Nehemiah Ministries

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2010-09-12T21:03:00.004+05:30

All About Nehemiah

2010-04-09T14:24:00.003+05:30

ne-he-mi'-a, ne-hem-i'-a (nechemyah, "comforted of Yah"):

1. Family
2. Youth
3. King's Cupbearer
4. Governor of Judea
5. Death

LITERATURE

Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah, is the Jewish patriot whose life is recorded in the Biblical work named after him. All that we know about him from contemporary sources is found in this book; and so the readers of this article are referred to the Book of Nehemiah for the best and fullest account of his words and deeds.

1. Family:

All that is known of his family is that he was the son of Hacaliah (Neh 1:1) and that one of his brothers was called Hanani (Neh 1:2; 7:2); the latter a man of sufficient character and importance to have been made a ruler of Jerusalem.

From Neh 10:1-8 some have inferred that he was a priest, since Nehemiah comes first in the list of names ending with the phrase, "these were the priests." This view is supported by the Syriac and Arabic versions of 10:1, which read: "Nehemiah the elder, the son of Hananiah the chief of the priests"; and by the Latin Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) of 2 Macc 1:21, where he is called "Nehemiah the priest," and possibly by 2 Macc 1:18, where it is said that Nehemiah "offered sacrifices, after that he had builded the temple and the altar."

The argument based upon Neh 10:1-8 will fall to the ground, if we change the pointing of the "Seraiah" of the 3rd verse and read "its princes," referring back to the princes of 10:1. In this case, Nehemiah and Zedekiah would be the princes; then would come the priests and then the Levites.

Some have thought that he was of the royal line of Judah, inasmuch as he refers to his "fathers' sepulchres" at Jerusalem (Neh 2:3). This would be a good argument only if it could be shown that none but kings had sepulchers at Jerusalem.

It has been argued again that he was of noble lineage because of his position as cupbearer to the king of Persia. To substantiate this argument, it would need to be shown that none but persons of noble birth could serve in this position; but this has not been shown, and cannot be shown.

2. Youth:

From the fact that Nehemiah was so grieved at the desolation of the city and sepulchers of his fathers and that he was so jealous for the laws of the God of Judah, we can justly infer that he was brought up by pious parents, who instructed him in the history and law of the Jewish people.

3. King's Cupbearer:

Doubtless because of his probity and ability, he was apparently at an early age appointed by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, to the responsible position of cupbearer to the king. There is now no possible doubt that this King his king was Artaxerxes, the first of that name, commonly called Longimanus, who ruled over Persia from 464 to 424 BC. The mention of the sons of Sanballat, governor of Samaria, in a letter written to the priests of Jerusalem in 407 BC, among whom Johanan is especially named, proves that Sanballat must have ruled in the time of Artaxerxes I rather than in that of Artaxerxes II.

The office of cupbearer was "one of no trifling honor" (Herod. iii.34). It was one of his chief duties to taste the wine for the king to see that it was not poisoned, and he was even admitted to the king while the queen was present (Neh 2:6). It was on account of this position of close intimacy with the king that Nehemiah was able to obtain his commission as governor of Judea and the letters and edicts which enabled him to restore the walls of Jerusalem.

4. Governor of Judea:

The occasion of this commission was as follows: Hanani, the brother of Nehemiah, and other men of Judah came to visit Nehemiah while he was in Susa in the 9th month of the 20th year of Artaxerxes. They reported that the Jews in Jerusalem were in great affliction and that the wall thereof was broken down and its gates burned with fire. Thereupon he grieved and fasted and prayed to God that he might be granted favor by the king. Having appeared before the latter in the 1st month of the 21st year of Artaxerxes, 444 BC, he was granted permission to go to Jerusalem to build the city of his fathers' sepulchers, and was given letters to the governors of Syria and Israel and especially to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, ordering him to supply timber for the wall, the fortress, and the temple. He was also appointed governor of the province of which Jerusalem was the capital.

Armed with these credentials and powers he repaired to Jerusalem and immediately set about the restoration of the walls, a work in which he was hindered and harassed by Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, and others, some of them Jews dwelling in Jerusalem. Notwithstanding, he succeeded in his attempt and eventually also in providing gates for the various entrances to the city.

Having accomplished these external renovations, he instituted a number of social reforms. He appointed the officers necessary for better government, caused the people to be instructed in the Law by public readings, and expositions; celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles; and observed a national fast, at which the sins of the people were confessed and a new covenant with Yahweh was solemnly confirmed. The people agreed to avoid marriages with the heathen, to keep the Sabbath, and to contribute to the support of the temple. To provide for the safety and prosperity of the city, one out of every ten of the people living outside Jerusalem was compelled to settle in the city. In all of these reforms he was assisted by Ezra, who had gone up to Jerusalem in the 7th year of Artaxerxes.

