Attack One, Personal Strike

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:2-4

then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.

Insights: Today we look at the first attack against Nehemiah.  As one reads the first part it sounds almost hospitable.  In modern day vernacular it would go something like this: “Nehemiah, you need to get away for a little while.  Take a vacation.  You have been working too hard.  It is true that we have had some issues between us in the past, but let’s talk about them and clear the air.”  If that had been all they were planning, that would have been fine.  The problem was they wanted to get Nehemiah to Ono to harm him. They wanted to kill him.  Understand I am writing about attacks.  There is a time for conversations with those in opposition with you.  Those times are when both parties are truly seeking reconciliation.  In this case, all Sanballat, Geshem and Tobiah wanted was to get rid of their headache, Nehemiah.  Also notice the persistence of these three villains.  Four times they wrote this letter to Nehemiah and each time Nehemiah said, “NO!”  How did Nehemiah know they had intended to harm him?  The answer is DISCERNMENT.  Discernment is the ability to recognize the things of God and the things of this world.  Satan masquerades as an angel of light and without discernment his tricks can seem very genuine and real.  On the surface Satan makes an attractive and compelling presentation as to why he has your best interest at heart, but it is a lie.  The only way to grow in discernment is to spend time on a daily basis with God in pray and in His Word.  The more time you spend with God, the more you are able to recognize the subtle inconsistencies in Satan’s ploys.  What ought one to do when tempted with such an evil attack?  One needs to do exactly what Nehemiah did.  He said, “NO!”  He even went further and acknowledged he was doing a great work for God and could not be side tracked.  Beloved, stay focused on the work God has called you to do.

Questions:

1. Have you ever tried to use your influence to intimidate another individual?
2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of such intimidating tactics?

Prayer: Father, we live in a very selfish world.  Lord, guard my heart from being an evil person who intimidates others for their harm.  At the same time, give me wisdom and discernment to recognize when others are trying to steer me away from You and Your ways.   Amen.

The Mountains and Valleys of Faith, Introduction

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1

Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

Insights: This week we are going to look at the mountains and valleys of faith.  Throughout this week we are going to be walking down into the valley, but on Friday, we are going to catapult ourselves up to the top of the mountain.  Today, however, we are going to set the scene for the week.  Notice today’s verse tells us the wall is almost complete.  All that remained was the doors in the gate to be set and this wall would be finished.  Nehemiah was ready to draft his dedication speech and plan the program for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  It looked as if they are going to walk across home plate with no problems.  This kind of setting is the reason I think Paul was inspired to write 1 Corinthians 10:12 which tells us to “take heed lest you fall.”  So many individuals in the Bible were tripped up at the point in which everything seemed good, but we have others who prevailed. Think of king David for a moment.  He had not had a defeat as of yet and began to take his victories for granted.  In the spring, when kings go out to war, David stayed home in his palace and saw Bathsheba.  He did not take heed and he fell.  Joseph, however, was promoted to the highest position in Potiphar’s house and it looked like easy street was back on the menu.  Potiphar’s wife, unfortunately, thought Joseph was the main course and pursued after him.  Joseph did take heed and when Potiphar’s wife tried to trick and seduce him, he fled in order to not fall.  In other words, he was humble before God and was sensitive to God’s promptings and obedient to what he experienced.  Well, Nehemiah was almost done with the wall and the rest of the chapter contains three different attacks he faces.  These attacks by his enemies were meant to harm him and cause him to fall, but, by the grace of God, Nehemiah took heed of God’s promptings and he did not falter.  Beloved, let us examine this week the character trait Nehemiah implemented in order to be a faithfully obedient child of God.  Let us then follow Nehemiah’s example and bring God glory.

Questions:

1. Have you ever “fallen” because your pride led you to believe you were incapable of stumbling?
2. Or are you intentionally humbling yourself before the Lord and remaining faithful to Him?

Prayer: Father, my ego and pride so often get the better of me and in those moments I falter and find myself quickly in sin.  Forgive me for my presumptions and transform my heart into one that is sensitive and obedient to You.   Amen.

