Preachr34
  • Preachr34
    • Blog
  • Free Offer
  • Ministry Links
    • Other links
    • Other Bloggers
  • Contact me
  • BTCfP/L
  • About me

He alone is worthy

8/31/2017

0 Comments

 
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. (Neh 12:27-30)
      Having completed the walls of Jerusalem and settled in and around the city, the people of Israel dedicate the wall, giving thanks to God for His mercy, for His provision, and for His protection as they built the wall, the city, and their homes. The priests and Levites cleansed and blessed the gates and the wall, dedicated them to God with great praise and worship of God who had allowed them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and their temple.
 
      All the city came out to dedicate the walls and the city to God, to worship Him who alone is God and whom brought this day to pass. God had decreed their return, protected them as the traveled and as they worked, and had blessed them with material and spiritual blessings, not because of their works, but because of their faith in Him and for His glory. They now glorified Him as the provider, praising their God in thanksgiving and song.
 
      When we gather to praise, either in regular worship, or at special times such as this dedication, we ought to remember the works of the Lord. We are not to praise our efforts, nor glorify our works, for all we have done is by the strength and grace of our Lord. Our praise goes to the one who alone is God, who alone provides for all our needs, and who alone protects us from our enemies. We give Him thanks because of His blessings, and praise Him for His great salvation through His Son for He alone is Worthy to be praised.
       All we have and all we can do in this world as His children is because of Him. We ought to dedicate ourselves to Him who alone gives us all things and then use that which He provides to accomplish His will while we are in this world.
 
       For it is His will that we grow in Him and learn more of our Lord, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as He provides. We serve, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

Everyone having knowledge and understanding

8/30/2017

0 Comments

 
And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. (Neh 11:1-3)
      Having set apart the people and sanctified the priests and the workers, Nehemiah and the rest of Israel got down to living arrangements. The rest of the nation of Israel in the land of Judah had to be settled and restored. The people chose one person out of every 10 to remain in Jerusalem and settle there, while the rest dispersed and scattered throughout Judah and Israel in order to resettle their land.
 
       Just as he had done with other records, Nehemiah kept a list and recorded the names of those who were selected and those who dispersed by family and prominent names among the Israelites. This reckoning was important for ownership of the land and the continuing record of the genealogy of those of Israel according to their family and tribe.
     
      Though it is often difficult for us to peruse through such records and lists, all parts of the Scripture are important and have their purpose. This, as the other lists in the Bible, are legal records God chose to preserve and when we study them correctly and in their context, we can see how important keeping legal and genealogical records is not only to God but to us as people. Knowing our heritage does not mean we are to think of ourselves as better than others in any way, nor does our position in Christ or in His church give any Christian any privilege. God chose His people, not because of their status, but because of His purposes, and we are chosen and adopted into His family for the same reason.
 
     It is not because of who we are, or what we have done, but out of His great love for us, that He offered Himself in our place, and redeems those who surrender to Him on His terms. Though we are made children of the King when we repent and come to Him in faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross, we are not yet revealed or made manifest as the children of God. We still reside in this world, but not of it, until such time as He chooses to take us Home.
 
       Until He is done with us, we are to grow in Him and learn more of our Lord, learning and doing His will for His people to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as He provides. We serve, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

Ye are a peculiar people

8/29/2017

0 Comments

 
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes; (Neh 10:28-29)
      All that were in Jerusalem with Nehemiah, having separated themselves from those who were not pure and sealed and sanctified others to the work of the Lord, then bound themselves with an oath to keep all the Law of God, being holy and pure, separated from the other nations, and sanctified unto God as His people and servants. Having seen the judgment of God on their nation, when Israel did as the other nations did, they committed themselves to be God’s people and to obey His judgments and statutes.
 
      God calls His people, from Israel whom He chose to be lights unto the Gentiles, to the church which is His body and the building He is fitly joining together, to be holy, that is pure and sanctified. We are to be separate from the world and from sin, His peculiar people. We are to be sanctified, set apart because He is holy and without sin. Just as He is holy and perfect, He has decreed that His people are to be holy. We may sin from time to time, but not to remain in sin, for we that is no longer who we are. We may stumble in our walk but as God works in us to transform us through our obedience to His Word we are to get better and grow into His likeness.
 