5. Death:

Once, or perhaps oftener, during his governorship Nehemiah returned to the king. Nothing is known as to when or where he died. It is certain, however, that he was no longer governor in 407 BC; for at that time according to the Aramaic letter written from Elephantine to the priests of Jerusalem, Bagohi was occupying the position of governor over Judea. One of the last acts of Nehemiah's government was the chasing away of one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, because he had become the son-in-law to Sanballat, the governor of Samaria. As this Joiada was the father of Johanan (Neh 12:22) who, according to the Aramaic papyrus, was high priest in 407 BC, and according to Josephus (Ant., XI, viii.1) was high priest while Bagohi (Bogoas) was general of Artaxerxes' army, it is certain that Nehemiah was at this time no longer in power. From the 3rd of the Sachau papyri, it seems that Bagohi was already governor in 410 BC; and, that at the same time, Dalayah, the son of Sanballat, was governor in Samaria. More definite information on these points is not to be had at present.

In the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is the cup bearer to a foreign king. After hearing that Jerusalem is nearly in ruins, he is driven to travel to the city and oversee its reconstruction. Nehemiah prays for guidance before asking his king to send him to Jerusalem with legal authority to collect all needed building materials along the way.

During the reconstruction, Nehemiah is plagued by several enemies who attack the city, spread political dissent, and attempt to lure Nehemiah away from his work, but he perseveres in the task until the city is rebuilt, after which he quickly reeducated the people on Jewish law and instituted several social reforms.

Nehemiah and the Power of Prayer

Throughout the book, Nehemiah faces a number of difficult challenges, and he stops to pray earnestly to God before each difficulty. He is a great example of a believer who prays at all times in the spirit (Eph 6:18) rather than relying on his own understanding (Prov 3:5).

Modern born again Christians may take a lesson from Nehemiah. Some religious individuals may opt to take the time to pray and pay attention to their belief in the Holy Spirit before putting any plan into action.

The Story of Nehemiah and Resisting Temptation

Nehemiah's enemies make several attempts to distract him from his work, believing that the work itself could not continue while he was away. At one point, Nehemiah receives a letter threatening political consequences unless he agreed to to meet face to face with his enemies. Nehemiah responds with a message saying, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down" Temptation often strikes hardest in the lives of religious individuals who are actively trying to live according to God's will and make an impact for His kingdom. For some, it's believed that these temptations are designed to distract believers and lead them away from their good work, but for some believers, Nehemiah serves as an example of what can be accomplished if the Christian sticks to the task at hand, guarding vigilantly against worldly distractions in the form of divisions, unwholesome activities, doubt, fear, or anything else.

Nehemiah and the Presence of God

One of the most striking facts about Nehemiah is that there are no miracles in the book; it is a book about effective planning, hard work, dedication, and a religious individual's trust in the Lord. This book shows how, for a religious person, God is present in the believers' ordinary activities, like work, just as much as during times of miraculous healing and divine intervention.

Nehemiah's work ethic resembled the ant in Proverbs 6:6, who goes to work despite having no overseer, and God blessed the work of his hands (Deut 28:12). Like Joseph, Nehemiah did his work as unto the Lord (Col 3:23) and trusted in God for the outcome, which can be a challenge to understand in what some have called an ego-driven culture.

Nehemiah 5:14-15

Few of us know much about Nehemiah or the times he lived in. Our mental picture of him is that he was austere, harsh, and perhaps even pharisaical. From what the Bible presents of him, he was undoubtedly serious about his responsibilities, brave, and circumspect, and he loved and feared God. His character displays a lofty nobleness. Regardless of our estimation, God thinks highly of him, and his life was so remarkable He included a few vignettes of it in His Word for our instruction.

When the Persian king appointed him governor of the Jewish exiles who had returned to Palestine from Babylon, Nehemiah discovered that the governors before him were in the habit of "squeezing" the people for their own gain. Nobody would have wondered if Nehemiah had done the same. Is that not the way people in government operate? Everybody does it! The people would have simply shrugged their shoulders, fully expecting it as the way things are done. It was the custom. Nehemiah's standard, however, was exceedingly higher: His hands must be absolutely clean.

