Why Has the Temple of God Been Neglected?

Scripture:

Nehemiah 13:11 " I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, 'Why has the Temple of God been neglected?'  Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties".

Observation:

Nehemiah was on a mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and to restore the Temple of the Lord and the worship that happened there.  As he was investigating what was happening, he found out things were not being done properly and asked, "Why has the Temple of God been neglected?"  Then he went on a mission to make sure everything God expected was happening properly.  He wanted God to be a priority for his people once again.

Application:

As a pastor, sometimes you see people neglecting the house of God.  Maybe they just seriously slow down on attending.  Maybe they start neglecting God in their tithes and offerings.  Maybe they start withdrawing from fellowship opportunities or stepping slowly away from the ministries they once served in.  Sometimes you want to cry out, "Why are you neglecting the house of God?"  Don't you realize what Christ has done for you?  Why are you walking away from the one who died for you?  Why does God not get honored more when in His house?  We must not neglect the temple of God.  We must serve Him well because He is worthy.

Prayer:

Father, help me to build a church that does not neglect the Lord our God.  We want to honor you in every way.  I want our worship, preaching, teaching, fellowship, discipleship, prayer, evangelism, etc. to honor You.  May we never neglect Your house and may we take better care of it from this day forward.

Yours,
Jeff

All Outstanding Men

Scripture:

Nehemiah 11:6  "There were 468 descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem - all outstanding men".

Observation:

Perez lived in Jerusalem and had many descendants, there was something special about his descendants.  Nehemiah records that they "were all outstanding men".  What a powerful commendation and honor to Perez!  When there are 468 men and ALL of them end up being outstanding men, somebody did something right.  I would love to sit at the feet of Perez and have him teach me about raising outstanding men.

Application:

I can't sit at his feet, because there is not much said about him in this passage, but I can ask God to help me to develop "outstanding men".  I want my sons to be "outstanding men".  I want their sons to be outstanding men.  Perez passed on something to the generations that followed him and I want to leave a spiritual heritage for my sons.  I want them to see in me how to live a godly life as a man.  Since we don't know much about Perez and his technique for raising up outstanding men, I can ask God to guide me into it.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to raise outstanding men.  I need your help and guidance in this.  I can't do it on my own.  I want my sons and their sons and their sons, to be outstanding men.  Lead me Holy Spirit and help me to lead by example and teach my sons what it looks like to be an outstanding man.  Also let my church produce outstanding men.  In Jesus' name.

Yours,
Jeff

The Creative God

Scripture:

Nehemiah 7:5  "So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city".

Observation:

Nehemiah had finished the project given him in record time and knew that God had done what was impossible with man.  He had an idea, but he knew where ideas come from.  He knew that God had given him a great idea.  He gave God the praise for an idea, realizing that it is God who gives creativity and ideas to His people who are committed to Him.

Application:

In a situation like this, most of us would give ourselves credit for the ideas that came to us.  God is creative and creativity should be a characteristic of those who follow Him.  He had the idea of the solar system, the earth and everything that grows on it and lives on it.  He is super creative!  Maybe if we acknowledge Him more, we would have more great ideas.  I believe the next great invention is in the heart of God and He will give the idea to the one who is seeking Him.

Prayer:

Lord, You are creative and are so far beyond amazing!  You created us and everything we see.  You created the brains that come up with all this incredible technology today.  You are the best and I love You.  Give me ideas that will help the world.  Give me ideas about how to be a better husband, father, pastor, etc.  I want to be more like You today and every day.

Your Son,
Jeff

God's Gracious Hand

Scripture:

Ezra 7:9b-10  "for the gracious hand of his God was on him.  This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel".

Observation:

Several times in the book of Ezra it records these words, "for the gracious hand of God was on him".  These are powerful words!  This instance tells why the gracious hand of God was on him.  It says it was because "Ezra had determined to study the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel".  Ezra was blessed because he determined to study God's word and to teach others the same.

Application:

God's word is so full of treasure and great things for our lives.  I believe that those who fall in love with God's word will receive God's blessing.  We must be as an Ezra who determines to study God's word diligently instead of just reading a verse here and there.  The New Testament tells us to "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that doesn't need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."  I want God's gracious hand on my life more and more.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty,  You are worthy to be praised!  Your word is life and health.  You word is powerful and alive.  You word has answers I need for life.  Help me to fall in love with it more and more.  I want to know You and Your Word more and more each day.  Let Your word truly be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

When God's Enemies Pay the Bill

Scripture:

Ezra 6:8  "Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God.  You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted".

