Rebuilding Your Walls (Part 1)

Read Nehemiah chapters l through 7:3. Chapters l and 2 of Nehemiah describe the condition of the walls around Jerusalem. They were in ruin, destroyed by enemy invasion, and the gates had been burned with fire. Without walls and gates, a city was open to invasion on every side from enemy forces. If your spiritual walls are destroyed, you too are open to attack by the enemy.

Nehemiah recognized the walls had been destroyed and the city was in its present condition because of sin. (Nehemiah 1:5-7) When your spiritual walls are in ruin it is also because of sin. Nehemiah felt an intense burden from God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to provide
protection for the inhabitants. His preparation and plan are described in chapters l and 2. He and his workers were determined to "arise and build" the walls (Nehemiah 2:18).

When Nehemiah determined to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, he met powerful opposition from his enemies. When you determine to rebuild spiritual walls, you will face similar opposition from your enemy, Satan. The strategies of the enemies of Nehemiah are identical to the strategies Satan uses to attack spiritual walls. The attacks are divided into two main categories: External and internal attacks.

External attacks are attacks the enemy launches from without through others who are not part of the body
of Christ. Such attacks include:

1. Direct criticism: Nehemiah 2:19
The enemies criticized, "What do you think you are doing?" They were against the reconstruction project and tried in every way to prevent it.

2. Mocking and scorn: Nehemiah 4:1-3
Nehemiah became a "target for tongues." The enemy tried to defeat him through the mocking and scorn of others. Satan will use the tongue of others to discourage and defeat you.

3. False accusations: Nehemiah 6:5-7
The enemy attacked Nehemiah personally with false accusations. They accused him of being a rebel. Satan is called "the accuser of the brethren." He will use others to accuse you as well as putting accusing thoughts in your mind.

4. Diversion: Nehemiah 6:2
The enemy tried to get Nehemiah to join them for a meeting. This meeting was a diversion tactic
to call Nehemiah away from the work of rebuilding the wall. Diversion from the things of God and the work He has given you to do is still a chief strategy of Satan.

5. Popular influence: Nehemiah 6:2
The enemy said let "us" meet together, trying to influence Nehemiah with popular opinion. Popular opinion said Nehemiah was a rebel and the wall could not be built. Trying to get believers to conform to popular opinion, majority rule, and the principles of the world is a key strategy of Satan. A false prophet claiming to be of God was even used by the enemy to attack
Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:10-13). Popular opinion would say to listen to a "prophet of God." We are warned of false prophets who would divert us from God.