9. Be AWARE of Your ADVERSARIES

Nehemiah 4:1 says, “Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,”

Just like Nehemiah, we’ll also encounter enemies – those who oppose the work we're doing. There may be some who don't understand the value of what we're doing. There will be those who are jealous because we're actually doing something instead of talking about it. And there are some who don’t want to see the plans of God to succeed. Knowing Satan's tactics ahead of time allows us to be prepared.

Just being aware of your adversaries shouldn’t stop the work you’re doing. When the enemies sent a letter asking Nehemiah to meet with them, he replied, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Anytime we do something to benefit God’s people or to build God’s kingdom, the enemy is there to steal, kill, and destroy it. And he'll use whatever means necessary to try and stop us.

Our enemy Satan doesn’t really care if we go to church once a week, pay tithes, or listen to Christian music. He doesn’t pay any attention to that. What rouses the enemy is when we start having kingdom impact with eternal results. Go into it expecting opposition.

Can you still hear God’s voice even amid criticism and mockery? Do you have the courage to keep going, or do you cave and start to second-guess everything? Don’t argue with the adversary. Don’t even give him any thought. Be courageous in the face of hardship and spiritual warfare. God’s already promised success. Don’t let what the enemy says or does deter you from the work. You are doing a great work!