It Is Not YOUR Problem!
When you are attempting to fulfill your God-ordained purpose, you will encounter many on the “outside looking in” (so to speak) at your gifts and callings and your abilities and achievements with a jealous eye.
This clearly is the work of the enemy working through the person that is weak enough to be driven by their own flesh, in which the enemy uses to gain a footing inside. Shame on the one that allows themselves to be used as an instrument of evil, for Satan’s devices.
However, this is nothing new, according to scripture. In the book of Nehemiah we learn, Nehemiah accepted the assignment task of building the wall for God’s people, and of course there was jealousy.
You know, the Bible tells us clearly, that there is nothing new under the sun.(Ecclesiastes 1:9) Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NCV ) All things continue the way they have been since the beginning . What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new here on earth.
When this happens, the jealous one will attempt to distract you from carrying out what you are called to do. Let us look in the scriptures at the story of Nehemiah, God’s prophet who was determined to carry out his assignment of what he had been called to do-- (which was to rebuild the wall) despite the opposition (Sanballat and Tobias) that came forcefully at him: Nehemiah 4 (NCV) Those Against the Rebuilding (Those against the Work of God) When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he was very angry, even furious . He made fun of the Jewish people. He said to his friends and those with power in Samaria, “What are these weak Jews doing? Will they rebuild the wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in one day? Can they bring stones back to life from piles of trash and ash? ” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was next to Sanballat, said, “If a fox climbed up on the stone wall they are building, it would break it down.” I prayed, “Hear us, our God. We are hated. Turn the insult s of Sanballat and Tobiah back on their own heads. Let them be captured and stolen like valuables. Do not hide their guilt or take away their sins so that you can’t see them, because they have insulted the builders.” So we rebuilt the wall to half its height, because the people were willing to work.
I don’t know about you, but I have certainly had my share of Sandballats and Tobiahs in my life, and still continue to encounter them. But like Nehemiah, I continue to maintain my focus and press forward; you too must do the same: Nehemiah 6 (NCV) More Problems for Nehemiah: Then Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there was not one gap in it. But I had not yet set the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, Nehemiah, let’s meet together in Kephirim on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messenger stothem with this answer:
“I am doing a great work, and I can’t come down. I don’t want the work to stop while I l eave to meet you.” Sanballat and Geshem sent the same message to me four times , and each time I sent back the same answer. The fifth time Sanballat sent his helper to me with the message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter. This is what was written: A report is going around to all the nations, and Geshem says it is true, that you and the Jewish people are planning to turn against the king and that you are rebuilding the wall. They say you are going to be their king and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem: “There is a king of Judah!” The king will hear about this. So come, let’s discuss this together. So I sent him back this answer: “Nothing you are saying is really happening. You are just making it up in your own mind.” Our enemies were trying to scare us, thinking, “They will get too weak to work. Then the wall will not be finished.” But I prayed, “God, make me strong.” One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah had to stay at home. He said, “Nehemiah, let’s meet in the Temple of God. Let’s go inside the Temple and close the doors, because men are coming at night to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run a way? Should I run for my life into the Temple? I will not go.” I knew that God had not sent him but that Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him to prophesy against me. They paid him to frighten me so I would do this and sin. Then they could give me a bad name to shame me. I prayed, “My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat and what they have done. Also remember the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who have been trying to frighten me.”
Beloved, if you are reading this message, your take away should be this: If you are doing a work for the LORD and you are met with opposition, even to the point of someone speaking ill concerning you or lying on you, their issue is not with you, it is with GOD. Let me say it again: their issue is not with you it is with God, it is a spiritual battle and the spirit of darkness is at enmity with you because of the Spirit of God upon you!
And like Nehemiah, you must PRAY TO GOD to make you strong and ALLOW HIM to deal with those who have tried to make the matter between you and them, when in reality whether they realize it or not, it is between THEM and GOD.
Why you ask, because they have a problem with jealousy and need God’s power, grace, and mercy to deliver them from that evil. The fact they have directed it at you, is NOT your problem as long as you continue to focus on your gift and calling. Your goal and focus is to complete the work you have been called/assigned to.
The Wall Is Finished: The wall of Jerusaem was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul . It took fifty-two days to rebuild. When all our enemies heard about it and all the nations around us saw it, they were shamed. They then understood that the work had been done with the help of our God.
My family and I are concluding a great work we have been called to accomplish. And rest assured, many had opinions, gossipped, and spoke sarcasm towards our assignment as we stood in faith and waited upon God for our reward. Like Nehemiah, we have completed this particular work. We understood it was never between us and them proving what God had spoken to us.
As a result, like those during the days of Nehemiah, “they” will be shamed and also they will know we made it with the help of our God.
Many are coming out of a season that required supernatural endurance, and it was made even more of a challenge to endure because of the “enemies” and their opposition with words spoken, gossip, false accusations, etc. But know this Beloved, the wall is built, and God is pleased. And as for the Sanballats and Tobiahs, well here is how the story ends in the scriptures: Nehemiah 7 (NCV ): After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers , singers , and Levites were chosen. I put my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the palace, in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was honest and feared God more than most people. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut and bolt the doors. Appoint people who live in Jerusalem as guards, and put some at guard posts and some near their own houses.” ” The city was large and roomy, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. Then my God caused me to gather the important people, the leaders, and the common people so I could register them by families. I found the family history of those who had returned first. This is what I found written there:
These are the people of the area who returned from captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken away. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each going back to his own town. These people returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah…
It was time to celebrate, for the work had been completed! And those that were captive were made free to return to Israel, inside the walls (which represented safety) that had been built. Then there was worship and great celebration: Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who were teaching said to all the people, “This is a holy day to the Lord your God. Don’t be sad or cry.” All the people had been crying as they listened to the words of the Teachings.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks. Send some to people who have none, because today is a holy day to the Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.”
The Levites helped calm the people, saying, “Be quiet, because this is a holy day. Don’t be sad.”
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send some of their food to others, and to celebrate with great joy. They finally understood what they had been taught.
Nehemiah’s fearlessness and trust in the Lord allowed many captives to be set free! Understand this: the captives being set free, hinge on our ability to do what we are called to, be not moved by the spirit of jealousy or any other work of the flesh that the enemy uses to distract you. Focus on what God has called you to, and God will take care of the rest including your enemies and in doing so, your reward shall be great!
God Bless you richly! Apostle Wendy Connor
Copyright © 2020 Wendy Connor
