The More We Bind Together...

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Today's Passage: Nehemiah chapter 4
Memory Verse> Nehemiah 4:6

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! For it is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard.. Of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing-- life forevermore." (Psalm 133). What is it about unity that gets God so excited that He would make provision for His children to walk all over the enemy?

Unity is the absence of strife. Where there is no strife, the spirit of confusion cannot dwell. This makes it very difficult for the enemy to hang around, and very easy for him to walk away as frustrated as Sanballat and Tobias did in today's passage. These two, who were bent on destroying the purpose of Nehemiah and his team to get to work and complete it, were no match for the determination and power of one accord. They thought that, with there being so much work to do, the Israelites would soon become engaged in heated arguments and the work would be left by the wayside. After all, it worked when they were in the wilderness. But I love what it says in verse 6: "The people had a mind to work."

This takes me back to the whole mindset of total devotion, which is the opposite of double- mindedness. Minds that are focused on the will of God, being steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in His work have no room for strife, confusion and uncertainty. The people of Israel were so ready to do something about the brokenness in their city, so tired of seeing the enemy win, that they refused to allow anyone or anything to stop them from getting it done. Which takes me back to Psalm 133. What do you think happens when God sees His children rally together to bring His will to pass on this earth? He opens the floodgates and removes all limits and boundaries from before them.

And that's where the enemy's defeat is sealed. God is waiting for US to get on one accord so that He can release the blessing that will set into motion the fulfillment of visions, dreams and every possible blessing. Our individual destinies have to take a back seat to the more pressing issues at hand: the needs of the city. As soon as we begin to move towards healing each other out of love from the back-stabbing and selfish bickering, we'll see a turnaround. The enemy HAS to back away because the demonic forces will have to flee when God sends His host of angels to cover us. Imagine what things we could do in short periods of time. Get ready! Begin to gird yourself about with truth. The more we bind together, the more blessed we'll be. And there's NOTHING the enemy can do about it.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the peace of knowing You will do exactly what Your Word says You will do. We ask for the peace that will cause us to strive to walk in unity with one another, and invite Your Holy Spirit to move freely among us. Strengthen us to begin and complete the work you've called all of us to do. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.