Fri.’s Devo - Nehemiah’s Commission

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Provers 21:4 Nehemiah means “Comfort of Jehovah”. He arrived on the scene eleven years after Ezra. Nehemiah was probably a teen who had the trustworthy job of being the king’s cup bearer. He learned from his brother who had just returned from Jerusalem that the city was in great trouble. The wall had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire. This troubled Nehemiah so much that he fasted and mourned for many months. He prayed for God to remember his promises to Moses. God had said that if they rebelled against him, he would scatter them among the nations. But if they returned to him and obeyed his commands, he would gather them back to Jerusalem. He repented for himself and his people and prayed for favor with the king. *** It took four months for the king to notice Nehemiah’s condition. It just happened to be the month of Nisan, the month of Passover. God was ready to act. The king asked Nehemiah what was on his heart so heavily. Nehemiah told him his heart and how he wanted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. The king listened to his plan and granted his request. Nehemiah had already planned everything he would need. He asked the king to give him letters to get him safely to Jerusalem and letters to Asaph who was over the king’s forest so he would have timber to build the walls. The king agreed to everything he asked for. He sent army officers to protect him on his way. *** Sanballat which means “hatred” and Tobiah were very upset that someone had come from the king to help the people of Israel. Nehemiah didn’t disclose his plan. He went out at night and surveyed the wall and the condition of the city. It was so bad, his donkey couldn’t get through all the rubble. *** Nehemiah met with the leaders of the city and told them why he was there and about his conversation with the king. They were ready to get to work. Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem heard about their plan and scoffed at them and tried to stop them. He told them that God would help them but they had no share, legal right or historic claim in Jerusalem. That is what we have to tell the devil. He has no share in earth. God gave this earth to Adam and his children. We are to rule and reign here and have dominion. Satan has no historic claim! *** Different families took sections of the wall nearest them and began repairing it. That is true for us, we work where God has put us…what is before us. *** In Corinthians, there was a huge problem of sexual immorality. Paul wrote to them about the issue. He encouraged husbands and wives to satisfy one another and those that were not married to stay pure. He encouraged husbands and wives to stay married and not divorce but if they did, not to remarry unless they were reconciled with their spouse. *** People who were married to unbelievers were encouraged to stay with them because their holiness would be passed down to the children. And, the unbelieving spouse might become holy because of their believing spouse. *** Whatever state they were before they came to Christ, they should remain and let the Holy Spirit do his work in their circumstances whether it had to do with things like marriage, circumcision or slavery. *** We might think we are slaves to our circumstances but we are free in Christ. No one can take our faith from us. *** Lord, we take back our nation, our education system, entertainment and sports, government, financial, medical, religious and families for your glory and your kingdom. We say no to all of Satan’s plans for this world and stand on the Word that says that all the kingdoms of the earth are our God’s. He shall reign forever and ever.