THE BATTLE OVER THE WALLS
KEY VERSE FROM THE ARTICLES OF WAR:
Then answered I them, and said unto them, the
God of Heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and
build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah
2:20)
The book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament
relates the story of a battle to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem which had been
destroyed by an enemy. Walls were an important defense in cities in ancient
Israel. They protected against enemy invasion. The natural walls of Jerusalem
are symbolic of our spiritual walls:
...thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and
thy gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:18)
The natural gates of Jerusalem mentioned in
Nehemiah 3 each have symbolic meaning which apply to your spiritual walls:
The Sheep Gate represents the work of the
cross in your life, the foundation of spiritual construction: 3:1; John 10:11
The Fish Gate represents Christian witness:
3:3; Matthew 4:19
The Old Gate represents the old nature
changing to the new: 3:6; Romans 6:1-23
The Valley Gate speaks of suffering and
testing: 3:13; II Corinthians 1:3-5
The Dung Gate represents the works of the
flesh which must be eliminated: 3:14; Galatians 5:16-21
The Fountain Gate represents the work of the
Holy Spirit: 3:15; John 7:37-39
The Water Gate represents the Word of God:
3:26; John 4:10-14
The Horse Gate represents the believer's
warfare: 3:28; Ephesians 6:10-17
The Eastern Gate speaks of the believer's
hope in the return of Jesus: 3:29; Ezekiel 43:1-2
The Miphkad Gate speaks of self-examination
and the judgment seat of Jesus: 3:31; I Corinthians 3:9-15; II Corinthians 5:10
So your spiritual walls include: • Walls of
salvation, gates of praise • Work of the cross in your life • Christian witness
• The old nature changed to the new nature • Suffering and testing •
Elimination of works of the flesh • Work of the Holy Spirit • The Word of God •
Spiritual warfare
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• The hope of the return of Jesus •
Self-examination
These are the spiritual walls Satan has
targeted to destroy in your life. He wants to destroy your praise and Christian
witness. He wants to destroy the work of the cross, suffering, and the Holy
Spirit in your life. He tries to keep you from studying God's Word and acting
upon its truths. Satan wants to defeat you in spiritual warfare, prevent
self-examination, and entrap you in the works of the flesh and the old sinful
nature. He wants to destroy your hope in the return of Jesus. These are your
spiritual walls, and Satan attacks them with strategies identical to those used
in the battle over the walls in Jerusalem. This chapter focuses on the battle
over the walls of your spiritual life. It uses the story of Nehemiah to draw
powerful parallels of spiritual warfare.
THE REASON FOR THE PROBLEM
Nehemiah recognized the walls had been
destroyed and the city was in its present condition because of sin. (Nehemiah
1:5-7) When your spiritual walls are in ruin it is also because of sin.
Nehemiah felt an intense burden from God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to
provide protection for the inhabitants. His preparation and plan are described
in chapters l and 2. He and his workers were determined to "arise and
build" the walls (Nehemiah 2:18).
STRATEGIES OF SATAN: THE BATTLE OVER THE
WALLS
When Nehemiah determined to rebuild the wall
around Jerusalem, he met powerful opposition from his enemies. When you
determine to rebuild spiritual walls, you will face similar opposition from
your enemy, Satan. The strategies of the enemies of Nehemiah are identical to
the strategies Satan uses to attack spiritual walls. The attacks are divided
into two main categories: External attacks and internal attacks.
EXTERNAL ATTACKS:
These are attacks the enemy launches from
without through others who are not part of the body of Christ. Such attacks
include:
1. Direct criticism: Nehemiah 2:19
The enemies criticized, "What do you
think you are doing?" They were against the reconstruction project and
tried in every way to prevent it.
2. Mocking and scorn: Nehemiah 4:1-3
Nehemiah became a "target for
tongues." The enemy tried to defeat him through the mocking and scorn of
others. Satan will use the tongue of others to discourage and defeat you.
3. False accusations: Nehemiah 6:5-7
The enemy attacked Nehemiah personally with
false accusations. They accused him of being a rebel. Satan is called "the
accuser of the brethren." He will use others to accuse you as well as
putting accusing thoughts in your mind.
