Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Answer The Same Way

Grace and peace.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to give a reflection to the congregation. There were a couple of things on my heart to share, but one particular thing just stood out. As I was sharing I believed that I had spoken about what the Lord told me to go with, but as I sat down and begin to reflect on my reflection, I somehow thought that was not the Word for the day. But yesterday and today the Lord began to reveal some things to me. He gave me "revelation" on my reflection. And that is this If God tells you to speak a Word share it. I thought that no one wanted to hear that Word, but God said, maybe not at that moment but that is not for you to decide. Someone may not need it at that moment, but the Word is a living Word and someone will need it when they have a NEED FOR IT. So bless God, I may not have needed it the other day, and maybe someone else might not have needed it the other day, but I needed it today and God knew that and He is faithful. And His Word is yet true! Praise the Lord!

God had me reading the Book of Nehemiah a few weeks ago. And in Chapter 6, vs. 1- 4, it says this... Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. The last verse just stuck with me. Again, it says again, "Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner." The NIV says, "Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer." Hear this: FOUR TIMES, THE SAME MESSAGE. God said this to me, Nehemiah, the prophet of God, was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem for protection from their enemies. He had started this great work back in Chapter 4 and received some opposition, but the opposition went away for a time. How many of you know that the enemy of your soul comes and he opposes you for a while but then he goes away for a season. So Nehemiah received some opposition, but they went away after awhile so he was able to overcome it and kept on building. But after hearing that Nehemiah was close to finishing the wall, his enemies, the enemies of God, Sanballat and Tobiah returned. And after seeing just how close Nehemiah was to completing his great work they try to stop him from finishing by telling him they had to have an important meeting. And each time that Sanballat and Tobiah came back, the Bible says that Nehemiah answered them the same way. He said, "Why should I come down to you? I am doing a great work and I WILL NOT come down." They came to him, FOUR times saying the same thing and each and every time, Nehemiah answered them the same way. "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK and I WILL NOT COME DOWN." God wants you to know that the enemy of your soul is out for your destruction. That work that you are doing for God is a great work. That promise of God that you have been holding on to, is a great promise. That healing that you have been confessing over yourself, or your loved one, is a great healing. That Word from the Lord, that God will provide for you and you shall be the head and not the tail, you shall be above only and not beneath, that your loved ones shall be saved, that your seed shall be mighty in the earth, that's a great Word. God says to hold on. He says to keep confessing. He says to keep believing and waiting patiently on Him. Because the enemy will come. And if he has come and has left, he has only left you for a season. He is coming back. And he is coming back when you are the closest you will ever be to that GREATNESS coming to pass in your life. And each and every time he comes back to you, telling you not to believe, telling you things contrary to the word of God, you MUST answer him the same way you've always have. The same way and in the same manner that has been allowing you the victory up until now. Speaking and believing the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, satan came to him three times trying to stop him from fasting. Essentially Jesus told him, "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK AND WILL NOT COME DOWN." And every time satan came at Him, Jesus answered him the same way. With the Word. Whatever you have spoken to that enemy that lined up with the Word of God, you need to keep telling him the same thing. Be consistent. Be steadfast. Be immovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. Keep confessing that Word. And keep telling that enemy "I will not stop believing. I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, I AM BELIEVING A GREAT GOD, AND I WILL NOT STOP." Amen. Hallelujah!

And know this when you do this, your blessing is at hand. Because right after Nehemiah finished that wall, all kinds of things begin to happen for the people of Jerusalem. The wall was completed, and things just started flowing. Their was a revival in the land. Their fellowship with God was restored. The people received the protection and the healing they missed. The city was repopulated. All because Nehemiah, through the grace of God (he acknowledged that God's hand was on him in Chapter 4 - we do nothing on our own). Nehemiah did not stop doing his great work. And did not stop believing his great God.

God is good. And He's real!

Be blessed.
A servant of the Lord,
Sis. E