We took a look in the last post at the some strategies that the enemy will use to attempt to undermine the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. I believe that the rebuilding of the crushed, destitute, smoldering walls of the city of Jerusalem by Nehemiah is akin to the work of the Holy Spirit in taking the believer from the state in which they were saved to the victorious, sanctified, spirit-filled life to which we are called. Let’s look at that scripture again:
1Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.
2He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?”
3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building–if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!” (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
We’ve already examined strategies one through three in a previous post. For now, I’d like to pick up in verse 2 with the fourth enemy strategy:
Strategy #4: Discourage the believer by showing him how far he has left to go. In verse 2, Sanballat says, “can they rebuild it in a day?” The idea behind this statement is to call into question the ability of the believer to withstand the period of time between the present and the conclusion of the work of the Holy Spirit by pointing out how much work is left to do. Perhaps some of you can relate, as can I, to the sentiment of being a perpetual work in progress. I have so much growth and development left to undertake in the Lord that it would overwhelming if I were to focus on it.
I’ve often found that it’s more beneficial to focus on the finished work of the cross than it is to focus on my state. Lifting up your eyes to the Lord means that you can no longer look at yourself. Remind yourself that you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind, and that it is a process that takes an entire life. Nevertheless, Christ is being formed in you, and your enemy is not happy about it. Any attempt to get you to focus on how far you have left to go is an attempt to get you to forget how far you’ve come by the grace of the Lord.
Strategy #5: Tell the believer that he can’t be used by God because He’s too messed up. Sanballat says, “Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble, even the burned ones?” The enemy would have you to believe that the pieces of your life, broken and burned and neglected as they have been, can never be formed again into any semblance of an existence. This flies in the face of the redemptive work of the cross. The same Son of God who turned water into wine and multiplied fishes is more than capable of doing a creative miracle in your life. He can, will, and is using you for the purpose of the Kingdom.
The entire point of this argument is to get you to disengage from the prosecution of God’s will by having you believe that you are an unworthy vessel, or that you are somehow incomplete because of your past. If he can cause you to be introspective about how you’ve been hurt, who you have been, and how undeserving you are, he can get you to lose sight of the work of the Lord in your life. Don’t fall for it.
Strategy #6: Call into question the strength of the finished work. Tobiah the Ammonite is another one of the devil’s minions in this story. He said, “Even what they are building–if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!” Once you have had some success in allowing the Holy Spirit to build the proverbial walls of your life, you will find that the enemy is always trying to get you to believe that you are weak and frail, and that you can’t stand against him. Folks, you are covenant sons of the most high God. You’ve been grafted into the branch, given spiritual title and authority in the Kingdom, and reconciled to the Creator of heaven and Earth. You are more than able to stand.
It’s all about the topic of agreement. Your mouth is a covenant making machine. If the enemy can get you to articulate your weakness, discouragement, or unworthiness, he has effectively gained jurisdictional authority to torment you. Don’t fall for the school yard tricks of a defeated foe.