4. Diversion: Nehemiah 6:2
The enemy tried to get Nehemiah to join them
for a meeting. This meeting was a diversion tactic to call Nehemiah away from
the work of rebuilding the wall. Diversion from the things of God and the work
He has given you to do is still a chief strategy of Satan.
5. Popular influence: Nehemiah 6:2
The enemy said let "us" meet
together, trying to influence Nehemiah with popular opinion. Popular opinion
said Nehemiah was a rebel and the wall could not be built. Trying to get
believers to conform to popular opinion, majority rule, and the principles of
the world is a key strategy of Satan. A false prophet claiming to be of God was
even used by the enemy to attack Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:10-13). Popular opinion
would say to listen to a "prophet of God." We are warned of false
prophets who would divert us from God.
6. Compromise: Nehemiah 5:14-19 Nehemiah
refused to compromise. He did not conform to wrong life styles and principles
around him. His motto was, "So did not I, because of the fear of God"
(Nehemiah 5:15). Satan promotes compromise. He tries to convince believers that
something is all right because others are doing it or that such things really
are not wrong.
7. Threats and fear: Nehemiah 6:5-9
The enemy made fearful threats against
Nehemiah and his workers. Satan knows that fear paralyzes but faith energizes
believers to be effective for God. When Nehemiah was offered a way to escape
from the enemy, he refused to be fearful and retreat (Nehemiah 6:10-13). He did
not take the easy way out. Satan tries to make believers flee in the face of
opposition. When you are running you are retreating, and when you retreat you
do not gain or hold spiritual ground. When you walk by faith you will encounter
opposition of those who walk by sight.
8. Fighting and hindering: Nehemiah 4:8
Open tactics of fighting and hindering were
also used. The enemy is not always subtle in his attacks. Sometimes he comes
right out in the open to fight and hinder.
9. Conspiracy: Nehemiah 4:8; 6:2
A conspiracy or plot was made against
Nehemiah by the enemy. The enemy plots against your life also:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy... (John 10:10)
10. Attacks at vulnerable times: Nehemiah 4:6
The greatest attack of the enemy came when
the wall was half finished because this was a strategic (important) time. The
enemy invades at strategic times when you are vulnerable (most open and
affected by his attacks).
• The Prophet Jonah became despondent after
the greatest revival ever experienced (Jonah 3-4). • David fell into sin at a
time of great victory in his life. Up until that time he had not known military
defeat. • Samson fell into sin when he "began" to deliver Israel from
the hands of the Philistines.
When you are being effective for God, you are
vulnerable to enemy attack. Satan is concerned most with those who are
advancing in the spirit world.
INTERNAL ATTACKS:
Internal attacks of Satan are those made from
within the Body of Christ. They include:
1. Discouragement: Nehemiah 4:10-11
The workers became discouraged which resulted
in: • Loss of strength. • Loss of vision because of "too much
rubbish." • Loss of confidence
2. Dissension: Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah 5 opens with dissension among God's
people. If Satan divides the Body of Christ,
he makes us ineffective. We are busy battling
each other instead of building. Wrong motives are always behind dissension. In
Nehemiah chapter 5 the wrong motive was greed.
3. Weak believers: Nehemiah 4:12
The enemy used weak workers (symbolic of weak
believers in the Body of Christ) to try to defeat the construction project.
SPIRITUAL COUNTER STRATEGIES: VICTORY AT THE
WALL
The following strategies were used by
Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. You can use the same strategies to
assure victory at your spiritual walls:
EXAMINE THE WALLS:
As Nehemiah did in the natural world, examine
the walls of your spiritual life. (Nehemiah 2) Has the enemy crept into your
personal life, your home, church fellowship, business, etc.?
But let a man examine himself... (I
Corinthians 11:28)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves... (II Corinthians 13:5)
Remember that self-examination is one of the
symbolic gates of your wall in the spirit world. Satan will try to prevent you
from self-examination because it will result in recognition of areas in your
life where you have let him destroy the walls and invade.
