So, they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”

Ezra 4:2

“From this point onwards right to the end of Nehemiah there is conflict. Nothing that is attempted for God will now go unchallenged, and scarcely a tactic be unexplored by the opposition.” - Derek Kidner

Be careful who you partner with, both in ministry and secular work.

The enemy sneaks in the side with a

• spirit of unity
• spirit of cooperation
• spirit of vision

Yet sadly with the wrong motives.

How do we avoid the interference of adversaries?

Test every spirit.

• Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
  1 John 4:1 (ESV)  
  Test the spirits

Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

• Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
  Matthew 10:16 (ESV) 
  Wise as serpent and innocent as doves

In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants numbered 392.
Ezra 2:58

These temple servants were Nethinim: likely descendants of the Gibeonites who were made servants to the Levites and the priests at the temple because they deceived Joshua (Joshua 9). 

“These were those Gibeonites that, having saved their lives by a lie, were made drawers of water to the temple as a punishment…. Their employment was to minister to the Levites.”  - John Trapp

The enemy is relentless in his pursuit, so I must always be aware of his schemes.

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