		Pastor Notes

Friday, August 02 2019

Nehemiah 1 & 2: The God Of Heaven

Verse of the Day: (2:4) Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

1. House (1:1-11)

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. (1:6)

Though Nehemiah was only a king’s cupbearer, yet his heart was like a king, as he sought to lead his people of Israel to rebuild their ruined city and walls of Jerusalem, after he heard of their plight. (1:11) Though it seemed an impossible task as he was in Persian (modern Iran) serving King Artaxerxes of Persia, and far from Jerusalem, yet he prayed to the God of heaven for direction and guidance. He not only prayed for the rebuilding project, but he also humbled himself, and confessed his sins and the sins of his father’s house (Israel). Indeed, many times our tasks may seem impossible to accomplish, but let us start with prayer, and trust God, and do exactly what He has impressed upon our hearts, and eventually we shall complete them. Let us thus commit ourselves and our houses (families) to serve God to the end, and He shall bless us now and forever. (Joshua 24:15)

2. Heaven (2:1-7)

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. (2:6)

Indeed, whatsoever we ask in God’s name, He shall answer us. The God of heaven must have touched King Artaxerxes’ heart to permit Nehemiah and his people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and walls. Nehemiah must also have been a faithful and godly cupbearer that the king fully trusted him. Let us therefore always pray to our God of heaven that His perfect will be done in and through us, and for His glory. (Luke 11:1-4)

3. Hand (2:8-20)

And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (2:8)

Not only King Artaxerxes approved of Nehemiah’s project, he even commanded his leaders to supply him with all the timber that he needed for the project. Indeed, let us humble ourselves under the good and mighty hand of God, and He shall exalt us in His time. Let us also cast all our cares upon God, because He truly cares for us. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to pray to You, the God of heaven, to only do Thy will.

Posted by: Jenny Chan AT 11:44 am | Permalink | Email

Hope In Israel

Friday, August 02 2019

Ezra 9 & 10: Hope In Israel

Verse of the Day: (10:2) And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

1. Holy (9:1-15)

And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. (9:8)

It was not just the ruined Jerusalem and her walls and the house of God that Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah returned to rebuild them, but it was the spirituality of the people of Israel including their princes and rulers had committed immorality and idolatry. It was tragic as the reason why Jerusalem was in total ruin was because of the sins of Israel, and now after God delivered them out of captivity, they still returned to sin against Him. However, God never gave up on Israel, as He put into the hearts of Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah and a remnant to abide in Him and follow His Word. This was why Ezra tore his garment, plucked off his hair and beard, and wept and prayed to God. Indeed, let us flee from immorality and idolatry, and be holy before our holy God. (1 Peter 1:13-16)

2. Hope (10:1-18)

Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. (10:1)

Though everything seemed hopeless in Israel as in the ruined city, walls and the house of God, and in particular, the sins of idolatry and immorality, yet Ezra continued to weep and pray, and had hope in Israel, and in his Almighty God. When the people thus saw him wept and prayed, they began to weep and pray and repent their sins. This was indeed the testimony of Ezra as a leader to his people. Let us therefore keep praying to God, and hope in Him, and He shall grant us His joy and peace now and forever. (Romans 15:13)

3. Hands (10:19-44)

And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. (10:19)

The people of Israel repented their sins and gave their hands and hearts to God, and separated themselves from their unbelieving wives. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) It was a tough decision but they knew that they must obey God and flee from idolatry. Today, we still must obey God and marry only those who believe in Him. There is no other way but to only trust and obey God and lift up our holy hands before His holiness. (1 Timothy 2:8)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to pray and flee from sins and obey and hope in You.

Posted by: Jenny Chan AT 11:12 am | Permalink | Email

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