CONFESS YOUR SIN:
As Nehemiah, recognize that the reason walls
are destroyed is because of sin. Then like he did (Nehemiah 1:5-7), confess
your sin and ask forgiveness:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I
John 1:8-9)
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CANNOT BUILD ALONE:
When Nehemiah's workers said, "We
ourselves are unable to build the wall," it was a true statement. By
themselves they were unable. They needed the power of God to equip them for the
task...So will you!
ARISE AND BUILD:
As Nehemiah, determine to rise and rebuild
your spiritual walls:
Then answered I them, and said unto them, the
God of Heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build:
but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:20)
Be prepared...You will face opposition from
the enemy.
DO NOT BE DIVERTED:
Nehemiah refused to be diverted by enemy
tactics (Nehemiah 6:2-3). Do not let the enemy divert or distract you from
rebuilding your spiritual walls.
DO NOT BE SWAYED BY "POPULAR
OPINION":
Popular opinion was that Nehemiah was a rebel
(Nehemiah 2:19). Popular opinion held that the walls could not be properly
rebuilt (Nehemiah 4:3). Nehemiah was not swayed by popular opinion. Rather than
conform to popular opinion, Nehemiah set an example. He said, "So did not
I, because of the fear of God" (Nehemiah 5:14-19. Become an example in
spiritual warfare. Do not become part of the crowd that says victory is impossible.
IDENTIFY THE ENEMY AND HIS STRATEGIES:
Nehemiah identified the enemy and his
strategies. He discovered that the enemy planned a surprise attack (Nehemiah
4:8 and 11). You must identify your spiritual enemy and his strategies in order
to be effective in spiritual warfare. This will help you be prepared for
surprise attacks. Recognize that the enemy has conspired against you to kill,
steal, and destroy but realize God has greater power and wants to give you life
more abundantly (John 10:10).
DEVELOP SPIRITUAL COUNTER STRATEGIES:
Nehemiah developed a counter strategy when he
heard the enemy planned to attack. He set some workers as a guard to watch for
the enemy. Every worker built the wall but also had his sword and was prepared
to fight (Nehemiah 4:13-18). A signal was arranged (a trumpet blast) to alert
the warriors of an invasion. Because they were prepared to fight and knew the
strategy of the enemy, they prevented an invasion. They knew if they had to war
with the enemy, God would fight for them:
...our God shall fight for us. (Nehemiah
4:20)
If you develop proper spiritual counter
strategies, you can prevent many invasions of the enemy into your life. When
Satan does break through and invade, be assured that God will fight for you!
FACE THE ENEMY:
When Nehemiah was offered refuge from the
enemy, he refused. He said, "Should such a man as I flee?" (Nehemiah
6:11). Nehemiah faced the enemy in God's power. When the enemy threatens you,
do not flee or take the easy way out or your spiritual walls will never be
secure. When internal dissension and discouragement arose and the enemy worked
through weak believers, Nehemiah did not ignore the attacks. He confronted and
conquered them.
PROTECT YOUR WALL AT VULNERABLE TIMES:
In the story of Nehemiah, the greatest attack
of the enemy came when the wall was half finished. When you start building in
the spirit world, when you enter the arena of effective spiritual warfare, be
prepared. It is a vulnerable time. You are a target for an attacks of Satan.
BUILD THE WALL:
Nehemiah's response to direct criticism,
mocking, scorn, false accusations, threats, and fear, was simply to continue
building the wall:
So we labored in the work: and half of them
held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
(Nehemiah 4:21)
Nehemiah stayed with the task. He did not
stop building:
So the wall was finished in the twenty and
fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty and two days. (Nehemiah 6:15)
Nehemiah did in a short time what the enemy
said could not be done.
If the walls are down around your life, the
enemy may tell you the task is hopeless. But, with God's help, you can rebuild
the wall. With His strength you do not have to take a long time to do so:
I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)
When the enemy attacks your spiritual
reconstruction project do not quit! Just keep building your spiritual walls.
SET A WATCH:
When Nehemiah completed rebuilding the walls
around Jerusalem, he set a guard to watch over the walls and gates of the city
(Nehemiah 7:1-3). Set a watch over your spiritual walls. Always be alert for
attacks of the enemy.