Why Did There Have to be a Cross? Because Jesus Desired to be Crowned with Glory and Honor

Scripture: Hebrews 2:7 & 9-10

"YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;… But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Insights: Let me bring this week to a close by showing you one more restorative work of Jesus through His superiority.  Look above at verse seven.  Did you notice with what man was crowned?  Glory and Honor.  And what did man lose when Adam sinned?  Glory and Honor.  And with what does verse nine tell us Jesus will be crowned?  Glory and Honor.  And into what did verse ten say Jesus was going to bring many sons?  Glory.  Do you see how every piece of the puzzle this week has fit together to reveal to us Jesus’ great love for us, His creation and brother.  Paul expresses this truth in a very powerful way in Philippians 2:5-11.  It reads, “⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  That passage is a beautiful expression of Jesus’ glory.  So, the final reason there had to be a cross was because Jesus desired to be crowned with glory and honor.

Questions:

1. What comes to your mind when you think of your lost glory?
2. How do you feel knowing that one day Jesus will bring you into His glory because He was crowned with glory and honor?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed that You love me so much that You are bringing me into Your glory.  I am so unworthy to receive Your grace, but I am so thankful You do love me that much.  Let my life reflect that gratitude back to You.   Amen.

Why Did There Have to be a Cross? Because Jesus is Your Brother

Scripture: Hebrews 2:11

For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Insights: Today’s verse gives us one of the greatest reason for why there had to be a cross.  Read some of John Calvin’s words as pertaining to verse eleven, “And this great an honour conferred on us is amplified by this circumstance—Christ does not speak here as a mortal man while in the form of a servant, but when elevated after the resurrection into immortal glory.  Hence this title is the same, as though he had raised us into heaven with himself.  And let us remember, whenever we hear that we are called brethren by Christ, that he has clothed us, so to speak, with this honour, that together with this fraternal name we may lay hold on eternal life and every celestial blessing.”  Do Calvin’s words help you understand this verse?  I hope so.  Here is what is being communicated.  When we receive eternal life in Jesus, He begins the process of sanctification.  Sanctification is nothing more that Jesus purging our lives of our old sin nature.  Because we are in this relationship and are born again, Jesus is proud to call us brothers and sisters.  Because we bear that fraternal or family name, we are able to lay hold of every celestial blessing from above.  In other words, because we are redeemed because of the work of Calvary we have peace, joy, hope, courage and so on and so forth.  We are able to claim the promise that we are never alone no matter what obstacles and challenges we face.  Jesus is always with us.  We are promised a way of escape from every temptation that might fall on us.  Whatever promises the Bible tells us we have as a result of being a part of God’s family we get to claim because of being in Jesus.  Now does that mean life is a bed of roses for us as Christ-followers?  The answer is a resounding NO.  Paul tells us we will be persecuted for being in Jesus.  Jesus tells us we are blessed when we are persecuted for His name sake.  James tells us to consider it all joy when we face trials. Thank the Lord, however, that we get all of Jesus with us in these times.  So, the third reason there had to be a cross was because Jesus is your brother if you are born again.

Questions:

1. Have you been born again and become a brother or sister to Jesus Christ?
2. Are you experiencing the celestial blessings of being united with Christ Jesus?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, work in my heart so that I don’t take for granted the relationship I have with You.  Let not one day go by where I do not think of Your amazing love for me.  I am so grateful You are my brother.   Amen.

Why Did There Have to be a Cross? Because Jesus Created You

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Insights: There is so much information in this little verse.  First, notice that Jesus created you.  When the verse states that “from whom are all things, and through whom are all things” it is referencing the creative power of God.  For a moment think about the cost of the cross through the words of C.S. Lewis.  He wrote, “It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion.”  It is this cost that is the second thing to notice from this verse.  The idea of Jesus paying an unbelievable price is what the Hebrew writer is communicating by the words “to perfect.”  In other words, as preincarnate deity, Jesus did not experience temptation, hunger, pain or suffering, but by becoming human He experienced all of those things in order to be the bridge between God and humanity.  So, the word perfect here is really meaning complete.  It does not in any way carry the idea that Jesus had a flaw or was sinful.  Jesus was sinless and completed the work necessary to bring about salvation through suffering.  Oscar Cullman communicated this truth this way, “Jesus must be able to suffer with men in order to suffer for them.”  The third thing to notice is the word author.  Some translations use the word pioneer.  Still other translations use the word captain.  The point being in all three word choices is that Jesus is the One paving the way through His life, death and resurrection.  He is declaring to the lost world, “I AM the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” So, the second reason there had to be a cross was because Jesus created you and He did not desire to see His creation spend eternity in hell separated from Him.  He, therefore, came to earth and became a man in order to identify with us.  He then hung on a cross to pay the price necessary for your sin debt and mine.  Now, we have access to the Father if we will but receive the free gift of eternal life which is found in Jesus.

