HANDLING SANBALLAT- CONTINUE WORKING-2
Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work”

…From yesterday…

Matthew 13:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them:”

Matthew 13:8 “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

The passage above is one of the epic parables of Jesus, called the parable of the sower. This guy went out to sow and expected a good yield from his plantation but then he was massively confronted. His effort had to survive several attacks.

If you study the story from Matthew 13:19-22, you will discover all the Sanballats that came against him. Jesus mentioned them and I want us to take not of them: The wicked one, tribulation or persecution, offence and care of this world.

Jesus was helping us to see what the sower had to endure before he got to his Promised Land! The question I ask myself was; what if he had stopped to respond and fight each of those foes? Your guess is as good as mine.

They would have wearied him out and he probably wouldn’t have arrived at the place where he got the good ground.

The enemies came against the sower and stole his seed. The sun (which represents pressure and attacks) came against him and destroyed his crops. Thorns chocked some of his plantation but do you know what? He didn’t quit until he got to the good ground!

When Sanballat saw that he couldn’t stop Nehemiah he went and recruited Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites but unfortunately for them, Nehemiah kept working.

He didn’t quit, he ignored the enemy and faced the task at hand. Beloved, could it be that you’ve stopped because you’re paying too much attention to Sanballat and his cohorts?

I have news for you, Sanballat and Tobiah will always be there but the onus is on you to keep going in spite of them. Keep your gaze and focus on the finished line. That wall must be built; the good ground is ahead of you!

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HANDLING SANBALLAT- CONTINUE WORKING-1
Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work”

I just love Nehemiah! Despite all the noise, plots, schemes, discouragement, incitement and attacks of Sanballat, Nehemiah and his men continued working!

Friend, the plan of the enemy is for you to quit, get depressed and wallow in self-pity but you must not, that is too much power to give the enemy.

The question is this: why should you stop because of the ranting of your enemies? Their happiness and fulfillment will come when you quit your assignment, why should you give them that pleasure?

Nehemiah understood this principle and he kept keeping on in spite of the enemies. You must never quit or give up just because your enemies are making noise. Every one of us have one thousand and one reasons why we should quit, and those reasons may even seem cogent but they are all part of the grand scheme of the enemy to halt our purpose.

Yesterday, I checked the website posts of “LIFT” on liftmotivational.com and discovered that this episode you’re reading is actually episode two thousand one hundred and forty two (2,142)! How did we get here?

By simply taking it day by day, lines upon lines and precepts upon precepts. Have there been discouragements? Yes, quite a lot but we kept writing day by day. Did the enemy tempt us to stop? Many times but here we are going strong and not looking back.

Hear this:

Matthew 13:3 “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying Behold a sower went forth to sow”

Matthew 13:4 “And when he sowed some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up”

Matthew 13:5 “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth:”

Matthew 13:6 “And when the sun was up they were scorched and because they had no root, they withered away”

Matthew 13:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them:”

To be continued…

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HANDLING SANBALLAT-PRAYER
Nehemiah 4:4 “Hear O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:”

Nehemiah 4:5 “And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders”

Let us take a look at the systematic way in which Nehemiah handled Sanballat. Nehemiah didn’t just rush out to respond to Sanballat and others, he did the first most important thing; he prayed.

Nehemiah started the quest to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem by consulting God in prayer. He didn’t start the journey in his own wisdom, strategy and power, he asked God.

He got a go ahead from God so when problems and challenges occurred he simply went back to the Sender. That God gave you the go ahead doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try to raise his ugly head.

The devil will always do all he can to stop God’s agenda. He will want you to doubt God; your Caller and Sender. If he succeeds in getting you to that spot, you will lose.

I’ve seen people begin with God but go looking for other options when challenges arose. Friend, don’t ever quit or go looking for help outside God. Know full well that an invitation to fulfil destiny is equally an invitation to a fight!

Once you set out on the path of destiny, the devil will sponsor Sanballat and others against you. Don’t ever let him take your focus away from God. Know and never forget this:

Isaiah 59:19 “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him”

If the enemy come against you, it is still the Lord that will lift a standard against him. You can never fight the devil with your wisdom and might.

So, do the needful, bend your knees and report the mater to God. Let Him show you the way out. The Lord knows the standard to use against the enemy, go to Him in prayers.

Love you BiG

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-7
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

5. VISION AND LESSON FROM THE PAST: “Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

This is a very interesting question. Sanballat wanted to know what they intend doing with the rubbles. The only thing he saw were rubbles and broken down, burnt walls. Sanballat couldn’t see the possibility of a new building rising.

