Satan's Hindrances

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Satan's Hindrances
Date: Friday May 25, 2012Today's Chapters: Nehemiah 4-6

Hello My Friend,

Did you know that Satan has read the Bible? He knows Scripture and what he does with it is bring utter chaos between professing Christians. It drives me crazy when people twist the Scriptures, sometimes to the point that I question what I am getting out of it once in a while. That is when I take a deep breath and realize that God teaches me what I know through the Holy Spirit, which often gets confirmed by my preachers teachings and some others that are likeminded. Now, I know God allows us to interpret the Bible in different ways and that we are not going to always agree on everything we discuss, but our core beliefs need to line up with what God believes. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:13-16.
The devil has no problem with us believing in God or even accepting Christ, but if he can get a professing Christian to stop or delay the work that God has called them then he has done his job. He will use anyone, and I mean anyone to hinder a person from doing God's work. Nehemiah and his small group of people 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.

It was so bad that Nehemiah had to appoint men just 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 the circumstances we face. Satan loves to place doubt and fear in our lives, but Jesus gives us assurance and godly fear to break through every obstacle when we seek His face. “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.

When Satan realized that the intimidation from the worldly people could not stop Nehemiah he turned to the halfhearted Jews. The Jews foolishly accepted loans from the enemy and now they were having a hard time paying them back. They came to Nehemiah for help, but Nehemiah's response was far from what they expected.

“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 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? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.” - Nehemiah 5:1,7-10.
Nehemiah's response, “You should have feared God and your wouldn't have been in this mess.” Nehemiah knew that even if he built Jerusalem's walls as high, thick, and as strong as they could that things would not change if they were abusing each other on the inside. So many people are envious of what others have and are quick to sell themselves and their families out to get it instead of good old fashioned hard work. How can we expect God to change things in our lives when we do not make the effort to let God work in us? You know, Satan might throw some darts to tempt and hinder us, but he cannot make us do anything no more than God can. We can blame God, Satan, or others for the situations we get into, but we have no one to blame, but ourselves because we made the decision, not them.

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:6-10,13. 

First, Satan tried to get the worldly people to hinder Nehemiah to no avail, then he tried the Jews to no avail, now, it was up to him. He used Sanballat to hinder Nehemiah by fear. “Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.” - Nehemiah 6:10-13. 

Perhaps the biggest tactic that Satan uses to hinder us is fear, he loves to place fear in our lives and 90% of the time it is fear that keeps us from moving forward and or getting out of the situations we encounter. We can overcome Satan's tactics to hider us through the power of God and even if we become weak and fall God will pick us back up. Let's face it, we are going to mess up from time to time, but we have a great God to help us clean up the mess. Each mess also prepares us to be ready for any person or thing that Satan uses to hinder us from doing what God wants us to do. “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. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” - Hebrews 13:5-9.
Today's Psalm: 139:5 - “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”

Today's Proverb: 3:25 - “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.”

Today's Prayer: God, I understand that there are some things that You allow me to go through so that I can learn from my mistakes and be an example to others, but I truly want to live my life the way You want me to. Lord, keep my eyes, ears, and heart on You, and help me to let go of hindrances that keep me from completing the work You have given me to do. Help me to be aware of the dangers approaching and to listen for the truths You tell me and not the lies that others want me to believe. Let me be discerning, cordial to others, yet not harken to theirs or my own understanding, but Yours. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Determined To Succeed

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Determined To Succeed
Date: Thursday May 24, 2012Today's Chapters: Nehemiah 1-3

Hello My Friend,
When we take the steps to live our lives for Christ we can be sure that we are going to face some opposition, but as long as we keep working with faith we can break through any obstacle we encounter. God blesses us when we are determined to succeed with His help. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” - 1 Peter 5:6-9. 
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 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. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.” - Nehemiah 1:5,6,8,9.

Nehemiah reminded God of the promise He made to His people, even though they were scattered all over the world, he knew one day they would come together as one in God's Kingdom. While God does not need reminders of His promises He does like to know that we acknowledge His Word and have faith in it. I glanced at something that said, “How much faith we have in God is how much we will receive from Him.” It makes sense, that little seed of faith can move mountains, but imagine what He can do with the mountains if we have more faith. “And Jesus said unto them,Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” - Matthew 17:20,21.

