WEBVTT 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.759 You're listening to the road. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:18.399 God's got a purpose for every one of you in this room, and it's unique to you. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:20.800 It's not my purpose, it's your purpose. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.199 It's under the rubric of the kingdom of God. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:36.799 God wants to use your gift, your talent, your skill for something powerful, something good, something that nobody else can do on the face of the earth, but you being engaged and focused in Christ. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:42.159 At The Road, our mission is to empower people to change the world. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:46.399 For more information on The Road, visit theroad.org. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:51.759 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Hope. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.079 We are in Nehemiah. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:06.959 And if you're taking notes, I want you just to write down confrontation of deep state. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.079 The confrontation of the deep state. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:13.519 In your life, there's a deep state. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.920 In America, there's a deep state. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:18.319 In every country, there's a deep state. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:22.560 And in Nehemiah chapter 6, we're going to see a deep state. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:24.319 In other words, here's what a deep state is. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.920 A deep state is the status quo. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:33.280 Status quo is Latin for the state in which. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:42.239 The state in which current leaders, men and women, have a vested interest in keeping things the same. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:43.359 Do you know that? 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:57.760 Current leaders have a vested interest in keeping things the same because it's comfortable and it enables them to remain in power. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:00.879 Nehemiah's about to confront that. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:07.359 If you begin to rebuild walls in your life, you have a deep state. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:11.919 You have a deep state, you have something within you, it's called the flesh. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:20.080 It's called that sinful old Adam that really wants to just keep things the same. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:34.080 And so we may change churches, or we may say outwardly that we're making a certain change, but you know in your heart that the battle is always within. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:35.919 That's the deep state. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:44.639 So Nehemiah in Nehemiah chapter 6 is attempting to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, literal walls. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:03:01.120 But it's metaphorical to what God wants to do in our lives in relation to rebuilding walls in our own heart to become a people of integrity, a people of power, a people of joyful peace to those that were around. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:04.400 But it's also metaphorical for America. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:08.159 And that's why we're in 52 days of prayer right now. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:14.080 Every noon, Monday through Friday, we come in here and we pray and we pray and we pray and we're believing God for revival. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:15.680 We're breathing God for awakening. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:19.280 We're believing God to do a great work in this election. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:23.039 Because America's at a crossroads. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:29.199 America is at a place like it never has been, probably since 1860. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.840 Where some say a civil war is looming. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:44.319 There is such a dichotomy of values that we've got riots happening all over the country. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.319 But men and women, God's doing something. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:50.879 God's in this. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:04:00.159 Some of you are at this church right now because God's doing something in your heart that wasn't happening even six months ago. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.879 God's doing something, He's moving. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.639 Many of you know Britt and Audrey Hancock. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:08.879 And I should have kept my mic. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.120 Can someone hand me that mic? 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.360 I I should have kept it up here. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:25.120 But you guys know, some of you know Britt and Audrey, and they're going from capital to capital all across the country and praying at that capital. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:30.000 And I asked Brett to send me a report each week. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.600 So here's his re most current report. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:36.879 Good morning, Pastor Steve. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:38.639 Good morning to the road. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:41.360 This is Britt Hancock with Mountain Gateway. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.120 Today is October the 4th, 2020. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.360 I know that's happening all over the United States for now. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:55.040 And we're running into groups of people praying for, and that is what filled my heart with hope. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:06:02.399 Big events, small events, the individual people, small groups, medium-sized groups. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.040 God has really stirred his people. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:13.360 We could go on, but what's exciting is all these small groups that Britt and Audrey are running into. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.319 There are thousands of groups. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.680 There are hundreds of thousands of people that are praying. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:24.959 Many of you know about the big prayer march that Franklin Graham did last weekend. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.800 And I think it was 50 to 100,000 were the estimates and stuff. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:34.319 And then Jonathan Kahn, same time with the thing that he was doing, it was like 50 to 100,000. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:35.680 So people are praying. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:37.360 Do you think God hears those prayers? 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:41.120 You think God's moving in our midst? 