...IF SINNERS ENTICE YOU... Text: Prov.1: 8-16 (10) Sermon Outline Introduction I am doing a great work The great conspiracy against Nehemiah Wisdom from above Conclusion Introduction The strength of focus in the lives of many people today is weakened by their inability to prevent distractions. Distractions come in various shapes and sizes, but fixing one s eyes on the goal is of absolute necessity. Being pre-occupied with spiritual responsibilities potently reduces the chances of being lured into fleshly destruction. The age-long strategies of the devil dates back to the Garden of Eden when man was lured into his waterloo, pitching him against His maker and sustainer. Unsuspecting children of God often fall into the gimmicks and craftiness of the evil one as He opposes every noble activity geared towards the salvation of souls and the eternal redemption of mankind. The reality of the antics of Satan is demonstrated in his presence with man in the Garden of Eden, his presence with Jesus in the wilderness, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. I am doing a great work What a great excuse to avoid falling into an evil trap! Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem changed their evil strategy when they perceived that their initial strategy had failed to achieve the desired result of preventing or completely stopping the on-going construction works championed by Nehemiah as the work was nearing completion. They resorted to attack on Nehemiah s personality and character. They decided to blackmail him. They attacked Nehemiah by cooking up rumours against him SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 1
(Neh.6: 5-7). Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah! Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Besides cooking up rumours, these conspirators also applied deceit as one of the elements of their strategy (Neh.6: 10-13): Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.. 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in! 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. When they invited Nehemiah to a meeting, they had the thought to do him harm, but Nehemiah s response was simple: I am doing a great work! In the parable of the king s ten servants in Lk.19: 12-26 (13), the charge given by the noble man to his servants was Occupy till I come or Do business till I come (NKJV). When Joseph and Mary were searching for 12 year old Jesus, after one of their yearly visits to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, thinking he got missing, He was found in the temple questioning the teachers of the law. His mother told him how Joseph and she had looked for Him anxiously. His reply was simple: Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father s business? Lk.2: 41-49. David had an opportunity to fall into the sin of adultery with Uriah s wife because he wasn t at his business at that point in time. He usually led Israel in battle, but on that occasion, while the battle was raging, the second king of Israel was at his balcony beholding another man s wife! Are we about our Father s business enough to prevent us from consenting SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 2
to sinners when they entice us? Are we occupied enough with the work of the gospel to enable us reject invitation to evil and ungodly meetings where our spiritual lives can be harmed or fatally injured? Solomon, in God s wisdom says: My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like 3Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious 4possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. The great conspiracy against Nehemiah The strategies of Satan are characterised by tact, persistency, lying, diligence, creativity and innovation. Just take a little time to ponder on the strategy adopted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Wasn t the approach filled with tact? Again, did you notice that the leading questions the serpent asked the woman did not end until the first woman fell? Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem repeatedly conspired against Nehemiah to ensure that the construction project failed. Following in the steps of the serpent, the strategies of these conspirators was enveloped in diligence, tact and persistency. They offered an opportunity for Nehemiah to meet with them, they tried hard to distract him from the noble work he was doing and again, they tried to infuse fear and anxiety into him, deceiving him into falling into their trap, but thankfully God was with Nehemiah, so he did not fall! Then I said to them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, Let us rise up and build. Then they set their hands to this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king? (Neh.2: 17-19). SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 3
7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion (Neh.4: 7-8). And our adversaries said, They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease. (Neh.4: 11) Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm. (Neh.6: 1-2) 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. (Neh.6: 1-4) 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem[a] says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah! Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. (Neh.6: 5-8) The messengers of Satan are often very focused and persistent in their ploy to bring down God s children or to forestall a noble cause! Why then should Christians not be focused and persistent in achieving great exploits for the Kingdom of Truth? Why should we not be diligent, hardworking and innovative in outsmarting the evil one, using the knowledge of God s words? Do we jump at the opportunities offered by the devil? Do we allow Satan to distract us from looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith? Do we allow the evil one to infuse fear and anxiety into us, casting away our trust in God, and doubting His tender mercies and grace? SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 4
Wisdom from above Solomon had the opportunity to request just one thing from God. He didn t ask for wealth or longevity, but he asked for wisdom to lead God s people and he got more than his request. Paul explained to the Corinthians that Christ is the wisdom of God. But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Cor.1: 30). The Jews could not resist the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke (Acts.6: 10). Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph.1: 17). He further admonished the Colossians thus: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom... (Col.3: 16). Again he said to them: Walk in wisdom toward them who are outside, redeeming the time (Col.4: 5). Nehemiah adopted the approach of Paul by turning down the offer of invitation from Sanballat and his cohorts. The wisdom of God in Nehemiah enabled him discern that their invitation was not genuine. Christ indeed says: But what wisdom are we talking about here? It is the wisdom from above. Let s hear what James has to say: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and selfseeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there, but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (Jas.3:17). It is critically important to have this wisdom. Little wonder James says: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 5
with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (Jas.1: 5). Jesus truly says that we should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Mat.10: 16). Conclusion The words of wisdom says: My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths (Prov.2: 1-15) In the wisdom of God, when sinners entice us, let us ensure we do not consent! GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT, I BELIEVE IT, AND THE BIBLE IS PERFECT! SOLA_ADEOSUN_GREATBARR_COC_14102012 Page 6