     We are to eschew evil, continue in repentance and surrender to Him just as we did when we were saved, and strive to grow in Him and become more like Him through His engrafted Word. We are to take His Word, in our hearts that we might not sin against God, and shed abroad that others might believe and be born again. We are not to be of the world, even as we are in it, but set apart because we are the priests of God.
 
       As we grow in Him and learn more of our Lord, we learn that His will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as He provides. We serve, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

Thou art a gracious and merciful God

8/28/2017

0 Comments

 
And they stood up in their place, and read in the Book of the Law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be Thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou, even Thou, art LORD alone; Thou hast made Heaven, the Heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of Heaven worshippeth Thee. (Neh 9:3-6)
       As the Levites continued reading through the Law, the people gathered to hear it read confessed their sin and worshipped God. They blessed the Lord God as Creator of all that is, then reviewed their history as the people of God and the works of God who showed Himself strong on their behalf. From creation to the covenant which God made with Abraham to the Commandments God gave Moses, Israel has been blessed, judged, chastised, and given unto captivity, but God had not forgotten His people, nor has He abandoned Israel.
 
       The History Book of the universe gives us the foundation for all we know as it reveals to us the works of God. From the creation of all things, to God’s mercy when we corrupted His perfect world, to the judgment upon all mankind and the destruction of the world of Noah because of their sin, to the confusion of unbelieving sinners, God continued to deal with the sin we brought into this world even as He prepared for the coming of His Son. Christ came into the world to save sinners through the Cross of Calvary for those who believe in Him, and continues to give grace and mercy to those who repent until the final day of consummation when He will have finally defeated all His enemies, including death and sin, and all who are His are with Him.
 
       Until that day, as we grow in Him and learn more of our Lord, we learn that His will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as He provides. We serve, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

The Joy of the Lord is our strength

8/25/2017

0 Comments

 
So they read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the Words of the Law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (Neh 8:8-10)
      Ezra came carefully before the people, elevated the Word of God above the people, and read the Word of the Lord and His Law to the people during a great day of worship. He read it distinctly and carefully, he gave the sense of the Scriptures, and he and the other scribes and Levites present there caused the people to understand the reading of the Word of God. They reverenced the Law and understood it to be the very Words of God, holy, pure, perfect, and true.
 
      The people wept when they understood the Word and the sin which they were guilty of in departing from the ways of the Law and its precepts. Ezra comforted and encouraged the people to consecrate the day and to remember it for that day was a holy day unto the Lord. The joy which God brings to those who are His and those who are repentant of their sin strengthens us to continue in the will of the Lord.
 
      As disciple makers and teachers, we are to read the passage we teach and discuss clearly, giving the sense of what God is saying, and cause those we are teaching to understand the context and the message. It is a mandate and a given example unto us that we might be faithful to the Bible in teaching and preaching what God has given us in His Word. We are not to force the text to say something it does not say, nor add man’s opinion to is pages.
 
      As individuals and as congregations we are to hear the Word of God not just with our ears but with our hearts. We are to read its books carefully and distinctly starting at the beginning to get the sense. We are to study its passages to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. We are to memorize its verses, that when temptation comes we might not sin against God, and meditate on its precepts and promises that we might walk in His ways and worship His Name. God’s Word, which doesn’t go out void, will speak to us and He will apply it to us and cause us to grow in Him and become more like Him. That is His purpose in electing to adopt those of us who believe into His family. Proper handling of His Word will lead to our growth as His children and we can then instruct others in the Words of the Lord.
 
      As we grow in Him we learn that His will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as He provides. We serve, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

Every one to be over against his house

8/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; (Neh 7:4-7)
      Nehemiah, at the prompting of God, gathered all the people, with their heads and leaders, to record their genealogy. He had the registry of those who came first and added to it those who came later and gave the count, by family and history, of those who were a part of Israel. He also found priests who could not give an account of their ancestry and connection as Levites, and so suspended their service until a decision according to the Law could be made. Nehemiah determined to verify all the people of the city, especially in light of the troubles they had had with the locals who were not Jews and opposed the work of rebuilding the city.
 
