I'm Following Jesus – Page 1671 – Mark 8:34 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.

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: Sunday, September 29, 2019
Chapters: Nehemiah 11-13, Psalm 126
Message: Few Are Chosen, Less Are Willing

Hello My Friend,

When you think about all the people in the world and how many believe in God that number would surprise you because the majority do believe God exists. Now, who they believe God to be is another story. Since He created man man has had their own perception of who they believe Him to be, but let me tell you, all who say they believe God are not worshiping the same God, anytime they make up God in their own image all they are doing is creating a man made god. And this is why God made only one way to get to Him, and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Believe in Christ and you believe in the one and only Almighty God, reject Christ and you believe in a false god, one that will not save you. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33.

When Nehemiah left Babylon he was determined to bring the presence of God back to Jerusalem. Everything was moving in the right direction, Ezra and his crew were successful at rebuilding the temple, Nehemiah and his crew were successful at rebuilding the wall that would keep the world from corrupting it. For the first time in nearly a hundred years the Book of the Law had been read, Holy Days observed, and thousands of people willingly promised to serve God. However, when the time came that people were needed to help out in the temple very few were willing to give up the comforts of living in the suburbs to live in Jerusalem. Because of this, an account is given of those who willingly offered to stay in Jerusalem, many were called, few were chosen, even fewer were willing.

“And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants.” – Nehemiah 11:1-3.

“that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” Only one out of ten converts chose to live in Jerusalem, and even fewer actually had a desire to do so. There are many people today who have called on the Lord Jesus Christ to save them, but very few give up the comforts of the world to dwell with Him. Why? They want an easy life, one that does not involve giving up their time to serve God. Let me tell you, there is no easy life, we all have problems, at least when we choose to dwell with Christ we can through life’s problems with comfort. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4.

Nehemiah went to the people and urged them to return to worshiping God, and they did, it was a revival. The Levites, and may of those of Judah and Benjamin began worshiping God with great joy, they were so loud that they could be heard for miles, In fact, they were so moved that the work of the temple resumed.

“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.” – Nehemiah 12:43-47.

“so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” Life gets difficult, and to be honest, choosing to live a life that has Christ in it can bring even more difficulties because we are no longer part of the world. Choosing Christ may not be popular, but we can have a pretty good life here, despite the difficulties. God does not place us in the world to be of the world, but that His Son might be seen through us in this lost and dying world. And let me tell you, if the world does not see Christ in you, perhaps it is time to rethink your priorities. Christians today have lost their zeal for Jesus, they are more concerned about what the world thinks of them instead of proclaiming Christ. It is time to get out of your comfort zone, get excited about serving God, and let your joy be heard for miles. And if the world hates you, so be it, you do not need them. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” – John 15:18-21.

“The servant is not greater than his lord.” We are just like Jesus on this, if the world hates Him, they are going to hate us, and treat us the same way. After being in Jerusalem for about twelve years Nehemiah said it was time to return to Babylon, after all, the temple was in order and everyone was serving God faithfully. He went home and sadly it did not take long before they began neglecting their duties, the priest even marrying foreign women. Nehemiah returned, and when he arrived he was stricken with grief, how could such a small town get so out of touch with God so fast? Nehemiah quickly gathered everyone together, began upbraiding them, and reminding them why they were to separate themselves from among the world in the first place.

“And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.” – Nehemiah 13:22-27,30-31.

“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?” Do you think that everything the people of God did was something God approved of? No. We are all the same, sinners saved by His grace. God used men and women that were no different than us, none of them were prefect, which is why He chose to put these people in His book. Every person, Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, John the Baptist, Paul, name any key figure, none of them, except Jesus, were without sin, but by the grace of God, He used them all to be examples and testimonies of how loving, merciful, and gracious He is to those who willingly choose Him. We are not perfect, and we do not have to try to be because we have the perfect one in us to perfect us as we walk with Him. We have a choice, be an example of a life that was led by Christ or an example of one that pretended to be. We would have no one to blame, but ourselves when we stand before Jesus and He says He never knew us if we only pretended. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” – Matthew 7:21-23.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.” – Nehemiah 13:15.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for my salvation, I know there is nothing I can do apart from receiving Your Son as my Saviour to merit eternal life. I have spent time trying to live the way I wanted to live, and while I did have some success, it did not last, and always proved to be the wrong choice. When I finally came to my senses and started serving You that was when my life took a turn and not only changed for the better, it became more fulfilling. Lord, Lead me and guide me, give me Your power to serve You faithfully, keep my heart tender and willing to serve You wherever you take me. Give me the strength to separate myself from the world and let me not be tempted by its visage of evil. Keep me in Your Word and walking with You daily so I do not fall. And let me always be a faithful witness so that others can see Your Son in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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