Nehemiah 4:17: “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon”.
Nehemiah undertook a major rebuilding project. When he heard that the walls of the city of Jerusalem were broken and the remnant was in great distress, his heart was moved to take a long service leave to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. However, his vision was hindered by severe opposition. The enemies around him mocked him. Sanballat the Horonite, the Persian governor of Samaria, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab were intimidated by the work that Nehemiah had commenced. They saw it as a political threat and actively conspired to stop the work. However, Nehemiah and his team worked day and night tirelessly with bricks on one hand and a sword in the other!
This is a beautiful metaphor of the ambassadors of God who are called to bind the broken hearted, set the captives free and release the prisoners enslaved by substance, sin and sickness. Rebuilding lives sends tremors to hell. The demonic strongholds of addiction, genetic disease and generational curses that have incarcerated people for years or decades can be broken in a minute by the anointing that breaks yokes. Hence, hellish hounds oppose us vehemently when we counsel, comfort and correct a sinner and redirect them back to Jesus and the cross. Do not be surprised if you face opposition and derision as you partner with Jesus, the Divine Builder to rebuild lives.
When Nehemiah was ridiculed, threatened and opposed, he did not stop. In fact, the builders were ready for battle with a weapon on one hand and with the other hand they continued the good work. Building and battling must happen simultaneously.
Build and Battle:
- Resist: Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Hell will wrestle with those who fight to overcome an addiction or a temptation. Resist them fiercely. Don’t be afraid of the demons, they are intimidated by a praying Christian.
- Reverse: Reverse generational curses and genetic disorders with the Word of God. No curse and no omen can stand against a child of God.
- Rebuild: Only the ‘resilient’, rebuild broken walls.
“Battle while you build”.
Prayer: Dear Lord, give me the resilience to resist, reverse and rebuild broken lives. Amen.
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