Focus On Faithfulness

Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. Nehemiah 6:1-4 ESVIt takes focus and faithfulness to walk in Godly freedom and effectiveness. The enemy loves to disguise drama as diplomacy.Choose conversations and effort that are most important and most impactful. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matthew 7:6 NLTIt takes less effort but more energy to participate in the drama than to actually make a difference.Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. Nehemiah 6:8-9 ESVPut on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh. Romans 13:14 ESV “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” Nehemiah 6:10 ESVDiplomacy becomes demonic when the deal being struck requires compromising God’s word or will.Gods plans are only carried out Gods way. Making exceptions to Godly wisdom is never wise. But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” Nehemiah 6:11 ESVThe wall was finished on the 25th day of the month Elul, in 52 days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:15-16 ESVWhen it’s God’s work that’s getting done, God will get the glory. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalms 127:1 ESVThis is Father’s work, and this is the Father’s house. This is the the Father’s house where hurt and history become a recipe for redemption. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War