1. Are there spiritual walls in your life
which have been destroyed by the enemy? Examine your "spiritual
walls" which include... • Walls of salvation, gates of praise • Work of
the cross in your life • Christian witness • The old nature changed to the new
nature • Suffering and testing • Elimination of works of the flesh • Work of
the Holy Spirit • The Word of God • Spiritual warfare • The hope of the return
of Jesus • Self-examination
2. Believers are often defeated in spiritual
warfare because of lack of proper spiritual preparation. Study how Nehemiah
prepared himself before rebuilding the wall and confronting the enemy:
• He saw conditions as they were: Chapter l-2
• He recognized the root problem as sin and confessed his part in it: Nehemiah
1:5- 7 • He fasted, wept, mourned, and prayed: Nehemiah 1:4 • He prepared
properly before starting the task and facing the enemy: Chapters l and 2 • He
had a strategy for rebuilding: Chapter 3
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3. Ready to rebuild your spiritual walls?
Review and apply the strategies learned in this lesson.
BATTLES OVER STRATEGIC TERRITORY
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
STRATEGIES OF SATAN: PHYSICAL ATTACKS
Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost:
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (I
Corinthians 3:16-17)
Because your body is the temple of God's
Spirit, it will be attacked by Satan through:
SICKNESS:
Sickness is in the world because of the
original sin of Adam and Eve. Although all sickness is in the world because of
sin, it does not mean everyone who is suffering is sick because of their own
sin.
The Bible reveals various reasons for
sickness. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is illness caused by Satan.
Satan attempts to afflict the body just as he attempts to afflict the soul and
spirit. Your body is no more immune to his attacks than your spirit is to
discouragement, condemnation, etc. But illness can also be used as chastisement
to deal with sin. For an example see the story of Miriam in Numbers 12.
In one healing Jesus performed during His
earthly ministry He said to the recipient:
...Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more,
lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14)
The illness of this man was apparently a
result of sin. In another case, Jesus made it clear that the illness was not
the result of sin but for the glory of God:
And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which
was blind from his birth.
And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master,
who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned,
nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(John 9:1-3)
An illness for the glory of God is one caused
by Satan but which God uses for His glory when
physical healing comes through prayer. This
type of illness is a direct physical attack by Satan. When counter strategies
for victory are applied, this physical attack can actually bring glory to God.
All illness is not caused by sin or Satan or
as chastisement. Illness may result from the breaking of natural laws. For
example, you may become ill because you do not eat properly or you probably
will break your leg if you jump from the top of a coconut tree. Tempting you to
break natural laws is an indirect attack of Satan on your body. He tempts you
to eat improperly and not take care of your body because he knows that it can
result in an illness which will hinder your effectiveness for God.
EXHAUSTION:
Satan also attacks the body through
exhaustion which results from being too busy or working too hard. When you are
extremely tired physically, Satan takes advantage and launches spiritual
attacks. Satan came to Jesus when He was exhausted from 40 days of fasting
(Matthew 4:2). When Elijah was tired from great spiritual exploits he became so
discouraged that he wanted to die (I Kings 19:4).
DEATH:
Although physical death must come to all men
until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan attempts to cause premature
death. He will tempt people to commit suicide. He will also make you fearful of
illness or accidents which could result in death.
ABUSE:
Satan also tempts people to abuse their
physical bodies by putting toxic substances into them such as drugs and
alcoholic beverages. He knows such toxic substances can result in illness,
mental damage, and death.
SPIRITUAL COUNTER STRATEGIES: VICTORY OVER
PHYSICAL ATTACKS
When you are ill, seek the Lord to determine
the cause of your illness. Have you violated a natural law which resulted in
your illness? For example, have you been eating improperly or drinking bad
water? Have you been abusing your body by putting toxic substances such as
cigarette smoke into your system?
If you have violated natural laws, God can
still heal you. But you should use more wisdom in the future. Remember that
your body is the temple of God's Holy Spirit. Stop breaking natural laws and
take better care of your body. This is also important to remember in case of
exhaustion. Jesus called His disciples to rest when they were exhausted from
their busy ministry (Mark
6:31).
