Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday June 10, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Nehemiah. Please read chapters 9-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read them.
https://www.allonlinebible.com/Nehemiah/9,1-10,last/9.html

Today's Prayer: Brand New Heart
God can bring a miraculous change about when one gets sick and tired of living in sin and repents. God is willing and able to give us a brand new heart as long as we allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide.

The Holy Spirit is essential to have in our lives if we ever want to know the true meaning of God's Word and how to live according to them. Later in the message I will explain how we receive the Holy Spirit for those who may not know.

The Feast of Tabernacles lasted from the 15th day through the 21st day of Tishri (the seventh month of the Jewish religious year, September/October). On the 24th day of Tishri the Israelites gathered, while fasting, to read the Book of Law (God's Word). "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 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." (Nehemiah 9:1-3). Do you see how the Israelites separated themselves from strangers? It is very important that All Christians separate themselves from the world, and that includes worldly Christians. If we are to hear God's Word and apply it to our lives then we must be willing to give up a friendship with someone whom the devil, unknowingly, uses to get us away from living a godly life. If they are a true friend they will not reject God.

Upon reading the book of Law, the Israelites confessed their sins and worshiped God. Then the Levites told them to stand up for God and praise Him above all things they are blessed with. "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." (9:5-6). As you read this passage you will see that the Levites acknowledged that God is the creator of all things. We are to always thank and praise God of the fact that He is the creator of all things and that He uses everything to instruct and guide us in the way that we should be.

The Levites, while reminding the Israelites of the blessings that were given to their ancestors as they wandered in the wilderness, revealed to them how God provided a way for them to be instructed and guided. "Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst." (Nehemiah 9:20). This good spirit was of course the Holy Spirit and we too are guided by Him. How do we know that we are guided by Him? All who accept Jesus as their Savior receive the Holy Spirit inside of them and are guided by Him. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). Everything that we encounter, whether it be to serve God, to be corrected by Him, or to be instructed by Him comes from the Holy Spirit.

The Israelites then made an oath to restore all tithes and sacrifices that the Law had earlier ordained. Though they were living in poverty they agreed do whatever God asked them to do for to serve in the Temple. The whole assembly, in unison with their governor, repeated with one mind, one heart, and one mouth. "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;..........For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God." (Nehemiah 10:28-29, 39). "Entered into a curse", means that the people vowed to be connected to the Temple as one, meaning that together they were one body of God and if they were to separate from the Temple they would be cursed (live in affliction). We as Christians are One Body in Christ, therefore we too are to be one body of the Church. The second we separate from the body we are cursed, think about times when you have been away from God for a time, life seemed to be emptier and more oppressed, well imagine that if you did not have God at all.

It's time for all who have been slipping and have fallen from God to repent and return to Him. It does not matter what happened in the past, He loves you and accepts you. You are still saved by the blood of Christ and are a child of God. Seek the Holy Spirit, He is right there inside of you, all you have to do is awaken Him by asking Him to stir a new spirit within you, He will give you a new heart and a new purpose.

Today's Psalm: 9:1
"I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
When we gave you our heart, we made the willful choice to no longer conform to the trends and philosophies of this world. Instead we ask You to daily renew our minds so that we see this world and its philosophies through the eyes of Christ. We are put to the test daily in deciding what is truth and what is error. May Your Holy Word be our reference point and Your Spirit be our Guide as we are exposed to countless philosophies based on human understanding and the basic principles of this world rather than Your eternal foundational truths. Sharpen our discernment and grant us courage so that we readily know truth from error and are fearless in saying so. In Jesus' Name............Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless,
Christina

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