Questions:

1. Have you contemplated all that it meant for Jesus to become human?
2. Are you in awe of how much God loves you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so unworthy of Your love; and yet, You love me.  You left all of eternity to become flesh and blood like Your creation.  In Your death You bridged the gap between God and humanity.  Thank You, my Savior and Lord.   Amen.

Why Did There Have to be a Cross? Because Jesus Tasted Death for You

Scripture: Hebrews 2:8-9

YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Insights: Verse eight above tells the state of humanity before the fall in the Garden of Eden.  Everything was under the dominion of Adam before he sinned against God.  When that happened, his dominion was given to another.  We know that other individual was an angel who fell from his position in glory because of his pride.  His name was Lucifer, otherwise known as Satan.  Satan became the one with dominion over the earth.  So, Jesus had to come to earth and be made a little lower than the angels in order to “taste death for everyone.”  Warren Wiersbe writing about God’s answer to this dilemma of man’s loss of dominion wrote, “Jesus Christ became man that he might suffer and die for man’s sin and restore the dominion that was lost because of sin.  When our Lord was her on earth, He exercised [in other words, took back] that lost dominion.  He had dominion over the fish (Matt. 17:24-27; Lk. 5:1-11; Jn. 21:1-11), over the fowl (Lk. 22:34, 60), and over the wild beasts (Mk. 1:12-13), and the domesticated beasts (Mk. 11:1-7).  As the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), Jesus Christ regained man’s lost dominion.  Today, everything is under His feet (Eph. 1:20-23) [brackets mine].”  The apostle Paul describes this condition this way in Romans 5:17, “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  So, Adam lost dominion and brought death, but Jesus came to earth and went to the cross in order to restore dominion and bring life.  The above gives us the first answer to this week’s question as to why there had to be a cross.  Beloved, I pray you ponder over the serious work Jesus did on our behalf.  It was because of His redemptive work that we have eternal life.  Let us show our gratitude to Him for His sacrifice.

Questions:

1. Have you recognized your lost dominion as a result of sin?
2. Have you shown and demonstrated gratitude to the Lord Jesus for taking eternal death from you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so grateful You died for me, so that, I might have life eternal.  What a day that will be when I and Your children are brought eternally to our home in Your paradise.  Thank You for taking back the dominion that was lost by humanity.   Amen.

Why Did There Have to be a Cross? Introduction

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-11

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Insights: The verses you see today are the ones we are going to unpack throughout this week.  Before we do so, however, we need to understand where these verses are located in this fantastic book we call Hebrews.  We don’t know who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we do know the Holy Spirit inspired its author.  The book is broken into three sections and is worth the time to study them.  The verses for this week are found in the first section and that section deals with the superiority of Christ Jesus.  What you need to understand is the recipients of this letter were Jewish Christians who were trying to understand their fledgling faith within the context of their Jewish background.  As a result, there was some confusion regarding salvation.  We need to understand that in the Old Testament, as well as in the New, faith alone is what saves an individual.  Unfortunately, for many Israelites, as well as many “Christians,” they attempted to earn their salvation through good works or good relationships.  So, Jesus was introduced as the superior person in this section to prove He was better than prophets, angels, Moses or Aaron.  In other words, the Hebrew author was showing his readers that they could follow Moses, Aaron the prophets and even angels, but in the end all that would do for them is lead them to the pits of hell.  Following an angel, man or a list of rules is not going to save you.  All of your work in being obedient to these things is not going to save you.  You are totally depraved and wrapped up in your sin.  What you need is a Savior and that Savior is Christ Jesus who is the superior person.  Through the remainder of this week we are going to answer the question: Why did there have to be a cross?  These verses give us four answers, but it is first and foremost because we are sinners who cannot save ourselves.

Questions:

1. Are you trying to earn your salvation?
2. Have you come to the realization that you are totally depraved and incapable of saving yourself?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so grateful You saved me.  I am completely and utterly incapable of saving myself or earning my way into Your kingdom.  Yet, You loved me and died for me.  Thank You.  Amen.