King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Satan's Hindrances
Date: Friday May 25, 2012
Today's Chapters: Nehemiah 4-6

Hello My Friend,

Did you know that Satan has read the Bible? He knows Scripture and what he does with it is bring utter chaos between professing Christians. It drives me crazy when people twist the Scriptures, sometimes to the point that I question what I am getting out of it once in a while. That is when I take a deep breath and realize that God teaches me what I know through the Holy Spirit, which often gets confirmed by my preachers teachings and some others that are likeminded. Now, I know God allows us to interpret the Bible in different ways and that we are not going to always agree on everything we discuss, but our core beliefs need to line up with what God believes. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:13-16.

The devil has no problem with us believing in God or even accepting Christ, but if he can get a professing Christian to stop or delay the work that God has called them then he has done his job. He will use anyone, and I mean anyone to hinder a person from doing God's work. Nehemiah and his small group of people were determined to get the walls built around Jerusalem, but every where they turned they faced opposition not only from the worldly people, but even some of the Jews. However, they pressed forward reminding themselves that God was with them every step of the way.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” - Nehemiah 4:6-9.

It was so bad that Nehemiah had to appoint men just to stand guard while others did the work. Working about 12 hours a day left little time for anything else, but the Jews faith in God gave them the strength to keep going no matter what opposition they faced. Christ is our strength, He and He alone is the only one who can truly help us through the circumstances we face. Satan loves to place doubt and fear in our lives, but Jesus gives us assurance and godly fear to break through every obstacle when we seek His face. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:13,19.

When Satan realized that the intimidation from the worldly people could not stop Nehemiah he turned to the halfhearted Jews. The Jews foolishly accepted loans from the enemy and now they were having a hard time paying them back. They came to Nehemiah for help, but Nehemiah's response was far from what they expected.

“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.” - Nehemiah 5:1,7-10.

Nehemiah's response, “You should have feared God and your wouldn't have been in this mess.” Nehemiah knew that even if he built Jerusalem's walls as high, thick, and as strong as they could that things would not change if they were abusing each other on the inside. So many people are envious of what others have and are quick to sell themselves and their families out to get it instead of good old fashioned hard work. How can we expect God to change things in our lives when we do not make the effort to let God work in us? You know, Satan might throw some darts to tempt and hinder us, but he cannot make us do anything no more than God can. We can blame God, Satan, or others for the situations we get into, but we have no one to blame, but ourselves because we made the decision, not them.

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:6-10,13.

First, Satan tried to get the worldly people to hinder Nehemiah to no avail, then he tried the Jews to no avail, now, it was up to him. He used Sanballat to hinder Nehemiah by fear. “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 6:10-13.

Perhaps the biggest tactic that Satan uses to hinder us is fear, he loves to place fear in our lives and 90% of the time it is fear that keeps us from moving forward and or getting out of the situations we encounter. We can overcome Satan's tactics to hider us through the power of God and even if we become weak and fall God will pick us back up. Let's face it, we are going to mess up from time to time, but we have a great God to help us clean up the mess. Each mess also prepares us to be ready for any person or thing that Satan uses to hinder us from doing what God wants us to do. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” - Hebrews 13:5-9.

Today's Psalm: 139:5 - “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”

Today's Proverb: 3:25 - “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.”

Today's Prayer: God, I understand that there are some things that You allow me to go through so that I can learn from my mistakes and be an example to others, but I truly want to live my life the way You want me to. Lord, keep my eyes, ears, and heart on You, and help me to let go of hindrances that keep me from completing the work You have given me to do. Help me to be aware of the dangers approaching and to listen for the truths You tell me and not the lies that others want me to believe. Let me be discerning, cordial to others, yet not harken to theirs or my own understanding, but Yours. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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