THE DEVIL IS IN THE DISTRACTIONS (7 OF 13)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-19
This content is part of a series.
Sermon Title: "The Devil Is in the Distractions"
Sermon Series: Rebuild and Renew (7 of 13)
Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-19
Contributor: Keith Krell
It's been said, "The devil is in the details." That may be true. But I think a better insight is: "The devil is in the distractions." What do I mean by this statement? I don't mean time distractions like Netflix, social media, smartphones, sports, and videogames. The particular distraction I want to consider today is the paralyzing distraction of fear. The devil loves to use intimidation and fear to keep us from obeying God.
Consider the following scenarios. How do you respond when your boss asks you to do something unethical? How do you respond when your employer asks you to endorse a position you don't support? How do you respond when God calls you to share your faith with a spiritually hostile neighbor? If you're not yet a Christian, how do you respond when others slander your work performance? How do you respond to an angry family member? How do you respond when your child is bullied by another classmate? We all struggle in these types of situations. Fortunately for us, Nehemiah 6 answers the question: How should we respond when people attempt to frighten or intimidate us?1
1. Nehemiah Overcomes Devious Schemes (6:1-14).2 Verses 1-2 begin on an intriguing note: "Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab3 and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, 'Come, let us meet together at Chephirim [Hakkephirim4] in the plain of Ono.'5 But they were planning to harm me." Nehemiah has finished rebuilding the walls. As the doors are going up, his enemies realize they can't prevent further construction. Their "window of opportunity" is closing. Desperation sets in. So, they resort to flattery to distract Nehemiah.6 Reading betwee ...
Sermon Series: Rebuild and Renew (7 of 13)
Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-19
Contributor: Keith Krell
It's been said, "The devil is in the details." That may be true. But I think a better insight is: "The devil is in the distractions." What do I mean by this statement? I don't mean time distractions like Netflix, social media, smartphones, sports, and videogames. The particular distraction I want to consider today is the paralyzing distraction of fear. The devil loves to use intimidation and fear to keep us from obeying God.
Consider the following scenarios. How do you respond when your boss asks you to do something unethical? How do you respond when your employer asks you to endorse a position you don't support? How do you respond when God calls you to share your faith with a spiritually hostile neighbor? If you're not yet a Christian, how do you respond when others slander your work performance? How do you respond to an angry family member? How do you respond when your child is bullied by another classmate? We all struggle in these types of situations. Fortunately for us, Nehemiah 6 answers the question: How should we respond when people attempt to frighten or intimidate us?1
1. Nehemiah Overcomes Devious Schemes (6:1-14).2 Verses 1-2 begin on an intriguing note: "Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab3 and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, 'Come, let us meet together at Chephirim [Hakkephirim4] in the plain of Ono.'5 But they were planning to harm me." Nehemiah has finished rebuilding the walls. As the doors are going up, his enemies realize they can't prevent further construction. Their "window of opportunity" is closing. Desperation sets in. So, they resort to flattery to distract Nehemiah.6 Reading betwee ...
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