STATIC - stat·ic
(Adjective) something that is not moving, changing, or developing.
(noun) a. unwanted electrical noise interfering with the desired radio or television signal.
criticism, complaints, or negative feedback, especially when it's persistent or unwanted.
to cause tension or strife during any situation.
If you have ever listened to the radio on a long trip, you have probably experienced static. Either your station is no longer in range, or there is the awful problem of 2 stations competing for the same tuner. Either way, it is an annoying problem to have.
Last night, I experienced an unwanted noise (in my head) interfering with my desire to communicate with God in prayer - static. After I told Satan to “get thee behind me,” I realized this was not a random attack. My Church is currently on a corporate fast to prepare us as a body to move into a new building. One thing is for sure, and two things are for certain: anytime God is about to bless a person or a group of people, Satan is gonna bring the static.
When Nehemiah heard about the walls of Jerusalem being destroyed, he, being in a position to do something about it, enlisted the help of the King he was serving and his fellow countrymen to rebuild the walls of the church. They were almost done when here comes the static.
Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” Nehemiah 4:1-2
Sanballat brought criticism, complaints, and negative feedback when it was unwanted. For two chapters, he persisted in interfering with the building of the walls. His opposition began as noise intended to interfere with the desired outcome. Nehemiah would not give in. So, Sanballat decided to take it a step further and began to cause tension and strife. Again, it is more static.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. Nehemiah 4:7-8
Wait, now you want to fight us over building the walls? So, the people began working on the wall with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. This wall would be built despite the opposition. When Sanballat saw that the disruption did not deter Nehemiah, he did just what you are thinking - brought more static.
When your enemy [whoever that is] sees that they can not ridicule or criticize you enough or intimidate you into folding, they will do the only thing they have left: lie on you.
So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me; the fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” Nehemiah 6:2,5-7
If God has called you to do something, expect static.
You have a choice whether to let the interference, criticism, or tension cause you to stop the work you are supposed to be doing. Or you can stand ten toes down and remain determined to do it anyway. If you choose to hesitate or stop because of the opposition, you have now become static yourself - not moving, changing, or developing. There is a law that remains true across spiritual principles and science: If something is not growing, it is dying.
Don’t let opposition cause your purpose to die. The mission will be completed because what God says… must happen; it just won’t be through you.
Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man [Saul] the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” 1 Samuel 10:24
However… Saul chose to give in to the static and do what the people wanted. As a result:
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. 1 Samuel 15:10-11
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” 1 Samuel 16:1
Who will you choose to be: Saul or Nehemiah?
So, on October 2, the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. Nehemiah 6:15