Last week, our church faced a hearing on an application we had filed with our city planning commission. We were met with less than an enthusiastic response from the commissioners. Furthermore, there were a number of people there who spoke against our application with attitudes that demonstrated anger and distain for our ministry. To say the least—it wasn’t pleasant. After I got home and allowed Mary Ann to soothe my wounded spirit, I opened the Bible to a similar experience in the life of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 4:6— So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Do you remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? I think we understand the point behind that saying, but it’s absolutely untrue, isn’t it? We all know how much words can hurt.

That's what Satan wants to do to us—discourage and hurt us. And the way he does this is by telling lies to us and about us. With him, the truth doesn’t matter. He’s simply out to ruin your reputation and shake your confidence in Christ.

This is exactly what Nehemiah was going through as he and the people of God were working to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem from rubbish. Satan sent people to tell him, “You can’t possibly make this rubbish into a wall of defense.” But Nehemiah proved them wrong! We can’t let Satan steal our victory by believing him and doubting God.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus tells us that He will build His Church and that the best Satan has to throw at us can't stop it. But let me add a word of warning, just when you start believing God, Satan will come and say, “This church won’t grow, I AM going to stop it.”

DON'T BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU HEAR SATAN SAY "WE CAN'T" WHEN GOD HAS SAID "WE CAN!"