Date:
Wednesday,
May 20, 2015
Chapters: Nehemiah 1-4
Message Title: The Power Of Hope
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Nehemiah is the sixteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Nehemiah and it was originally written to the Jews. The timeline for these events are approximately 446 BC to 434 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. What we are to learn from the book is that there will always be opposition whenever we choose to serve God, but work without faith is dead. “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.” - Nehemiah 6:16.
About ten years after Ezra gathered people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem a relative of Nehemiah's arrived in Persia and told Nehemiah of the conditions that still existed there. Nehemiah, who knew the Scriptures and the power of prayer and fasting, stood before God. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.” - Nehemiah 1:4-7,11.
Nehemiah reminded God of the promise He made to His people, and even though they were scattered all over the world, he knew one day they would come together as one in His Kingdom. While God does not need us to give Him reminders of His promises, He does like to know that we acknowledge His Word and have faith in it. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,6.
Nehemiah left all the luxuries of home, and, by faith, headed for Jerusalem, when he arrived he was devastated at the conditions of the place where God put His name. “So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” - Nehemiah 2:11-13,17,18.
In all my years as a Christian I have come to learn one valuable thing, it takes a godly leader to make a godly nation, one person they look up to and will listen to. So many people are struggling, they search for hope, but the majority of the time the corrupted leaders are the ones giving them false hope, they will do anything to have hope of something better. All it takes is one person willing to give it all for God, no matter how much opposition you get to bring true hope, everlasting hope, but we as Christians must be willing to get out of our comfort zones and be that hope. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.
The work began and everything was going great, that was until the corrupted leaders realized what was going on. “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” - Nehemiah 4:1-4,9.
Nehemiah knew that God was on his side and that as long as he was in His will he had nothing to fear. Of course, the closer we draw near to God, the more opposition we will face from the devil. He will send many people and objects in our path to try and stop us from being so faithful to God. However, God gives us the power to stand up and continue to do His work without fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” - 2 Timothy 1:7-9.
Today's Prayer: God, As Your child I know I can do all things through Christ, but I know I have let obstacles discourage me into giving up. Thankfully, You never give up on me so easily and are eager to get me back on my feet and looking for that hope that only You can give. Lord, give me Your power to break through every obstacle, to have confidence in You, to trust You in every decision I make. Help me to let go of any obstacles that keep me from moving forward, and let keep me looking to You for that hope that no one else can give me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Chapters: Nehemiah 1-4
Message Title: The Power Of Hope
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Nehemiah is the sixteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Nehemiah and it was originally written to the Jews. The timeline for these events are approximately 446 BC to 434 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. What we are to learn from the book is that there will always be opposition whenever we choose to serve God, but work without faith is dead. “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.” - Nehemiah 6:16.
About ten years after Ezra gathered people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem a relative of Nehemiah's arrived in Persia and told Nehemiah of the conditions that still existed there. Nehemiah, who knew the Scriptures and the power of prayer and fasting, stood before God. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.” - Nehemiah 1:4-7,11.
Nehemiah reminded God of the promise He made to His people, and even though they were scattered all over the world, he knew one day they would come together as one in His Kingdom. While God does not need us to give Him reminders of His promises, He does like to know that we acknowledge His Word and have faith in it. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,6.
Nehemiah left all the luxuries of home, and, by faith, headed for Jerusalem, when he arrived he was devastated at the conditions of the place where God put His name. “So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” - Nehemiah 2:11-13,17,18.
In all my years as a Christian I have come to learn one valuable thing, it takes a godly leader to make a godly nation, one person they look up to and will listen to. So many people are struggling, they search for hope, but the majority of the time the corrupted leaders are the ones giving them false hope, they will do anything to have hope of something better. All it takes is one person willing to give it all for God, no matter how much opposition you get to bring true hope, everlasting hope, but we as Christians must be willing to get out of our comfort zones and be that hope. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.
The work began and everything was going great, that was until the corrupted leaders realized what was going on. “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” - Nehemiah 4:1-4,9.
Nehemiah knew that God was on his side and that as long as he was in His will he had nothing to fear. Of course, the closer we draw near to God, the more opposition we will face from the devil. He will send many people and objects in our path to try and stop us from being so faithful to God. However, God gives us the power to stand up and continue to do His work without fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” - 2 Timothy 1:7-9.
Today's Prayer: God, As Your child I know I can do all things through Christ, but I know I have let obstacles discourage me into giving up. Thankfully, You never give up on me so easily and are eager to get me back on my feet and looking for that hope that only You can give. Lord, give me Your power to break through every obstacle, to have confidence in You, to trust You in every decision I make. Help me to let go of any obstacles that keep me from moving forward, and let keep me looking to You for that hope that no one else can give me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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