Those Who Willingly Prayed

Scripture: Nehemiah 11:17

and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Insights: We have more fun unknown hero names today.  At the same time, this fourth group is in my personal opinion the most important group.  Mattaniah was a prayer warrior.  I may step on some toes here, but I don’t think Mattaniah was praying for sister Sue’s bursitis or brother Bob’s cold.  Please read me carefully here, it is not wrong or even inappropriate to pray for peoples physical healing and wellbeing.  My concern, however, is that this kind of praying is of what ninety to ninety-five percent of our church praying consists (Scott’s guess and observation).  Martin Lloyd-Jones in his book titled Revival lists three things for which Moses prayed just before God granted him the privilege of seeing more of His glory.  1.  Moses prayed for the assurance of God’s presence.  2.  Moses prayed for power from God.  3.  Moses prayed for an authentic purpose from God, in other words, he wanted to be unique and separate from the world.  He wanted holiness to characterize his life.  These three prayers of Moses have eternal ramifications.  Let me list four questions to probe if your prayers are eternally focused or earthly centered.  Are you as a Christ-follower crying out with loud voices for God’s glory to be manifestly present in your worship services?  Are you begging God to fill your pastor with His Spirit and power in his preaching?  Are you praying for boldness in your witness to a lost world?  Are you praying for long lengths of time prostrate before your Lord and asking for His will to be done?  James tells us “… You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures (4:2-3).”  A little later in this letter James tells us “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (5:16).”  Here is the point, we often times don’t see miraculous things happening for the kingdom of God because we don’t ask for them to happen.  Sometimes when we do ask we are asking with wrong motives because what we desire is the personal praise for what God has done.  If, however, we are sincere, then our prayers are effective.  Pray kingdom prayers, Beloved!

Questions:

1. How much time do you spend on your knees in prayer?
2. For what kind of things are you praying?

Prayer: Father, it is a privilege you have given Your children to pray.  Increase my faith, Lord, and let my prayers become powerful and effective.  Let my desires be Your desires and let me pray with a focus on eternity.  Hear my cries, Lord, and grant me Your favor. Amen.

Those Who Willingly Worked Outside the Temple

Scripture: Nehemiah 11:15-16

Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;

Insights: Just like yesterday we have another list of fun names to pronounce.  The key phrase, however, is found in verse sixteen.  It reads, “…were in charge of the outside work of the house of God.”  Now you need to understand this phrase is not referencing to the building and grounds committee.  This phrase is not about the paint on the walls or bushes being trimmed.  Those who ministered outside of the house of God were charged to judge civil affairs and counsel and minister to the public away from the Temple.  In a modern day context for the church it would be inviting a neighbor over for dinner or mowing a widow’s lawn for free or volunteering at a ministry for low income or homeless people.  The list could go on and on, but the point is the ministry is being done outside of the church walls.  The sad reality is most church attenders do not want to work in that environment because it is messy.  It can cost you financially, emotionally, physically and even at times spiritually.  It is, however, into these highways and byways that Jesus has commissioned us to go.  In fact His actual words were, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Keep in mind that this entire week is about unknown heroes.  More often than not you are not going to receive accolades or praise on this side of eternity for work of this kind.  Your Father in heaven, however, is keeping track and He knows what you have done and He will reward you at the proper time.  Beloved, be obedient children of the Lord and show yourselves to be His disciples by ministering outside of the church walls (John 15:8).  Let our work bring glory to the Father above.

Questions:

1. What are you actively doing to minister to those outside of the church walls?
2. Are you aware of the impact you can make in the life of a church by your obedient work outside of its walls?

Prayer: Father, You have commissioned us to go into all the nations making disciples.  That commission is more often than not outside of the church walls.  I confess that reality often frightens me, but greater are You Who resides in me than Satan who resides in the world.  Grant me boldness in this dark world to proclaim the gospel to those in need. Amen.