Observation:

King Darius was told that the Jews were rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.  He was told to stop it because it would create trouble for them in the future if he let it go.  He was told by the Jews to search his records and see if Cyrus' one of his predecessors, had ordered the building.  When he saw this, he ordered them to complete the Temple at his own expense.  God turned the tables and had the enemy pay the bill for the reconstruction of the Temple.

Application:

We always think that God will use those closest to us to meet our needs.  God is infinite and knows how to get the job done.  He can have our enemies pay our bills when we desire to worship Him.  God is able to do the absolutely impossible and cause our enemies to help us if our desire is in the right place.  We should never tell God how to answer our prayers.  He may have ways of answering our prayers that will astound us.  Sometimes we only see one answer and God may have something on His mind that will bring Him glory and we have never thought of.

Prayer:

Father, increase my faith!  Help me to walk closer with You and to know You more.  Help me not to put You in a box about how You answer prayer.  I want to see You supernaturally provide like You did in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.  I want to see provision that we can't take credit for and everyone knows had to be God.

Your Son,
Jeff

Hezekiah's Prayer

Scripture:

II Chronicles 30:20 "And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people".

Observation:

Our scripture says that the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.  The background beautifully shows the mercy of God when His people want to pursue Him.  Hezekiah had restored the priesthood, the temple, and the Levites and invited all Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover for the first time in years.  Some of the people who sacrificed and came to the celebration ate the Passover without being ceremonially clean.  Hezekiah prayed to God and told Him they had set their hearts to worship God, therefore God should heal them and He did.  God blessed the people and healed them even though they had approached Him in the wrong way.

Application:

God always looks at the heart.  He knows if we are trying to honestly pursue Him or if we are just going through the motions or trying to cut corners.  These people were sincerely trying to worship God and He pardoned them for it.  They were trying to do the right thing, but in the wrong way and God honored them and healed them.  God is more interested in the heart of your worship than the precise technique, style, or pattern.  When someone determines to worship God with all their heart, He will hear them, whether they have the pattern perfect or not.

Prayer:

Father, let my heart be pure before You.  When I approach You wrong, let it be with a pure heart and a love and passion for You.  Let my motives, actions and heart be pure before You all the days of my life.  You are loving and great in mercy.  You never fail and I want more of You in my life.  Fill me with Your Spirit and let me live a life that pleases You completely.

Yours,
Jeff

Repair the Temple of the Lord

Scripture:

II Chronicles 24:5  "Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God.  Do it now".

Observation:

Joash was a very young king who loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him completely.  He wanted to restore the temple of the Lord.  He gathered together all of the priests and Levites and told them to go out and repair the temple of Lord and to gather the money to do it from the people.  He then added, "Do it now".  He wanted to repair the temple immediately.

Application:

This morning I feel like this was a Rhema word to me.  The words jumped off the page and into my heart.  It was like the Lord was saying just to me, "rebuild the temple of the Lord...do it now".  We have been working hard to repair and rebuild the church to be more effective in 2013.  I feel like the Lord is with us and wants us to move NOW strongly into a rebuilding phase where the church can become stronger and stronger, that it may be a great testimony to the Lord's goodness in this region.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty,  I want to build your kingdom in Loudoun County VA.  I want to repair and rebuild a church that will bring You great glory.  Help me as I endeavor to "do it now".  I need Your strength, wisdom, direction, and vision.  Give me insight and anoint me and our staff to do teh job You want done.

Yours,
Jeff

They Built and Prospered

Scripture:

II Chronicles 14:7b "The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.  So they built and prospered".

Observation:

King Asa of Judah was a good king who fully followed the Lord.  He was a God-seeker!  He knew that when you seek the Lord, He will defeat your enemies, bring you rest and prosper you.  In this passage you can see King Asa giving all the credit for his nation to the Lord.  He knew that it was God who fought his battles and not himself.  He also knew that when he sought the Lord and didn't try to lead on his own, they would have rest and prosperity that only God can bring.

Application:

I see in the Kings of Israel and Judah a theme that stands out to me.  Seek God and have His blessing and favor to defeat every enemy, bring prosperity, and have rest in your life or nation.  When  a king really sought the Lord, they would have peace and prosperity in their nation.  We must be people who seek the Lord and give Him the credit for all He does in our lives.  When we do, just like the Kings of Israel and Judah, we can expect the blessing of God on our lives.  We must seek Him!

