WHEN OPPOSERS COME AS FRIENDS 1
1 THE ENEMIES OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN HEARD THAT THE EXILES WERE REBUILDING A TEMPLE TO THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL.
2 So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “LET US BUILD WITH YOU, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”
3 BUT ZERUBBABEL, JESHUA, AND THE OTHER LEADERS OF ISRAEL REPLIED, “YOU MAY HAVE NO PART IN THIS WORK. WE ALONE WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE FOR THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, JUST AS KING CYRUS OF PERSIA COMMANDED US."
4 THEN THE LOCAL RESIDENTS TRIED TO DISCOURAGE AND FRIGHTEN THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH TO KEEP THEM FROM THEIR WORK.
5 THEY BRIBED AGENTS TO WORK AGAINST THEM AND TO FRUSTRATE THEIR PLANS. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne."
Ezra 4:1–5 (NLT)
• When a vision which is also known as God's plan for your life is revealed or given to you, you had to beware of foes among those who would be coming to you in the pursuit of the vision.
- You have to be focus and be sensitive. Some may come as friends, pretending to join hands with you in building your vision or fulfilling the assignment given to you, but such are enemies—opposers.
- Note: According to our text, those who were the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin came in a friendly way to lend a hand in the building of the temple (Ezra 4:2).
a. When their help was turned down, they resulted to use the weapons of discouragement and frightening (Ezra 4:4).
b. They also hired and bribed some people, agents, against the Jews to frustrate the plans of building the temple. In other words, they wanted the construction of the building not to be a reality—they did not want them to build. - Why were the local residents or the people of the land doing that?
a. The local residents knew the importance and spiritual significance of the building, the temple; thus they would not want it to be built.
b. The resistance had a spiritual connotation. They knew If the temple was successfully built, and prayers and sacrifices were offered to God by the Jews, the forces of darkness or the horns of the gentiles fighting and scattering the Jews would be dislodged and overpowered (Zechariah 1:18-21).
c. They knew that all the altars they had raised would be judged and condemned by the God of heaven Whom the temple was being built for (Zechariah 1:21).
• When you are assigned to start a new work, or pioneer a new ministry, you would have to be circumspect and discerning as you start building the new work.
- When a new church or ministry started, the first set of people who usually surface or show up are rebels. Although, it might not be all, but a number of them are.
- Most of the ones who surfaced are from one church or ministry or the other. Some of them are curiosity seekers. Some are there to see how you would do it, guessing and anticipating how things would unfold. Would visionary succeed or not? Would the work, church or ministry, stand or not?
- Some who would come to offer help at such a time might be those who are desperate for position or power. Some would want titles. They would want you to make them one thing or another, would want you to put them in the position of leadership; honour and power:
20 THEN THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEE'S SONS CAME TO HIM [Jesus] WITH HER SONS, KNEELING DOWN AND ASKING SOMETHING FROM HIM. 21 AND HE [Jesus] SAID TO HER, “WHAT DO YOU WISH?” SHE SAID TO HIM, “GRANT THAT THESE TWO SONS OF MINE MAY SIT, ONE ON YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THE OTHER ON THE LEFT, IN YOUR KINGDOM" (Matthew 20:20,21 NKJV).
• Out of the people who came at the inception of the work, some would want to strike a bargain, or make a deal; especially If the ministry or church is showing a sign of progress.
- You would hear things like, If you made me one of the board of trustees of the church or the ministry, I will bankroll or supply money to meet all the expenses of the church. And a number of similar things.
- Those who are not qualified, who do not have the spiritual stamina, to stand or work in certain departments or ministries of the church would want to be there through bribery (Acts 8:18-21).
- Some would not mind offering you money or support or whatever help needed; that you might make them a deacon or whatever because they are title conscious. But the standard for any appointment into the ministry or church leadership is found in the Bible and It should be duly followed: "BEFORE THEY ARE APPOINTED AS DEACONS, LET THEM BE CLOSELY EXAMINED. IF THEY PASS THE TEST, THEN LET THEM SERVE AS DEACONS" (1 Timothy 3:10 NLT).
Read: Acts 6:2-6
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- If you are having any ailment in your body As you read this piece, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- The hold of sicknesses broken in your life will never rise again in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!