Two key things every builder or every man pursuing purpose should know, can be clearly deduced from Sanballat’s last question. If you don’t settle these questions by proffering answers you will be stranded in life.

The first thing to sort out is the question of vision. What are you seeing? All Sanballat could see were rubbles but Nehemiah saw rebuilt gates, walls and a new city. What you see is what you pursue. If you can’t see beyond rubbles you will be stagnated.

The second issue to be addressed is your disposition towards the past. The happenings of the past were still fresh in the memory of Sanballat and obviously he has not learnt anything from it. Nehemiah on his own part has moved past “the past”. He has learnt the lessons from their disobedience and has made up his mind to forge ahead.

Friend, your life doesn’t need to be stagnated. You don’t need to remain rooted to the same spot in life and destiny. Your past doesn’t need to keep controlling and dictating the course of your life.

That you have failed before doesn’t mean you should fail again. Out of the mess of your life a new message can emerge. Greatness can still rise from your past failures.

Pick the lessons from your past, make amends and move on. Change your vision, see a new edifice rising from your past ruins.

Quit listening to Sanballat, you can revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burnt!!

Love you BiG

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-6
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

4. TIMING OR DURATION: “Will they make an end in a day?”

The next question was that of timing.

Timing helps us to keep landmarks and measure progress. You cannot have a dream without a period of actualization. Any assignment without a period of fulfilment is vague.

Such would have been left undone and there will be no accountability. Can you imagine asking a student when he will finish his study in the university and he said he’s not sure but he’s studying.

If you meet such student what will you think of him? I guess you’ll feel something is definitely wrong with him and that he’ll never finish such a study. Every goal works with a target or set date in mind. There is no purpose without an expiry date.

If a young child had not walked at the age of 3 or 4, his parents will be concerned because it has passed the appointed time for children to begin to walk.

Sanballat must have heard that Nehemiah proposed to finish the work in fifty two days and he was wondering how that will be possible. Nehemiah on his part had planned and done his homework and as such knew what should be done; by who and when.

When you’re conscious of time, you will not waste it. Hear this:

Psalms 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

When we number our years in days, we will make better use of it. Knowledge of timing helps us to make better use of it. Nehemiah had a focal time ahead of him and he worked vehemently till he met the target.

Friend, what time constraint have you put up for the achievement of your divine agenda? Without timing there will be no end in view!

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-5
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

3. SACRIFICE: “Will they sacrifice”

Sanballat was an enemy but there were a lot of revelations in his questions to Nehemiah. His next question was “will they sacrifice”. What does that mean?

This man knew that Nehemiah was a highly placed member of the king’s cabinet, so he wanted to know if Nehemiah was ready to give up his high position in order to meet up with the demands of reconstruction of the gates.

This question is that of sacrifice, contribution or price to pay in order to fulfil divine mandate. What are you ready to give up in order to achieve your dreams? If you don’t give up something, you cannot go up.

Every great man at one time or the other gave something up. Moses had to give up the comfort of the palace in order to become a great leader and prophet in Israel.

Hebrews 11:24 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;”

Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”

Even God had to obey this law by giving up his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to come and die for the sin of humanity. There is always something to sacrifice and a price to pay in our quest to fulfil God’s divine mandate.

Nehemiah left the palace with the attendant comfort to come and mix concrete and do the dirty job of repairing gates and rebuilding walls.

Sanballat’s plan was to let him see what he’ll be missing if he starts doing the dirty job, little did he know that Nehemiah was prepared to go all the way.

Friend, don’t be like someone who claimed he want to slim down but refuses to change his diet nor do exercise. What are you ready to give up? What is the sacrifice required for that dream to come to reality?

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-4
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

…From yesterday…

Notice carefully that at no junction in his encounter with Sanballat did he lose his direction or sense of purpose. It was as if he was prepared for everything Sanballat threw at him. That is a man with a solid capacity.

Hear King Solomon:
Proverbs 24:10 “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”

In order words, any man that fails when challenges of life comes against him fails because his capacity is small. You cannot blame God for your failure, you can only blame your lack of capacity.

Look at Jesus:

John 7:15 “And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”

Jesus’ speeches and conversations always bewilders the Jews. They couldn’t comprehend his thoughts. They were no match for his mental prowess and spiritual abilities. They were asking in the above episode how he developed such a capacity.

