DISTRACTIONS
nehemiah 6:1-9

One of the easiest things to do is give up or not finish what we’ve started! It is true: A winner never quits and a quitter never wins! Summer has ended, and if you’re like me, there are still projects that you started, but somehow never finished. If you asked me why the project didn’t get done, I’d have to admit that most often, it was because of distractions. Many times we find things are not finished because distractions get us off course. Men, I think that is why God gave us wives—to help keep us on course!

In Nehemiah 6, Satan utilized two frequently-used distractions. Those distractions are fear and flattery. The Scripture clearly warns us of the dangers of both! 2 Corinthians 11:4 reveals that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light.” He comes with enticing promises and flattering words. Words that make us think that his way is the right way! His objective is to distract and destroy us. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that “We are not unaware of his schemes.” This is why we must be on guard. 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that “Satan is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour.”

God had placed it on Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Often, when we set out to do a work for the Lord, Satan will try to stop the work! Notice that since Sanballat and his evil friends could not stop the wall from being built around the city, they decided to attack the man behind the building project, Nehemiah. Many times when you try to get your life together, others will flatter you and make you think things in your life are not too bad because, after all, there’s others who are worse than you! Understand, however, it doesn’t matter whose sin is worse than ours; sin is wrong and it is unrighteous in the sight of God. As a result, according to 1 John 5:17, God looks at all unrighteousness as sin.

In 6:1-4, Nehemiah said the following, “When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it — though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates — Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.”

When the attempts were made to sabotage Nehemiah’s work for the Lord, his enemies pretended to be friends and invited him to a conference down on the plains of Ono. Nehemiah somehow didn’t have a good feeling about the invitation and so he declined. When we live close to the Lord and allow His work to become our priority, the Holy Spirit will let us know when things are not right. Sometimes we will say, “It just doesn’t feel right.” That’s often God’s way of showing us things aren’t right! He does it to warn us of the dangers that lie ahead when our distractions take us away from the things of God. Often when we try to accomplish something, whether a personal goal or the work of the Lord, there will be circumstances or even friends who will try to distract us. When you’re young, if you’re trying to maintain good grades, you will always have friends who want you to hang out with them until it’s real late so that when you come home, you’re too tired to finish studying. This is why, young people, it is good advice to finish school before you become involved with members of the opposite sex. And I know that at a certain age, God allows our desire for the opposite sex to be activated. That’s normal; but trust Him for direction! When the time is right, if you are willing to put your trust in Him, He will send the right person your way! Sometimes, whether in your marriage or your personal goals, you just have to be like Nehemiah. Nehemiah said to them, “I am carrying on a great project, and I cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave and go down to you?”

The invitation was made four times. The invitation was refused four times! Many times you will have the devil knock at your door. And just in case you didn’t hear the first few knocks, sometimes he will knock again and again until he gets your attention. But Nehemiah didn’t change his position. Many of you have received continued pressure from the enemy to change your mind and go along with something that is wrong. Young people, your friends may even call you mean names in an effort to make you yield. But I urge you: Don’t yield to temptation, for yielding is sin! Some continually give in without a fight. Others stand for a little while, but eventually give in. But for those who find themselves at the point of yielding under the pressures of worldly bombardment, I encourage you to hold out and don’t give up! Be like Nehemiah and just tell the old devil you’re doing a great work for the Lord, and you can’t stop!

Distractions may appear harmless and even look like good things. However, you must remember their objective is to sidetrack us from what is really important. If you have decided to diet, someone from work will stop by Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Créme right when you’ve almost lost those extra pounds you’ve been battling for weeks. Distractions will come from friends, TV, sports and (Men) even our electronic toys! Some of the biggest distractions and robbers of family time can be our big-screen TV’s and computers! I’m always on my computer because I do a lot of studying. But I’ve learned when my wife or son comes to talk to me, it’s always good to stop and take a break! These are what you call good distractions that ought to be taken every now and then. It’s dangerous when you are so involved in your personal goals that you forget the most important goals God has given you: Your commitment to Him and your family.

