Distraction – The enemy’s tool | 2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | Sep 05, 2021

We welcome you all in the name of Jesus Christ! It is God who has enabled us to praise and worship Him today, so let us all rejoice in Him!

Today we will again continue with our ongoing series from last week, “The Enemy’s Tool“, and the subject of focus will be, “Distraction!”

If God has a purpose for you, it is just distraction which can take you to a diffferent direction.

Last Sunday we studied from the life of Nehemiah, as he refused to be discouraged (Ref: Nehemiah 4).

Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “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?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:1‭-‬9

Now that the enemy noticed that Nehemiah wasn’t discouraged, they planned of a different method, i e. distracting Nehemiah.

Nehemiah understood the intention of his enemy that they want to stop his work and harm him by trickery, so that Nehemiah will move away. However, Nehemiah declined by asking “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?” Nehemiah knew the strategy of the enemy and continued to build the wall, avoiding distractions.

Firstly, Nehemiah denied the rumors that enemy was trying to throw at Nehemiah. He responded, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”

Secondly, Nehemiah prayed to God! Enemies may distract you or discourage you in order to take you away from God. However, no matter what happens, you need to press on, exactly hiw Nehemiah oressed on. Enemy will try to stop but you need to keep your eyes fixed unto the Lord. Like how once Paul said, “Remove the weight…!”

When God calls us, we need to be very responsible to avoid distractions. Satan will try all his might to harm you, to distract you, to discourage you, but it is you who need to hold on to God and press on!

Let those who are tempted to idle merry meetings by vain companions, thus answer the temptation, We have work to do, and must not neglect it. We must never suffer ourselves to be overcome, by repeated urgency, to do anything sinful or imprudent; but when attacked with the same temptation, must resist it with the same reason and resolution. It is common for that which is desired only by the malicious, to be falsely represented by them as desired by the many. But Nehemiah knew at what they aimed, he not only denied that such things were true, but that they were reported; he was better known than to be thus suspected. We must never omit any known duty for fear it should be misconstrued; but, while we keep a good conscience, let us trust God with our good name. God’s people, though loaded with reproach, are not really fallen so low in reputation as some would have them thought to be. Nehemiah lifted up his heart to Heaven in a short prayer. When, in our Christian work and warfare, we enter upon any service or conflict, this is a good prayer, I have such a duty to do, such a temptation to grapple with; now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Every temptation to draw us from duty, should quicken us the more to duty.

There are few things I would like to talk regarding “Distractions“.

1: First, enemy wants to distract you to keep you away from God and to discourage you to fulfill the purpose of God in your life.

2: Second thing to learn today is that distractions happen at very crucial moments.

Even though Nehemiah wasnt distracted or discouraged, yet the gates weren’t built by that time. Open gates means an invitation for the enemy.

3: Third thing we can find is that distractions are constant things. Enemy will keep on distracting, no matter how many times you avoid.

In this world, we work hard to run a family. Even kids work hard by studying hard. This can take us away from God, however this also doesn’t means that we need to stop working or studying. However, we need to start managing our time so we can be with God and the time where we can focus on communicating with God. There is a purpose of God in your life and you need to fulfill it with only God’s help.

Nehemiah had a strong determination. Irrespective of his haed work, he kept himself focused on God while working hard to build the wall and at the same time, avoiding getting distracted by the enemy. That’s because, Nehemiah was determined.

Can you trust a driver who is distracted? The simple answer to this is “No!” Because there is a high probability of a crash.  Imagine, how can we fulfill God’s purpose in our walk of life with distraction.

4: Another thing to do is to stay connected with God. We will be able to identify the things that are pulling us away from God. In order to avoid any mishap, we need to be connected with God and keep fellowship with God’s people. Eventhough fellowship is important, what more important is the discipleship. In order to experience God, we must understand His discipleship.

There are so many things that can distract us from the very purpose of God. But you need to fight it off by asking God to strengthen you so that you can walk in the purpose assigned by God to you.

Even satan tried to distract Jesus by bringing temptation. However, Jesus was focused on His purpose, i.e. getting crucifying on the cross.

Dear people of God, are you feeling discouraged in your walk towards God’s purpose? Are you constantly getting distracted? If your answer is yes, then today is the day you need to seek God and His intervention. Fix your eyes upon God and He will help you focus in your walk towards victory in God’s purpose of your life