The enemy attacks remain persistent when we are doing the work of the Lord.  The greater the work, the nearer its completion the more ferocious will be the attacks.  Satan uses threats, lies, and whatever means he can to cause doubt, disruption, sorrow, and fear.  This was the case for Nehemiah as well.  The enemy continued to send invitations to Nehemiah to come, take a break from the work, and meet with them so they could negotiate a plan.  When he declined every invitation, they sent a letter filled with false accusations.  This letter they failed to seal; because, they wanted to spread these false rumors as quickly as possible.   Knowing the hearts of men can be so quickly bent to gossip, they purposefully wanted the false accusations to be leaked to the press of the day.  Surely, that would cause the people to doubt Nehemiah, bringing about a revolt.

Nehemiah’s reply was swift.  “Your words are all lies.  What you accuse me of are what you, yourself, are guilty of.”  You see, the letters accused Nehemiah of doing all this to gain fame, fortune, and power over the people of Israel.  But, that was what Sanballat had plotted to do.  In fact, he had married his daughter to one of the high priests in Jerusalem; so that, he might have influence and power.  He knew his daughter would entice the priests to idolatrous worship; that, the power of God within the nation might be thwarted.  Sanballat had seen and heard of God’s power; but, did not worship Him.  Instead, Sanballat wanted to draw God’s people away from God’s favor and into His judgement.  Then, he knew he could overpower them.

THE ENEMY ATTACKS

Continue reading How to Be Victorious When the Enemy Attacks →

They had faced the threat of attacks from without and the revolt from within.  The wall was completed.  All that was left to finish the task was to construct and place the many gates.  Sometimes, when we are seeing the end in sight; we become vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.  Our overflowing joy, opens us up as an easy target.  Feeling exuberant as nothing can stop us now; we begin our victory dance and let down our guard.  Typically, that is when Satan begins a subtle approach. Nehemiah faced the same.  As he must have sighed in relief and his heart leap with joy to God, when the walls stood complete.  Now to finish the gates.  Still a formidable task; yet, with great joy and hope the workers moved forward.  That was when Nehemiah received an invitation from Sanballat to come out to a beautiful valley retreat and meet with him.

It would seem the reasonable and kind thing to do.  Go out and meet with your former opposition; after all, they had failed to stop you.  God is on your side and the proper Christian thing to do would be to extend a hand of friendship by accepting the invitation. “Come, let us meet; that, we might work out a compromise.” To this, Nehemiah said, “No! I have way too much work here to yet accomplish.”  Truth was their invitation wasn’t really to have a nice little meeting, nor were they concerned with Nehemiah’s wellbeing.  They were not really offering him a get away retreat.  Instead they were plotting to kill him.  If they could get him out of the way, the people would never finish the gates.

AN INVITATION TO COMPROMISE TRUTH

Continue reading An Invitation to Compromise Truth.  Would you go? →

The building of the wall continued, despite the oppositions plans to secretly attack the workers and slay them.  God had allowed their evil plots to become known and Nehemiah placed guards surrounding the workers and armed the workers.  He established a plan of notification to alert them; therefore, they continued to build the wall at God’s command and under His protection.  Then the whole project came to a screeching halt as the workers began to grumble. A revolt of sorts; because, they were in financial distress.  Not an unusual place to be when truly doing God’s work.  Yet, their distress had been worsened by the greed and abuse of their fellow Jews. Satan had thus far failed to stop the building by outside opposition, now he tried from within. There needed to be a spiritual cleansing from the inside before the work could continue.

Remember the Jewish people had been slaves, captives for 70 years prior to their return to the land.  They had rebuilt the temple and now they were building the wall.  Suddenly they remembered their own financial distress.  The wall would protect them from external tyranny; however, they suddenly remembered their own financial state.  Despite their return to the land, there wasn’t enough food to support their families. Over the course of time, while remaining subjects of Persia; they had to pay taxes on their land.  Furthermore, to make matters worse; famine hit their land due to drought.  To survive, most of the people were forced to borrow from the few Jewish people who had money.  This was necessary to survive; however, their own leaders placed high interest on the loans.

When they could not pay the interest, they were forced to hand over their land.  Some sold their children into slavery to their Jewish nobles.

