JESUS, THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN Job viewed God as so great and transcendent as to be unapproachable by man. For God worked in the realm of the heavens and the stormy seas, while man was limited to dry ground. He reasoned that if only there were a “mediator” (9:33) that could stretch out
WE OWE THE AFFLICTED KINDNESS NOT JUDGMENT Job’s friends came to share his grief, but ended up adding to his affliction. They came to sit with Job after a series of terrible events had occurred. A hurricane had collapsed his oldest son’s house, killing all of Job’s children. Raiding parties had attacked his property and
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS Esther won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her cousin, Mordecai, who had raised her as his own when her parents died, asked her not to forget her people and to consider God’s purpose
ARE WE PASSING ON THE BATON OF FAITH? The apostle Paul’s teaching concerning the Lord’s Supper was faithfully passed on from the Lord to the church at Corinth. Paul reminded them that his authority as an apostle came from the Lord, as did his message. Having established his credibility, he corrected the unworthy practices of
WHY IS THE HOUSE OF GOD FORSAKEN? After Nehemiah completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, he was recalled by King Artaxerxes. When he obtained leave from the king and returned to Jerusalem, he found that those he had left in charge had not kept their promise to support the house of God. Many
WHEN OTHERS RAN OUT THEY RAN IN After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, people were needed to repopulate the city, which had been destroyed some 70+ years earlier. It was a run-down and dangerous place where few wanted to live. So when certain men willingly volunteered to live in the city, the people blessed
REVIVAL AND REPAIRED WALLS After the rebuilding of the walls surrounding Jerusalem there was great enthusiasm for God’s Word and for the giving of tithes and offerings. The people willingly and joyfully entered into a covenant to be faithful in these things. Yet, before the walls were rebuilt, the people were filled with doubt and
ARE YOU ATTENTIVE TO THE WORD AND WORSHIPING TOGETHER? Nehemiah led a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken down walls. They had lost their nation and freedom to worship 70 years earlier when the Babylonians had invaded. Jerusalem was destroyed and its people and wealth were carried away. But after 70
LEARNING TO SAY NO TO THINGS THAT DON’T MATTER Nehemiah knew when to say “Yes” and when to say “No.” He was focused on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and he didn’t have time for distractions. Learning when to say “No” may be one of the most important leadership traits, as many leaders struggle
NO FEAR. REMEMBER THE LORD. DEFEND YOUR FAMILY. Nehemiah led a volunteer workforce to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem, while at the same time facing dissension from within and opposition from without. Yet, he challenged the people to remember two things: 1) Remember the awesome greatness of the God upon Whom you depend and 2)