     Nehemiah also recorded the gifts they gave to the work, not for their glory, for our giving should never be for self-aggrandizement, but that the work of the Lord should prosper. They gave that the city should be rebuilt, protected, and that the Levites might do the work of the temple without worrying about their means of living, just as the Law commanded.
 
     God calls his people to support His work out of their substance as He provides for their needs. He blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. Today, He calls each of us, as we are able, to give cheerfully and out of what He gives each of us, that His work of missions, ministry, and discipleship may continue and the Gospel may go out into all the world. As God stirs His people, we are to give, not just our offerings, but our time, our talents, other resources, and anything else God may stir in our hearts to give, for it all belongs to Him.
 
     As God enables us, equips us, and provides for our needs, His will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands

8/23/2017

0 Comments

 
And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. (Neh 6:11-14)
      When challenged by the opponents of God and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, Nehemiah sought a word of encouragement. Instead he received a false prophecy from one hired by his enemies. Having exposed the committee of discouragement for what they were, he prayed that God would respond on his behalf against those who opposed him and sought to stop the rebuilding of the walls. Because God was for them the walls were finished and their enemies were put to shame for opposing the work of God.
 
      Nehemiah trusted God even in his discouragement and sought the wisdom and strength which comes from our reliance on our God. When he received a word, he perceived as not coming from the Lord, having discernment and seeking Truth, he exposed it and his enemies for their opposition. His prayers were not prayers of mercy, nor of revenge, for vengeance is the Lord’s, but of justice and condemnation against those who opposed God. God’s work was done because God had decreed it, and God’s enemies were cast down before Him.
 
      God is in control and still on His Throne. He may allow things to occur, even let “nature take its course”, not because He is unable, but because of our sin and rebellion against Him. Christians, knowing and doing His will, see that often events happen because of this broken world and allow God to be God. In other cases, when our enemies come against us, we don’t fear them, but trust God to accomplish His work in and through His servants. We are obedient to Him who is our Lord and we can pray for justice, but we also pray that those who oppose us will see the hand of God and repent.
 
      Even as this world opposes us, God’s will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

0 Comments

Fear God and keep His Commandments

8/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? (Neh 5:7-9)
      When the poorer families of Judaea came to Nehemiah and registered a complaint against those who had helped them and were now charging excessive interest for that help, Nehemiah was incensed. Many of the more affluent nobles and rulers had plenty to share but were now charging their kinsmen and countrymen excessive amounts for that which they shared. God’s law declares not only that kinsmen were to redeem their near kinsman without charge, but also if interest was charged, in the case of non-Jews and those not kin, it was not to be excessive. Compassion and welfare were not to be a means to line the pockets of those who gave, nor were the poor to be exploited, but was to be done with grace because the Jews were once strangers and slaves in Egypt and captives in Babylon.
 
      Nehemiah rebuked those charging excessive interest and usury because they were oppressing their neighbors and kin just as the Egyptians and others had done to Israel. Nehemiah knew that God calls for His people to be different than the world and give as God has given to us. It was also written in the Law because of their past and because of the grace which God had shown His people when they were strangers and in bondage. The leadership of Israel were to lead their people in the fear of the Lord and not cause the people to fear them nor bring the reproach of their enemies upon them.
 
     God wants His people to be compassionate, not expecting the government to do it for us, nor making money off those we care for. We are not to be foolish with our giving, lest we be taken advantage of, but we are to have a heart of mercy. God has had mercy on us, and extended grace when we did not deserve it. Because He has compassion on us, we are to have compassion on others, loving others as He first loved us. Wise as serpents and gentle as doves, we take steps to give wisely that those who are truly in need may be ministered to, but we don’t do it to advance our position or increase our accounts, knowing that God will provide and take care of His people. If we become just like the world, the world will still hate us, and they will also bear the reproach of God for failing to fear Him and not being different from the world which is at war with Him.
 