GREED AND ABUSE RAMPANT WITHIN

Continue reading HOW DID NEHEMIAH DEAL WITH GREED AND ABUSE? →

They continued building the wall; despite, the criticism being launched at them.  They had prayed for the enemy to be removed; however, instead the enemy now determined to launch a military attack against the builders.  Often, when Satan realizes that his mocking words can’t deter the Christian from doing God’s work; he launches a greater attack and God allows him to.  Not because God didn’t hear our prayers, nor because we are outside His Will; however, He realizes we need to grow both in our faith and in our defense.  Unless, we learn how to defend ourselves against the enemy; we cannot accomplish the task at hand to spread the gospel truth to a world in need of Him.  We must act, defending the cause of Christ.  So, how do we finish well when the Enemy Attacks?  To do so we must arm ourselves with the sword of truth.

Remember our battle is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).  Remember that God has provided us with His armor to protect us.  The only weapon He gave us is: “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).  This is a powerful sword in two ways.  It is the truth of the gospel message and it is the power of Christ in us.  To wield this sword or to stand firm when the enemy attacks, we must “study to show (ourselves) approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

WHEN THE OPPOSITION ATTACKS

Continue reading How to Finish Well When the Enemy Attacks →

I realize that I have been very lax in presenting new poems lately.  The truth is so much studying, sometimes squelches my poetic side.  Then as I pondered the apologetic course I am currently in; these words began to form in my head.

The other day I listened to a debate on you-tube of Paul Kurtz.  He wrote the introduction to the Humanistic Manifesto II and helped in it’s development, as well as most likely contributed to Humanistic Manifesto III.  What I found amazing was that although, he denied any possibility of God; he believed out there somewhere must have existed some form of subatomic material eternally.  Since, nothing comes from nothing; something must have been eternally present.  We just haven’t discovered what that something was, according to him.  That takes a lot of faith; whereas, science instead of disproving God; has proven even things revealed to Moses, long ago.  I hope you enjoy this poem and take a moment to consider God, as our creator.

Finding The Truth, The Way In a Modern World

And as Mankind in pride doth say

That he has found the truth, the way

That science leads our earnest quest

The human brain it’s very best

 

Oh, look at all that we have learned

The truth for which we have so yearned

Yet, evil circles round us still

From all the thoughts of our free will

 

Our thoughts evolved so now we see

Inside each heart the will to be

Discovering truth, we think is new

Although revealed to ancient few

 

The Big Bang physics that we found

Revealed to Moses, on a mound

And written on a tablet stone

That what is new, had then been known

 

We seek to find our way to be

From nothingness, our destiny

Ah, yes; this truth before us lies

Grasping to hope before it dies

 

From nothingness, oh yes, we’re born

Into a life of prideful scorn

Until we come to one day see

That God created us to be

 

And through the ages, patiently

His love awaits you and me

To lay aside our foolish pride

To then, in Him our hearts abide

 

He paid the price of all our sin

That we might then be born again

Our spirit joining then with His

And there to find a joy that Is

 

No meaning truly can be found

Until to Him our hearts are bound

He freely gives this gift of grace

To all who turn to seek His face

 

The truth, the way, the life you see

Came to this earth for you and me

To die to pay our penalty

Upon that cross on Calvary

 

Oh, foolish man; that doth believe

That all of this did come to be

From something you have yet to find

You search for it within your mind

 

Yet, right there in your words you see

That nothing ever comes to be

Without a cause that must precede

These are your word, this is your creed

 

And yet you put your faith to find

Some particle of some kind

That must have been eternally

In order that all else could be

 

When truth is knocking at your door

While you still search for something more

How is that you run away

From He who bid you to stay.

CONCLUSION:

I am a firm believer in science, research, mathematics and medicine.  When I see all the intricacies of this planet, galaxy, the human cell and the thought processes of the brain; I stand in awe of God-the creator of it all.  In all their discoveries and desires to deny God, they have only proven the impossibility of their not being God.  Nothing new came to be; rather, science is barely scratching the surface of what can be discovered.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

 

Two Newest Books Available

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY      

 

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy.  Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:

Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times.  Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation.  With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

 

 

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about  other books I have written:  You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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