The Mountains and Valleys of Faith, Introduction

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1

Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

Insights: This week we are going to look at the mountains and valleys of faith.  Throughout this week we are going to be walking down into the valley, but on Friday, we are going to catapult ourselves up to the top of the mountain.  Today, however, we are going to set the scene for the week.  Notice today’s verse tells us the wall is almost complete.  All that remained was the doors in the gate to be set and this wall would be finished.  Nehemiah was ready to draft his dedication speech and plan the program for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  It looked as if they are going to walk across home plate with no problems.  This kind of setting is the reason I think Paul was inspired to write 1 Corinthians 10:12 which tells us to “take heed lest you fall.”  So many individuals in the Bible were tripped up at the point in which everything seemed good, but we have others who prevailed. Think of king David for a moment.  He had not had a defeat as of yet and began to take his victories for granted.  In the spring, when kings go out to war, David stayed home in his palace and saw Bathsheba.  He did not take heed and he fell.  Joseph, however, was promoted to the highest position in Potiphar’s house and it looked like easy street was back on the menu.  Potiphar’s wife, unfortunately, thought Joseph was the main course and pursued after him.  Joseph did take heed and when Potiphar’s wife tried to trick and seduce him, he fled in order to not fall.  In other words, he was humble before God and was sensitive to God’s promptings and obedient to what he experienced.  Well, Nehemiah was almost done with the wall and the rest of the chapter contains three different attacks he faces.  These attacks by his enemies were meant to harm him and cause him to fall, but, by the grace of God, Nehemiah took heed of God’s promptings and he did not falter.  Beloved, let us examine this week the character trait Nehemiah implemented in order to be a faithfully obedient child of God.  Let us then follow Nehemiah’s example and bring God glory.

Questions:

1. Have you ever “fallen” because your pride led you to believe you were incapable of stumbling?
2. Or are you intentionally humbling yourself before the Lord and remaining faithful to Him?

Prayer: Father, my ego and pride so often get the better of me and in those moments I falter and find myself quickly in sin.  Forgive me for my presumptions and transform my heart into one that is sensitive and obedient to You.   Amen.