3^rd Lesson of Nehemiah

Seeking God for his people.

Nehemiah narrates the history of his people. Nehemiah was born in Persia, because the people of Israel were already there in Babylon when he was born. His brothers came to the palace where he was serving as a cupbearer to the king. The first chapter of Nehemiah describes us that some people of Judah, and Hanani came to the fortress. And Nehemiah asks them how the Jews were who escaped the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. He receives a report that the remnant in captivity was in misery; fallen walls and the gates burned by fire. Meaning the situation of his people was a shame.

Let us read the text according to: Ne. 1:4-11

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

5 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,

6 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.

7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 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.'

10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

11 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.

Let's make an analysis, say you and I were to do a survey about our people.

1 - How are in general the people of the Church of Jesus Christ here on earth? Have you had news about what is happening in the outside world, where your brothers and sisters in Christ, the rest of the Body of Jesus Christ are?

2 - How are those who do not have Bibles, have we brought the Word to them?

3 - Have we prayed for those who are in spiritual misery around the planet?

4 - The walls, signify the spiritual protection of people outside our local church what are they like?

5 - Is anyone in charge of the spiritual battle for people that are out there in danger?

6 - What are we, who consider ourselves the Church of Jesus  doing to change this situation?

Nehemiah was evaluating all this, and we can learn a beautiful lesson and apply these principles in our lives and in our church. He begins by quoting the Word of God in his prayer reminding his God what He had said to Moses, that the children of Israel would return, and pray and seek God, that God would hear. Nehemiah speaks to God in his prayer saying: Remember, because of the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress I will scatter you among the peoples. It was exactly where Nehemiah and his people were scattered among the peoples. If you return to me and keep my commandments, I will gather you from there. In our era, you and I have we also received commandments of Jesus, and in this lesson we learn to pray with Nehemiah.

“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way” Hb. 13:18. Every member of the Body of Christ needs to take a stand. One day Jesus confronted Peter, Do you love me? Then feed my sheep. Me, you and all who know the Truth, which is Jesus, we are to walk in this Truth. Walk the path that Jesus walked. To love God with all your heart, submit to Him in obedience and our neighbor as ourselves. This was Nehemiah’s approach. He stood before God, the king and he served before his people who suffered.

2nd lesson about Nehemiah

Nehemiah's reactiona and action in difficult times.

This book is a lesson about prayer, sacrifice, vision and also a lot of perseverance. In this book Nehemiah is the main character and we are told in the first chapter he was praying for Jerusalem. This book is a historical book that chronicles the events of the time when he was cupbearer to the king of Persia, in 445 a. C. According to the comments in the footnote of Shedd Bible we find that the name of Nehemiah has a meaning, "God is my delight" (Hebrew = nehemyã). Nehemiah is the historian of his own actions and the events of his life, but without writing a complete autobiography . I do not know if his name had some influence on his behavior, but we see that he indeed had a special delight in his God. He prayed, sought for his God and he literally wept for his people.

Let us say that God would use someone else to describe your life and personality, what would you be described as, a person who "God is his delight?" What phrase would follow your name if God would say: So and so is my ....... ?? Do you have any idea how God would describe you? In one of the subjects we will study that God gave testimony of David. Is it important to worry about it, which testimony God will give which of us? The arrival of Hanani.

When Nehemiah was taken to Jerusalem in 445. C. Ezra already had been there already for 14 years. But Ezra was a priest who taught religion to the people. Nehemiah, however, came as civil governor, with authority from the king of Persia to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and making it a fortified city, as it had been before. We read in vs. 2 of the first chapter of Nehemiah: "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.."[1]

Let us examine a little this man's life.

 a) We have the historical factor of his people in the scenario and also his own life.

 b) Nehemiah asks his brother about the situation of the people

 a. The situation of the Jews who escaped

 b. and which were not taken into exile, and concerning Jerusalem

 c) He receives the answer in verses 3 and 4: Nehemiah 1:2-4

Vs. 3-4: “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." 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”

-   Nehemiah had not forgotten his people.

-   Nehemiah seeks information about his people who escaped from captivity and who remained, and information about the city where he once his people lived.

-   He receives the answer that those left of the captivity there in the province are in misery and contempt.