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.519 I believe a great awakening is coming. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.360 I believe God is bringing a kingdom of God revolution. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:53.279 And when I speak of a revolution, men and women, I mean the changing of culture. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:07:01.920 Not just a revival, not just a move of God that is just located temporarily in one location, though that's a great spark. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.920 And we would love for that to start here. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.319 We'd love for that to start in Colorado Springs. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:08.160 But a revolution is more than that. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.319 A revolution affects politics. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.480 Revolution affects business. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:16.000 Revolution affects education, all these different areas. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:23.120 As Liz has shared the vision that we have growing within the loins of our heart of cherishing children. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.399 We don't know what that means, but that's a revolution. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.759 Our culture hates children. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:43.519 And when I speak of that, I know that you don't and we don't, but I'm talking about there's a pervasive demonic principality and power that's trying to take out our children. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:56.319 Not only through the early stages of conception, but now to the point where there's discussion of legislation that within a week after a child's born, you can let it die. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:05.600 That's where things are going if the church doesn't stand up and battle in spiritual warfare in a mighty way. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:15.040 So turn in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 6, and they are about to establish the wall. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.759 I mean, it's happening in 52 days. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:20.480 But here's what Nehemiah is up against. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:30.959 Nehemiah has found, listen, that they, that the Israelites have left Babylon, but Babylon has not left them. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:38.159 Do you realize, church, you can leave your sin, but your sin doesn't leave you. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.559 It is a constant battle. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.960 And so here's Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:48.240 You can go back and get the other sermons ahead of time. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:51.679 I mean, later on in relation to stuff we've already done. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:54.639 But the reality is they're building these walls. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.639 They're in Jerusalem, and there is a deep state. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:12.320 And we looked at it last week where the rulers over Israel at that time were taxing the people, probably 30, 40, maybe 50% interest on their taxes. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.919 People were having to sell their children into slavery. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:26.080 Could have been self-sex trafficking going on at that time within Israel, but it gets a little more deep here in chapter 6. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:27.440 So look at 6.1. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:34.720 Now it happened when Sambalat, Tobiah, now I want you to circle Tobiah. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.639 Geshem the Arab. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:39.840 So it's Zambalat, Tobiah, and Geshem. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:44.159 So this is the unholy trinity that are opposing Nehemiah. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:52.000 And the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no breaks left in it. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.960 Now, with 6-1, this is what I do in my Bible. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:56.879 If you can, you can put an arrow. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:03.759 I want you to point an arrow from one all the way over to 17 and 18 in the same chapter. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.759 Verses 17 and 18. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:07.440 Because here's what it says. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.600 This is what I'm talking about, the deep state here. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.480 Listen to this. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:17.200 In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:23.360 Remember, Jeremiah is being opposed by the nobles as he's rebuilding the walls. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.799 And the letters to Tobiah came to them. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:44.639 For many in Judah were pledged to him, meaning Tobiah, because he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah, and his son Jehanon had married the daughter of Meshalem, the son of Barakia. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:52.399 So what had happened is Tobiah marries into a prominent family in Jerusalem. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:11:01.279 The letters that are going out from the nobles against Nehemiah are being sent to Tobiah and his family. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.120 They're getting it out to the nobles. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:14.480 Then any response that Nehemiah has, which you're going to look at in just a second in chapter 6, that he responds, they're probably squelching, they're probably taking those out. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:26.240 And so they're moving to, I guess, to kind of kill his free speech, but at the same time, they're getting the word out about what a bad guy that Nehemiah is. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.840 And so he's having to confront that. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:32.720 And many women, when you look at anything in history, when God raises up leaders, there's always a deep state. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:43.919 There was a deep state with Winston Churchill as he began in the 1930s, around 1935, speaking out, writing consistently in his column that went around the world against Hitler. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:45.039 Nobody listened. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.240 And so, especially in England at that time, and with Neville Chamberlain being the prime minister. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.039 And we can look at aspects of Abraham Lincoln. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:01.360 We can look at what happened with William Wilberforce when he was coming against slavery in England at the time. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.279 He came against a deep state. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:08.960 Because people have a vested interest in keeping the status quo. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:11.120 And so it's going to be true in your life. