King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Friday, September 27, 2019
Chapters: Nehemiah 5-7
Message: But My God Shall Supply
Hello My Friend,
When I was growing up my mother raised myself, and my two brothers by herself, my father was not much help, in fact, he did not even live in the house half the time. In desperate need to care for her family, as I was still too young to get a job myself, my mother sought help through the government and went on welfare. I watched how much my mother struggled with the government for the little bit that they gave us, the restrictions we had in order to get it, and when they took funds away, and penalized her after I had gotten a job. I swore to myself if I had to work three jobs I would never ask the government for help. Now, I am not against anyone getting help, the welfare system was designed to help women and children for that reason, but it was never to be something that you lived on for the rest of your life. So, when I hear the cries of our government leaders telling everyone they will give you money for your welfare, I cannot help, but think back to what I had gone through, and I say, “No thank you, my God will supply all my needs. “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:18-19.
“But I have all, and abound:” I read that millennial’s, these are people between the ages of 22-37, on average owe $100,000 in student loan debt, plus $26,000 in credit card debt. Do you know what this tells me? Too many people are putting themselves into huge debt on things they really cannot afford. It is perfectly fine to go to college, I am doing that now, but I chose a school that I can afford. And as for credit cards, I can see how that can happen, it is actually the credit card companies racking up high interest that takes you seven years to pay off $1.00. The problem is, there is always someone with money willing to take advantage of someone in desperate need of money, more often to pay off debt that just got out of control from high interest rates. A lost job or cut in hours and pay, and you are left with two options, put food on the table, or pay the debt owed. This is what was going on in Jerusalem, the Jews, that returned from Babylon, having had some hardships borrowed money to buy food and when they could not pay the debt their land and possessions were taken. When Nehemiah heard this he upbraided the lenders for taking advantage of them.
“And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.,There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.” – Nehemiah 5:1-4,7-11.
“Ye exact usury,” Usury; Illegal interest; a premium or compensation paid for the use of money borrowed or retained, beyond the rate of interest established by law. As I said before, there is always someone who has money willing to take advantage of those in desperate need, and if we get caught up in a situation like that, the best thing we can do is pray about it, and ask God how to handle it. Then once He shows us what to do, take the steps necessary to do it. Many times debt can be reduced or even canceled because it is really the interest that is uncontrollable. Let me tell you, we all need help sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with asking for it, but first, we need to pray about it, and ask God how to handle it, and He will show us what to do. The creditors did give the people back their land and possessions, and they made Nehemiah governor.
“Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” – Nehemiah 5:14-19.
“yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor,” God does know what we need, He will always, always supply us with what we need, we just need to trust Him, and we do not need the government. The reason so many go hungry is because they do not fear God, honor and trust Him with everything. When we pray to God, we need to pray believing, we are not always going to get steak, but we will get what we need for every need. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:2-6.
“because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Here is the biggest problem as to why many do not get the things they need even when asking God. This is not always the case, but if we want God to do things for us, we need to be doing things for Him, it is like, if you do not work, you do not eat. Even someone who cannot walk can do something, teach people, counsel people, write a book, God enables all of us to be able to do something. While all that debt business was going on they were still building the wall. Nehemiah, and his group of people were determined to get the wall built around Jerusalem, but there was constant opposition, first they were mocked in front of them, then they used the weak in faith to cause a division, and now they are attempting to stop them all together by distractions.
“Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.” – Nehemiah 6:1-2,6-9,15.
“There are no such things done as thou sayest,” They will not tell you this, but the biggest threat to world is Jesus. The world knows that we see Jesus as our KING, and they will use it against us all the time to try and intimidate us. They did it when Jesus was here, and they will continue to do it until He returns, and then He will be KING over all. Amen! “When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.” – John 19:13-15.
“We have no king but Caesar.” How sad is it that? The religious have absolutely no faith at all. The walls surrounding Jerusalem were completed in fifty-two days, the city was huge and still needed a lot of work, but very few people lived in it. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once the gates were closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found written in the register book.
“Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,” – Nehemiah 7:1-5.
“that they might be reckoned by genealogy.” Genealogy is a little different when it comes to God’s people, they are not Jews or Gentiles, they are the souls that are saved through their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Saviour. The same way in which a person can enter through the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, we must have our names written in the register book, also called the Book of life, or we will not be able to enter. Many people will stand before Jesus when they die to get the shocking news that they are denied entrance through those gates because their names are not recognized by Christ (Revelation 20:12-15). It is not what we do that gets our names in that book, it is not believing in God that does, it is only by believing in Jesus Christ as our Saviour. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” – I John 5:12,20
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” – Nehemiah 6:3.
Today’s Prayer: God, From the time that I chose Your Son as my Saviour and dedicated my life to You, there has never been a day that You have not supplied my need. Thank You for everything you provide for me, I know I sometimes ask amiss or not at all, looking at what is in front of me rather than looking to You. I am sorry for that. Lord, lead me and guide me, keep me looking to You at all times, and not on my circumstances, and remind me to always trust that You will supply my every need. Keep me full of Your mercies, and grace, and let me always turn to You in prayer for answers, direction, and with all my needs. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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