Watch Who You Allow Into Your Circle of Influence
One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you -- by night they are coming to kill you."
But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!"
I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Nehemiah 6:10-15
But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!"
I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Nehemiah 6:10-15
One of the most difficult of the enemy's strategies to detect is when he comes as "an angel of light" speaking the same "spiritual" language and purporting to be aligned with the same vision and interests we have. This is usually difficult to detect because those individuals come across as being in our camp and wanting nothing short of the protection of our God-given vision. Unless we exercise great discernment, we can fall prey to this deception.
Shemaiah had been bribed by Tobiah and Sanballat to use his office, as a priest, to trap Nehemiah into sinning by enticing him to enter the temple. This was against the religious laws because Nehemiah, as a layperson, was forbidden to do that.
Such an action would have discredited Nehemiah among the Jews and severely undercut his moral authority to lead the Jews and complete the rebuilding project. It is interesting to note that there were other prophets who aligned themselves with the enemies of the Jews to impede the vision God had given to Nehemiah and the people of God. They used their religious offices to stand in the way of a God-given vision. The good news is that Nehemiah saw through the motives of all those false prophets and prayerfully kept them out of his circle of influence.
As you pursue your God-given goals, it is critical to exercise great caution and judgment concerning those you allow into your circle of influence. Don't be deceived by people who might come to you claiming that God has given them a word and a direction for you when they have heard absolutely nothing from God on your behalf and are actually promoting the interests of the enemy.
There are people who would want to come into your circle solely to promote their own agenda and that of other outside interests opposite your vision. Nehemiah, the astute leader, was careful to detect this trap because he continually prayed to God and exercised great wisdom.
May the Lord grant you such a spirit of discernment to do the same.
Shemaiah had been bribed by Tobiah and Sanballat to use his office, as a priest, to trap Nehemiah into sinning by enticing him to enter the temple. This was against the religious laws because Nehemiah, as a layperson, was forbidden to do that.
Such an action would have discredited Nehemiah among the Jews and severely undercut his moral authority to lead the Jews and complete the rebuilding project. It is interesting to note that there were other prophets who aligned themselves with the enemies of the Jews to impede the vision God had given to Nehemiah and the people of God. They used their religious offices to stand in the way of a God-given vision. The good news is that Nehemiah saw through the motives of all those false prophets and prayerfully kept them out of his circle of influence.
As you pursue your God-given goals, it is critical to exercise great caution and judgment concerning those you allow into your circle of influence. Don't be deceived by people who might come to you claiming that God has given them a word and a direction for you when they have heard absolutely nothing from God on your behalf and are actually promoting the interests of the enemy.
There are people who would want to come into your circle solely to promote their own agenda and that of other outside interests opposite your vision. Nehemiah, the astute leader, was careful to detect this trap because he continually prayed to God and exercised great wisdom.
May the Lord grant you such a spirit of discernment to do the same.
Prayer: Father, as I pursue your vision for my life, I realize that there are many voices that seek to attract my attention. Not all those voices and people are in alignment with your Spirit. Please help me to distinguish those you send my way from those who are not of your Spirit. Amen.