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:18.720 As you begin to grow in Christ, as you start making choices to follow Christ, there are going to be alliances. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:28.559 Some of it's demonic, but some of it's through people that want to oppose you, keep you down, and especially keep you in your place. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:36.879 And if you don't believe it, just write some of these letters about why you're voting and see what kind of responses you get on Facebook. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:42.399 In other words, demonic powers build alliances on the earth. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.080 And that's his church. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:13:05.519 So I'm challenging you to stand for truth, to trust God as he begins to rebuild walls in your own life, but also in our nation. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:17.600 And here's what I want to do this morning as we look at chapter 6 is some of the tactics, some of the tactics that Satan will use to hold us back from our destiny. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:31.600 Some of the tactics that Satan will use to tie you up, deceive you, so that you don't build the new walls that God wants to rebuild in your life. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.360 So look at verse 2. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:43.919 Sambalat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.960 But they thought to do me harm. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.879 Don't go to Onoh. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.639 Oh no, oh no. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:57.039 Okay, what you gotta do is before you go to the plane of Oh no, you gotta say, oh no. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.720 Oh no. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:06.000 And so here they are, they're trying to take him off task, put him in a position where here's Satan's strategy. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:06.960 Here's Satan's strategy. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:08.320 Write this down, jot this down. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.960 Satan's strategy is distract you from your main purpose. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:17.039 Distract you from your main purpose. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.879 Guys, everybody look at me. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:24.399 God's got a purpose for every one of you in this room, and it's unique to you. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.799 It's not my purpose, it's your purpose. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.200 It's under the rubric of the kingdom of God. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:43.279 God wants to use your gifts, your talents, your skills for something powerful, something good, something that nobody else can do on the face of the earth, but you being engaged and focused in Christ. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:55.120 Some of you are writers, some of you are financial planners, some of you are gonna be lawyers, some of you are gonna be doctors, some of you are mechanics, some of you are foremen, some of you are artists. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:02.080 Whatever it is, God's called you to that, and the enemy's going to come and try to distract you off your purpose. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.399 That's what he's trying to do with Nehemiah. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.600 Say, come on, come on out to oh no. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:14.159 Come on out to oh no, and Nehemiah will have nothing to do with it. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:20.080 So I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.639 Now just circle great work. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:27.200 Every one of you, if you're in God's will, if you're following him, you are doing a great work. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.200 Don't let anybody dissuade you. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.559 You are doing a great work. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:35.600 If you're seeing your company and your job as a mission field, you're doing a great work. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:42.480 If you're parenting your children in a godly way and you're trying to build them up in the ways of the Lord, you're doing a great work. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:52.399 I love what I heard one time, Gigi Graham, one of the daughters of Billy Graham, has over the sink in her kitchen. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:56.399 A mighty work of God happens here every day. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.399 A mighty work of God happens here every day. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:07.360 And you moms that are discipling your kids and loving your kids, you are doing a great and mighty and powerful work. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.879 That's a great work. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.720 Stay focused. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.840 Jot that down. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.519 Stay focused. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.360 Stay focused. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.279 And how do you stay focused? 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:17.919 Three ways. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.679 Time, energy, and money. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:25.120 Time, your, your time, your energy, and your money are your three greatest assets. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.320 Time, energy, and money. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.200 And you stay focused on what God's called you to do. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.639 Because the enemy's gonna try to distract you, gonna get you off. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.679 Get you all. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:37.440 How many of you feel confused sometimes? 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.679 Man, I don't know what it was yesterday. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.919 I felt so off-kilter yesterday. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.759 And I'm pretty focused. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.399 I'm a pretty focused guy, but I felt that way. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.360 You ever feel that way? 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.799 You can't even really, you don't know what it is. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.840 I know it's demonic. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:58.399 I know it's demonic, but I can't put my finger on it, but I just felt like almost the whole day I felt confused. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:09.039 And um, and that wasn't like majorly confused, just it was just a little bit, but it wasn't that peaceful, focused, joyful place that I like to be. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.759 It just felt like I was kind of off balance. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.559 Maybe that's a good word. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.920 Sometimes you feel off balance. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.799 Well, I think the enemy comes to kind of knock you off off balance a little bit. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:26.480 And for some of you in this room, you do stuff when you're off balance that you regret. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:38.640 Like it might be, I don't know, it might be drinking, it might be sex, it might be um depression, anxiety, panic. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:44.960 Some of you struggle with panic attacks, and it's because of confusion in your heart. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.599 Man, I battled with that in my past too. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.440 And it and you can be set free. 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:52.799 You can be set, you can get victory over panic attacks. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:58.160 Everybody say you can get victory over anything. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:03.279 You can, but you've got to focus. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.440 And it just doesn't happen naturally. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.920 It's not just saying I'm gonna pray the blood of Jesus. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:16.720 It's actually, it's actually a focused attention to usually the opposite of what you're struggling with. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.039 It's the opposite spirit. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:27.039 So if it's impurity that your mind goes to, you're you're gonna have to start focusing on purity. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:40.880 If you're one who gossips, you have a gossip problem, you're gonna have to switch gears and start focusing on truth and love for other people and caring about them and loving your neighbor as yourself. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:42.799 You have to start refocusing your mind. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.559 So that's what's happening with Nehemiah. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:55.200 They're trying to, they're trying to get him off balance, get him confused, and yet he says to them, I'm doing a great work. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.039 I cannot come down. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:59.599 Why should the work cease? 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.079 Why should I get confused? 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:04.559 Why should I get off balanced? 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.559 Why should I be distracted and leave it and go down to you? 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.160 I'm not going to do that. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.519 And so Nehemiah doesn't take the bait, he stays focused. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:21.279 But they sent me this message four times. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:24.240 And I answered them in the same manner. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:31.680 Then Sambalat sent his servant to me as before a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:42.559 How many of you know that the enemy doesn't quit very easily? 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:58.960 That he comes two times, and then he comes three times, and then he comes four times, maybe in one day, and he comes five times, because he knows that you've got a weakness in this area, and so he's gonna just keep hammering you with that. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:03.839 And you have to learn to make declarations like you did this morning. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:12.000 My kids will tell you that I had them, I don't know, what was it like a year ago or six months a year ago? 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.680 I had them all stand up in one of our devotional times like this. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.240 And you guys, I've done it with you here. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:20.720 You you're laughing, or yeah, Cheon's laughing. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.240 Because we we just do this. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:37.359 It's like that this has been proven that you have something like an 88% increase in testosterone in your system if you stand like this and make a declaration about something that is a value that you hold to be true. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:44.960 So ours was, I think I am a leader, I'm not a follower, and God's gonna use me, or something like that. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.960 So we make those declarations. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:51.359 And you say it for one minute, you have to say it for one minute every day. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:21:00.480 And so, and so God has actually physiologically wired you and I to be people of focus. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.640 You're wired that way. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:06.640 You are the most joyful when you're focused with your time, energy, and money. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:21.519 FBI agents know that if they can get into your house, get a hold of your computer, and just see one month, just one month of your bank statements, they can tell you within 88% accuracy of what your vision and values are, but how you spend your money. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.799 They don't care about what you say you value. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:29.279 All they have to do is see how we spend our money, and that's what your values are. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:32.000 I mean, that's good news and bad news, right? 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:36.640 I can see some of you going, it's true, though. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:42.799 So, time, energy, and money staying focused in our lives is key to rebuilding walls in our life. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.640 So now here's what they do now is they start using social media. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:49.519 Verse 6 is the social media of the time. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.680 Well, it's written it is reported among the nations. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.839 Everybody knows this, it's reported among the nations. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.039 Among the nations. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:09.200 And Geshem says, it's on Twitter, it's on Facebook, that you and the Jews plan to rebel. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:15.680 Therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding this wall that you may be their king. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.960 All right. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:25.519 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, There's a king in Judah. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.759 It's going to be Nehemiah. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:30.880 Now these matters will be reported to the king. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:34.160 So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:43.920 Then I sent to him saying, No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:49.039 Satan's strategy, Satan's strategy, lying about your motives. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.960 Lying about your motives. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.079 People will lie. