If you’re already working on the first two walls, then you have a headstart on this third wall: what you hear. It makes sense that we say what we think and we hear what we say. The messages we take in each and every day affect our thinking, our mood and even our mental and physical health. Just ask Charlie Brown. Not once, but twice in the span of a thirty-minute Christmas special, the downcast character proclaimed something to the effect of "Everything I touch gets ruined." He thought it. He spoke it. He heard it. He believed it. And in his eyes, that statement came to life over and over again. God’s word tells us, Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Prov.16:24).
Sadly, our world is full of noise, and most of it is not positive. The people of Nehemiah’s time could certainly relate. We know that they had taunts and insults hurled their way, and they had done well to resist the distraction. But the enemy does not give up without a fight, and sometimes he’ll even enlist the help of those we thought were on our side.
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. (Nehemiah 4:12)
Notice, it was their own people who came to them, not once or twice but ten times, declaring that, no matter how fervently they worked, the enemy was going to catch up with them and destroy them. Some friends! They felt the need to spout this doomsday message over and over again, hoping to scare the people enough that they would cease their work. I imagine some of the workers began growing discouraged. I have no doubt that at least of few of them were wondering if all that work was in vain. Something about hearing that repetition of forthcoming gloom sent shivers up their spine and a sinking feeling in their hearts.
Thankfully, Nehemiah was wise enough to see what was going on and to lead the people in some hearing exercises. No, these weren’t the type where the administrator of the test plays a number of sounds at varying levels and the people lift a hand when they hear the noise. This was a hearing replacement exercise—one where the lies and taunts of the enemy were replaced with the truth from God’s Word. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
In Nehemiah 8, we see the people meditating on the Scriptures and worshiping God. In the first part of verse 18, the Bible tells us, Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. Did you catch that? Day by day. Every day. Instead of allowing the voices of the enemy to be the only thing they heard, the people filled their ears, minds and hearts with the Word of God. They made sure they had something else to listen to besides the enemy, and we need to do the same.
If you enjoy preaching, teaching or Bible studies, I encourage you to click on the tab labeled "The Wall of the Mind." On that page, you'll find some wonderful resources to fill your ears and mind with the truth of God's Word. If you're more of a music person, I've put together a YouTube playlist just for you. This ever-growing collection of Gospel and Christian music contains some of my favorite songs of encouragement and "pick me up." I've also put together a playlist for those of you who enjoy good, clean humor. The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine, so I encourage you to laugh and enjoy! (I realize that you may not like or appreciate each of the songs or comedy routines that I've included, so I urge you to treat it as a buffet--take what you like, leave what you don't.)
Sadly, our world is full of noise, and most of it is not positive. The people of Nehemiah’s time could certainly relate. We know that they had taunts and insults hurled their way, and they had done well to resist the distraction. But the enemy does not give up without a fight, and sometimes he’ll even enlist the help of those we thought were on our side.
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. (Nehemiah 4:12)
Notice, it was their own people who came to them, not once or twice but ten times, declaring that, no matter how fervently they worked, the enemy was going to catch up with them and destroy them. Some friends! They felt the need to spout this doomsday message over and over again, hoping to scare the people enough that they would cease their work. I imagine some of the workers began growing discouraged. I have no doubt that at least of few of them were wondering if all that work was in vain. Something about hearing that repetition of forthcoming gloom sent shivers up their spine and a sinking feeling in their hearts.
Thankfully, Nehemiah was wise enough to see what was going on and to lead the people in some hearing exercises. No, these weren’t the type where the administrator of the test plays a number of sounds at varying levels and the people lift a hand when they hear the noise. This was a hearing replacement exercise—one where the lies and taunts of the enemy were replaced with the truth from God’s Word. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
In Nehemiah 8, we see the people meditating on the Scriptures and worshiping God. In the first part of verse 18, the Bible tells us, Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. Did you catch that? Day by day. Every day. Instead of allowing the voices of the enemy to be the only thing they heard, the people filled their ears, minds and hearts with the Word of God. They made sure they had something else to listen to besides the enemy, and we need to do the same.
If you enjoy preaching, teaching or Bible studies, I encourage you to click on the tab labeled "The Wall of the Mind." On that page, you'll find some wonderful resources to fill your ears and mind with the truth of God's Word. If you're more of a music person, I've put together a YouTube playlist just for you. This ever-growing collection of Gospel and Christian music contains some of my favorite songs of encouragement and "pick me up." I've also put together a playlist for those of you who enjoy good, clean humor. The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine, so I encourage you to laugh and enjoy! (I realize that you may not like or appreciate each of the songs or comedy routines that I've included, so I urge you to treat it as a buffet--take what you like, leave what you don't.)