Those Who Willingly Worked Inside the Temple

Scripture: Nehemiah 11:10-12

From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

Insights: Did you have fun reading those names today?  The important phrase in these verses is “kinsmen who performed the work of the temple.”  These 822 men felt the compulsion we spoke of yesterday to serve in the advancement and health of the worship service.  In a modern day setting, we also have those who help make worship inside the church run more smoothly and efficiently.  Just like then, we do not always use our gift mix perfectly, but we are still supposed to use it.  We have those who greet people when they arrive at church.  We have ushers that take up offerings.  We have audio and video workers who help make our projection during the worship service go smoothly.  We have teachers who volunteer their time and resources to help people grow in their knowledge of the Bible during Sunday School hour.  I could go on and on.  The point is God is the One who equips the Body with different gifts.  We are to use those gifts for the building up of the Body.  Each of us has a role to play in order to make worship a more fulfilling and God encountering moment each week.  These men in Nehemiah’s day understood the need for them to serve in whatever capacity the Lord commanded them.  Beloved, we need the same kind of attitude.  If you do not know the ways in which the Lord has equipped you, then I would encourage you to go the gift mix chapters in the Bible and read them.  As you do, ask the Lord, to reveal to you what gifts you possess and then try them.  You will quickly recognize if that gift you are trying to use is yours.  If it is, you will find great peace and satisfaction as you use it.  The passages I encourage you to read are Romans chapter twelve, First Corinthian’s chapter twelve, Ephesians chapter four and First Peter chapter four.  Beloved, use your gifts and let God bring the worship inside the church to a meaningful end.

Questions:

1. What part do you have to play in order for worship inside the church to be all that it can be?
2. Or are you like a bump on a log and just sit there during worship?

Prayer: Father, You have equipped me for good works and commissioned me to use those gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ.  Help me to know my gift mix and make more bold in exercising my gifts. Amen.

Those Who Willingly Moved Into the City

Scripture: Nehemiah 11:1-2

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Insights: This week we are going to be looking at the unknown heroes of Nehemiah eleven.  If it were not for these individuals the revival that occurred during Nehemiah’s time would not have happened.  In many ways verse two from today’s Scriptures gives us the reason for this great revival.  Before we look at that verse, however, let us look at verse one.  Ten percent of the people were forced to return to the city based on a lottery.  These individuals did not want to go but “lost” the raffle and had to go, from their perspective.  There are times people are coerced to obey and their involvement is plagued with sour faces and disgruntled expressions.  These individuals are not a pleasure to be around while the work is being accomplished.  Verse two, on the other hand, states that the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.  That word volunteered literally means to impel or to incite from within.  In other words, God stirred these people up from the inside out and they wanted, oh joyfully wanted, to obey the Lord and move into the city.  People who are moved on by the Lord and whole heartedly respond in a favorable manner are blessed.  They experience the joy of the Lord in their lives.  Their faces radiate the pleasure of one who is walking with the Lord faithfully.  Their countenance is lifted up and people want to be around such a person.  As we will see throughout this week, often times these volunteer people are never known by name or even remembered.  If, however, they had not volunteered, the results of glory would have diminished.  Beloved, we need to be such men and women who give willingly to the Lord’s desires.  We need to volunteer when He calls our name.  We sang a song yesterday that said, “I’ll say yes, Lord, yes to Your will and to Your way.  I’ll say yes, Lord, yes; I will trust You and obey.  When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.”  Beloved, say, “Yes, Lord, yes!”

Questions:

1. Are you incited from within to be obedient to the Lord?
2. Or are you forced into action?

Prayer: Lord and Master, I desire to have a moldable and pliable heart.  I want You to stir my heart from within so that I willingly and whole heartedly volunteer to obey You.  May my obedience bring You glory. Amen.

Remembrances about Priorities

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Insights: Let me wrap this week up with three remembrances.  First, serious thought precedes any significant change.  In today’s verses we see we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  The way we think about the Triune God has major impacts on us as individuals and when we get our thinking right the passage goes on to tell us that we then may prove what God’s will is.  The second remembrance for this week helps with the first one.  Second, written plans confirm right priorities.  I strongly encourage you to keep a journal.  Write your prayers in it.  Write what God reveals to you in your quiet times with Him and His Word.  Write the things going on in your life.  A written record like this helps one confirm and maintain the proper priorities in one’s life.  In other words, a journal helps keep you focused on what matters most to you and God.  Third, a loss of distinction and conformity to the world go hand in hand.  Today’s verse tells us to stop conforming to this world.  You cannot have it both ways.  You can either conform to this world and NOT have a vibrant, dynamic and growing relationship with Jesus, or you can live a life of distinction and experience everything previously mentioned.  The choice is yours.  After the military conquest of the Promised Land was complete Joshua gave a similar choice to the people of Israel.  He said to them, “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.  Whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (24:15).”  Who will you choose?  A life characterized by proper prioritization will bring glory to God and great satisfaction to you.  Beloved, choose distinction.  Choose life in Christ Jesus.