Look at his secret:

Luke 4:16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read”

He has a custom and flair for reading and studying! Right from when he was twelve years old, he had been going to the temple to study and learn. He so much developed his capacity that even his so called teachers marveled at his wisdom.

Friend, there is nothing you desire that God cannot do if you’ll only raise your capacity level. You cannot desire to win 100 meters race in Olympics without practicing over a period of time.

Training is simply investment in capacity building. Nehemiah excelled because he has developed his capacity, you can excel if only you’ll develop yours too. Where do you need capacity? Locate and invest in it now!

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-3
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

…From yesterday…

God’s part is to release talents and resources, our part is to develop our capacity to receive. God will not give to a man what he cannot accommodate. He will not give a man what can destroy him. He has no problem deploying his vast resources and showering it on us but he always checks our capacity first.

Faith and our believe system determines for instance what we can draw from heaven. Hear this:

Mark 9:22 “And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.”

Mark 9:23 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

The father of the sick boy in the above story approached Jesus to help his son but he made a very funny statement. He said he wouldn’t mind to receive help from Jesus if there is anything he can do. Jesus’ response was profound.

He told the man straight away that the issue is not if he (Jesus) can do anything, the issue is if the man has the capacity to receive (paraphrased). He rounded up that conversation by saying that: all things are possible to any man who has the capacity to believe for it!

Capacity is inner strength or energy that gives you staying power. It comes in different variants; spiritual, mental, emotional, relational and physical. You need a balance of this in order to fulfil your divine assignment.

Before Nehemiah started this venture, he had prepared himself and developed his capacity along each of these lines. He had prayed and strengthened himself.

Notice carefully that at no junction in his encounter with Sanballat did he lose his direction or sense of purpose.

To be continued…

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-2
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

…From yesterday…

2. CAPACITY: “Will they fortify themselves?”

Nehemiah 4:2 “…will they make themselves strong?” (BBE)

Nehemiah 4:2 “Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight?” (MSG)

The second question Sanballat threw at Nehemiah was of equal importance as well. This is a question we all must answer as well in our quest to carry out our divine assignment. This is the question of capacity, skill and qualification.

Capacity talks about mental, emotional and physical abilities required to get a task done. Many people understands their purpose and knows what to do but lacks the capacity to do it.

That God gives you purpose and assignment doesn’t mean you should not acquire the know-how, master the requisite skills and develop your capacity along that line. Hear this:

Matthew 25:15 “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey”

We saw in the above passage something that transpired between a master and his three servants. The master gave them talents and there was none without a talent but then they didn’t get equal talents. Before the master released the talents to them, he checked their abilities or capacity.

The master was a very shrewd business man, he would not want to run at a loss under whatever circumstance, so he had to make sure each of them had the capacity to receive what he has to offer.

The master in that story is a representation of God, he has talents to release to each and every one of us as our relationship with him deepens. As a matter of fact he has abundant and limitless talents or resources but the issue is this do we have the capacity to take it?

To be continued…

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU-1
Nehemiah 4:2 “And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned”

In this meditation, we are going to be looking at how Nehemiah handled the dangerous spirit of sanballat but before then we need to answer some basic questions. These questions were thrown to Nehemiah by Sanballat and it is noteworthy to know them and have answers.

As a matter of fact, answering these questions is part of the mechanism of dealing with Sanballat. Nehemiah would have been caught off guard and probably failed if he doesn’t have the answers.

There are five (5) questions in all; these could be seen or deduced from our focal scripture and you must know them and proffer answers.

1. PURPOSE: “What do these feeble Jews?”
   The first question thrown at Nehemiah is about the clarity of purpose. He was asked if he knew what he was doing. If you’re not very clear as regard your purpose and assignment, you have failed before you even start.

Clarity of purpose is what gives you momentum to start, determination to continue and energy to finish strong and well. If you don’t know the reason why you’re doing what you’re doing, you can easily be thrown off balance, not only that you can become confused along the way.

Myles Munroe said, “When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. The first question of Sanballat is the question of purpose. Until your purpose is defined, you cannot confront the sanballat spirit.

The purpose of a thing is defined as: The reason for which it exists or for which it has been done or made. It is the goal or intended outcome of something or the desired effect. Purpose is also the desired effect or the resolve necessary to accomplish a goal.

Once purpose is settled, no mockery, taunting or discouragement can stop you. A man that does not have a clearly defined purpose can easily be dissuaded.

Nehemiah knew what he was doing, he knew the God that sent him and why the work must be done. Friend, have you answered the question of your purpose?

To be continued…

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