When Elijah was tired and depressed he rested
under a tree and God sent an angel to him with physical food. Elijah waited
until he received a new touch from God and his physical strength had been
renewed before going on to new challenges of ministry (I Kings 19:4-8).
When illness results as chastisement for sin
it is not caused by Satan and binding the power of the enemy will do no good.
Only repentance and return to God will bring relief:
Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for He
hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten and he will bind us up. (Hosea
6:1)
For I will restore health unto thee, and I
will heal thee of thy wounds... (Jeremiah 30:17)
...If thou wilt diligently hearken to the
voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and
wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none
of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am
the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who
healeth all thy diseases. (Psalms 103:3)
In regards to physical attacks caused by
Satan it is important to remember that as a believer, God is in control of your
life. Satan cannot touch you physically nor take your life without the
knowledge of God. Read Job chapters one and two which verify these facts. The
power of God is greater than that of Satan. The God who made the human body has
the power to heal that body. Claim these promises for healing when you
experience physical attacks from Satan:
But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun
of righteousness arise with healing in His wings... (Malachi 4:2)
Who His own self bare our sins in His own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins should live unto righteousness;
by whose stripes ye were healed. (I Peter 2:24)
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and
with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (III John 1:2)
When Satan attacks you physically, call for
the prayers of other believers, including elders in the church and those with
the spiritual gift of healing:
...to another the gifts of healing by the
same Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:9)
And God hath set some in the church...then
gifts of healings... (I Corinthians 12:28)
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)
Physical death is part of the process of life
until the end of time as we know it. It should not be feared by believers, for
we have the promise of eternal life:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory? (I Corinthians 15:55)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather
to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (II Corinthians
5:8)
Satan cannot take the life of a believer
before the set time for his death, as illustrated by the story of Job. God does
not overrule the human will, however. If a person is tempted by Satan to commit
suicide and yields to that temptation, God will not overrule the act of his
will.
STRATEGIES OF SATAN: ATTACKS THROUGH HUMAN
PERSONALITIES
Another way Satan attacks you is through
human personalities. Satan can use people around you to attack you spiritually.
The attack may come from family, friends, enemies, business associates, or even
strangers. Human personalities can be disguised as "angels of light,"
apostles, and ministers of righteousness. But Satan is actually working through
them:
For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end
shall be according to their works. (II Corinthians 11:13-16)
The strategy of transference of spirits has
already been covered in a previous chapter. But Satan also has other ways of
using human personalities. Satan will use people to give you wrong
counsel. Read the book of Job and note the
wrong counsel given by his friends and his wife. Prophecy is one of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit, but Satan also has his prophets. Personal prophecies
through human personalities are not always God-inspired. Study the tragic
example of this in I Kings 13. Attacks of Satan will come through trusted
friends as well as enemies or unbelievers:
For it was not an enemy that reproached me;
then I could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify
himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him;
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide,
and mine acquaintance.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked
unto the house of God in company. (Psalms 55:12-14)
Satan uses human personalities to exalt you
and tempt you to take God's glory for yourself:
And the people gave a shout, saying, it is
the voice of a god, and not of a man.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote
him, because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms, and gave up
the ghost. (Acts 12:22-23)
People are used by Satan to get you to stray
from the plan of God for your life. Read how Peter was used of Satan to attack
Jesus in this way (Mark 8:31-33). Satan will try to get your eyes on others
instead of God. Peter was distracted from God's plan by concern with what He
had planned for John (John 21:20-23).
Satan will tempt you to "emulation"
which is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Emulations is trying to
imitate, equal, or excel others, to copy, rival, or compete with them. As long
as you are busy doing this, you will not follow the pattern of ministry God has
for your own life.
Satan will use people to deceive you. Read
how this happened to Joshua (Joshua 9). People will desert you (II Timothy
4:16-17; Acts 15:37- 38; John 6:66). Satan will try to hinder your spiritual
objectives in relation to others (I Thessalonians 2:18), and will cause
confusion and disharmony (I Corinthians 14:33; James 3:16). Satan also will use
others to affect the circumstances in your life Read how this happened to
Joseph in Genesis chapters 37 and 39.
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