This episode addresses the final weapon of the enemy to derail the work of God through Nehemiah by way of a false prophet. The "prophet" uttered words designed to so frighten Nehemiah that he would take matters into his own hands and "sin accordingly." When the enemy fails to frustrate ministry using diversions and slander, he sometimes employs carnal believers to provoke us to "protect" the work of God with our own efforts, based on fear. Believers, like Nehemiah, should reject the enemy's devices that inspire fear, even when coming through trusted believers. The recipe is again the same for all the schemes of the devil: regular intimate time with the Father who alone delivers us out of all our fears.
“Do the God Thing Instead of the “Good” Thing
This episode addresses attempts by the enemy to get believers occupied in affairs unrelated to the tailor-made vision that God has prescribed for our lives. Even well-meaning church members, who aren't sensitive to God's desire for our lives can sometimes persuade us to occupy our energies and time doing "good" things that aren't "God" things. This reality just highlights the necessity of an active prayer life in which God leads and directs us to work in ministry, based on His desire for our lives, to the exclusion of the lusts of men. (1 Peter 4:2)