Why did he do it? He feared God! Nehemiah's way of living reached down into the nitty-gritty of everyday life and may have involved considerable sacrifice. He would not operate the way the world does. Certainly, the laborer is worthy of his hire, but sometimes sacrifices must be made, and Nehemiah determined this was one of them. He would not conform to what everyone else did. Several other vignettes from the same book confirm this was not a one-time occurrence. Unless we are willing to say, "No," to what everybody else is doing, and do it often, our Christian life will be static from its outset.

God and the world do not have the same perspectives on how to live life. Once we have the right standards, God's standards, saying, "No," to ourselves is of paramount importance if we want to put on the image of God and remove the image of this world. The world, combined with our own carnality, keeps pressuring us to conform to its attitudes and ways, and if we are passive, it is easy for us to drift with its way of thinking. We must make choices. Sometimes, they are very difficult because of the sacrifice involved. In them, we will show whether we respect God and His purpose or this world.

The fear of God must become a foundation stone to us, one of the kind of nobility and strength of character Nehemiah possessed. It does not matter whether the issue is losing weight because of gluttony or eliminating debt because of covetousness. The world takes little notice of God until trouble is already upon them. But we must learn to do all things to glorify God, and it takes deeply respecting Him to do this. Honestly, would Jesus allow Himself to drift from His focus on glorifying God to become obese or in debt to the point of bankruptcy? His respect for—fear of—God would not permit Him to do these things.

The Christian has to rip himself from the world's way of thinking and doing. He must be a nonconformist in this regard. He must always understand that the world, though mentioning God frequently, does not fear Him, as its conduct shows. Romans 3:18 asserts, "There is no fear of God before their eyes." A Christian must consciously march to the beat of a different drummer.

Why do we not all conduct our life the way Nehemiah did? Partly because of laziness, to a degree because of cowardice, and sometimes because of ignorance. At times, we are so out of touch with God, we become swept up in sinful activity before we are aware what is going on. Yet, at other times, we fail because of this powerful sheep characteristic to give in to the impulse of the moment because everybody else is doing it. There is no tyranny like the tyranny of the majority. It can be every bit as harsh as the tyranny of a despot. Either can put us into bondage. Unless we are willing to look at things through the eyes of God and stand on our own two feet because we fear Him, we will be just as helplessly enslaved to the opinions of the hour as ever.

It is a historical truism that truth on an issue often lies with the minority. The opinions and ways of the majority are often impulsive, taking the path of least resistance without being concerned about the long-range effects. Those in the minority usually have the advantage of thinking things through because they know their ideas will be unpopular and resisted, and so they prepare themselves better.

God is most concerned about how things end, the conclusion of a matter. He wants us to understand what the fruit of an action will be. Nehemiah was willing to be different, a non-conformist if conforming was wrong. His respect for God and what God thought was greater than his fear of what men would think of him or what he would have to deny himself.

Happiness

2010-02-05T13:35:00.001+05:30

IS HAPPINESS JUST A WORD?

A sermon delivered by Batsell Barrett Baxter on February 1, 1970 at the Hillsboro Church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee, and heard over radio station WLAC at 8:05 P.M.

According to the best estimates available there are now some three and one-half billion people on earth. Different though we may be, there are many things we have in common. All of us have been born and all of us will die, unless the end of time should come first. We all eat and sleep and work. We love our families and friends. We experience feelings of joy and sorrow. Of course, there are many other things in which we are alike. However, I wish to emphasize the fact that among those things which are universal is the earnest desire to be happy. We all seek happiness. To many millions of people, however, happiness seems to be only a word. The word they know, but the achievement of happiness seems beyond them. Many seek it and few find it. It is elusive. We are led to ask, “Is happiness only a word--an impossible dream?” We think not, for we believe that it is a possibility for every man who really wants it. But perhaps we ought to ask, “What is happiness?” Dr. Maxwell Maltz, in his book, Five Minutes to Happiness, asks the same question and then gives this answer: “Happiness is a state of mind or habit where we have pleasant thoughts the greater part of the time. It is a built-in mechanism within us.” When I first read this paragraph I paused to remember that there are many people who seem to have everything to make them happy, yet they are not happy. There are others who seem to have few of the ingredients of happiness, yet somehow they are happy. Dr. Maltz continues, “To understand this better it might be well to realize that we also have a built-in worry mechanism. These are not two separate entities like two ears on the face, but they are interlocking processes that work daily in our lives, expressing our emotions, and when we begin to understand who we are, we alone can decide which mechanism we want to use for our purposes, because we can control them. We can make a habit of worrying or of being happy.” An anonymous writer has added, “Happiness and trouble stand at everyone’s gate. Yours is the choice which you will invite in.” Although this view of happiness is far from complete, I am convinced that there is a great deal to be said for the fact that everyone can be happy if he makes up his mind to do so. More especially, I am convinced that when a person knows the teachings of Christ, he has an understanding of the way to have a happy and meaningful life. Observations About Happiness I should like to make six observations concerning happiness. These are not observations which have arisen suddenly, or even recently, but are realizations which have grown upon me through the years. Now, for the first. Happiness is often mistakenly thought to lie in the achieving of much wealth, or great power, or vast knowledge, or unlimited physical, sensual enjoyment. This is not to say that there is no enjoyment in the things that money can buy, for there is. It is not to say that great power and influence may not be heartwarming and gratifying. It is not to say that the accumulation of great knowledge is devoid of any satisfaction and happiness. It is not to say that there are no joys in the realm of the physical senses. What we do say is that if one makes one or another of these areas his chief end in life, he will be disappointed ultimately. There is a legitimate place for each, but it is not the central place in our lives. No man sought happiness with more inventiveness and more persistence than Solomon. He tried all of these avenues and found them wanting. It is in his book of Ecclesiastes that we find, “I made me great works; I built my houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; I made me pools of water, to water there from the forests where trees were reared; I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herd and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem; I gathered also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem ... And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy ... Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Eccl. 2:1-11).

