Nehemiah 7:5, 7 NKJV
"Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it: Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel . . ."
This chapter begins with Nehemiah telling the men to guard the city, faithful men:
"that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many." (Vs 2)
Then, he begins recording the names of those who dared to rebuild with him & their geneology. The list is long, but 1 name stood out to me: "Mordecai." He was the uncle of Queen Esther. He raised her like his own daughter after her parkents were killed. He is the one who helped her prepare to be a queen & encouraged her to go boldly before the king to save her people, God's chosen people, the Jews:
" . . . Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
Mordecai knew a few things about rebuilding a wall & protecting his people. He knew how to take a stand for God. I had never noticed his name here before. His vital encouragement to the Queen came only through much experience of fighting the enemy.
Take your place in God's history of this battle. How is He recording your name? "A faithful man that feared God more than many"?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
God Completes the Wall
Nehemiah 6:1-3, 9,11, 16 NKJV
Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”
Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God."
And so, the wall was completed. There were no gaps. God strengthened their hands & did this work through them. Despite man's attempts to stop the progress, despite the enemy's plots to destroy Nehemiah, God was victorious. He made Nehemiah victorious. Because when God makes a promise to rebuild something, He WILL.
Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”
Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God."
And so, the wall was completed. There were no gaps. God strengthened their hands & did this work through them. Despite man's attempts to stop the progress, despite the enemy's plots to destroy Nehemiah, God was victorious. He made Nehemiah victorious. Because when God makes a promise to rebuild something, He WILL.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Remember Me, My God
Nehemiah 5:14-15, 17-19 NKJV
"Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people."
Lord, I'm no prophet, I'm no goveror. I'm just a single mom working every day to rebuild this wall & govern Remember me. For all the people that pass through my home & eat at my table & hear the gospel within my walls, remember me.
"Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people."
Lord, I'm no prophet, I'm no goveror. I'm just a single mom working every day to rebuild this wall & govern Remember me. For all the people that pass through my home & eat at my table & hear the gospel within my walls, remember me.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Restore Each Other
Nehemiah 5:11-19 NKJV
"Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.” So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”
Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.”
And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise. "
Nehemiah knew about financial oppression. He watched his own jewish people hold debts over each other & eben sell their children as payment for these debts. He called a great assembly & ordered them to forgive any debt their brother had against each other & to return these demanded payments. The wall was rebuilt. Now it was time everyone receive a fresh start. And all obeyed, because of the fear of the Lord.
The Lord sees our national debt. And I'm sure He has a solution for a fresh start if our people & leaders feared Him enough to ask & obey. Who in your life needs a fresh start? Who do you need to forgive some debt, money or emotional, that you feel is rightfully yours? Think over your life, and remembers the mercy both God and man have shown you at times you did not deserve it. Repay that blessing forward to breath new life into a dark soul. Forgive. God may be requiring this of you today.
"Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.” So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”
Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.”
And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise. "
Nehemiah knew about financial oppression. He watched his own jewish people hold debts over each other & eben sell their children as payment for these debts. He called a great assembly & ordered them to forgive any debt their brother had against each other & to return these demanded payments. The wall was rebuilt. Now it was time everyone receive a fresh start. And all obeyed, because of the fear of the Lord.
The Lord sees our national debt. And I'm sure He has a solution for a fresh start if our people & leaders feared Him enough to ask & obey. Who in your life needs a fresh start? Who do you need to forgive some debt, money or emotional, that you feel is rightfully yours? Think over your life, and remembers the mercy both God and man have shown you at times you did not deserve it. Repay that blessing forward to breath new life into a dark soul. Forgive. God may be requiring this of you today.
Friday, March 4, 2011
By Name
Nehemiah 3:28-29 NKJV
"Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. After him . . . "
This entire chapter lists the men by name who worked to rebuild the walls, by people groups, and lists exactly the section they repaired. Some repaired mighty amounts:
"Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, hung its doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Refuse Gate." (Vs 13)
Many left great legacies as they involved their children in the work of the Lord:
"And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs." (Vs 12)
Others were recorded shamefully for their lack of commitment to God's vision and God's call on their life:
"Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord." (Vs 5)
I wonder how God is recording my work for His kingdom? Does it read:
"And Kristie made repairs in front of her own house. She worked to rebuild the wall, the wall that was destroyed by divorce, or death or discouragement and loneliness"
What is God recording about the legacy I'm leaving for my children?
"And her son Blake worked next to her, to lead others to the Lord & fill in that gap on the wall. And next to him, his brother Elijah worked to be an encourager to the dishearted. And next to him, his sister Mollie worked to sing praises to the king. And next to her, their sister Bella worked to tell others about Christ. And next to her, the youngest sister Selah wore out the path to the alter as a prayer warrior for Jesus."
The saddest thing in the world would be to have God record this of me:
"But Kristie did not put her shoulder to the work of the Lord, she nor her children after her, nor their children after them".
Think about your spot on the wall. God is.
"Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. After him . . . "
This entire chapter lists the men by name who worked to rebuild the walls, by people groups, and lists exactly the section they repaired. Some repaired mighty amounts:
"Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, hung its doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Refuse Gate." (Vs 13)
Many left great legacies as they involved their children in the work of the Lord:
"And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs." (Vs 12)
Others were recorded shamefully for their lack of commitment to God's vision and God's call on their life:
"Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord." (Vs 5)
I wonder how God is recording my work for His kingdom? Does it read:
"And Kristie made repairs in front of her own house. She worked to rebuild the wall, the wall that was destroyed by divorce, or death or discouragement and loneliness"
What is God recording about the legacy I'm leaving for my children?
"And her son Blake worked next to her, to lead others to the Lord & fill in that gap on the wall. And next to him, his brother Elijah worked to be an encourager to the dishearted. And next to him, his sister Mollie worked to sing praises to the king. And next to her, their sister Bella worked to tell others about Christ. And next to her, the youngest sister Selah wore out the path to the alter as a prayer warrior for Jesus."
The saddest thing in the world would be to have God record this of me:
"But Kristie did not put her shoulder to the work of the Lord, she nor her children after her, nor their children after them".
Think about your spot on the wall. God is.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Be Bold-Ask BIG!
Nehemiah 2:1-8 NKJV
"And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”
So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”
So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me."
Ask for what you need in order to accomplish your God-sized mission. Ask BIG. Pray expecting to receive it. And set a time, expecting God to complete it. Be bold- expect God to be God. It's His mission too.
"And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”
So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”
So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me."
Ask for what you need in order to accomplish your God-sized mission. Ask BIG. Pray expecting to receive it. And set a time, expecting God to complete it. Be bold- expect God to be God. It's His mission too.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Weeping & Repenting
Nehemiah 1:3-4, 7, 10-11 NKJV
And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Nehemiah first had to face reality. He had to look destruction and sin in the face & accept responisbility for where they are as a broken people. He had to let the Lord make him broken over the sins of the people, to the point of weeping and repentance.
It's scarey to be real & come clean before a Holy God. It's hard to admit how far we fall sometimes. But God already knows both. He can only work in a willing vessel. How many times has God tried to humble me? Have I listened?
And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Nehemiah first had to face reality. He had to look destruction and sin in the face & accept responisbility for where they are as a broken people. He had to let the Lord make him broken over the sins of the people, to the point of weeping and repentance.
It's scarey to be real & come clean before a Holy God. It's hard to admit how far we fall sometimes. But God already knows both. He can only work in a willing vessel. How many times has God tried to humble me? Have I listened?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)