Let’s look at these two goals more closely. If I want to keep my commitment to the Lord, I must make time on my PDA or Daily Planner for Him. Men, instead of making the Chicago Tribune or the Wall Street Journal your daily connection with the world, your first connection ought to be the Word of God. In a like manner, it’s also great to connect with close friends. If you go through life and find one good friend, in most cases you have done well. But always remember: There is no friend like Jesus!

When the decision is made to make the Lord first, sometimes it means our jobs must be second.
There was a missionary in China whose abilities were so outstanding that one of the American companies tried to hire him. They offered him an attractive job with a salary to match, but he turned it down. He told them God had sent him to China as a missionary. He thought that would end the matter, but instead they came back with a better offer and an increase in salary. He turned that down too, but again they came back, doubling the financial package. Finally he said to them, “It’s not your salary that’s too little. It’s the job that’s too small!”

You see, the greatest job we can have is the job of being a Christian.

The second-greatest job is your commitment to your family. This means much more than just sending a check home.  It means coming home with the check, Brothers. If you’re home but still focused on the job or tomorrow’s work schedule, your body may be there physically, but your mind is still at work!

Sometimes we have rough days and there’s nothing more we’d rather do than come home and be a couch potato. When you get tired on the job, the boss requests one last report. You don’t want to do it because it means going home a couple hours later, but you bite the bullet and finish the report. That’s okay. But when you come home, remember your most important job, your family. Even though you may be physically and mentally drained, you have a God Who is able to replenish your resources right then and there. The Word tells in Phil 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” KJV

We are sometimes distracted by fear!  Webster defines fear as a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc. The enemy loves to cause us to become fearful. Fear will immobilize an entire army. Great accomplishments are often missed because of fear. Goals are sometimes never achieved because of fear. And yet in 2 Timothy 1:7, God’s Word reminds us, “Our God does not give us the spirit of fear.” Notice in Nehemiah 6:5-7, “Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations — and Geshem says it is true — that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” Satan attempted to put more pressure on Nehemiah as he continued his devilish plan to distract. But because Nehemiah saw the plan for what it really was, “a trick of the devil,” he refused!

Sometimes, we need to pray before we take on too many things, because many times, if we had only acknowledged God, He would have given wise counsel for the situation at hand. Notice the enemy’s tactics as he sends Nehemiah an “unsealed” letter. The purpose was so that everyone could read the letter. Gossip can become a distraction. It comes in an open envelope so that everyone can read it and spread it. It is said that gossip is news you have to hurry to tell somebody else before you find out it isn’t true! Many are hurt and left brokenhearted because of the distraction of gossip.

Nehemiah had a great way of handling the distraction of gossip.  Since it was a rumor, he saw it for what it was, a lie. Realizing what the enemy was attempting to do, he prayed to God for strength and went back to work. When you know something isn’t true, don’t let it distract you with the spirit of discouragement. Accept the fact that it is a lie, ask God for strength and move on!  Verse 8 says, “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.’” That’s the best way to respond to a charge like this – just a flat denial. He didn’t try to disprove the accusation but merely states, “That is a lie. There is no truth in it.” When you know that there is something that is not true, don’t wallow in it. Don’t even give it your time! And don’t let it stop you from returning to the work of the Lord!

Nehemiah said in verse 9, “They are all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.’”  Brothers and Sisters, after you’ve understood what the devil is trying to do, just pray and move on! The next time you are being distracted from the work of the Lord, learn to practice saying, “Yes” to God’s priorities. Then learn to say, “No” to the devil’s distractions that will get you off course.

There was a fictional report of a worldwide convention in which Satan and his demons participated. In the devil’s opening address to his followers, he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church, but we can steal their time. Let’s keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds…keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Let’s crowd their lives with so many good things that they have no time to seek the best things.”