Saturday, October 15, 2011

Freedom

Nehemiah 5 describes how the nobles and officials were misusing and controlling the people who were trying so hard to do the work that God had given them to do - that of rebuilding the walls of the city.
 n verses 7 and 8 Nehemiah confronts the leaders and says "How often must we redeem them?"

 What about those who are just wanting to experience the freedom they have found in Jesus Christ?  Are we 'adding to' so they are 'overburdened'?  John 8:36 say "So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." (NLT)

 Sometimes I wonder if we do the same thing to each other.  Are we placing such a burden on those who are doing the work of the Lord that they feel like they "already carry a heavy burden"? (vs. 18) Those working on the wall were helping each other and sharing what they could.  When we work together not only does the work get done, but we grow together in the "one anothers" of Scripture that brings glory to God.

 Let us not place burdens on those who have been redeemed - set free - or on each other as we seek together to do the "work of the Lord".

 Contributed by Karen Brink

Friday, October 14, 2011

Compassion

Nehemiah told the rich Jews to stop charging interest (exacting usury) on their loans to their needy brothers (5:10). God never intended people to profit from other’s misfortunes. In contrast to the values of this world, God says that caring for one another is more important than personal gain. When a Christian brother or sister suffers, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). We should help needy believers, not exploit them. The Jerusalem church was praised for working together to eliminate poverty (Acts 4:34-35). Remember, God places special interest on those who are sensitive to the poor (Proverbs 28:27). Make it a practice to help those in need around you.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.      1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (KJV)
 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.     Acts 4:34-35 (NIV)
Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.
Proverbs 28:27 (NLT)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Recognition

                De Vos Place. Van Andel Institute. Frederick Meijer Gardens. These are just a few names of well known places in our area, all named after men who started with very little but rose to prominence in the business world. Buildings, parks, monuments and even streets are often named after men and women who have made accomplishments in their lives.

                Nehemiah accomplished much in his life, too. Not only did he organize the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem, he kept the people safe from enemies, he addressed and solved financial disputes and he regularly fed over 150 people for dinner at his own expense!  

                Nehemiah Avenue? Nehemiah Institute? Nehemiah Gardens? As far as I know, Nehemiah never had any worldly recognition for how he had helped his people but I don’t think he really cared. What mattered most to him was that God knew his heart and his actions.  “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.” (Nehemiah 5:19)

                It doesn’t really matter if other people notice what we are doing for the Lord, if they know the hours we put into preparing and serving in various avenues, the sacrifices we make either monetarily, mentally, physically or emotionally.   What matters is that the Lord sees, knows and remembers!

Contributed by Lucy Kolean

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Guarding

In Nehemiah 4 the enemies of Nehemiah and those rebuilding the wall were being attacked by their jealous and angry enemies.  Nehemiah (in character) turned to the Lord in prayer and God again gave him a plan.  A plan where the people would guard (protect) each other. 

I think we have the same responsibility to each other and our spiritual leaders.  We have many adversaries and those who would love to destroy our testimony and lives as we strive to live to the glory of God. 

Scripture talks about 'guarding' in many passages.  Psalm 141:3 says "Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips."(NLT) The first way is to guard our lips and be careful how we talk to and about each other. "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Eph.4:20 (NLT)

Proverbs 4:23 - "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (NLT)

I Cor. 16:13 - "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." (NLT)

I Timothy 6:20a - "guard what God has entrusted to you" (NLT)

Let us be careful to guard each other as the enemy tries to attack us individually and as a church.  This was the plan that God gave Nehemiah and it still applies to us today.

Contributed by Karen Brink

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Trumpet

            Nehemiah 4:19 – “Then I (Nehemiah) said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

            The use of trumpets in the ancient world was varied. Here is this passage, the trumpet sound was a summons to battle. Numbers 10:9 and Judges 3:27 are other references to this. Priests sounded trumpets at the time of the fall of Jericho. (Joshua 6:16) Trumpets announced God’s appearances (Exodus 19:16), they signaled the beginning of special feasts days (Numbers 29:1-6) and they were used in theatrical performances, coronations and worship services.

            The people of Israel were always listening for the “sound of the trumpet”. We, as believers should be listening for that, too. (I Corinthians 15:52 and I Thessalonians 4:16 )  Like Nehemiah and the people working on the wall, let us keep our hands busy doing the Lord’s work and our ears ever ready to hear the sound of the trumpet, not to go to battle, but to go Home!

 Contributed by Lucy Kolean

Friday, October 7, 2011

Words

The things people say may hurt us, but they can never harm us, unless we let them get into our system and poison us. If we spend time pondering the enemy’s words, we will give Satan a foothold from which he can launch another attack closer to home. The best thing to do is pray and commit the whole matter to the Lord, and then get back to work! Anything that keeps us from doing what God has called us to do will only help the enemy.