Observation Number Two

Happiness often is to be found in simple things: a boy and his dog, the pure love of a young man and a woman, a sunrise or sunset, a glass of cool, clear water, a bird’s song, a baby’s smile. During the New York World’s Fair, which ran in 1964-65, the most popular film shown was the film, “To Be Alive.” Of all the hundreds of films that were prepared for this fair, this was the one for which the lines of waiting viewers was longest. It was the most talked-about film at the fair. Yet, it had no plot. It was simply the showing of a series of unrelated scenes in the lives of average people. It was simple, yet profound. Typical scenes were: a little Japanese boy rushing breathlessly into a field of golden wheat, with the stalks of grain almost as tall as he; a young African boy rolling a hoop down a jungle trail, looking with wide eyes at the birds and animals of the jungle; a grandfather, his face lined with age, and a grandson, young and eager, sitting in a boat fishing on a quiet pond. These and other scenes had a profound impression upon those who saw them, emphasizing the beauties and the joys of every-day living.

Observation Number Three

Happiness is to be found in doing worthwhile work well. A story has come down through several centuries and still carries a significant message. Sir Christopher Wren was one of the world’s most advanced architects and builders. He designed and supervised construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. This building was completed in 1710, so the story is an old one. Sir Christopher approached the building site and asked a workman, “What are you doing, my man?” The man answered, “I am laying stones.” He went on with his work seeing nothing more than the stones. Wren walked to another part of the huge construction project and asked a second man, “What are you doing, my man?” This time his answer was, “I’m earning a living for my wife and my children.” So he was. Still not satisfied, Sir Christopher asked a third man at still a different location, “What are you doing?” This man responded, “I’m building a cathedral.” He was laying stones and earning a living as the others were, but he was also doing something more. He realized the ultimate goal of his work. He put himself into his work. He did it well.

Observation Number Four

Happiness and satisfaction are often found in the pursuit of an objective, even more than in its actual attainment. There are many times when there seems to be more real enjoyment as we think about and work for some goal than when the goal itself is actually achieved. There is a joy in working for something that is worthwhile.

Observation Number Five

Happiness is to be found in being more concerned about others than about one’s self. All of us know from our own experience and from the observation of others that even though this seems to be upside-down and backward, nevertheless it is true. When we forget ourselves and work for the good of others, we find greater happiness than when we seek our own satisfaction. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever shall be first among you shall be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:26-28). Many years ago when I was still in college a graduation speaker told of an experience which had been immensely rewarding. On one occasion a lady of the church where he was minister baked a chocolate cake and brought it to the church office, saying that she wanted him and his family to have it. He expressed his appreciation and then, since it was mid-morning and not yet time for him to go home for lunch, set the cake on a table in his office beside a window which opened onto a vacant area where neighborhood children often played. During the morning he happened to notice at one point that several of the neighborhood boys, typical children from a not-too-well-to-do neighborhood, had stopped their game and were looking through the window, longingly observing his cake. On an impulse, he invited the boys in, and shared the cake with them. It was soon gone, but there lingered wonderful memories of a happy group of neighborhood children. Months later he told our graduating class that he was still enjoying the cake. A generation later, I am still enjoying a cake which I never saw nor tasted. And now, that I have told this generous-hearted true story to you, people all across this land are enjoying a cake which they never saw nor tasted. How different the destiny of this cake might have been if the preacher had kept it for himself and his family.

