So Your Called to Minister—Studies from Nehemiah

Nehemiah 2:7-10   Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah,”  and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.  Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.  When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

So you have a burden, the Lord’s blessing and the favor of man and yet you seem surprised that the kingdom of darkness is disturbed by what you’re doing?  What do you expect when a child of the King shows up to restore what the enemy has destroyed?  Not only do you show up but you have letters of authority and the host of heaven surrounding you.  The devil’s goals—steal, kill and destroy.  God’s plan is to bring abundant life.  That amounts to a declaration of war, but remember, you are more than a conqueror, and that He that has begun a good work in you shall bring it to a conclusion. 

One piece of advice that might help you in your spiritual battle; when you’re praying about a ministry situation or a dire need, pray using your heavenly language.  The devil wasn’t given the gift of interpretation.  He only knows what’s going on when you tell him.