Nehemiah 8 - Faith Comes By Hearing

I love it... "...all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." (vs 3 NIV) and "Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (vs 6)

These people gathered together to hear the word.  They took it seriously.  They bowed before the LORD and they wept.  But, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." (vs 9)

So often, I hear others say that you don't have to attend worship to believe.  Well, here we have the children of God and until they gathered together to hear the word found in the book; until they heard it proclaimed; they did not, seriously, take it to heart.  But, when they hear it, they wept.  But, this news that they hear is for their edification.  They are to rejoice that the LORD cares for them so much. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Rom 10:17 NKJV) 

Please, wherever you are, find a place to worship the LORD, in the community of God's people.  Hear His Word.  Hear the Good News of the kingdom, so that you too may rejoice in what the LORD has done for you.

Nehemiah 7

Neoptism, maybe favoritism?...  Wonder how well this is going to work for the people of God?  Recording the families... ? Making records, keeping track, shutting and the locking the doors 'till the sun is high in the sky?  Sounds like a lot of busy work...and not enough living.  I tend to think that this world tends to make too much work for themselves, that is unnecessary.  How about taking a bit of that time to live life?  To live in communion with all the saints?

Last day of NALC convocation today and all I can think of this morning is why do we have to join federations, why do we have to vote to be in communion with other members of the Body of Christ? Are we not already in communion by virtue of the blood of Christ?  Are we not the community? It all seems too political to me - that is to vote to work and cooperate with someone(s). Could we, please, just proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom? 

GTG - God's Peace  - Pr. Judy

Nehemiah 6

Troubles will come... but do no be tempted to sin.  Stay on the course that the LORD has laid out for you.  Follow in His way.  Sometimes troubles come because of the LORD - because the LORD is with you.  Not everyone appreciates how the LORD leads His people.  They become jealous or envious, even fearful and strike out at God's people.  The adversaries were a little troubled because the work of the LORD was being accomplished so quickly.  They continued to try to sabotage what the LORD was doing through Nehemiah.
So far they are unsuccessful.

It seems that there will always be adversaries in the church.  There will be troubles to contend with - trouble that is intended to halt the progress of the mission.  Do not be troubled.  It is by the LORD's hand that the work will be accomplished.

God's Peace be with you.  Pr. J

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah, the governor...  Well, I didn't catch that, previously.  The alarm didn't go off this morning and I have about 10 minutes left to finish this before I head for Minnesota so don't have time to go back and see how or why I missed it. 

1% interest!  I think today most of us would think that would be quite the deal!  However, the people were very poor.  They were in the midst of a famine.  They were selling their daughters into slavery so that they could eat.  Nehemiah puts a stop to usury.  With compassion, he leads the people, in their endeavor to rebuild the wall. 

The ways of that world, long ago, are strange to me.  But, then the ways of todays world seem quite strange, as well.  People will pay up to 19% interest for things that will not sustain life; for televisions and electronics, for name brand stuff!  This done, while the children go hungry - hungry for food that will sustain their bodies and for food that will sustain their souls - the bread of life, Jesus the Christ.

When will it end?  Most of us probably cannot imagine selling our children so that we might live.  But, in the end maybe that is what has been done to a large degree.  Have we not given our children and their care over to the world so that we might have the time to indulge our own self-interests?  Just saying... It's only Tuesday and I have seen enough in the first two days of this week to be quite tired of the way the world cares for and brings up children.  If we sell them (give them) to the world, shouldn't we expect them to grow up in the ways of the world? 

Nehemiah 4 - Right to Build Walls

Defending their right to rebuild the wall, the men wore their swords at all times, even as they continued to work on the wall.

Of course there were adversaries.  There will always be adversaries to come up against those who try to build up something for themselves and for the people they love.  One doesn't have to protect oneself unless you anticipate or already have adversaries.  One doesn't have to build walls if you are safe.  And, this it seems to me, was/is a very good reason for a wall.  It is a safety feature that will enable the people to better monitor who will come and go within the confines of the city.  The gates can be shut, if need be, to guard against wolves who would enter, steal, and destroy.

Why do we live in square homes with walls?  Is it not to protect ourselves from nature, from people, and to keep our property safe?  Do most of us (in America) not lock our doors? How many fences and gates have you seen?  And... why?  To protect not only their property, but the people who live on that property as well?  Walls and gates...  It would be nice if we lived in a society, in a world, where neither were necessary.  It would be awesome if things like greed, jealousy, anger did not exist.  But, we do not live in Paradise.  And... the people who built the wall around Jerusalem did not, either.  It was tough going for those who had just returned from exile to a city that had been destroyed.  There were those who wanted the city to stay destroyed.  That was evident by the fact that in order to build it, they had to be armed.