Observation Number Six

The ultimate happiness can be found only on the spiritual level. While there is joy and satisfaction in the physical realms of which we have spoken, the highest level of happiness comes in the spiritual realm. The reason is very simple. Basically each of us is a spirit being, more than he is a physical body. We were made in God’s image in the sense that each of us is a living soul, destined to exist eternally. This being true, only when there is a right relationship with God can there be real, abiding happiness. All of us know that unhappiness often comes when relationships with others have gone wrong. When there is tension in a family, between husband and wife, or between parents and children, there are deep pains which often cause ulcers and other physical disorders. Similarly, unhappiness comes when there is a wrong relationship with our Creator God. Happiness comes when there is a right relationship with our God. This is what Augustine meant when he said, “Our mind’s are never at rest until they find rest in Thee.” A few moments ago we spoke of Solomon’s vain explorations in many realms as he sought to find happiness. In the final chapter of his book of Ecclesiastes, at the very close of the chapter, he said, “This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccl. 12:13). Actually, the word duty has been added to that sentence in order to smooth out the translation in English. Literally, there is no word in the Hebrew text to suggest that the word duty should have been included in this sentence. Literally, Solomon said, “This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of Man.”

The Bible Says Much Whereas there is much sorrow and sadness in the world, the Bible says much about joy and happiness. For example, on one occasion, when Jesus had taught his disciples a number of principles of righteous living, he said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may he made full.” (John 15:11). Christ guides and instructs that our lives may be full of joy. After the church began on Pentecost, we read, “And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:46). The early Christians were happy people. In the conversion story of the Ethiopian nobleman, we find that after he had been taught of Christ and had obeyed his Lord, “He went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39). On the apostle Paul’s first mission journey, he and his disciples were driven out of the little Asian town of Lystra. Then the scripture says, “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” What unusual circumstances in which to feel joy. But these were suffering for Christ’s sake. Still later, at the end of the story of the conversion of the Philippian jailor, we read, “And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.” (Acts 16:34). The writer of Hebrews spoke of Christ in these terms, “Therefore let us also ... look unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2). Even in his great suffering there was joy because he was providing salvation for all men. To the Philippians Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Phil. 4:4). The apostle Peter speaks of Christians in this manner, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice ... at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not having seen ye love; on whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:6, 8-9). This is man’s ultimate happiness. Finally, I would mention the words of Jesus himself. While in the final days of teaching his disciples he spoke about the judgment and how that the righteous would be saved. They would hear these words, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matt. 25:21). Happiness is not just a word. It is a state of mind, a habit of thinking, a way of life. In the deepest sense, ultimately, it is possible only to the Christian. It was G. K. Chesterton who summed it all up, “Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”

Successful living in Christ

2010-02-05T13:25:00.000+05:30

Remember, in our journey toward personal development we must consider our lives as our product under development.

Principle 1.) Need – At least one personal on this planet needs the special “talent” or “gift” that has been given to you by God’s Holy Spirit. Your talent, skills, special gift is the solution to someone’s problem. Never feel “not needed”! You are the solution to someone’s need.

Principle 2.) Desire – This is different from ‘need’. There is some one (at least one) who has a passionate desire for what you have to offer. Never feel that you have ‘Nothing’ that anyone would want. That just isn’t true.

Principle 3.) Uniqueness – You have something different about you, a quality that sets you apart from the rest.This difference defines your worth. It is you goal to identify it, develop it, magnify it and advertise it. You will attract those who either need it or desire it.

Principle 4.) Focus – Focus on your qualities, on that which you have to offer. The greatest deterrent to success is the lack of focus or undefined focus.

Principle 5.) Order or Sequence – The accurate placement of things or ideas. Prioritize – Create a personal “flow chart” to prioritize those parts of your character that need to be ordered. Emphasize your best qualities first.

Principle 6.) Change – The ability to change, make changes and accept changes. The ability to accept those things in your life that you cannot change but changing you thoughts about them.

Principle 7.) Reward – The Bible speaks often of reward. The reward for righteousness is eternal life. In our personal development we need to understand “reward”, learn to accept “rewards” and give “rewards”. One of the most important factors of spiritual growth is our ability to accept the fact that we can accept reward. It is not wrong to acknowledge rewards in our life.