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. He gathered willing hearts to rebuild the walls, “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. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” - Nehemiah 2:17-20.
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.” - 2 Timothy 1:7.

Nehemiah did not let those opposing him get to him, he was determined to repair the walls, he gathered as many willing hearts as he could find and section by section they began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.” - Nehemiah 3:1-3.
There are three basic characteristics that contributed to Nehemiah's success. First, he has a desire to do the will of God. Second, he not only prayed, he fasted, and confessed his sins as well. Third, he never gave up and was determined to get the people to join him in rebuilding the walls. He refused to become discouraged and give up on accomplishing God's will, regardless of any opposition he faced. We are to have the same characteristics if we want to see some amazing blessings in our lives. “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. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” - Hebrews 13:5-8.

Success God's way is never the path of least resistance, but we can be confident and follow the will of God knowing that He is determined by our determination to succeed with His help. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” - Matthew 7:13,14.
Today's Psalm: 37:7 - “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

Today's Proverb: 28:13 - “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

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. Lord, give me Your power to break through every obstacle, give me Your power to have confidence in You, to trust You in every decision made in Your will. Help me to let go of any obstacles that keep me from moving forward. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Diligent With God

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Diligent With God
Date: Tuesday May 22, 2012Today's Chapters: Ezra 7-8

Hello My Friend,
The word diligently is defined as a steady, careful application, a constant effort to accomplish a task given, it's an exertion of the body or mind without unnecessary delay. We can serve God all day long, but unless we personally seek the “living by faith alone” relationship with God than we will never accomplish very much for God, ourselves, or anyone. God rewards us when we diligently seek Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. Of course, our faith goes up and down like a roller coaster, but as we steadily seek to accomplish His will even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 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 11:1,3,6. 
Ezra was born during the Jews Babylonian captivity, he was a descendant of Aaron, Israel's first high priest. He was sent to Jerusalem to bring spiritual leadership to the people. Now, that all the work had been completed we are given an account of Ezra and the people who willingly accepted the call to rebuild the temple. The key to Ezra's effectiveness in accomplishing the will of God is that he diligently prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, in other words, he studied God's Word and followed it.

“For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” - Ezra 7:9,10,12,13,23.

God's Word is the source of strength by which His children cannot be defeated. Ezra was committed to seeking, doing, and teaching God's Word. This should be a reminder that, if we want all the blessings that God has intended for our lives, we too must diligently prepare our hearts to seek the truth in God's Word and do as He commands. “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:8-11.

Everyone reading this is at different levels of their Christianity, some may be learning of Christ as we speak, some are babes in Christ or have been saved for years. Some are returning to a life with Christ in it or have known Him since they were born. Some have followed Him afar, never been taught the Word of God at all or have been faithfully reading, following, and teaching God's Word for years. Whatever level we are, there is always room for improvement, therefore, we need to diligently and willingly, by faith, study God's Word. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15.
Ezra recalls his time in Babylon, having received the commission from the king to assemble a group of people willing to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and city. Ezra was a little overwhelmed about the job God had given him to do and who would be willing to come with him, but he put his faith and trust in God. Over seventeen hundred men volunteered to go to Jerusalem, before going any further the entire team fasted and prayed to God.

“And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.” - Ezra 8:15,18,21,23.

When things get so overwhelming and we have big decisions to make it's time to fast and pray, the bigger the decision the longer fasting and praying probably needs to be. Moses and prayed fasted, Jesus fasted and prayed, David fasted and prayed. In most cases fasting is abstaining from food for periods of time, such as a 24 hour fast or sunrise to sunset, but fasting does not necessarily mean to abstain from food. It's simply a time to spend more time with God where you would be doing something else, like watching tv, spending time on the computer, or even exercising. Jesus gives us an example of fasting.

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.“ - Matthew 6:16-18.

After they received their answers from God, by faith Ezra, the volunteers, and their families headed toward Jerusalem, along with all they could carry. “Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days. Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.” - Ezra 8:31,32,35.