Questions:

1. Do you keep a journal in order to help you maintain right priorities?
2. Does your life reflect the distinction found in Jesus?

Prayer: Father, I desire for my life to reflect You and Your priorities.  I realize this could mean significant changes for me, but I want to honor and glorify You with a life of distinction. Amen.

Documenting the Priorities, Part 3

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:31 & 39

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt….For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.

Insights: Today’s verses reveal two more of the four declarations the people signed in regards to their walk with God.  Verse thirty-one gives us the first which was the signers promised to conduct business in an obedient manner.  Whether you are a business owner yourselves or an employee your work ought to be that as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). The world system is about cheating, lying, backstabbing and the like in order to progress through the ranks, but our Lord has called us to a higher standard of living.  Is your distinction in the workplace, or at school, of such a quality that people notice?  These men who signed this declaration were stating to the world that their business would reflect God’s glory in their lives. Verse thirty-nine gives us the second declaration which was the people promised to worship in the place of the Lord.  Now it is really verses thirty-two through thirty-nine that give the full picture of this truth, but thirty-nine gives the concluding thought when it states, “Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”  In those eight verses I just mentioned the phrases “house of the Lord” or “house of God” was mentioned nine times.  In other words these men were taking serious their need to worship the Lord in His house.  Obviously, we do not have a temple today, but we do have local church buildings.  In essence, these men were saying, “We are going to be at the temple every time those doors are open.”  Unfortunately, we live in a culture that acts as if we are doing God a favor to give Him one or two hours on a Sunday morning.  We ought to be in church every time the doors are open, whether that is physically at the church or in someone’s house for small group Bible study.  Our desire to worship and grow in the Lord ought to be ferocious and when we do attend a worship service our thoughts ought to be on the Lord and not each other.

Questions:

1. Are you conducting your daily affairs in a manner that honors the Lord?
2. Are you faithfully worshipping the Lord on a regular basis?

Prayer: Father, I desire for all I do to bring glory to You.  May my daily affairs and my regular worship be pleasing in Your sight.  Amen.

Documenting the Priorities, Part 2

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:29-30

are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

Insights: Today’s verses reveal two of the four declarations the people signed in regards to their walk with God.  Verse twenty-nine gives us the first which was the people gave a general promise to obey all that God had declared.  The beauty of being a born again Christ-follower is that we have the Holy Spirit living within us and because of His presence we are capable of walking in obedience to the Lord.  If we were left to our own devices we would walk in continual rebellion against the Lord.  Praise the Lord that we are new creations which are holy and dearly loved by God.  Verse thirty gives us the second declaration which was the people specifically stated they were going to obey God in their homes.  They were not going to just let their daughters and sons marry into the pagan countries as they had been permitting in the past.  They were going to have their homes distinct.  How many times had I used the old argument to my parents, “…but so and so is getting to ____________ (fill in the blank—go to that movie, go to that party, purchase that game, etc.)?”  And how many times did my parents say something along the lines of, “…but so and so doesn’t live here.”  The point being in this house we are going to honor the Lord and obey Him and it does not matter what every other house is doing.  Joshua’s words come to mind at this point, “… as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).”  Chuck Swindoll wrote, “When morals of a nation are under stress, the home is the first to suffer.”  And Billy Graham stated, “The immutable law of sowing and reaping has held sway. We are now the hapless possessors of moral depravity and we seek in vain for a cure. The tares of indulgence have overgrown the wheat of moral restraint. Our homes have suffered when the morals of society are upset.  The family is the first to suffer. The home is the basic unit of society and a nation is only as strong as her homes.”  Beloved, honor God in your homes.

Questions:

1. Are you obeying God in His general commands?
2. Does your home reflect specifically that you and your family belong to the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I so desire to have my life be characterized as one of obedience, obedient to You in my home and in the general commands of Your Word.  May my obedience bring You glory. Amen.