Nothing succeed like success

2009-12-30T12:36:00.003+05:30

Luke 5:4-6
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they in closed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The secret of our success is to come to Jesus and act as he told us to do.
In the Gospel of Luke 5th chapter we see that there were two groups of people

1. Listeners(Hearers)
2. Fishermen

1. Listeners (Hearers):
They sat and listening God’s words.
It is very essential to listen to the word of God.
We should learn the word of God.
We should know the word of God.
We should preach the word of God. It is very essential. This is the first and foremost thing.
Food is given to the children to grow.
In order to grow in His word we should heed his word.
Here the day began.

2. Fishermen :
They were cleansing their boats. (This was the end of the day).
Jesus stood between these two groups of people.
He is always with us.
He is among us.
He lives in us if you give your broken heart and welcome him as your personal savior into your heart.
Jesus saw their boats.
Jesus sees our lives.

3,000 people were on one side and there were 3 people on the other. Jesus turned at 3 people.
Yes Jesus comes for one also. He comes for you. He comes for me. He comes for us. He comes for anyone. No matter how great sinner you are. He will come to you. He is ready to come to you right now if you wish.
God saw their boats. God sees.
When God called Moses, God told him that he was watching over the sufferings of Israelites and heard their supplications.
Yes. God sees and hears.
Jesus saw boats. He saw Fishermen. He saw their problem.
Jesus was asking Simon…….. Can I get into your boat?
Jesus is asking today I will come to your temple (lives). Will you give place for me?
Preaching to multitude is over. Now he came to the three.
Why did he come to the three?
They need victory/success? Because they had failed in catching fishes.
They had to pass.
The Flag of Jesus’ success: Obedience
If you want success……. Come to Jesus and do as he commands you to do.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
In reality who was Jesus. He was a carpenter.
But the three were fishermen. It was their occupation.
They might reject his words.
But they did not…
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
At his word they laid down their nets.
They did as Jesus told them.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
They put faith in Jesus’ words.
Today believers need courage and what courage is that they should firmly stand in their faith.
Do you have the faith?
Do you have courage to do as Jesus tells you to do?
If you want success, learn from Him. You should do what he commands you to do?
Shall we stand in?
If Jesus tells, He shall do.
If Jesus gives his word, he will fulfill/establish his word.
The fishermen did as He told them.
They obeyed Him with faith.
Yes we need instant/immediate obedience.
Boats were filled. They were happy.
If you trust in God, he will give you overflowing blessings.
The fishermen succeeded.
Why? Because
They had faith and obedience in Jesus.
Do you want success? If .. Yes.
Faith + Obedience are the success/Victory.
Written by
Secretary/Disciple of Nehemiah Ministry
Bro. Chintala Prabhakar Rao.

............MONEY.............

2009-12-17T14:43:00.000+05:30

If we are having problems in the area of our finances, we need to examine God's Word as to what He says bout finances and then line up with that Word. Are we handling our money wisely? True wisdom comes rom God and the Bible has revelation about money problems as well as our other problems.So many people in our day are having financial problems. Even wealthy men are concerned they will lose their riches because of inflation and the worth of the dollar dropping daily. Stock markets around the world have been unstable. eople are contemplating bankruptcy and even suicide due to such heavy money pressures. Many marriages re also under extreme stress and divorce has risen due to unresolved financial difficulties. Is there an answer to all the money problems? Yes, the Bible has the answer to this problem as well as all others that face mankind. Briefly, we are going to write down a basic financial check list based on the Word of God. On this list we are going to look at some things that can block our financial blessings. As Christians, we are promised the blessings of God, not the curses of the devil. The promise of prosperity and blessing belongs to us, not the curse of poverty and fear. Galatians 3:13-14 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Genesis 17:1-7 says, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." From these Scriptures we see we receive the same blessings as Abraham because we are his seed. Therefore, our first step is to become a child of God, thus the seed of Abraham and God. Then, Matthew 6:31-33 applies to us. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." We must give our lives totally to God and seek His righteousness, then all the things that the Gentiles (those in the world) are seeking will be added to us. What are the things that those in the world are seeking? Clothes, houses, food, etc.A total commitment to God is the very first step to financial blessings. However, there are many Christians who still have not gained the victory in finances due to other principles in God's Word that have been ignored. Let's ask ourselves some questions that will bring us financial freedom if we are agreeing with the Word of God in these matters.

The Only Way.........