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a God-seeker!  I want to be one who seeks You and gives you the praise You so rightly deserve.  I ask You to bless my church and ministry.  I ask You to be glorified in it so that Your name is glorified greatly when people talk about it.  I want my life to bring Your great glory.  Help me to seek You dilligently the rest of my days.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

God's Disciplinary Plan and Purpose

Scripture:

II Chronicles 12:7b-8  "My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.  They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands".

Observation:

Rehoboam, Solomon's son, had become king of Judah and was not serving the Lord completely.  Egypt was coming into Judah and getting near to Jerusalem because of their disobedience.  The prophet Shemaiah came to him with a word from the Lord.  He said that God was not going to let Egypt destroy them, but that He was going to let them serve Shishak for a while so that they could see the difference between serving Him and serving other kings.  God's heart wasn't to punish them, but to let them see that serving Him was so much better.

Application:

God's disciplinary plan and purpose for our lives is always to bring us into right relationship with Him.  He knows that when we walk in obedience, we will see His blessing, which is what He wants to give us.  When we begin to go our own way, He will withdrawal His hand of blessing and let us do what we want.  He then lets us suffer the consequences, not to hurt us, but to let us see that serving Him is so much better.

Prayer:

Father, I want to walk in the fullness of Your supernatural blessing.  I want to serve You completely and see Your blessing manifest in my life.  Help me to be quick to obey and walk out Your desire for my life.  When I get off track, pull me back.  I want the blessing of Solomon and not the learning of Rehoboam.

Yours,

Jeff

Complete Salvation

Scripture:

Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them".

Observation:

As Christ and His priesthood is being described, we are given these beautiful words.  The author says that Christ is able to "save completely", because Christ lives to intercede for us.  God doesn't offer us partial salvation.  He says that He is able to "save completely".  As we come to God through Christ we are fully and completely saved.  Jesus paid the price forever and now intercedes for us, therefore we can stand secure in Him.

Application:

We don't have to wander through life wondering whether we are saved or not.  Jesus paid the price completely and thoroughly enough for all of our sins, past, present and future.  If we are coming to God through Christ, we have perfect access to the Father and Christ is always making intercession for us.  He does an amazing job, therefore, we can walk in confidence in our salvation.  Our salvation is not based on our actions, but on His.  He saves completely!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for letting me see this today.  You truly save completely and powerfully!  You have provided us the way of access to You through Christ Jesus.  You have given us everything we need for life and godliness.  Teach me to use it well and make the most of it.  Thank you for completely saving me.

Your Son Forever,
Jeff

Obedience and Suffering

Scripture:

Hebrews 5:8 "Son though He was, he learned obedience from what he suffered".

Observation:

The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered.  If even Jesus had to learn obedience that way, we should not expect to learn obedience any other way.  When a child does something wrong and disobeys, we punish them and they suffer, so that we can teach them obedience.

Application:

Obedience can save us a world of hurt.  We need to learn to obey quickly so we suffer less and less.  Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering, how can we expect anything less?  When we are suffering something, we should be asking ourselves what we need to learn from this.  We should be asking, "What lesson do I take away from this suffering?"  The more we do this, the less we suffer.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a fully mature son who reflects his Father well.  I want my life, attitudes, thoughts, etc. to fully reflect You.  Help me to grow and not despise suffering, but to learn obedience from it. 

Yours,

Jeff

Angels on My Side

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:14 "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

Observation:

The write of Hebrews is making a statement about Christ being superior to the angels and establishing the pre-eminance of Christ over all other things.  In the process of talking about how awesome Christ is, he makes this statement while describing the role of Christ compared to that of angels.  He says they are "sent to serve those who will inherit salvation". 

Application:

Many of us never realize that we have supernatural beings who have been assigned to serve us as we live our lives.  We act and feel helpless, yet we have supernatural beings who are assigned to serve us!  This is really amazing stuff!  From this we can take away the fact that we are never alone and we have angels serving us throughout our lives.  We have angels on our side whether we can see them or not.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for showing me that there are angels who are sent to serve us who inherit salvation.  Sometimes I don't feel like they are there for me because I go through some difficult times, but I must receive this by faith and live accordingly, as with the rest of my spiritual life.  Thank you for sending angels to serve my life.  You are incredible!

Yours Forever,
Jeff