      Because we are to be different, God’s will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

A mind to work

8/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. (Neh 4:4-6)
    Now certain provocateurs of the Samaritans came and taunted the workers on the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah prayed, not for their repentance, nor for their forgiveness, but this prayer of imprecation upon them. He let his feelings be heard in defense, not of the people, but of the city and for God, for he knew their opposition was against God who had permitted the walls to be rebuilt in His appointed time. Though their opposition would get worse, Nehemiah and the Jews on the wall continued to pray, and to work, and to defend the city as God had called them to do.
 
     He also stirred the people once again to the work, to be settled in their minds to ignore the Samaritans and complete the wall for the glory of God. The people did so for they were unified and in agreement. They did not do so to nullify the taunts of their opposition, though that did occur, but to please their God. The Samaritans brought greater opposition, such that the Jews had remain on guard, even as the worked, but the work continued because the people were of a mind to complete that which God had given them to do.
 
     Today, we don’t pray for our enemies and our accusers quite the way Nehemiah did, for we are taught to love our enemies, and pray for their forgiveness. Since grace has been extended to us, we ought to extend grace to those who torment us, just as Jesus taught us. We pray for our enemies, not for destruction or with a hard heart, but in love offering forgiveness, as our Lord did on the Cross, or Stephen when he was stoned.
 
      No matter the opposition, and with forgiving prayers for those who despitefully use us, we accomplish the work God has for us and minister as He has called each of us to minister, not for our glory but for His. We are to be unified and one mind, renewed through the Word of God, and focused on His will and His work while we are able.
 
      While we are here, God’s will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
0 Comments

God has work for us to do.

8/18/2017

0 Comments

 
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. (Neh 3:1, 5, 27-28, 32)
      After Nehemiah’s inspection and encouragement, the people went to work; the priests and the common folk of the city, both residents and merchants. The began to repair the walls and gates, the breaches were rebuilt and the doors hung. All, with the noted exception of a few nobles, repaired the city walls near their house or work.
 
     Though this list of the work which was done may not be exhaustive, it does reveal the integrity and consistency of those who worked on the city walls. They were determined to repair the city of God and to rebuild that which had been torn down. They knew that God had restored them to the land and that He was with them in this work. With the blessing of God and the permission of the king, they turned to the work and had great success as recorded here.
 
     God has work for us to do. He has called us, not to change the culture through social justice, but to change hearts through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has called us to rebuild relationships, not through overused pet programs or our plans, but through the ministry, missions, and discipleship from the Scriptures. We must be as the men of Nehemiah’s day and encouraged to the work, standing in the strength of the Lord, and not as the nobles, letting others work for us.
 
      God’s will for His people is for us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.


In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

0 Comments
<<Previous


    My Blog:

    Comments on the Scriptures, book by book. Working our way through the Scriptures with commentary, encouragement, and equipping. Feel free to add your own comments, or to send me a message concerning what GOD is saying through His Word.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Angel
    Antichrist
    Authority
    Birth
    Blessing
    Calamity
    Charity
    Cherub
    Christ
    Comfort
    Commandment
    Confession
    Confusion
    Contentment
    Counsel
    Covenant
    Creation
    Death
    Deliver
    Delusion
    Destruction
    Devil
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Fool
    Forgive
    Glory
    GOD
    Godliness
    Gospel
    Grace
    Heal
    Heaven
    Hell
    Holiness
    Hope
    Idols
    Inheritance
    Joy
    Judge
    Judgement
    Kingdom
    Knowledge
    Law
    Liberty
    Life
    Light
    Lord
    Love
    Marriage
    Memorial
    Mercy
    Morning
    Mystery
    Nations
    Obedience
    Offering
    Pastor
    Peace
    People
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Pride
    Priest
    Promise
    Prophet
    Provision
    Refuge
    Religion
    Resolved
    Rest
    Restore
    Reward
    Righteous
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Scriptures
    Service
    Sheep
    Shepherd
    Sin
    Spirit
    Strength
    Submission
    Suffering
    Testify
    Thanksgiving
    Tradition
    Treachery
    Trial
    Truth
    Understanding
    Victory
    Way
    Weakness
    Will
    Wisdom
    Witness
    Wonderful
    Word
    Work
    World
    Worship
    Wrath


Engaging and Enabling People to Enjoy Jesus Christ.