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.680 Oh, will they lie about your motives? 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:03.039 So they have this open letter that they put out lying about the motives of Nehemiah. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:07.119 They did it to Jesus, they'll do it to you. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:11.359 Jesus was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.240 So if you're perfect, they're still going to crucify you. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.680 You can be perfect and you'll still get crucified. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.799 So the enemy comes to challenge your motives. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:40.720 And that's why at the road, if you are part of roadmap and come to the next one in November, is that we have a policy wherein we encourage any disagreements within the church to follow what we call the covenant of harmony. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.079 Covenant of harmony. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:45.359 And all of our staff have to sign the covenant of harmony. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:52.799 And what that is, is that we want you to work things out if there's differences, if there's problems, if there's issues. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:57.039 How many of you have been ripped off by a Christian? 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.799 Yeah. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:03.039 It's called being ripped off by a Christian 101. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:06.960 It's a new training that we want every church to have. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.880 Well, at our church, we know it's gonna happen. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.559 You're gonna get ripped off. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:14.720 You're gonna be gossiped about wherever you go. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:23.039 But if we would just follow the scriptures, Matthew 18 says, go face to face and work things out. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:31.119 And I can tell you guys, after six years of doing the road, we've had just dozens of situations that were worked out that way. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:36.480 Where people had an issue with someone, we encouraged them to get together, they did and they worked it out. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:40.319 And some of them are actually best friends now because they worked it out. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:47.119 How many of you know that sometimes the people that rub you the most the wrong way are people just like you? 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:58.880 That a lot of times people who you oh I can't believe they look how they dress, or look how they walk, or look how they talk, and then you're like, go look in the mirror, honey. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:02.079 I mean, they look a lot like you, you know. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.599 Anybody know what I'm talking about? 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.960 Okay, we can work that out. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:18.000 People jump from church to church to church because they're running from problems, and the only problem is that they keep bringing themselves to the next church. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:21.440 And the reality is let's face it and work it out. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.960 We can work it out, gang. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:25.920 Matthew 18, Jesus showed us how to do that. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.920 It's gonna happen here. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.839 Because we're a bunch of sinners saved by grace in this church, too. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:33.680 But let's grow together. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.119 Let's grow together, stay focused, encourage each other. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.680 Have some blood-stained allies. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.039 Verse 9. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.920 For they were all trying to make me afraid. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:49.599 That's your next, that's your next work of the enemy. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.119 Create fear. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.599 The enemy wants to create fear. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:55.279 That's what COVID's about. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.160 Hello? 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.759 That's what COVID 19 is about. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.599 I'm not saying it's not real. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.759 I'm not saying you shouldn't wear a mask. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.559 I'm not saying that you shouldn't social distance. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:10.079 I'm not saying any of that. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.480 That much. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:24.559 Um but the ultimate end game of the enemy with something like this is to create fear. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:31.599 So I think it's I mean, we're praying for a president. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.000 I wouldn't want anybody to get COVID. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:39.440 We've we've had thousands come through these doors over six months. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:44.000 We opened in early May, first, I think it was the first Sunday in May. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:46.720 Thousands have come through here. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:49.039 Not one person hospitalized. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:57.200 When the doctors came up to make the announcement about uh President Trump, now this is national. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:04.079 Okay, so this isn't some black ops Facebook page that I went to to read this. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.599 This is actually on the news. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.759 They said, Well, we're very encouraged. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:11.920 The president is, I think they said slightly overweight. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.440 I think he's very overweight. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:20.000 He's 74 years old, he's got a 99.4% chance of survival. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:24.880 I mean, he's in that age group that's the most susceptible. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.839 99.4% chance. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:41.279 And your chance of dying of COVID in El Paso County is 0.0, point, see 0.000017%. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:50.000 It's more dangerous for you to drive at 60 miles an hour on I-25. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.720 Has anybody quit driving? 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.960 Because there's car accidents out there. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.839 So fear. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:01.519 So the enemy uses fear, and we need to break the power of fear. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.279 So, look at that. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:09.680 I love, I love this paragraph, this intention in verse 9. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.880 Look at 9b. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:14.640 Now, therefore, oh God, strengthen my hands. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:20.799 Men and women, you just you see through Nehemiah, he's constantly crying out to God. 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.480 He's calling out to God. 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:26.240 And here's what I love about this church is that you've got fears. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:30.640 You that are, you that are um watching us online, you have fears. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.720 All of you in this room, you have fears. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:37.039 And when you when those fears come and it's real, hello? 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.480 It's real. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.799 Ask God to strengthen your hands. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.519 Ask God to strengthen your heart. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:51.279 Some of you need to come to noonday prayer that we do each day, Monday through Friday, just for that. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:53.519 Say, God, strengthen my hands. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.519 Strengthen my heart with your word. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.039 Strengthen my heart through the relationship I have with other people. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.000 God will. 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:03.200 And so he calls out to God to be strengthened. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:12.000 Afterward, I came to the house of Shemiah, the son of Deleah, the son of Mehetabel, who is a secret informer. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:23.599 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. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:26.079 Indeed, at night they will come to kill you. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.440 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:34.640 And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:37.119 I will not go in. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:41.599 Satan's strategy, isolation. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:46.000 Isolation from your bloodstained allies, isolation from others. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:52.400 When you get isolated off alone, you're so susceptible to temptations in your life. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.880 And he's telling him to go, hide yourself, get isolated from everybody else. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.039 Remember the story of Uzziah? 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:04.559 Only the priest was supposed to enter this part of the temple. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:08.880 So actually, he's tempting him to break the law of God. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:18.559 Men and women, I don't care if it's a prophet, I don't care if it's a dream you've had, I don't care if it's an advice that you get from another brother, sister in the Lord, okay? 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:25.759 If they're instructing you to do something that you know is unbiblical, the answer is not going there. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.240 That is a work of the enemy. 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:33.519 And so the discernment of Nehemiah is what he's asking him to do. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.759 But the key point is isolation. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.640 We need bloodstained allies. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:43.119 We need men and women in our life that we can be strengthened by. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:59.039 When Martin Luther began to study the scriptures as a professor of theology at Wittenberg in the 1500s, he came across Romans 1 that the just shall live by faith. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:07.279 With that began a revelation in his heart about what was happening in the Roman Catholic Church at that time. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:19.599 And so he wrote out 95 statements, 95 proclamations or declarations on a piece of paper, which he nailed to the chapel in Wittenberg. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:24.960 With that, all hell broke loose and he had to run for his life. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:27.759 And he went to the castle of Wartburg. 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:33.440 And at Wartburg, he translated the entire Bible into German. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:37.039 It's just a supernatural, amazing story. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:47.519 It appears that almost 24-7 he worked under the anointing of God, almost like Beethoven, I mean, excuse me, like Handel's Messiah. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:32:02.160 When he wrote Handel's Messiah, it was a similar thing where God just downloaded to him musically what God was giving him from Isaiah, and then God just downloads with a supernatural energy from the Holy Spirit. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:06.880 And he writes, he translates the Bible into German. 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:15.839 Soon after that, as he leaves Wartburg Castle, he pinned, A mighty fortress is our God. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:29.920 In Stanza 1, he wrote, A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing, our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:33.839 For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe. 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:41.759 His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate on earth is not his equal. 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.359 Stanza 3. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:55.599 And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:00.079 The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:04.720 His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:08.000 One little word shall fail him. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:10.960 Many women, that one word is what? 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.119 Jesus. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.039 Jesus. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.640 Jesus. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:22.400 The stories that I've heard and the stories that I've been a part of. 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:25.759 Calling out to Jesus breaks the power of the devil. 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:28.400 It breaks the power of the enemy over your life. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:32.480 We used to pray it over our kids, the name of Jesus over our kids at night. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:35.759 And I challenge you, there's areas of your life that you're struggling. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:39.440 Start saying the name of Jesus on a regular basis. 00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:42.319 Just make it a part of the declaration of your life. 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.359