Ok.... So I've done my best this morning not to show my bias'.  I think I may have failed.  My point is (and it is only my point - you may very well disagree with me - and that, too, is your right):  who are we to judge if people build walls to protect themselves and their property? 

Nehemiah 3 - Building the Church

The rebuilding of the gates in the wall...  So many men used their energy, their skills, to rebuild the walls and it's gates.  I remember stories of how the first church's, for that matter homes, businesses, etc. were built in this country.  Everyone pitched in!  The history of our church building at Zion in Skanee is not unlike that!  Every now and then we get visitors who will tell us what part their grandparents had in building the church.  Everyone used their gifts to be used in raising up that physical building.  Building a church was a community event.  Building up the Church, which is the Body of Christ, also involves community - the whole community.  The gifts and talents of everyone are necessary to the building up (to grow and edify) of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.  But, I have to add it is not we who build the Church, but Christ in and through and around us.  (Heb 13:21 NIV)

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph 4:15-17)

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb 12:20-21)

Nehemiah 2 - Building and Rebuilding

The city had been burned.  The people exiled from Jerusalem, the temple, their place of worship.  Years later, they return.  Nehemiah returns, with King Artaxerxes' blessing, they will rebuild.

I have just read the obituary of Rev. Antti Lepisto.  He lovingly and faithfully served as President of Suomi Conference, USA since 1993 (after retirement).  Our primary (but, not only) mission was/is, with the help of God, to help rebuild and grow the Ingrian Lutheran Church in Russia.  He had a deep love for the people and a great desire to see the Gospel proclaimed throughout the region, as well as here.  At least once a year he would include in his travels, a visit with me (and other members of the Sumi Conference board) for purposes of soul care.  He was about building and rebuilding the Body of Christ by sharing the Good News of the Kingdom.   

As a young Pastor, Antti, served at Wainola Lutheran Church, MI.  Very many things have changed over the years.  Attendance dwindled down to about a dozen or so as the population of the whole area declined.  The congregation felt that they needed to do something different in order to more fully proclaim the Gospel - to more fully do God's will.  They are now an Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ (LCMC) congregation.  I have volunteered as their interim.  At least that is what they call me.  I am more like a mentor as I am working with three lay men (Joe, Mike and Mark) from Wainola to train them to lead worship, preside at Communion, visit shut-ins, bury the dead....  The congregation is growing once again.  The building is there.  It is intact.  The rebuilding of the Church that is needed there includes much soul care.  Our goal is, with the help of God, to build up the Body of Christ in Wainola.

Please keep Antti's family in your prayers and say an extra prayer or two for one of his first congregation's, Wainola Lutheran Church, as they rebuild their church, their congregation, with the help of God.

Nehemiah 1 - Walls Are Down

What an awesome prayer to an awesome God!

God's people had sinned and were sent into the wilderness in exile.  They finally return, but find that the walls had broken down.  They are in trouble and disgrace.   Nehemiah prays daily for Israel.  He confesses their sins and asks God to bless them.  

Walls have been torn down.  By our own sinful desires, walls that should be standing no longer exist.  God's people have turned their backs on Him and find themselves alone and in exile.  What is to be done?  Pray...

Open your ears, dear LORD.  Hear the prayers lifted before you daily for all who have been scattered into the wilderness.  Bring them back, gather your people, and bless them by your almighty hand, your great power.

Ezra 10 - Infidelity

Now this had to be a very sad day!  All the men who had been unfaithful to God and married foreign women sent the women and the children they had with them away. 

Oops... Not sure if the text really says that.  I think that they probably did or at least most of them.  At first most of the men agree to do this.  They vow to send the women away.  But, then the leaders get together and decide what must be done.  I found one note to verse 44 that says the women were sent away with their children.  But, I couldn't find a translation that actually said that.  It says that they each gave an offering of a ram of their flock for their sin.  So this morning, I'm left wondering, probably more like hopeful that they didn't.  Divorce is a sad thing and this a mass divorce!

I'm thinking this morning, that this chapter and yesterday's probably should have been read together.  The point is infidelity - unfaithfulness - to God by taking unbelievers into one's life and home.  Why is that bad?  Mostly, I think, because it lends itself to serving two gods.  You cannot serve two gods...  It is only natural that you will direct your attention to the god of your spouse.  Their god will get in your way of worshipping your God.  If you have invited a false god into your home by way of a spouse - that false god is there whether you like it or not and he/she/it will distract your from full worship of your Creator who is your husband-whose name is the LORD Almighty-the Holy One of Israel who is your Redeemer; the God of all the earth.  (see Isaiah 54:50) 

Here ends the Book of Ezra.  Tomorrow we begin with the prophet Nehemiah. Have a blessed day and may God help you to be faithful to Him in all things.