WHAT IN THE DEVIL IS THE DEVIL UP TO?-NEHEMIAH 6: 1-17

In warfare , it’s vital to know the strategy of the devil. It’s foolish to be ignorant of the enemy.

Our Enemy, The Devil Is Real.

• He Is A Determined Fiend. He Never Gives Up.
• He Is A Destructive Force.
• But Thanks Be To God He Is A Defeated Foe.

The book of Nehemiah is the story about the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem. The people of God saw a task that ought to be done, and they arose and began to build. However, when the people of God under the leadership of Nehemiah set out to work, the enemy set out to wreck.

If you want to know what the enemy is going to do, you find out what he has done. We can find out through the Word of God which declares that we are not ignorant of the devil’s devices.

THE ENEMY WILL….

I. ATTEMPT TO ATTACK YOUR MIND IN ORDER TO DESTROY YOU (vs 2)

 Some of the greatest attacks of the devil take place in the mind of men. When the devil wants to destroy a man, his first target is simply the man’s mind. Every battle you fight in life starts in your mind. He wants to get men to think is it really worth it? Is my position really worth it? One of Satan’s most deceptive and powerful ways of defeating us is to get us to believe a lie. He attempts to change our mind by challenging our thinking. "Meet together" - find some common ground to fellowship –meet us halfway. We have had our differences, Nehemiah, but was it really worth it? The enemy wants you to talk things over with him. Don't Let The Enemy Con You Into Talking With Him. Truth And Error Do Not Meet At Conference Tables!

A. The Awareness Of The Enemy (vs 1)---He Knows What You Are Doing.

B. The Approach Of The Enemy--The Approach Was Very Subtle.

1. He Received An Invitation From The Enemy Beware of the devil’s smiles.

2. Nehemiah Recognized The Intent Of The Enemy

3. Nehemiah Responded With Insight To The Enemy.

A. HE REALIZED THE INTEGRITY OF HIS SERVICE "doing a great work"

Illus: A pedestrian was walking by a work site and he asked the same question of three different people who were working there. He said to the first, "what are you doing?" The first said, "I am earning my wages." He came to the second and he said, "what are you doing?" The second said, "I am laying bricks." He came to the third and he asked the same question again, "what you are doing?" The third said, "I am building a cathedral." Three different people, all are doing the same thing, all having a different sense of what they were doing. The third had an understanding of the greatness of his task. Nehemiah had an understanding of his task.

B. HE REALIZED THE INFLUENCE OF HIS SERVICE--"Why should the work of cease, whilst I leave, and come down to you."

C. HE RESISTED THE INSISTENCE OF THEE ENEMY(vs 4)

The devil is always saying "Come down." See Matthew 27:39-41 If the offer of the enemy was wrong the first time, it is still wrong now. Decision based on opinion might be reconsidered, but decision based on conviction must stand. Otherwise, decisions becomes indecision.

II.  ATTEMPT TO ACCUSE YOUR MOTIVE IN ORDER TO DISCREDIT YOU( vs 5-9)

The Enemy Attempts Now To Slander Nehemiah.

A. Nehemiah Received An Open Letter--This open letter was like a letter to the editor.

1. Attacked The Person Of Nehemiah

2. Attacked The Purpose Of Nehemiah--Accused Nehemiah of building the wall so that one day he could become king.

B. Nehemiah refuted the obvious lie--He made a simple denial, and kept on working.

A preacher was one time asked why he did not answer his critics, and he replied, "As a kid I was once crossing a field and suddenly a striped animal ran out in front of me. I three my school books at the striped kitty, and it resulted with a horrible stink. I determined then and there to never waste words on a skunk." Nehemiah did not waste any time on their slander but committed it to God.

III. ATTEMPT ALTER YOUR MISSION IN ORDER TO DIVERT YOU(vs. 10-14)

The enemy tries to alter the mission of Nehemiah. The mission was to restore the wall.

The devil will attempt to alter the mission of the church. He will endeavor to get us involved in things that take us from the main purpose of the church. We need to keep the main thing the main thing.

A. Listen to the recommendation to Nehemiah--Let’s meet together in the temple. To meet in the Holy Place was against the Law of God. If Nehemiah had entered into the Holy Place, he would have done so in flagrant disregard for the law. There is an attempt to alter the mission by getting Nehemiah to disregard the Word of God.

B. Learn from the resolve of Nehemiah (vs. 11) His Faithfulness whatever the cost.

1. He recognized the enemy (vs. 12) Anyone who goes contrary to the Bible is your enemy.

2. He resisted the enemy (vs. 11)

C. Look at the request made by Nehemiah--He turned it over to God beseeching Him to keep him going with the mission. Nehemiah kept building and allowed God to take care of his enemies. Nehemiah refused to be diverted.

Conclusion:  In spite of the opposition, the wall is finished in 52 days - a remarkable accomplishment for a task regarded as well nigh impossible. However, Nehemiah had to fight the devil all the way.