The greatest weapon we have against the enemy’s tactics is discernment. Discernment is a wisdom and insight that comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a way of determining the true nature of a situation, person, or thing.
John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Protecting Your City
Nehemiah 6:1, “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).”
Nehemiah had completed the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls however, the gates remained unfinished. They still had no doors. Without a doubt he sent gatekeepers to protect each of Jerusalem’s 12 gates.
A gate gives access to the City; it is a seat of power, authority and influence;1 Chronicles 9:22-23.
John Bunyan illustrates the need for a spiritual “gatekeeper” in his book The Holy War. In this allegory, Bunyan likens humanity to a city: “This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out of which to go; and these were impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate”. In other words, the five senses are the “gates” by which the human soul interacts with the world through the physical body.
Our five senses linked directly to our soul are our greatest weakness, but if guarded properly with discernment and controlled, they can be a great asset!
Here are links to verses linked to the three greatest gates; eyes, ears, and mouth.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/hearing
https://www.openbible.info/topics/speak
https://www.openbible.info/topics/see
Discernment of Your Adversary’s Plans
Nehemiah 6:2-4, “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.”
Four times Sanballat tried to lure Nehemiah out of the safety of Jerusalem’s newly restored defenses. And four times Nehemiah used discernment to reveal the true intent of the request and declined the adversary’s attempts to destroy God’s people by ending Nehemiah’s life.
The plain of Ono was 27 miles from Jerusalem and bordered Samaria and Ashdod which were hostile towards the Israelites. Sanballat used the pretense of settling their differences and creating a peace between them to draw Nehemiah out of the safety of Jerusalem into an obvious trap.
When your defenses are strong and the enemy can no longer easily harass you, he will come at you sideways. From a direction you do not expect. Discernment is key to thwarting his plans to tear you down.
1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The Accuser of the Brethren
Nehemiah 6:5-7, “Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you built the wall, that you might be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.”
Sanballat sends a fifth messenger to Nehemiah. This time he comes with accusations and rumors of Jerusalem’s impending rebellion and Nehemiah’s machinations to maneuver himself to be their king. Even bribery of so-called prophets to endorse his ascension to king.
When the adversary cannot come at you directly or lure you into a trap they will move on to more diabolical tactics. This time Sanballat sowed fear and attempted character assassination of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was God’s man in Jerusalem. He was to restore God’s order. These rumors would destroy the people’s confidence in him.
When the enemy has no power over you he’ll send others to destroy you. Lie, cheat, steal. Whatever he has to do to stop God’s plan and will from coming to pass. Discernment is key to knowing who is for you and who is against you.
Beware of False Counselors
Nehemiah 6:10-13, “Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, ‘Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in’. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.”
Nehemiah sought Godly counsel from an elder of the people. The enemy will set traps for you when you do not fall for his tactics. Plans within plans.
Shemaiah counsels Nehemiah to hide in the temple. At nightfall the enemy would come to slay him. Nehemiah uses discernment and realizes that this is not of God. Shemaiah was hired by Sanballat and Tobiah.
It was forbidden to enter the temple unless you were a Priest or Levite. Nehemiah was neither. To run in fear and then blatantly disobey the Mosaic Law would have been a great sin against God. It would have shown the people that he did not trust God.
The enemy will not stop trying to destroy a Saint of God walking in their calling.
1 Peter 5:8,”Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:”
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