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Bible Study: Wordly Influences
Date: Jun 11th, 2008 8:35:48 am - Subscribe
Mood: encouraged


Worldly Influences 06.11.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Wednesday June 11, 2008 and today we are completing our studies on the book of Nehemiah. Please read Chapters 11-13 in your Bible, Click Here, or cut & paste this link to your browser : biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehimiah%2011-13&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the residents of Jerusalem; the priests and Levites with Zerubbabel; the dedication of the walls; the Temple offices restored, the reading of the Law; separation from the heathen; tithes given; the forbiddance of breaking the Sabbath and the condemnation of mixed marriages. Today's message focuses on the importance of putting God first above all things and letting the world influence you.

Ordinary people, although not skilled in building walls, had willingly gone to work under Nehemiah's leadership and did the best they could to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.

Only a minority of the people who left Persia to rebuild Jerusalem actually lived inside the city's walls. Most of the Jews lived in suburbs where they could grow crops, pasture their animals, and make a living more easily. Because of this, there were not enough people living in Jerusalem to maintain and protect it. "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." (Nehemiah 11:1-2).

The Israelites could now assemble within the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem and worship without fear of their enemies. Their worship demonstrated a heartfelt commitment to the Lord in their renewed relationship to Him.

Though all true Christians love the Lord, not all are willing to give up personal interests and financial security to do what is needed to accomplish His purposes. It is no less important for followers of Christ today to consider "the walls" that may need to be rebuilt in their own lives where worldly interests have broken through and devastated their zeal for the Lord. In our Christian walk, we need to be on guard against anything, including good, wholesome activities, which may cause us to divert either our time or our money from their usefulness to God. God wants us to have what we desire, but when our desires (which become idols) take the place of God that wall will tumble.

After the wall had been rebuilt and Nehemiah left Jerusalem and returned to Persia, he had restored the priests and Levites to their responsible positions of spiritual leadership in Jerusalem. However, when Nehemiah had returned to Babylon after about 11 years, he discovered the people once again ignoring the Word of God and returning to sinful practices. During his absence, the Israelites' worship of God and the Sabbath observance were neglected and intermarriage to Canaanite idol worshipers took place.

Eliashib, the high priest, had been a co-worker with Nehemiah in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. As the years passed without the influence of Nehemiah, Eliashib associated with Tobiah, the Ammonite, probably because of a marriage relationship even though Tobiah had been one of the enemies who had tried to stop Nehemiah from completing the walls years earlier. Eliashib even went so far as to prepare Tobiah a place to live in the courts of the House of God. "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God." (13:4-7).
Nehemiah again took a firm stand for the Word of God and would not consent to their compromising attitude toward sin. He would not tolerate dishonoring the Sabbath day or intermarriage of idol worshipers with Israelites (13:15-2. His reforms were resisted by an influential group of Israelites whose children had intermarried with Moabites or Ammonites.

Too often Christians compromise with the world. Because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures, they excuse disloyalty to God by saying they don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But where there is obvious opposition to what is clearly stated in God's Word, we must take a positive stand for Christ.

The Aposte Paul was led of God to warn us, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (II Timothy 4:2-5)


To resist worldly influence calls for tough decisions to be made in order to remain faithful to God's Word.

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the priests and Levites who purified (sanctified) themselves and the people (Nehemiah 12:30) and through Nehemiah who cleansed the priests and Levites and defined their duties (Nehemiah 13:30). Christ cleanses us from all our sins when we confess them (I John 1:9).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We pray for a sincere heart that is sensitive to Biblical truths as they apply to our lives. We struggle with forgetfulness and indifference of a living vibrant relationship with You. Father, we invite You to arrange the circumstances of our lives that will keep us patiently looking to You and asking for Your divine guidance. Revive both the messenger and listener so that our lives are a demonstration of the reality of a vibrant walk with You, Jesus, our living Savior and Lord. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful Wednesday!
God Bless,
Christina

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