One Year Bible, August 14

NEHEMIAH 7:61 - 9:21                                                                                                       
WHERE IS EVERYBODY?   The 50,000 Jews who returned with Jerubbabel had decided to live outside the city of Jerusalem.   Nehemiah had to persuade them to move inside the walls - God brings us OUT of bondage, in order to bring us INTO His Presence.  Nehemiah made practical arrangements to fortify the city, and appointed Hananiah over the City.   The people had to be REORIENTED and made sure of their calling.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING:  The Word was not only READ, but the people were taught UNDERSTANDING ("understanding" is used in V. 2, 3, 7, 8, 12 of chap 8) The Word was received with attentiveness, reverence, joy, and practical obedience of faith.  Remember, this is a generation who probably hadn't grown up with easy access to the Word of God, but they received it with gladness anyway!  They moved from work and war, into worship.

MAINTAINING GOD'S PRESENCE:  Everything is based on the Word and desire.  Everyone was involved with the reading and understanding of the Word.   Everyone acknowledged and bowed to the obedience of the Word.  

TRUE REPENTANCE:   Be corrected and convicted, but not condemned.  Prolonged sorrow for sin is UNBELIEF.  Forgiveness and restoration should make us REJOICE!   The "joy of the Lord" - that comes because of His Presence, makes us "strong" - the prevailing, vehement strength of a lion, fierceness, unyielding hardness, the fearless, aggressive strength to devour the enemy, and not turn away from the fight. The NT word is "dunamis".  JOYLESSNESS is because of anxiety, a divided heart - and then our actions and words don't line up.

For three long hours, they stood for the reading of the Word and the explanation.   Then they spent three hours on their knees in repentance.  THEN, they were told to "stand up and give praise and thanks!"  The review of their history showed them how their past failures had brought them to their present condition, and pressed them to be faithful.  True repentance must bring us all the way into God's Presence where we re-connect with God.  By giving praise and thanks, we invite God's Presence and re-connect with Him.  We are instructing our hearts as well as putting our trust in God when we do it.  The praise and thanks OPEN OUR OWN HEARTS to trust God and believe Him.  It is an important step in repentance.

RESPONSE:  The importance of repentance is not just to get relief for our guilt. It is to re-connect with God, against whom we've rebelled in doing our own thing. Sin is rebellion. It is like turning my back on God. I have to harden my heart to do it. So, it is important to turn to God, or it isn't really repentance, it is just guilt and sorrow. All my Christian life is tied up with living in God's Presence.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-18                                                                                                     
GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS:   As a preacher of the Gospel, Paul was entitled to be paid for his ministry, and as an APOSTLE, He was doubly entitled. In fact, even though he was a VIP, Paul had given up nearly EVERYTHING, renouncing his RIGHTS for the sake of the Gospel. Not because Paul hadn't earned it. But because he didn't want to give anyone any excuse to criticize the Gospel.  As far as making a living by the Gospel, Paul had worked hard in Corinth.   But beyond that, even the Word of God declared he was entitled to their support.  After all, they paid other preachers.  Paul was NOT a self-proclaimed apostle!  Paul was taken "against his will" by God and placed into the ministry.  Because God forced Paul into ministry, Paul is entitled to be compensated.   But Paul is not just God's slave, he is FREE, preaching from GRATITUDE for the love God showed him.   BUT....this is at least ONE area where Paul can make a sacrifice - and that's to preach without pay.  Love is MORE THAN THE FULFILLMENT OF DUTY; it goes beyond duty.   To bring personal joy, serving Jesus must be done from a perspective of freedom.   In demonstration, Paul gave up his "liberty" (freedom to be paid for his ministry) in order to benefit others.

RESPONSE:  This speaks volumes to me. Would I do all the service that I perform, if no one paid me?  Would I do it just for the love of God and nothing else?  Is God's approval payment enough?  Does that change how I do my job?  Freedom is really a responsibility, not just a privilege.   My personal freedom must NEVER cause an immature believer to fall. 

PSALM 33:12-22                                                                                                                 
God is absolute, autonomous, and independent, and exercises His supremacy.   Eph 1:11 says that God works everything "after the counsel of His own will."  Psalm 115:3; 135:6 says that God does exactly as He pleases.   Prov 21;1 God controls the decisions of people in power.   Prov 16:9; 19:21 A man can devise plans, but ultimately it is God who decides.   Isa 46:9-11 God's purposes are eternal and he will do what He pleases.   Dan 4:17,25 says God rules in the affairs of men.

PROVERBS 21:11-12                                                                                                            
"Simple" = "foolish and easily led".   Two ways the "simple" can be made wise:  by seeing a sinner punished (it should scare him "straight"), and by seeing how a wise man receives instruction.

Though a wicked man seems to be flourishing now, he is doomed to being overthrown.

RESPONSE: Jam 4:15 says that when I make plans, I must make allowances for the fact that God may have something else in mind. In Acts 18:21; 1 Cor 4:19; 16:7 Paul said his plans were subject to God "willing".   Real prayer acknowledges our insufficiency and need and acknowledges God's sovereignty.  Prayer BURDENS are initiated by the Holy Spirit, and grow out of God's decrees or purposes.