King James Bible Study – [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.]
Date: Monday, September 26, 2022
Chapters: NEHEMIAH 1-4
Study: The Laborers Are Few, But Strong
Hello My Friend,
The other day I was talking to one of my coworkers about Jesus returning as we discussed the possibility of a hurricane heading toward our state. God, had reminded me of why He has me working out there in the world, there are a lot of people who are scared and confused right now about everything going on in the world and they need to know that this has nothing to do with climate change. Jesus said this, [Luke 10:2-4,1012 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.]
Sodom, was so bad that God could not tolerate it, I mean the only person who was actually a believer of God was Lot, and he was not that faithful either. Yet, God still saved him from the fire as he promised Abraham that He would not destroy as long as ten who were saved remained, [Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.] So, it is not beneath God to destroy a city that is full of sin, and I am convinced that the only reason why Orlando is still standing is the fact that we have soul winning churches out there preaching the Gospel. I tell you what though, we are getting less and less in number, and I will tell you something else, Jesus, will return as a thief in the night, [Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.]
The Book of Nehemiah is the sixteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirteen chapters. The author of the book is Nehemiah and it was written to the Jews. The timeline for these events is approximately 446 BC to 434 BC. The purpose of the book was to continue showing the history of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem after their captivity was lifted. What we are to learn from the book is that there will always be opposition whenever we choose to serve God, but we can endure it by fearing God and trusting Him, [Nehemiah 6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.]
About ten years after the temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt, a brother of Nehemiah’s arrived in Persia and told him of the dire conditions that still existed there. Nehemiah, felt great grief over this and mourned for days, then did the only thing that he could do at that point and that was to pray to God.
[Nehemiah 1:1-3,5-6 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.]
[both I and my father’s house have sinned.] We all need to be praying for our nations, families, and our people like never before, even to the point that we might have to fast as well. There is an evil taking place like we have never seen before, and I imagine that it is quickly becoming as it was in the days of Noah before God sent the flood.
[Nehemiah 1:8-10 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.]
[Now these are thy servants and thy people,] God’s promises go both ways, if we are faithful and just to confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from them. Likewise, if we are unfaithful and unjust, then we can expect God’s judgment until we do. I will tell you this, we cannot do anything about the sins of other people, they must deal with their own sin, but we can do something about our own. Just imagine if every one of His elect that escaped the bondage of this world would take responsibility for their sin, and the power that would be drawn from it as they repented, [Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:]
God wants us to let Him know that we not only know His judgments, but His promises also. Nothing brings God more joy than to hear that His people know who He is, what He has promised to them that love Him, and what He expects of us. Once Nehemiah heard what happened it grieved him so much that even the king knew something was wrong and asked why he was so sad.
[Nehemiah 2:1-3,5-6 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.]
[So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.] The Artaxerxes here is actually the stepson of Esther, son of Artaxerxes of the husband of Esther. God, has given us an appointed time in which we are to reach the world with the Gospel, but here is the thing, we do not know when that time will actually be. This is why we need to not only be prepared for that day could come any time, we also need to do whatever we can to help other prepare for that day as well. What good does it do for us to get ourselves right with God and not tell anyone else how they can get right with Him? Yes, while we are responsible for our own sin, that does not mean that we are not to teach them, without judgment of course. The last thing we want to do to show someone that they need to repent is to approach them in a way that comes off as being critical judgment rather than righteous judgment, [John 8:15-18 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.]
Nehemiah, arrived in Jeremiah and for three days all he did was look around and the conditions of the city and it grieved him more. After he reveals who is was and spake to the people they were glad and wanted to help rebuild the wall, but it did not take long before people showed up to oppose what they were doing.
[Nehemiah 2:9-12 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.]
[it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare] Do you know why it grieves the world so much that we are out there in the world? It brings personal conviction, not to mention, it also brings encouragement to God’s people. However, there is perhaps one other thing that brings more grief, the fact that they will be shut out of the Church. Watch what Nehemiah says to these fools who tried to intimidate them. Nehemiah, reveals that he was there to rebuild the walls that would keep them out of Jerusalem.
[Nehemiah 2:17-20 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.]
[but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial,] Once that wall is built completely that separates God’s people from the world, the gate will be shut and there will be no entry into God’s kingdom. In addition to that, there will be no inheritance, there will be no rights, and there will be no grieving over those whom have denied Christ, [Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:]
This was not just a few people stepping up to help rebuild these walls that would surround the entire city, this was a large portion of the congregation. One group at a time would rebuild a portion of wall, beginning with the fish gate. This gate, being on the north-west side of Jerusalem, looked toward the sea, and overlooked the fish market, which is why it was called the fish gate.
[Nehemiah 3:1-3,5,9,12 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. 3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. 9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. 12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.]
[but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.] The nobles, the ones who were the upper class elites who thought that their salvation was enough, and would not lift a hand to rebuild the walls. They were not going to give up their time or face hardships and affliction just for God, or anyone else for that matter. This was exactly what was going on with Nehemiah.
[Nehemiah 4:1-6 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. 4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: 5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.]
[for the people had a mind to work.] Every family played a part in helping to rebuild the walls. No one fought with each other or felt more superior over the other, they all worked together. We have the power to make a difference and turn things around, but if we do not come together nothing will ever change. Now, the work began and everything was going great, that was until the corrupted leaders realized what was going on. Nehemiah did not let the people stop them and formed a plan to keep working day and night. A group would work while another would keep watch and fight off any opposition.
[Nehemiah 4:9,14-16,23 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.]
[and the other half of them held both the spears,] We truly are in a battle, one that takes the entire congregation, while our preachers and teachers are preaching and teaching the Gospel, the rest of the congregation is praying and encouraging them. We cannot win this battle on our own, but we can win it by coming together as the person who will be in midst of us to give us that power is Jesus Christ Himself, [Ephesians 6:11-13,18 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;]
Today’s Prayer: God, As one of Yours that has been called to serve You, I do not know why You see fit to use me because I know that I have let the opposition slow me down from time to time. Thankfully, You never gave up on me, and are always eager to use me to actually build walls that are fortified by You. Lord, give me Your strength to break through every opposition that Satan uses to try and stop me. Let me trust You in every decision I make and give me the confidence that I need to keep going in my faith, yet serving You faithfully. Help me to let go of any opposition that keeps me from serving You diligently, and give me Your mercy and grace, and the Holy Spirit power to break through them all. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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