“The First Targeted” -

Date: 02-12–15

Text: — Nehemiah 4:3-6 — ³Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” ⁴ Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. ⁵ Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. ⁶ So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Keep the lines of communication open as we face the salvos of opposition in our daily lives.

My Thoughts:

In any military operation, one of the first things targeted is communications. Whether it be through jamming the airwaves, shooting the RTO or bombing the HQ, the tactic is to disrupt communications so to cause confusion and isolation….

Lifestyle worshiper, has this happened to you? When was the last time you prayed to the Lord? Has this tactic been successfully used on you? I know I need to be mindful of my prayer life. When my prayer times diminish, I start to feel isolated and, frankly, confused. “What does the Lord want me to do?” Well, have I checked in with HQ to hear my orders?

Did you notice that Nehemiah kept the lines of communication open in v. 4? Yeah, his prayer is rather challenging for some of us (and perhaps we will deal with the content in later writings) but notice: He immediately goes to prayer. As a matter of fact in chapters 4 & 6, three of the four times Nehemiah prays in these chapters are recorded. He clearly did not let the tactic of disrupting communications be successful….

So if it has been a while since you’ve prayed, or if you’ve flagged a wee bit in the last few weeks, join me in keeping our lines of communication open as we face the salvos of opposition in our daily lives.

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” — Matthew 26:36-41 (NIV84)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

— Romans 12:12 (NIV84)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.— Ephesians 6:18 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, ignite in my soul a passion for prayer. Allow me to move toward a running dialogue with You. And in the silence, let my ears be attentive to Your still, small voice. Penetrate the noise in my life with Your Words of Peace and Joy. Direct my steps as I face the salvos of opposition in my life. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

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