Battles Within and Without | Nehemiah 5:1-5

Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.” — Nehemiah 5:1-5 CALL OUT: Paul Leininger of Men of Iron in Pennsylvania. He is a faithful mentor and friend. Thanks for sharing our books and resources with men. We cannot do what we do without you. Chapter 5 is evidence of the complex nature of getting massive projects done. Right in the middle of the project, a famine sweeps across the land. This created a compounded challenge—a shortage of food, combined with heavy national taxation, that led people to mortgage their property at a whopping 60-75% mortgage interest and sell their children into slavery to pay off debt. But this was especially directed at the Jewish population. It was so oppressive that eventually, families were indebted to a few Jewish elites in surrounding communities who had money. And this became such a problem that it could not be ignored. It's Murphy's Law. "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." But in this situation, this is not Murphy's Law at work. It's the Enemy's Law. It's always at work against those doing work for the Lord. The Enemy will always work to frustrate the plans of the Lord. The last thing he wants is God glorified. He will attack without and from within to dishearten us, and we must be prepared for it. So today, as you wake to do the work of the Lord, take even a few minutes to assess where the Enemy is working against God's plan for you. Take note of the attack from within and without. See the battle for what it is: the cosmic forces of evil working against the goodwill of God. And then make sure to respond appropriately. Then, come back here tomorrow, and we will see how Nehemiah responds. ASK THIS: Reflect on a recent situation in your life where you felt like you were facing a 'famine' or a significant challenge. How did you perceive the role of the Enemy in this situation? What steps did you take to align yourself with God's plan, and how did you respond to the challenge? Discuss how recognizing the spiritual aspect of our struggles can change our perspective and approach. Nehemiah’s story demonstrates a powerful response to overwhelming adversity. Think about a time when you faced opposition or hardship while trying to accomplish something important. How did you react to this opposition? Share how you can apply Nehemiah's approach to your current or future challenges. What specific actions can you take to ensure that you are responding in a way that honors God and strengthens your faith, even in the face of adversity? DO THIS: Assess the battle within and without. Get ready to respond. PRAY THIS: Lord, in the midst of challenges and opposition, grant me the wisdom to recognize the Enemy's tactics and the strength to stand firm in Your truth. Help me to respond with faith and courage, trusting in Your guidance and protection as I navigate the trials set before me. Amen. PLAY THIS: All My Hope Is In Jesus. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller