One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you— by night they are coming to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. (Nehemiah 6:10-14)
As we near the end of this week, let's walk a bit further into the book of Nehemiah. While Pastor Martha focused her sermon on the early chapters, we read in subsequent chapters that the opposition to Nehemiah's work grew stronger. The more he achieved, the more angry his detractors became.
Taunting didn't work, military threats didn't work, and political threats didn't work. So, Nehemiah's enemies tried a new approach. They paid spiritual leaders to lie to Nehemiah and attempt to turn him away from the work that God had called him to. On the surface, Shemaiah's counsel seemed logical: Nehemiah, you should hide in God's house where it's safe. But Nehemiah maintained his stance, offering the same response he had given to his other enemies: Why should I stop doing what God has called me to do?
It's so important for us to hear from God for ourselves, because our enemies will even seek to use spirituality in an attempt to derail our calling and purpose. The New Testament echoes this tactic: "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed." (Matthew 27:20)
May God help us all to be readers, hearers, and doers of His word.
May His voice prevail above all others.
May we remain cognizant of the enemy's attempts to derail the work of the Lord.
God, give us grace to obey You and carry out Your will.
Showing posts with label Nehemiah 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nehemiah 1. Show all posts
Friday, August 3, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
"What Has God Said?"
Then I said to them, “You see the problem that we have: Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.” Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, “Let’s begin rebuilding right away!” So they readied themselves for this good project. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” (Nehemiah 2:17-19)
Ah, it’s all too familiar. God burdens us to pray about a particular issue, His Spirit reveals to us a plan of action, we move forward in obedience… and we are criticized. As the book of Nehemiah progresses, we learn that Sanballat and Tobias were intentional and aggressive in their attempts to prevent the Jerusalem gates and walls from being rebuilt. How did Nehemiah respond? With simple, unassuming persistence. He did not give in to the lies, threats, and negative comments of his critics, but instead persuaded his workers to stay focused and complete the task they’d begun.
Nehemiah’s persistence was grounded in a realization that God had spoken to him clearly and specifically. We would do well to follow Nehemiah’s example. The prayers, intercessions, and fastings brought an awesome result: the intercessor is the one who will move to answer the prayers. We see this modeled in Scripture in the lives of our Lord Jesus, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Elijah, and others. Each moved forward in obedience to God, each had their critics, and each was integral in God's plan of deliverance for His people through the ages. We are in good company.
Has God spoken? Then act on His word, without fear. He will give you strength to bring the good work into completion.
Ah, it’s all too familiar. God burdens us to pray about a particular issue, His Spirit reveals to us a plan of action, we move forward in obedience… and we are criticized. As the book of Nehemiah progresses, we learn that Sanballat and Tobias were intentional and aggressive in their attempts to prevent the Jerusalem gates and walls from being rebuilt. How did Nehemiah respond? With simple, unassuming persistence. He did not give in to the lies, threats, and negative comments of his critics, but instead persuaded his workers to stay focused and complete the task they’d begun.
Nehemiah’s persistence was grounded in a realization that God had spoken to him clearly and specifically. We would do well to follow Nehemiah’s example. The prayers, intercessions, and fastings brought an awesome result: the intercessor is the one who will move to answer the prayers. We see this modeled in Scripture in the lives of our Lord Jesus, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Elijah, and others. Each moved forward in obedience to God, each had their critics, and each was integral in God's plan of deliverance for His people through the ages. We are in good company.
Has God spoken? Then act on His word, without fear. He will give you strength to bring the good work into completion.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Quiet Man.
So I came to Jerusalem. When I had been there for three days, I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem… I continued up the valley during the night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and came to the Valley Gate, and so returned. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers. (from Nehemiah 2:11, 12, 15, and 16)
When I had been there for three days…
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, but there was a three-day gap between his arrival and his survey of the damage done to the city walls and gates. What was he doing? We can infer, based on the first chapter of Nehemiah, that he was in communion with God. And we can say, with assurance, that he was not in conversation with man. In the passage above, Nehemiah shares three things that he did not tell:
-“I did not tell anyone what God was putting on my heart…”
-“The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing…”
-“I had not told any of the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of the workers…”
I got up during the night…
Nehemiah approached his task of rebuilding the walls and gates without fanfare. Though a few men accompanied him on his night tour of the city, Nehemiah remained silent: only he knew the task that God had assigned to him, and he did not disclose God’s plan until after his survey of the land was completed.
As Bronx Bethany approaches the last five months of our theme “Engaging Transformational Prayer… Experiencing Transformational Provision”, it is appropriate that we be reminded of the scope of transformational prayer. The book of Nehemiah reminds us that transformational prayer is supported through the related disciplines of mourning, fasting, intercession, silence, watching, and waiting. In the face of devastating news on the home front, what else can we do? What better options are there to obtain God’s blueprint for problem-solving?
Let’s have some quiet time.
When I had been there for three days…
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, but there was a three-day gap between his arrival and his survey of the damage done to the city walls and gates. What was he doing? We can infer, based on the first chapter of Nehemiah, that he was in communion with God. And we can say, with assurance, that he was not in conversation with man. In the passage above, Nehemiah shares three things that he did not tell:
-“I did not tell anyone what God was putting on my heart…”
-“The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing…”
-“I had not told any of the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of the workers…”
I got up during the night…
Nehemiah approached his task of rebuilding the walls and gates without fanfare. Though a few men accompanied him on his night tour of the city, Nehemiah remained silent: only he knew the task that God had assigned to him, and he did not disclose God’s plan until after his survey of the land was completed.
As Bronx Bethany approaches the last five months of our theme “Engaging Transformational Prayer… Experiencing Transformational Provision”, it is appropriate that we be reminded of the scope of transformational prayer. The book of Nehemiah reminds us that transformational prayer is supported through the related disciplines of mourning, fasting, intercession, silence, watching, and waiting. In the face of devastating news on the home front, what else can we do? What better options are there to obtain God’s blueprint for problem-solving?
Let’s have some quiet time.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
And What Do You Do For A Living?
One of the more interesting moments during Pastor Martha’s sermon was when she asked the congregation whether they saw themselves as leaders and ministers. Most of them did not.
It is a sad commentary on the preparedness and willingness of our congregation to be salt and light in the world. It was a painful exercise to experience, especially in light of the lessons we learn from the book of Nehemiah. Pastor Martha made the point that Nehemiah was a man who rose through the ranks, and who presented himself as a leader in each position he held. We, like him, are called to lead.
Leadership is not necessarily correlated to the position we hold. The first job we see Nehemiah doing, “cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11), was an unenviable task. Nehemiah’s job, essentially, was to make sure that the king’s food and drink were safe to ingest. If some random betrayer decided to poison the king’s meal, Nehemiah would have been the one to die.
On the first read, his job seems like a thankless task. But Nehemiah served faithfully, and he planned carefully. When he heard of the disrepair in his hometown of Jerusalem, Nehemiah first appealed to God, then to the king. And Nehemiah’s job, dangerous as it was, provided him with an opportunity to obtain financial and political support for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He was no longer a mere cupbearer; he became a cupbearer with an awesome sabbatical assignment: Rebuild.
Nehemiah did not take his assignment lightly. As Pastor Martha shared, he spent his time of preparation in prayer, fasting, and planning. His life of discipline and preparedness was the training ground for his future leadership role.
Let’s evaluate our own leadership preparedness in light of Nehemiah’s. What are we doing from day-to-day as we work what might be a thankless job?
The rebuilder carried a toolkit: prayer, fasting, planning, and more. Tomorrow we’ll continue our reflection on Nehemiah’s emergence as a leader among his people.
It is a sad commentary on the preparedness and willingness of our congregation to be salt and light in the world. It was a painful exercise to experience, especially in light of the lessons we learn from the book of Nehemiah. Pastor Martha made the point that Nehemiah was a man who rose through the ranks, and who presented himself as a leader in each position he held. We, like him, are called to lead.
Leadership is not necessarily correlated to the position we hold. The first job we see Nehemiah doing, “cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11), was an unenviable task. Nehemiah’s job, essentially, was to make sure that the king’s food and drink were safe to ingest. If some random betrayer decided to poison the king’s meal, Nehemiah would have been the one to die.
On the first read, his job seems like a thankless task. But Nehemiah served faithfully, and he planned carefully. When he heard of the disrepair in his hometown of Jerusalem, Nehemiah first appealed to God, then to the king. And Nehemiah’s job, dangerous as it was, provided him with an opportunity to obtain financial and political support for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He was no longer a mere cupbearer; he became a cupbearer with an awesome sabbatical assignment: Rebuild.
Nehemiah did not take his assignment lightly. As Pastor Martha shared, he spent his time of preparation in prayer, fasting, and planning. His life of discipline and preparedness was the training ground for his future leadership role.
Let’s evaluate our own leadership preparedness in light of Nehemiah’s. What are we doing from day-to-day as we work what might be a thankless job?
The rebuilder carried a toolkit: prayer, fasting, planning, and more. Tomorrow we’ll continue our reflection on Nehemiah’s emergence as a leader among his people.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Rebuilder.
As is our tradition during five-Sunday months, yesterday's service combined our English- and Spanish-speaking congregations. Pastor Martha continued the theme of transformational prayer with a message on Nehemiah.
Her previous fifth-Sunday messages, which focused on Elijah and Daniel, were indicators that the prayer of one man has the power to change nations and empires. Nehemiah, too, was a leader who changed the fate of a nation through his prayers.
For today, let's remind ourselves of the Scripture passage which was used as the foundation of Pastor Martha's sermon.
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. ”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king. (Nehemiah, chapter 1)
Her previous fifth-Sunday messages, which focused on Elijah and Daniel, were indicators that the prayer of one man has the power to change nations and empires. Nehemiah, too, was a leader who changed the fate of a nation through his prayers.
For today, let's remind ourselves of the Scripture passage which was used as the foundation of Pastor Martha's sermon.
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. ”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king. (Nehemiah, chapter 1)