Christ Our Strength

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional
Message Title:
Date: Tuesday June 07, 2011
Chapters: Nehemiah 4-6
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-june-7
Details of Today's Chapters: Nehemiah faces opposition by ridicule, anger, and discouragement against building the walls, opposition by greed and heartlessness, Nehemiah’s example of unselfishness, manliness, and the wall is complete.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?..How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” - Matthew 16:5-8,11,12.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were very religious people, the problem is they had very different views on how they were to worship God. As Christians we all try to follow God's command to love one another as their brother, while we are to be cordial to all we have to be careful of who we fellowship with, even other Christians. The devil has no problem with us believing in God or even accepting Christ, but if he can get a faithful Christian to stop or delay the work that God has called them to do He will use anyone, and I mean anyone to deter them.

Nehemiah and his minority group were determined to get the walls built around Jerusalem, but every where they turned they faced opposition not only from the worldly people, but even some of the Jews. However, they pressed forward reminding themselves that God was with them every step of the way.

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” - Nehemiah 4:6-9.

Nehemiah appointed men to stand guard while others did the work. Working about 12 hours a day left little time for anything else, but the Jews faith in God gave them the strength to keep going no matter what opposition they faced. Christ is our strength, He and He alone is the only one who can truly help us through some of the circumstances we face. Satan loves tom place doubt and fear in our lives, but Jesus gives us assurance and godly fear to overcome any situation. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me... But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:13,19. Praise God!

First the worldly people tried to get Nehemiah and his crew to stop and now here come the halfhearted Jews. It seems that the Jews were getting some type of loans and upon receiving them could not pay them back so, they were losing their possessions. These Jews went to Nehemiah for help, further delaying their work.

“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words... Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?” - Nehemiah 5:1-6,9.

Nehemiah's response, “You should be living in godly fear.” In other words, trust God and He will take care of you. Sometimes it seems that the more determination you have the harder it is to accomplish what we are trying to achieve. The truth is, it is harder, but through it all God is looking for a few things, faith, willingness, and trusting in Him alone, often He allows delays for one reason and one reason only, to get us to live in godly fear. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me...Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:5,6,21.

Just when you think you have gotten enough opposition here comes the devil with his false godly people trying to reek havoc as well. Sanballat must have thought if he could not deter Nehemiah with his own thinking that he could deter him with some prophets thinking, he sent messengers to try and get Nehemiah to meet them.

“That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief... Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.” - Nehemiah 6:2-8.

The best thing we can do when we are weak is get with God, I will tell you what, Satan knows our weaknesses and will use them constantly to scare us and get us to alter our faith. The only absolute way to overcome Satan is through Christ. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:12,13.

There is a song I sing with my Sunday School class, “Jesus Loves Me”, part of the verse says, “Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong.” All who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior belong to God, we are His “little ones”, the flesh is weak, but Jesus makes us strong. I had someone ask me, “Don't you trust yourself?” I said no, I have flesh and flesh stinks. Ever smell yourself after you haven't had a shower for a couple of days? The flesh really does stink. However, praise God for His mercy and grace for He takes the stink away. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:7-9.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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