“Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me” (Nehemiah 2:9).
TEXT — Nehemiah 2:9-11
Message
The famous English Baptist preacher, C. H. Spurgeon (1834–1892), said, “We are not to be alarmed when Satan hinders us, for it is proof that we are on the Lord’s side and are doing the Lord’s work. In His strength, we will win the victory and triumph over our adversary.” He, in essence, gives a fitting reflection on today’s passage.
Nehemiah came as a man prepared by God for the task of rebuilding the broken walls of Jerusalem. He had the burden to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem but the devil raised opposition through Sanballat and Tobiah, who determined to frustrate the work.
Nehemiah’s case proves that there will be battles and opposition for everyone who will be significant in life and do great things for God’s kingdom. He was not unaware that Satan would stir up opposing forces to halt God’s purpose and project. But he prepared ahead through prayers. He also got the necessary backing of the king. Nehemiah and his team eventually accomplished the divine mission of rebuilding the walls amidst significant challenges, opposition and threats from the enemy. Success came because he was fully prepared and never wavered in his faith in God.
Believers must understand that challenges are normal routines of life because of the nature of the present world. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ did not promise us an easy life that is devoid of challenges in the world. He only urges us “to be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He assures us of victory in every battle of life, despite all the tantrums and threats of our adversaries.
Thought for the day
Obstacles are challenges for winners and excuses for losers.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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