Month: September 2020

Our ZEAL for the LORD; Wholehearted or Halfhearted?

On the Spreaker broadcasts we have been going through the Book of Nehemiah, the man who had the vision to rebuild the wall and gates of Jerusalem. Seriously hard work and fierce opposition to that calling.

Baruch son of Zabbai ZEALOUSLY repaired another section of the wall…Neh 3:20. We know nothing about Baruch, EXCEPT HE WAS ‘ZEALOUS’. There are people in the Word of God that we know only one thing about, one brief mention and yet they are there in His Word. If God was going to include us in His Word, WHAT WOULD OUR WORD BE? Often in a family each child may be known by a nickname, something that those who know us very well use to identify us. What word or phrase would our LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER use to describe/characterise us or our service? The work of rebuilding was tough but something about this man Baruch stood out, he alone out of many was noted as ZEALOUS. His service had a noteworthy quality about it, many were working hard but the quality of his work was especially praised.

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, FOR THE PEOPLE WORKED WITH ALL THEIR HEART. Neh 4:6 (We could say they worked zealously).

I know a Christian business man who built a business, actually several businesses from the ground up (like the wall), again lots of hard work and many problems. In their first factory at the front entrance to the building, they had a plaque on the wall with this text. Everyone who entered walked past it, including the staff and many non believers who called on business. This was the workplace and the people had to work together, in this case for the business to grow and develop. We as believers need to see God’s Kingdom coming to those around us and often that requires time and effort.

…WE ALL returned to the wall, EACH TO THEIR OWN WORK. Neh 4:15

All were needed to do the work, all had their part to play. The workers on the wall included Priests 3:1,2, Goldsmiths 3:8,31,32, Perfume Makers 3:8, Daughters of Shallum 3:12, Levites 3:17 and Merchants 3:32. Many of these people would never have chosen this hard physical labour, but their help was needed to do the work. During World War 2, many people, especially ladies, had to do work they’d never expected for the greater good.The Lord needs us all to work for Him in these days, to help with the work of the Kingdom and above all to be ZEALOUS FOR HIM.

May we all find our place, on the wall, to serve Him. May we hear the WORD He has for us, to encourage us.

God bless and keep you today.

 

 

 

 

The God of Heaven will give us(insert your name and make it personal) success. Neh. 2:20

We saw yesterday that Nehemiah undertook a ‘nighttime exercise’ on his own horse and with just a few men. ‘He hadn’t told anyone what God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem’. Neh 2:12

He went out in the darkness(a more difficult time), so the enemy couldn’t see what he was doing and oppose the work of God.

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace. …They replied, “Let us start rebuilding”.” So they began this good work. Neh 2:17, 18

I listened to a story recently by a believer who had been in a Special Forces unit of the army. He told how the men were all standing outside in the darkness and it was raining. They too were going on a ‘nighttime exercise’, in the mountains and all of them were subdued because of the cold and rain. The commander of the base came out to them and said he was personally going to lead them in this exercise. He told the men it was a ‘perfect night’ for their venture because no enemy would be about on a night like this. He set off and the men followed him, now in much better heart because their commander had encouraged them and was leading the way. Even these highly trained soldiers responded to someone they could believe in and who led the way himself, in the darkness, cold and rain. They completed the mission, because their commander gave them hope that the very conditions that made it tough for them, would keep an enemy inside and off guard.

Marios Ellinas, the former special forces’ soldier who went on that nighttime exercise in the mountains, said it stood out  in his memory. It’s often the challenging times that are the clearest in our memories(victory in/over adversity).

Marios believes that the TOUGHEST TIMES WILL BRING OUT THE BEST IN THE BELIEVERS! There are many examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in situations of extreme difficulty and danger.

Jesus, our leader, who has gone ahead of us said, “I will build My Church and the Gates of Hell WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT”. Matt 16:18

IT’S IN THE DARKEST DAYS THAT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST WILL SHINE BRIGHTEST!

The greatest days for believers still lie ahead!

May God bless and keep us in challenging times and may His Name be glorified in us.

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Thank you for your support of the work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was cupbearer to the king(Artaxerxes, Persia). Neh 1:11

There are only two cupbearers that I can recall in Scripture (Nehemiah and while Joseph was in prison in Egypt), both had significant roles to play for God’s people.

The Book of Nehemiah begins with the words; In the month of Kislev (9th month, root word means hope/inheritance), so it seems God’s Timing was involved. In Joseph’s life in prison the cupbearer forgot Joseph UNTIL Pharaoh had his dreams. Gen 41 God had His Time for Joseph, hidden in jail, to be released and made ruler of all Egypt under Pharaoh. We too may have God’s Calling on our lives, but only God knows His Timing to bring us into the things He has for us.

Nehemiah was allowed to hear and know of the conditions of the Jews and Jerusalem through his own brother, Hanani and others from the Land. He was deeply moved by what he heard! Sometimes things that stir us deeply can be the Lord challenging us as to what we’re willing to do about a situation.

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven. Neh 1:4

Nehemiah was deeply touched by the situation of God’s and his own people, but he took it before the Lord ‘FOR SOME DAYS’. It’s so important to seek God’s perspective on things that are moving our emotions! He prayed an anointed prayer and asked for favour BEFORE he decided to go to the king.

Nehemiah PRAYED and PREPARED before he went before the king, but he’s honest, ‘I was VERY MUCH AFRAID, but I said to the king…’. Neh 2:3 God was calling Nehemiah to help the Jews in Jerusalem, but he still felt the fear of going in front of a pagan ruler and asking permission to help his distant people.

He’d asked for favour and the king agreed to allow him to go and help his own people. ‘If it please the king, may I have letters to the governors and to Asaph, keeper of the king’ forest, so he will give me timber to make gates…’. Nehemiah had THE BOLDNESS to ask the king(a man of means) to provide help for his work. If God has opened a door for us then we too need to be BOLD IN OUR ASKING. We may not get exactly what we want but if we have the Favour of God He’ll see we get help. Be BOLD and EXPECT FAVOUR, it’s part of the confirmation. I’ve said before, there were no Prophetic Words to the exiles, they had to go forward in Faith in the rebuilding and thank God they did (Messiah could come).

The Steps of Nehemiah to go and help his people;

The TIMING WAS RIGHT(Kislev, hope/inheritance)

PRAYER AND PREPARATION, FOR ‘SOME DAYS’.

‘Very much afraid’, but ASKED IN HUMILITY the king/ruler for permission to  leave and go to Jerusalem.

Asked with BOLDNESS FOR HELP to do the work.

May God give us all favour and blessing in what we’re being called to do for Him today.

May the Lord bless and keep us in His will.

 

Wisdom is calling us to eat meat and drink wine(drinking alcohol NOT for all of us!), adult fare, not at all suitable for children. Prov 9:2,5

The ‘two invitations of Wisdom and Folly’ are outlined for us in Proverbs 9 and include some similarities but also huge differences and outcomes.

Both Wisdom and Folly have their own houses, both appeal from the highest point of the city(where the people can see). They speak to the same audience;

“Let all you are simple come in here!” she(both) says to those who lack judgement. Prov 9:4,16

What they’ll give you to eat is vastly different, Wisdom gives us ‘Meat and Wine’ mentioned twice for emphasis! Folly’s invitation, “ Stolen water(water keeps us alive, but it’s stolen, wine is for celebration, weddings) is sweet; food eaten in secret(has to be hidden, perhaps it too is stolen) is delicious!”

Wisdom’s invitation brings Life, while Folly’s leads to Death. Tragically many who refuse the Lord’s invitation to Life end up in death, often premature death.

The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. V13 Folly is often Loud, the louder the more people, maybe young people, who are attracted to join in but it can be a ‘slippery slope’ to misfortune. The invitation of Folly is really a Trap to ensnare poor unsuspecting people into a ‘house of death’, it’s only the Lord’s mercy that rescues many of us.

The last part of Wisdom’s invitation is a command;

Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. Prov 9:6

We can’t follow two paths, we must walk in one or the other and Wisdom is the path to Life. I believe there is more to this invitation than the choice of Life or Death. Paul speaks of the Corinthian Church only being ready to drink milk(spiritual babes, still on first principles), not ready for meat of the Word and the things of God. Where there is Life we expect things to grow and for the Christian that should mean meat, not just going over the same ground again and again. We shoul pray that we may be able to, ‘eat the meat and drink the wine’ in the things of God, that we might go on to maturity in the Lord.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Heb 5:14

God bless and keep you this day.

 

 

 

 

Can God’s voice be heard above the STATIC in our lives?

Now then, My children, LISTEN to Me(Wisdom speaking); Blessed are those who keep My Ways. LISTEN to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the one who LISTENS to me, WATCHING DAILY at my doors, WAITING at My doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself. Prov 8:32-36

Wisdom tells us three times in these verses to LISTEN and be wise. Blessing for the person who ‘WATCHES ‘DAILY’ AT MY DOORS, WAITING AT MY DOORWAY’.