-   The situation of the city was: split wall, and its gates are burned with fire.

-   On hearing this, Nehemiah's reaction was sitting down and mourned for a few days, and he began fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Application of the study to our lives.

 I would like to draw an assessment here applying the experience of this man of God. We live in the 21st century and if we analyze our life in conjunction, both the history of our country and our personal lives; we will see that is not much different from Neemiahs days. I do not know your experience, but my parents came from Russia in 1929 and came through Germany to Brazil. They settled in Brazil and started a life, even marvelous. I remember though how many times my parents told us, what life was like in Russia, the country they had left behind. How many times their heart was longing to go there to their homeland and try to make well all that history destroyed.

Nehemiah was in a country that was not his, but his heart was out there with his people who suffered. Nehemiah did all he could to bring about as we will study God's covenant to his people. I believe that the vast majority of nations surrounding the earth and peoples were in the same position that Jerusalem was at the time, even though if we do not want to admit it. How is your city, needing Jesus to come to restore the whole city as God did with Jerusalem through Ezra and Nehemiah?. If you were to analyze your city,_ your people, and your church what would you say to your God about these three things? Have you taken to God as Nehemiah did leading the seriousness of things around them and his people and his family? Or do you complain and are revolted because nothing changes and no one does anything?.

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[1] http://beta.biblestudytools.com/nehemiah/1-2.html

1st Lesson of Nehemiah = Evaluating Our Walls

THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF NEHEMIAH

 Introducing the Course

 The Word of our God orients us and guides us in all areas of our lives, both personally as well as members of the Body of Christ. It's tremendous the veracity with which we can read and reread the Scriptures as God has directed and guided his servants in the past, as well as does it with you and me today. We will be talking about men and women of God who took a posture of submission and obedience to serve him. God searches for people who are willing to serve him. In the past in the Old Testament as in the New Testament, there are people who have positioned themselves before God to perform the work that He gave them. You and I are part of the New Testament, because we live in the age of grace. From the day that Jesus began his ministry here on earth, until the day He will pick his bride, is the time of the New Testament . We are part of the fulfillment of history.

As we prayed to God for these studies God clearly showed that we have a very beautiful lesson to learn when we observe how He God guided the servants in the past. God directs, He speaks and He shows every detail and every step of the way to follow. Let us start the first study with Nehemiah, and if you want to prepare for this study, we suggest that you start reading the book of Nehemiah which has 13 chapters. Each lesson you will be asked to read two chapters.

By observing the life of Nehemiah we see that he it was actually not taken to a strange land with all of its people. He was born there and also worked in a very good situation, and certainly many people if they were in his position would think that; I was brought here as a slave, they make me work, I will have to get used to it. At first everyone rebels, and Nehemiah probably also did against everything that happened, but the Bible does not report this fact. Over time when he as serving the king, he might have thought: well my life is great, despite being a slave I can not complain because I am serving the king, I have a place of honor in the palace. Many human beings when they reach a similar position become proud and very selfish. Nehemiah did not need to worry about others; he only needed to take care of his work and problems, and his life was taken care off.

In this course on Building and Rebuilding the Walls we will examine the life of Nehemiah and also analyze how he behaved in towards himself, his posture and towards his people, without forgetting the most important thing is to speak of the fear of God he had. In this first lesson you will read Nehemiah chapter. 1 to 3. In each lesson we will indicate the Bible reading that will accompany the study.

Our study will be based on the comments of the Bible Shedd; comments foot notes of the Study Bible and we will also use the Halley's Bible Handbook to assist us in this study. So if you have one of these you can use them to keep up the good study.

Antonina Penner

The Purpose to be lived in God is love.

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him"- 1 Jn. 4:16.

I would like to present to you the content of our book, which is basically based on two Bible verses, one of them quoted above. The Bible tells us about the fact that there are many gods out there, whom the people worshiped in the past and present days. God presents Himself in the Bible to us as God is Love.

Many have approached us with the sentence: The Title makes no sense. Now, when I first started to study as on how to write a book, my teacher used to say to us, if you are able to puzzle the people with the title than you are a good writer. I was intrigued by what he said, but he explained. The title should only become meaningful after you read the whole book. Now, quoting my teacher, this title of the book will have a meaning once you read the whole book. May God bless your reading. I would like to give you the index of the book, and it has a good sequence of the subject, this way it will give you a continuity on the subject. One chapter leads you in the content of the next one.