Nehemiah 4:6 – The Transformation Study Bible

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Ridicule

Ridicule can cut deeply, causing discouragement and despair. Sanballat and Tobiah used ridicule to try to dissuade the Jews from building the wall. Instead of trading insults, however, Nehemiah prayed, and the work continued. When you are mocked for your faith or criticized for doing what you know is right, refuse to respond in the same way or to become discouraged. Tell God how you feel and remember hi promise to be with you. This will give you encouragement and strength to carry on.

Nehemiah 4:1-5 – Life Application Bible

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Work

Heh.4:6b  “…for the people had a mind to work.”

I was a boy of 9 or 10 when Dad instructed me to clean up the garage. I cleaned and organized the work bench, threw away some empty boxes, stacked some other boxes, re-arranged some other things, and sat down to rest. Dad came back finding me sitting on a stool. “What’s goin’ on?”

“I’m all done and taking a break.”

“Can you not see dirt?” he asked while grabbing a broom off  its hook. “Look at this garage floor. Don’t wait for someone to tell you to sweep. You’ve got to take initiative. You’ve got to see dirt, not wait until someone tells you it’s there. Don’t be someone who has to be told what to do. Find a job and do it, NOW! There’s always something to do. Don’t be a guy who sits around having to be told what to do. Look for dirt and take care of it.”

Nehemiah complimented the people on having a “mind to work.” Can you see dirt?

Contributed by Rich Kornoelje

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

It Matters

                It’s a fair bet that Meremoth, Jehoiada and Melatiah did not know they would be mentioned in a book called Nehemiah. It is safe to say that Uzziel, Rephaiah and Shallum never dreamed that for all eternity their names would be linked with the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem. These people had no clue but it has been thought-provoking for me to read throughout the Bible where God tells believers that their works will be remembered as well.

                In both the Old and New Testaments, God calls our attention to the fact that what we do in our daily lives – how we work, how we live, how we talk, matters. Here are just a few verses:

Psalm 62:12 – “…and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Romans 14:12 – “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

II Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Ephesians 6: 7, 8 – “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

                Thankfully as a believer, I will not have to answer for my sins, they have been forgiven and forgotten. I will have to answer for the life I have led after I became a child of God. How have I used the talents and abilities He has given me? How have I used His money? Did I tell others about Him? Did I trust Him when I didn’t understand? Did I obey His commands?  How did I treat other people? When I did a job, how did I do? Did I work for my own glory or for His?

                It will be a sobering day when I stand before my Savior and have to give an account. My daily prayer is that I will not disappoint Him.

Contributed by Lucy Kolean

Monday, October 3, 2011

Stand Firm

I thank God for the challenge to be like Nehemiah. From the first chapter, I learned how he took his heart to God and acknowledged His authority over all. Then he listened for God's prompting, as he stayed in communication with Him. He acknowledged that God was putting the good thoughts in his mind to do, and that He would give the people success as they followed God's lead in obedience.

And then the challenges came. (Why do I always think that stepping out in faith and obedience should be challenge-free?) But God continued to be faithful, and the people worked hard, and were ready to fight. "Do not be afraid . . .remember the Lord who is great and awesome" (4:14) "Our God will fight for us." (4:20) Their enemies were trying to frighten the people and tried various tricks to frighten Nehemiah and get him off-course, even after the wall was finished.

My enemy is constantly trying to get me to fear and doubt God and His purposes for me. I want to be like Nehemiah, who's confidence was in "the great and awesome God" (1:5) and His continual leading, as I step out in faith to obey His promptings during the day.

Contributed by Brenda Bell

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Myself

"I can do it all by myself!!!"

Many children have said this as they attempt to do things by themselves.  But that statement is not limited to children.  There are many times when I have said  this- or at least had this attitude.  After all, God has given me certain abilities and talents and I can figure this out by myself.

Nehemiah COULD have had this attitude.  But he was sensitive to the Lord and was willing to submit himself to the way the Lord told him to rebuild the walls.

Chapter 3 is hard to read and stay focused.  But when we realize that this was the Lord's way of rebuilding the walls, we can learn the lesson He has for us.  None of us was meant to do the "task" alone.  When we each do our part, the task gets done in record time or in an unusual way, all to the glory of God.

I can't do it by myself. We need each other.

Contributed by Karen Brink

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Accomplishment

As I read chapter 3, it revealed to me just how many people were involved in building the Wall of Jerusalem!  It seems that the wall was divided into sections, each one assigned to each of the families which had returned from the captivity. They all worked simultaneously and with great energy.


It makes me stop to think about all the ministries we have going on at Immanuel.  If each family shared in the ministries, and worked simultaneously and with great energy, just think what God could accomplish through all of us!  Something to think about!

Contributed by Melody Freckman