I’ve felt nudges in my spirit for some time now(not good to be slow at following and obeying God’s promptings) that I need to jettison/throw overboard some things from my life, namely too much time spent on the Internet(I don’t watch TV). I feel that they have become a DISTRACTION in my life, keeping me from following the Lord AND HEARING HIS VOICE.

DISTRACTION, a thing(ANYTHING, different for each one) that PREVENTS us from CONCENTRATING on something or SOMEONE(Wisdom) else. Some similar words; diversion, interruption, intrusion, interference(like static on a radio).

We live in the age of the ‘Sound bite society’, many short snippets of information diced and chopped(Edited) for our consumption. We hear about many things but know little in any depth, we are superficial, skimming the surface. God is a Love God, a Jealous God, who’d doesn’t want to be competing for our hearts, but to have us all(ALL OF US) to Himself. He is looking for EARNEST SEEKERS, NOT CASUAL ENQUIRERS and that’s at least part of the reason so many of us are not hearing more from Heaven today. There’s too much else going on inside us for the voice of the Lord to be heard. We do need to be still and LISTEN.

I believe I may have quoted Todd Weatherly before;

SUSTAINED FOCUS CREATES MOMENTUM, MOMENTUM CREATES BREAKTHROUGH.

FOCUS, an ACT OF CONCENTRATING on something or someone. Another definition, adapt to the current level of light and become able to see clearly. If we walk from one light level/room to another, it takes time for our eyes to adjust and see clearly. In seeking the things of God, we may need to refocus our spirits to see and hear more clearly. But if we’re continually absorbed by and TALKING ABOUT the things of this world, then it becomes more difficult to focus on the Lord and the things of His world, our real home.

I love those who love Me and those who seek Me find Me. Prov 8:17

May God give us hearts to seek and find Him today.

God bless and keep us all in these days.

 

 

 

Where are our steps taking us, who’s directing our lives?

Jewish people will not speak out the Name of Yahweh, it’s so Holy to them. During the past weekend I had the thought that in English “YAHWEH” rhymes with ‘YOUR WAY’.

God’s Word has much to say to us about ‘our steps’ and who is directing them, notably in Proverbs.

A man’s(and woman’s)steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? Prov 20:24

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Prov 16:29

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Prov 19:21

Another verse, this time from the prophet Jeremiah;

I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for a man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice – not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. Jer 10:23,24

When we look at Scripture there are many lives which were directed by God for His plans and purposes;

Joseph didn’t want to be sold into slavery or imprisonment but God used him to rescue his whole family.

Moses didn’t want to spend forty years in the desert, but God used him to deliver Israel from slavery.

David didn’t want to be chased by Saul, ‘only a step from death’, but God used him to capture Jerusalem and deliver his own people from their enemies.

Finally, even the Lord hesitated at the thought of the cross, but submitted to the Father’s will(Yahweh) to redeem mankind.

Will we submit to God’s plans for our lives today, His higher purposes for us, or will we resist and seek to keep control ourselves?

We should understand that God will ultimately prevail;

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm for ever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Psalm 33:10,11

We will need God to be ‘directing our steps’ in the days that lie ahead. Please take some time to contemplate these verses and give our lives afresh into His hands today.

Yes Yahweh(Most High God), YOUR WAY for our lives.

 

 

 

For He is the LIVING GOD AND HE ENDURES FOREVER. Dan 6:26

NEVER FORGET, WE SERVE THE LIVING GOD!

Daniel faced death again, later in his life in exile. ‘His exceptional qualities’ V3, meant the king had chosen to set him over the whole kingdom, but the other administrators vehemently opposed that. They set out to get him, but;

They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Dan 6:4

Daniel was a captive of the Babylonians but he still provided service of the highest quality — he had a good attitude towards his work and his Babylonian masters (many today could learn from him and be blessed, ultimately all service is to God, Neh 4:6).

The opposition decided to attack Daniel based on ‘the law of his God’. They went as a large group to king Darius and asked him to establish a law in writing, therefore legally binding, that no one should pray to any God other than King Darius for thirty days. Daniel heard of the decree and had to make a decision that could cost him his life. He continued to kneel and pray to his God, three times each day, with his windows open towards Jerusalem. Daniel had a consistent ‘Personal Prayer Life’, he continually gave thanks to God and brought things before Him in prayer.

The other administrators went to the king and told him Daniel had disobeyed the decree. The king was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Dan 6:14 They used the law of Man to attack the servant of God. We are seeing laws passed in our days that are already being used against believers. It’s possible that many of us will face similar challenges ahead.

