August 13
Neh 5:14-7:72 | PS 33:1-11 | Prov 21:8-10| 1 Cor 8:1-13
We read in Psalm 33:10-11, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations." We can take all of God's Word as absolute truth. But sometimes it doesn't feel this way. That is why His Word is so important. We think that "Fake News" is something new, but it isn't. There are times it is more egregious, more brazen, done without shame, etc. But those who stand on the side of evil have always stood against those that stand for God. The problem is that those against God are not always easy to discern. They may speak nicely, stand for causes which seem good, seem benevolent, but there are motives. Many who stand in opposition to God most likely don't even realize it. The truth is most don't even consider God. They are indifferent towards Him. He is nowhere in their sphere of reference. We read in 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." We are to test or discern what we take in according to God's Word. Only if we are rooted in His Word daily are we armed to decipher what is true vs what is fake.
Nehemiah was a threat to the status quo, and therefore he had a target on his back. But he was rooted in God and was able to discern truth from fiction. We read in Nehemiah 6:2, "that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm." After this attempt at derailing the building of the wall failed, we read in 6:5-8, "Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” The next attempt was to lie, slander and attempt to destroy his character. When this failed we read in 6:10-12, "Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him."
Don't expect any ceasefires from the enemy. Also, don't be surprised from where they come. They can come from the usual sources such as from politicians, media and social media. But they can also come from friends and family. It's not that those close to you mean you harm, they sadly don't know any better. We tend to believe that there is a huge middle ground, but there is not. Things are either in God's camp or in the enemy's camp. Yes, your loved ones who don't know God who don't revere the things of God are hurting you, yet without realizing it. There is no shortage of information seeking your attention, we in Christ, must discern the times we are living in and discern what is truth according to God's Word and according to the leading of His Spirit.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: