The Lord has wonderful plans for our lives, but God’s plans have opposition. Our enemy, satan, opposes these plans and works against them. How has the enemy opposed God’s work in your life? How has the Lord enabled you to fight back against such attacks?
God has a plan for you. He wants a relationship now so that we can be with Him forever. Ephesians 2: 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. [1]
God’s Plans for Nehemiah Were Opposed
God stirred Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the walls and gates in Jerusalem that were destroyed by the Babylonians. City walls and gates were important to an ancient city to defend it against enemies. Although this was God’s plan there also would be opposition against the Lord’s plans.
Nehemiah 2:10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my (Nehemiah) arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel. [2] The Lord is always unfolding plans that build up His Kingdom. The enemies’ plans work to tear down and destroy what the Lord is trying to accomplish in and through our lives.
Our Battle is Not Against Flesh and Blood
On the surface it looks like Sanballat and Tobiah are the true enemies of Nehemiah. But who was really behind this spiritual attack? Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.[3]
The real enemy behind Sanballat and Tobiah were evil spiritual or fallen angels that operate in the unseen realms. Satan and his minions work through ordinary people to oppose God’s plan on this earth.
Although our enemy satan opposes God’s plans, the Lord shows us how to battle against the enemy by putting on the full armor of God. God’s armor is the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, which is His word, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth and the shoes of righteousness. It is by using these God given weapons that we can overcome the opposition of our enemy. To hear more about how God’s plans have opposition, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/rebuilding-unfinished-hope-the-work-begins
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.