If you have any questions I will gladly talk about if you wish. Books will be mailed to you if you do not live in our area. We apologize if the price is to high, but unfortunately for me the price to print one single book is 22 dollars plus shipping and handling. So, therefor the price is 23.99 plus shipping and handling. E-books will be available later for a small amount.
Books will be released in couple of weeks, and our book launching will be soon after that. Reserve your copy soon to make sure you will have on. People who read it in Portuguese language have given us their feedback saying that the content of the book is very profound leading the person into a deeper felloship with the Lord.

Contact us at: wepray4you@highestperspectives.com

Index:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
ABOUT THE BOOK.
THE PURPOSE TO BE LIVED IN "GOD IS LOVE"
GOD CREATES US IN LOVE
WHAT IS LOVE?
GOD CHOOSES US IN LOVE.
BORN AGAIN IN CHRIST.
PLAN OF SALVATION
GODS’ LOVE FOR THE HUMAN BEING.
THE HUMAN BEING IS SINFUL
JESUS LORD AND SAVIOR
SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD
INFANTS IN CHRIST.
ADOLESCENCE IN CHRIST.
MATURITY IN CHRIST JESUS.
TWO MASTERS, NOW MAKE A CHOICE.
WE HAVE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
THE PERFECT MAN IN JESUS CHRIST.
EXAMPLES OF PERFECT MEN IN CHRIST.
ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS THE PERFECT MAN.
WRITING OUR RESUME.
PERFECT MODEL IN CHRIST.
THE PURPOSE TO BE LIVED IN THE STATURE OF A PERFECT MAN?
PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST IS A FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF GETHSEMANE.
JESUS PREPARES HIS DISCIPLES.
THE ROAD TO CALVARY.
THE BAPTISM IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
THE PURPOSE TO BE LIVED IN PENTECOST.
TO FULFILL THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS.
JESUS, THE BRIDEGROOM WILL COME FOR HIS BRIDE.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE BRIDE
THE RIVER OF LIFE
JESUS, THE MESSIAH IS COMING FOR HIS PEOPLE.
FINAL WORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK:
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greetings in the Lord
Antonina Penner

STRENGTH TO STAND

David Wilkerson Today
A Ministry of World Challenge

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

STRENGTH TO STAND
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Without it, we have no
power to stand. Beloved, we must be on guard, because guilt and condemnation
over sin absolutely destroy the joy of the Lord!

Many Christians are in this bondage right now. They fail to accept full and
free pardon and believe they have no right to be joyful. Throughout Scripture,
God pours out His oil of gladness on those who have learned to hate their sin
and love His righteousness. That's what the Word says of Jesus: "Thou hast
loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Hebrews 1:9)

People who have laid down their sins and are walking with the Lord may have a
struggle that is yet unsettled. But there is such a drawing toward the Lord in
them, such a hunger, that the outcome is inevitable: they will have joy!

Suppose Jesus appears in the flesh, dressed as an ordinary man, and sits next
to you. A wounded, defeated Christian, wearing a look of gloom, guilt,
condemnation and fear, you fail to recognize Him as He begins to talk to you:

"Do you really love the Lord?" He asks.
You probably would answer, "Very much so!"
"You've sinned, haven't you?"
"Y-y-yes," you answer.
"Do you believe He forgives all who confess and turn from their sin?"
"Yes, but . . . I'm sorry, sir. I believe I've hurt my Savior, truly wounded
Him."
"If you’ve confessed, why haven't you received His forgiveness??"
"I've done it so many times!"
"Do you believe He will forgive 499 times—each time you confess and repent?"
"Yes."
"Do you hate your sin? Do you still want Him?"
"Oh, yes!"
"Then why are you letting the devil rob you of the victory of the cross, the
power of the blood of the Lamb? Why aren't you appropriating His joy and
looking up?"

Beloved, don't quit and give up your joy in the Lord. You have a right to
praise Him—to sing, shout and be happy in the Lord—because you have a
Father who forgives!

Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/22019?src=devo-email


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