2009-12-17T14:19:00.000+05:30

The uniqueness of Jesus as the only Way to Heaven, the only Way of salvation, comes out of His own claim as stated in John 14:6- "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". This most outstanding claim of Jesus Christ comes within the context of His nouncement that He is going to Heaven where He originally came from. Let us consider this entire assage from vs. 1 to 10. In verse 1 Jesus says: "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe lso in me". The words "You believe in God believe also in me" make up an outstanding claim of Christ equality with God and of His own deity. Only God could put Himself on par with God and claim to be the object of man's faith as God is. It is not enough to say that we believe in God-one has to believe in Jesus Christ as well. To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe in God. To believe in God is not necessarily to believe in to Jesus Christ. The Jews of Jesus' day made vehement refused to believe in Jesus. "We believe in God" they said. "but not in you". What Jesus apparantly means is that no one who refuses to believe in Him can really claim to believe in God. There is no God apart from Jesus. Is it not enough to believe in God? It is; but Jesus is not an addition to God. He is God Him-self. Verse 2: "In my Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you". "Father's House" is another name for Heaven. "Many mansions" speaks of the complexity of Heaven. For us Heaven is a place, but not for God. God is infinite. He can not be localized or circumscribed to a place as we are, unless He so chooses for a specific period of time. The Hebrew Shamaim(plural) lends itself to spatial connotations, but only with respect to creatures, such as angels and disembodied human spirits. The centre of Heaven is marked by the presence of God's glory. This must be identical to the "third heaven" (or "innermost Heaven") or 2 cor 12:3, which is comparable to the holy of holies in the Tabernacle. While there are many mansions or dwelling places in Heaven there needs to be apreparation or reservation made for a particular ccupancy. Jesus promises each one of His believers a particular place in Heaven. We do not just go and ccupy any unreserved or vacant rooms in Heaven. All rooms in Heaven are reserved. Our names are ritten in Heaven, in the Lamb's book of Life, we are told (Luke 10:20 and Rev. 13.8). We do not fully nderstand what all this preparation involves. Our salvation is prepared of God. We did not plan if, but God did. He sent His Son to atone for our sins. We are bought with a price. We are redeemed by the blood. e indwelt and sealed by the place for us in Heaven. And we can be sure it is not just an empty place, but a place filled with all of God's fulness for us in Christ "Eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him"(ICor2.9). I recognize this applies to the spiritual bounty God has in store for us in Christ at this present time. But I believe it can also be applied to what God is yet to lavish upon us. When we get to Heaven. God will have many happy surpises for us when we get Home-" Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He will appear, We shall be like Himm; for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3.2). V. 3: Then the Lord goes on to say that after He has prepared the place He will come again and receive us to Himself, that where He is there we may be also. It is like a youngman who betroths a young woman to himself and goes back home to prepare a place for his bride to be and all that he knows she needs. He gives the young woman a ring, a guarantee that on the appoingted day he will return and marry her and take her to his father's home, to the place he has and marry her and take her to his father's home, to the place he has prepared for her. This exactly what the Lord Jesus has done with us. As believers we are engaged or espoused to our Lord Jesus (2 Cor. 11.2) He has given us the ring of the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our final redemption at the coming of the Lord. He is now gone back Home to prepare a place for each one of us, His redeemed. At the appointed time He will surely come and receive us to Himself that where He is there we may be also. In What manner is the Lord coming to take us to Himself? Paul in 1 Thes. 4:13-18 describes the event: "For I would not have you to be ignorant brethern, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others whcih have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep, For the Lord Himself shall descend from the Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these word". In other words when the Lord comes He will bring with Him the souls of all those saints who have slept in the Lord form Pentecost till that very moment. These souls then will put on their bodies raised from the dust, and the living saints, changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, joining them, they together will be raptured or caught away into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And from there the Lord takes us to the Father's House and we shall forever be with the Lord. This is the Lord's promise to His saints and this is the Blessed Hope of all true Christians. V.4 ff, In verse 4 The Lord goes on to say to His disciples: "You know where I am going and you also know the way to that place".Then Thomas, one of His disciples, says, "Lord we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way". It is at this juncture the Lord Jesus make the most stupendous claim ever made by anyone on this earth" "I am the Way, The Truth and the Life: no man can comes unto the Father, but by Me" (V6). The main thrust of Jesus claim concers the WAY. Jesus calims to be the only WAY to Heaven. He is not only the WAY, but the TRUTH and the LIFE. But truth and the life here seem to quality the WAY. Jesus is the true and the living WAY toHeaven, much less the true and the living way. Jesus alone is the true and the living WAY. All other ways are necessarily false and dead. What makes Jesus