“With the Help of the Lord…”

15 So on October 2nd the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.  — Nehemiah 6:15-16 NLT

Nehemiah 6:1-9 NLT

Rebuilding the wall that surrounded Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time was a major construction project.   Although we can’t be sure of exactly how much of the wall they rebuilt, we can be sure that at the very minimum, it would have exceeded two and a quarter miles.  Compare that to how long it takes a construction crew to repair a section of interstate that exceeds two miles even with all the equipment and ready-made materials they have available to them today. Then add to that, the fact that they had to build the final portions of the wall using one hand and carrying a weapon in the other.  And the whole time, they were being harassed and ridiculed by their enemies.  It was quite a miraculous feat.  There is no way Nehemiah and his people could have even started this project without the direction and the power of God working through the people involved.  From the king of Babylon to the least of the workers in Jerusalem, God worked through each of them to provide for the people and the project.  When satan sees that God has raised up people to do great work, he is always there to try to thwart what God is doing.  He was there in Nehemiah’s time trying to discourage everyone with bluster and lies and he is still up to his old tricks today.  We need to pray that God will raise up Ezras and Nehemiahs in our day to rebuild the body of Christ.  So that satan and his allies will once again be “frightened and humiliated” when they see God helping us.“

“The closer I get to the end of my life, it seems the only question that matters is, ‘Is the life I am living pleasing to God?” – Ken Gire In “Sacred”

“The Gospel has come to you because it’s on its way to someone else.” – Anonymous

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Pray, Prepare, Present

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12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.  — Esther 6:12 NLT
We are familiar with the story of Esther and how God exalted her to the position of queen in a most unlikely situation.  Besides Esther, there are three other people God had positioned strategically for this particular time. God needed a man with the the authority to make things happen so He had positioned Xerxes as king.  He needed a villain, He chose Haman for this role.  Haman was the perfect villain for this time, he hated Mordecai and all of the Jews. God needed a hero, someone who would refuse to bow to the villain and with the backbone to stand up for God’s people.  He chose Mordecai who had a little known history with the king.  In the past, he had warned the king about a plot to kill the king and for this he had never been rewarded (at least not  in earthly ways).  Mordecai was also a man of compassion.  We know this because he had taken his cousin, Hadassah, also known as Esther and raised her as his own daughter after his uncle died.  God had prepared and positioned each of these people to carry out His plan to free His people and destroy the enemy.  God is preparing each of us to do the same thing today.  Are we ready and willing to do our part when all the people involved come together?   If not, how do we get ready?
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  — 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
Post 06-18-2016

When God Helps Us!

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15 So on October 2nd the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.  — Nehemiah 6:15, 16 NLT
 

Rebuilding the wall that surrounded Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time was a major construction project.   Although we can’t be sure of exactly how much of the wall they rebuilt, we can be sure that at the very minimum, it would have exceeded two and a quarter miles.  Compare that to how long it takes a construction crew to repair a section of interstate that exceeds two miles even with all the equipment and ready-made materials they have available to them today. Then add to that, the fact that they had to build the final portions of the wall using one hand and carrying a weapon in the other.  And the whole time, they were being harassed and ridiculed by their enemies.  It was quite a miraculous feat.  There is no way Nehemiah and his people could have even started this project without the direction and the power of God working through the people involved.  From the king of Babylon to the least of the workers in Jerusalem, God worked through each of them to provide for the people and the project.  When satan sees that God has raised up people to do a great work, he is always there to try to thwart what God is doing.  He was there in Nehemiah’s time trying to discourage everyone with bluster and lies and he is still up to his old tricks today.  We need to pray that God will raise up Ezras and Nehemiahs in our day to rebuild the body of Christ.  So that satan and his allies will once again be “frightened and humiliated” when they see God helping us.