Dismantling the Confidence of those Who Oppose Us

Dismantling the Opposers Confidence

Without a doubt Nehemiah is another hero of the faith. He took on a monumental task that was the product of the burden of his heart and accomplished leading God’s people in a powerful way. Through his leadership, encouragement and example, Nehemiah led the Israelites in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in an incredible fifty-two days. Obviously he had his enemies. I have discovered that no matter what good we set out to accomplish in life there will always be those that oppose us – simply because they can. Jesus said taught us this principle:
Matthew 5:46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

John saddled this teaching by instructing us this way:
2 John 1:8 “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”

Because we will have those around us that will oppose our intentions and our actions to expand the kingdom of God in the earth we have no choice but to prepare to engage them.  Let’s not pretend they exist.  That’s a fantasy God doesn’t intend for us to live in.  Jesus also said to “agree quickly with your adversary” (Matthew 5.25). In doing so we unload his weapons and he is left with an empty weapon against us. Lets agree then that there is a world that is fixed on opposing anything we do for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.
Nehemiah had a team that set out against him. Going into detail here would take too long so I recommend reading the entire book of Nehemiah as a study on leadership. His more prominent enemies were Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. They attempted in several ways to hinder and stop the work of Nehemiah. In chapter six there is an attempt by these guys to send letters of invitation, of discouragement and accusation against Nehemiah. Nehemiah refuses to respond to them in the manner which they tempt him. Instead he denies them an opportunity of accomplishing evil against him. What I like about this next passage is that it literally gives us insight in to dismantling the structure of opposition found against us. Take a look at this passage:
Nehemiah 6:15-16 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. (16) When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Opposers Confidence Gained
Up until Nehemiah actually stood against his enemies progressive attacks on him – they assumed what they were doing was working. They took confidence in the fact that assumed they were breaking him down. Wearing him down. Shutting him down. Discouraging him. But the reality of this story is that Nehemiah kept his faith. He didn’t “come down” (Nehemiah 6.3) to their level. He gave credence to the fact of their presence but he didn’t give in to their reasoning. Paul would write to the church at Ephesus and instruct them: “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4.26-27). What we fail to do as leaders is to properly place a balanced anger against the enemy. We can get upset with the enemies tactics but we certainly shouldn’t give him a foothold in our mind.
When the attacks of those who oppose our kingdom work are perpetual as they were with Nehemiah – we are left to have a fixed conviction about what we’re doing. We will not “come down” to the level our enemy fights at. We are better, stronger, and more equipped than he ever will be.

To continue to allow the enemy to push us, prod us, shove us and discourage us is to give him a “place”. In doing so the opposer gains confidence in his ability to tear us down.

Opposers Confidence Dismantled
There are a plethora of reasons why God allows the enemy a shot at us once in a while. He may be testing our faith, conviction and resolve to move toward the high calling of God in us. Whatever His reason He will ultimately reveal it to us. But what Nehemiah did was so powerful that the results were incredible for you and I to follow. Nehemiah became not only a leader but he set himself up as a coach for you and I today. He dismantled the confidence of the enemy. When you have accomplished this task you have certainly accomplished not only a physical and material goal set, you have also accomplished a spiritual victory.

Look at verse 16 again: When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Let me bullet point some dynamics you can build on and go further with.

• His enemies “heard” of it. He didn’t just communicate with the enemy, his opposers, I believe he and all of the people of God testified daily about the progressive work of God in their life, their work and their community. Staying positive and speaking about the blessings and favor of God will often times begin to dissuade the enemy’s ability to back off. A persistent testimony and positive, constructive claim to the work of God will let the enemy know we are not quitters.

• His opposers “saw” the work of God. There was a physical and material evidence to the work of God in Nehemiah’s life. The wall was a constant reminder to his opposers that progress was being made. I think we fail as leaders when we refuse to communicate to those we lead a positive and evidential testimony. Talk about the blessings but show the blessings from time to time. Give those you lead ownership to the progressive work of God by letting them see firsthand what God is doing in your church, business and personal life.

When our opposers hear and see the progressive work of God in our lives they without doubt and by default spiritually – lose their confidence. They back off. I realize there are those seasons whereby we give our opposers more resolve towards fighting us but in every case we win. Time and seasons of life may impact the tenure of fight with opposers but we win. I claim that by default of spiritual law working in our faith that those who oppose us will fall to the way side and see the work of God in us.

There is a supernatural element here that cannot be dismissed. Nehemiah’s opposers saw that it was the work of God through them that enabled them to accomplish the rebuilding of the walls. They didn’t see it as it was happening. They didn’t catch on to the fact that God, silently and without fanfare was Nehemiah’s enabler. God supernaturally empowered them to do what they couldn’t do in the natural. In an age where there is an attempt to play down the supernatural power of God we cannot discount His power and authority and expect to win. We, as Nehemiah did, need the Holy Spirit to enable us to go beyond our natural ability. He and He alone can lead us to the victory we strive for.

I don’t have all the secrets of life and leadership in the church but one thing I have discovered is that I can’t do spiritual work without spiritual empowerment. We have the ability to dismantle the confidence of those who oppose our efforts in the kingdom of God. Rather you are a pastor, teacher, apostle, prophet or evangelist or a Christian business man – we can dismantle the confidence of our enemy. We do it by 1) a persistent prophetic word of accomplishment and 2) giving material evidence to the work of God in our lives. Display for others to see what God is doing. Encourage your congregation or business employee’s to testify about the work of God in their personal lives and in the church. Instruct those you lead to talk about the work of God in a positive way. You yourself must take the lead here. You can’t talk negatively about what God has called you to supernaturally accomplish and expect others to follow. People follow because they look to you to lead them. When you fail to lead we fail to dismantle the confidence of the enemy.

I close with a word from our Ephesian sponsor, Paul the apostle:
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (21) to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.