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and it was sealed overnight. It’s important to note that God rescued Daniel IN THE LIONS’ DEN, NOT OUTSIDE IT, he had to go through the trial for his life. God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths. The king was overjoyed but then turned his anger on the scheming nobles who’d plotted to kill Daniel. They’d attacked Daniel regarding his God and now they and their families suffered the same fate.

King Darius issued a decree that in every part of his kingdom, people must reverence and fear( the fear of God) the God of Daniel;

For HE IS THE LIVING GOD AND HE ENDURES FOREVER; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His Dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions. Dan 6:26,27

May the LIVING GOD protect and support you this day in all the challenges you may be facing.

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But you did not honour the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways. Dan 5:23

No matter what happens around us we need to fear/honour God. The Jews were ‘exiles’, living in a foreign land with little or no control over their own lives. The Church is also in exile on the earth today(Heb 11:13,14) but God and His angels care for us just as they did with the Jews in Babylon.

God’s intervention in the lives of two Babylonian kings;

Nebuchadnezzar(father of Belshazzar)

1 Daniel, Jewish exile, interpreted his dreams from God.

2 One night, possibly alone on his palace roof, pride rose.

3 Judgement for a season, 7 years living alone in the fields.

4 Worshipped the one true God of Israel.

5 Restored to GREATER GLORY, after he humbled himself and acknowledged God as Sovereign in the affairs of men.

Belshazzar(son of Nebuchadnezzar)

1 Daniel interpreted the ‘writing on the wall’ to him.

2 One night, at his public banquet, pride rose in him.

3 Final judgement came to Belshazzar.

4 Praised the gods of silver and gold… who cannot see or hear or understand.

5 His kingdom was divided(loss of power) and his life ended

Daniel was a prisoner in exile but God gave him revelation to speak to kings, their own wisemen couldn’t help them. God put Daniel in a position of authority to the rulers, though he was a captive in exile.

‘GOD GAVE Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendour. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;…to spare, he spared;…to promote, he promoted;…to humble,he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory’. Dan 5:19

All authority is delegated from God and also removed by Him. We may not understand why tyrants are allowed to rule but God eventually deals with all in authority, they are not beyond His reach. Daniel served the kings of Babylon to his best ability, though they’d captured his people, but he also remained faithful to the Lord.

But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself THOUGH YOU KNEW ALL THIS. Instead you set yourself up against the Lord of Heaven.  Dan 5:22,23

God expected king Belshazzar to have learn’t from his father’s humbling and his heart change towards the Lord. When he flagrantly dishonoured the vessels of God in a public gathering, judgement came at once and he died.

God kept Judah for seventy years(span of a human life today!) and brought them back safely to their land. He is watching over His people on earth to bless us and bring us safely home when that day comes. Therefore, we too need to, ‘honour the God who holds in His hand our life and all our ways’.

God bless and keep you in the palm of His hand today.

 

 

 

God keeps showing up at key moments for His people!

“As surely as the Lord lives, WHO HAS DELIVERED ME OUT OF EVERY TROUBLE…Solomon shall be king after me”. 1 Kings 1:29

Absalom had tried to snatch the throne from David his father; just one of many threats in David’s life. Again we see an elderly King David(the enemy doesn’t stop just because we’re old or weakened, but God is faithful!) faced with another attack on the throne of Israel by his son Adonijah. David had sworn to Bathsheba that Solomon would be the succeed him as King. Solomon had a calling on his life to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. The enemy wanted to abort this at all costs but God wouldn’t allow it. David proclaimed that as surely as God had been his DELIVERER all his lifelong, Solomon was king.

Jacob/Israel was also coming to the end of his life, when Joseph brought his two sons to be blessed by his father.

May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the GOD WHO HAS BEEN MY SHEPHERD ALL MY LIFE TO THIS DAY, THE ANGEL WHO HAS DELIVERED ME FROM ALL HARM – may He bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac… Gen 48:15,16

Jacob who’d had to flee from his home after stealing his brother’s birthright and live alone in a foreign land, also knew God as his DELIVERER. God had tested Jacob but Jacob knew and had proven God was faithful in the difficult times of his life.

Daniel’s three friends, once again exiles in the strange land of Babylon, under threat of death by king Nebuchadnezzar told the king;

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. Dan 3:17

They were in a strange land and at the mercy of a powerful king, but they took their stand on the Lord being much more powerful than any earthly ruler and sure enough the Lord was WITH THEM IN THE FURNACE!

It may seem as if you’re alone, in a strange place without help today but GOD IS WITH US! May we too have this testimony to tell, ‘He delivered us from all our troubles’.

May God bless and keep you this day from all harm.

GOD IS OUR DELIVERER IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!