11.1 Don’t Let Down Your Guard

On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a [...]

10.4 Chapter 12 – Rejoice

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres…When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and [...]

7.8 The Inside Man

One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to [...]

7.4 Where Are You, And Who Are You With?

Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to a special meeting of high-level leaders, but Nehemiah knew that he had no business associating with men like them. We should avoid isolation, but we also have to be careful not to put ourselves in harm’s way by going places we shouldn’t go with people we have no business [...]

7.1 Divide and Conquer

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it – though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates – Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us [...]

5.15 Warrior – Wallbuilder

From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, [...]

5.7 Post a Guard

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. [...]

5.6 Satan’s Backup Battle Plan

Satan knows he lost the claim to your soul when you gave your life to Christ. So, his backup battle plan is to make you ineffective. The last thing he wants is for you to live out the Great Commission, drawing other lost souls to Christ, and people with strong walls do that. Satan’s primary [...]

5.5 Back to the Story

Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. (Nehemiah 4:4-5)

Sanballat’s [...]

5.3 What’s So Scary?

Nehemiah and the Israelites feared an imminent attack by Sanballat and his followers.  Some of us may fear Satan’s retaliation when we begin to build, but I think there is something scarier that influences our actions.  We fear success.  I know that sounds difficult to believe.  Let me explain why I think this fear has [...]