Ever since the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost on those 120 men and women in Jerusalem, Peter declared this was the fulfillment of Joel 2 that God would pour out His spirit upon all flesh. This meant sons and daughters, men and women could and would prophesy from that point on. To prophesy has many meanings, it can be a future prediction, but it is also proclaming good news or according to 1 Corinthians 14 it is for comfort, exhortation and encouragement. Everyone can prophesy, for it is the speaking forth of words to other people.

In Nehemiah 6 we read of Nehemiah completing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem so there were no breaches any longer. This angered the enemies of Nehemiah, so they falsely accused him of many things, but none of it stuck, so they tried a new tactic…intimidation/fear. But they did not come to him directly, for they tried that and it did not work, so they hired “prophets” in order to speak things that would put fear in Nehemiah and fear then would stop him from restoring the walls around Jerusalem. The enemy hired prophets to speak to Nehemiah. They did not hire people who Nehemiah did not know as prophets, they hired prophets in Jerusalem, ones Nehemiah knew to be prophets.

Nehemiah says in 6:12-14 “I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me. Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.” Prophets of fear are hired prophets, seeking to stop what God is building.

Friends, God does not use fear to get us to do what He wants us to do. Fear paralyzes us. God uses faith to motivate us, encourage us, empower us to succeed in what He is inviting us to do. We must perceive what a “prophet” is saying, for if it causing fear, anger, frustration, in you that is not a prophet sent from God. We need to perceive clearly what the “prophets” are saying for more are hired than we realize. Nehemiah was not moved and neither should we be.