the only True and the Living WAY to Heaven? Jesus came from Heaven and is gone back to Heaven. Jesus often reminded His hearers that He had come down from Heaven-- "Ye are from beneath. I am above; Ye are of this world, I am not of this world" (Jn 8:23). Jesus cam down into the world, I am not of the this world"(John 8:23). Jesus came down into this world with a mission from Heaven. The mission was the atonement of the sins of the the world. And having accomplished this Jesus returned to Heaven. Secondly, Jesus is the true and living WAY to Heaven, because, as the God-man, Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. Jesus is Incarnate God. God manifest in the flesh. He is God who for oursake has become a Man. He is not a man who has become God. But in Jesus Christ God has become a Man. Jesus is both God and Man in one person. The Mediator between God and Man has to be both God and man at the same time. No mere man could be the mediator between God and man. Every man without exception is sinful at the same is God and man. Every man without exception is sinful and needs a mediator between himself and God. But only the Man who and needs a mediator between himself and God. But only the Man who at the same is God can be the Mediator. This is Jesus Christ. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus"(I Tim2:5). Jesus is the ladder between Heaven and the earth. Jacob in His vision saw a ladder that was set on the earth, the top of which reached heaven. And the angles of God ascended and descended upon the ladder (Gen 28). Jesus in John 1:51 Claims He is that ladder He says; "Verily Verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see Heaven open and the angles of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man". The ascending on the ladder is Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven and the descending is His Second coming. The ladder being set on the earth speaks of the humanity and historicity of Jesus Christ, while its top reaching Heaven speaks of His divinity and Himself being the WAY to heaven. Thirdly, Jesus is the true and living WAY to Heaven, because by His atoning death on the Cross of Calvary He has made the way for us into God's holy presence-"Having therefore, brethern, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say. His flesh; and having a High Priest over the hous of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"(Heb 10:19-22). The veil in the Temple that was rent from top to bottom when Jesus gave up His life on the Cross was only symbolic of Jesus' body that was rent in two to make the way for us sinful people into the presence of a holy and righteous God. Fourthly, Jesus is the true living way, because He not only died for our sins, but He has risen fromt he dead and He is living. And today millions of lives all over the world, changed by His grace and transforming power, bear witness to this fact. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me"- The ture and the living WAY is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ by virtue of what He is and what he has done for man on the Cross of Calvary. The WAY is not a religious system it is a Person. Christianity cannot replace Christ As a sociological phenomenon there is much in christianity that is false and dead. Christiany can only represent Christ to the extent it conforms to the Biblical revelation of Jesus Christ as God -Incarnate, the saviour of the World. Christ is God's personal revelation and the Bible is the inspired and infallible withness to that Revelation.(John5.39). Christ is the Incarnate- Word of God and the Bible the written Word of God. The Bible is the ideological construct of what Christ is the ontological reality. There is no Christ apart from the Christ of Revelation. God by His grace has revealed Himself to us in Christ and this revelation is communicated to us in the Bible. Our encounter with God is only through knowledge and faith. The Lord Jesus Himself in His claim to be the only WAY to Heaven. Our acceptance of Jesus, calim to be only ture and the living WAY, however, does not call for any comparison between Jesus and some one esle. Jesus is the WAY to Heaven; Jesus is the WAY to to the Father. Vs 7-10 Now Jesus goes on and says "If you had known me, Yous should have known my Father also; and from henceforth you know Him and have seen Him". The disciples do not understand what Jesus saying. Then Philip one of the disciples says to Him, "Lord show us the Father and it sufficeth us". With this , I am sure the disciples were thrown into a bewildering and anxious suspense and they spontaneously beamed at Philip and nodded their heads approvingly for what they thought was the ultimate quest. Then says Jesus to Philip. "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" These words come to Philip and all the disciples as a bombshell, totally unexpected. Might they not have thought that Jesus would immediately rend the skies and give them a glimpse of the Father in Heaven? Yes, but what Jesus unmistakably affirms is If we have seen Him, We have seen the Father. The Father is in Him and He in the Father, He and the Father are one. This was exactly what Jesus had said on another occassion, which prompted the Jews to take up stones to kill Him, because they said, "Thou, being a man, makest thyself God"(John 10,30-33). What does this amount to ? Precisely This: The Father is God: So is Jesus the Son. The Father is God invisible; The Son is God made Visible - "Nobody hath seen God at any time but the only Son who is is in the bossom of the Father, He hath declared HIM." (John 1:18). Again, The Father is God the Spirit; The Son is God-Incarnate. By "Son' is not meant that Jesus is the Son because He is identical with God: He is of the same nature as God, He is the Son because He is the perfect Revelation of God. We see the Father in the Son. The language is analogical of the human filial relationship. Now, trying all this up with verse 6, what comes out unambiguosly is: Jesus Christ is not only the WAY to God but is God Himself