Date:
Thursday,
May 21, 2015
Chapters: Nehemiah 5-7
Message Title: No Fear
Hello My Friend,
Did you know that the devil 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 God's Word, sometimes to the point that I question myself sometimes. That is when I stop and think about what is being said and what God actually says. 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 says, and if they do not than it's the devil telling you what to believe and not God. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” - Colossians 2:6-8.
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 to do then he has done his job. The devil will use anyone, and I mean anyone, to hinder a person. Nehemiah and his small group of people were determined to get the walls built around Jerusalem. When the devil realized that intimidation from the world could not stop them, he turned to the halfhearted Jews. The Jews foolishly accepted loans from them and now they were having a hard time paying them back and they came to Nehemiah for help.
“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 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?” - Nehemiah 5:1-5,8,9.
Basically Nehemiah's response was, “You should have feared God and you wouldn't have been in this mess.” Fearing God has nothing to do with being afraid of Him, it's actually the opposite. Fearing God means to respect Him and His judgments, it's honoring Him for all that He has done for us, even when He allows things to happen in our lives, it's loving Him back, even when it seems like He is no where to be found. Fearing God helps us put the devil in his place and put God in His also, above all that we do. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - Hebrews 12:28.
First, the devil tried to get the worldly people to hinder Nehemiah to no avail, then he tried the Jews to no avail, and now, it was up to him, he used Sanballat to hinder him by fear. “Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 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. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 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 6:1-3,8,9.
Perhaps the biggest tactic that devil uses to hinder us is fear, the afraid to do anything kind of fear, he loves to place fear in our minds, and 90% of the time it's fear that keeps us from moving forward. We can overcome the devil 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. Believe it or not, every time we mess up, God prepares us to be ready for any person or thing for the next attack. “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. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:8-10.
Now, when the devil cannot hinder us from doing God's work, the next trick before he leaves us alone for a while is to attack us when we are finished and relaxing a bit. The walls surrounding Jerusalem were finally repaired, the city was huge and still needed a lot of work, but very few people were in it. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once the gates were closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found written in a register book. The register book was the Israelites only documentation that they were true Israelites that came from Babylon, anyone not found written in the book was considered an impostor and denied entrance.
“Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,” - Nehemiah 7:1-5.
The same way in which a person can enter through the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, we must have our names written in the Book of Life or we cannot enter the gates to heaven. Many people will stand before Jesus to get the shocking news that they are denied entrance through those gates. It's not what we do that gets us to heaven, it's knowing Jesus Christ as our Saviour that does that. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
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 listen to their vain or my own understanding, but Yours. Put Your hedge of protection around me and kick the devil to the curb, I am not going to let him intimate me by fear or any other way that can hinder me from doing what You call me to do. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Chapters: Nehemiah 5-7
Message Title: No Fear
Hello My Friend,
Did you know that the devil 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 God's Word, sometimes to the point that I question myself sometimes. That is when I stop and think about what is being said and what God actually says. 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 says, and if they do not than it's the devil telling you what to believe and not God. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” - Colossians 2:6-8.
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 to do then he has done his job. The devil will use anyone, and I mean anyone, to hinder a person. Nehemiah and his small group of people were determined to get the walls built around Jerusalem. When the devil realized that intimidation from the world could not stop them, he turned to the halfhearted Jews. The Jews foolishly accepted loans from them and now they were having a hard time paying them back and they came to Nehemiah for help.
“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 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?” - Nehemiah 5:1-5,8,9.
Basically Nehemiah's response was, “You should have feared God and you wouldn't have been in this mess.” Fearing God has nothing to do with being afraid of Him, it's actually the opposite. Fearing God means to respect Him and His judgments, it's honoring Him for all that He has done for us, even when He allows things to happen in our lives, it's loving Him back, even when it seems like He is no where to be found. Fearing God helps us put the devil in his place and put God in His also, above all that we do. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - Hebrews 12:28.
First, the devil tried to get the worldly people to hinder Nehemiah to no avail, then he tried the Jews to no avail, and now, it was up to him, he used Sanballat to hinder him by fear. “Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) 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. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 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 6:1-3,8,9.
Perhaps the biggest tactic that devil uses to hinder us is fear, the afraid to do anything kind of fear, he loves to place fear in our minds, and 90% of the time it's fear that keeps us from moving forward. We can overcome the devil 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. Believe it or not, every time we mess up, God prepares us to be ready for any person or thing for the next attack. “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. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:8-10.
Now, when the devil cannot hinder us from doing God's work, the next trick before he leaves us alone for a while is to attack us when we are finished and relaxing a bit. The walls surrounding Jerusalem were finally repaired, the city was huge and still needed a lot of work, but very few people were in it. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once the gates were closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found written in a register book. The register book was the Israelites only documentation that they were true Israelites that came from Babylon, anyone not found written in the book was considered an impostor and denied entrance.
“Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,” - Nehemiah 7:1-5.
The same way in which a person can enter through the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, we must have our names written in the Book of Life or we cannot enter the gates to heaven. Many people will stand before Jesus to get the shocking news that they are denied entrance through those gates. It's not what we do that gets us to heaven, it's knowing Jesus Christ as our Saviour that does that. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
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 listen to their vain or my own understanding, but Yours. Put Your hedge of protection around me and kick the devil to the curb, I am not going to let him intimate me by fear or any other way that can hinder me from doing what You call me to do. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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