Ezra encouraged the people, reminding them that God would protect and provide for them on their journey and He did, they arrived safely in Jerusalem four months later. God is always with His people, at times, it may seem as if He is no where to be found, but that is when He is working in us. So many people question God over tragic things that happen to them or others upon serving Him, but think about what He went through as He watched His Son being beaten and hung to die for the sins of every person, past, present, and future. Tragic things are going to happen whether we are saved or not, but we can get through them much easier with Christ.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” - Romans 5:6-11.
Today's Psalm: 119:4 - “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.”

Today's Proverb: 7:15 - “Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.”

Today's Prayer: God, I want to be diligent in my walk with You. As I read and study Your Word give me Your power to understand and follow it as best as I know how. Open my heart to receive, accept, and follow Your will in ever area of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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God Never Gives Up

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: God Never Gives Up
Date: Monday May 21, 2012Today's Chapters: Ezra 3-6

Hello My Friend,
Sometimes it's not easy being a Christian, we face constant criticism, not only from the world, but other Christians as well, especially when we are trying to serve God. You can be sure that once you start serving God obstacles will come your way to try and stop you. The amazing thing is that everything is in God's hands, once He sets you on that journey to do His work He will stop at nothing for you to complete it, you might even get hung up once in a while, but God never gives up on you. 
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” - 1 Peter 3:8-12.

Israel was in ruins, most of the Jews from the Northern Kingdom were scattered all over the world, while the Southern Kingdom were content to remain in Babylon, for seventy years not a thing was done to restore their promised land, once flowing with milk and honey. Now that king Cyrus set the Jews free they were able to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding, but only a few accepted the challenge. After four months of traveling they finally arrived to a desolate, abandoned land, full of evil.

“And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;” - Ezra 3:1-4. 
Every Jew came together as one and the first thing they did was set up an altar to God as it was written to do so in God's Word. This would be the first time that many of the Jews even knew of the feast of the Lord, but they followed every command written in the law of Moses as they learned it. Most people upon asking Jesus Christ to save them have never stepped foot in church or have been away for a long time. God does not expect us to completely change overnight, but day by day as we learn God's Word we learn to follow His commands as they are written. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.“ - Matthew 4:4.

The foundation was laid, the people jumped for joy, they were so excited that they were crying. Why after two years was only the foundation was laid? The plans to build the temple were laid out in the Book of the Law, if they were to do the job right they had to learn what that was. It's important that we learn to follow all of God's Word. God does not expect us to know everything instantly, it takes time to learn everything God has to show us, and even then we never learn everything, but we must stay in His Word in order to know all His commands. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” - 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

Now, you can be sure that with all the commotion going on near the Lord's stomping grounds that there would be some people out there not too happy about the rebuilding of the temple. As soon as the Jews laid the foundation, they were faced with criticism and opposition. “Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” - Ezra 4:4,5,24.

Their lack of faith caused them to lose sight of God in the midst of their obstacles instead of seeking Him for help. For fourteen years the temple remained unfinished while the Jews attended to rebuilding the city. It took the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to remind them that they had not finished the temple and it was time to get back to work. This time God was with them and nothing would stop them.

“Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter... And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.” - Ezra 5:2-5,11.

Their reply as to who ordered the work of the temple, God ordered it. God's hands are in every part of our lives, from the good to the bad, He allows everything in order to grow us, prepare us, strengthen us, and bring us to the point that we realize we are nothing without Him. It's great to praise Him when things are going well, but it's the times we praise Him when things are not going so well that He blesses us the most. The more we praise Him through the obstacles the more blessed we become. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:7-10.

After some encouragement through Haggai and Zechariah the work finally continued until the temple was complete. This time the work was not only backed up by God Himself, but king Artaxerxes as well. “Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,” - Ezra 6:8,14-16.

The key to their success was the power of God and His Word instructing them to rebuild the temple according to God's commands. God's work can only be sustained and strengthened through our faith, which leads to obedience to His Word, one power that Satan cannot take from us. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” - James 2:18,19.
Today's Psalm: 33:4 - “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”

Today's Proverb: 16:3 - “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Today's Prayer: God, I know that You have a job for me,but I also know that life can somehow hinder me from doing the work You call me to do. Lord, I want all of Your blessings, I want to serve You according to Your Word, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to learn, understand, and serve You according to Your plan and not my own. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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