wouldn’t help with the walls; no other abstainers [...]

4:5 Burn the Boats

God is not looking for perfection.  He’s looking for commitment.  He wants to know you will show up at the worksite each day to build your walls with Him.

There’s a great story that will give us a metaphor for this point. 
 
On April 21st, in the year 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed [...]

4:4 Lower Your Expectations

It’s not all or nothing. It’s something or nothing. Can you give God something today? Don’t worry about tomorrow. You’ve got your hands full with today. Start small, and work your way up. Open your bible and read one sentence. It’s something! Commit to closing your eyes when the cheerleaders come on during the game. [...]

4:3 All or Nuthin’

Don’t try to do all the spiritual disciplines at once.  So many of us men feel that we have to be Super Christians or that we shouldn’t even try.  We either do all the spiritual disciplines and do them better than anyone else (this is the sin of “compare-a-son,” which I’ll talk about a little [...]

4:2 Desire, Discipline, Delight

Spiritual disciplines are habits, and good habits are difficult to form.  (The bad ones just seem to leap into existence.)  When we are working on incorporating a new habit like daily time in the Word, we often struggle mightily to get started.  We do well for a few days, and then our inspiration leaves us.  [...]

4:1 Let the Building Begin!

Nehemiah: Chapter 3

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.  The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, [...]