Nehemiah 11

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name. 

Isa 48:2

They have built the wall so now what is going to feel up the city? 

They were casting Lots(flipping a coin) 
A priest did it and because he was a man of God they thought God was speaking through the priest and using him when casting the Lots.
They really didn't want to be chosen in these Lots they wanted to be the one to leave. 

The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 

Prov. 18:18

They have seen everything and all of God's work.

So why would they not want to stay? 

There was a huge obligation to stay in the city now. There were standards. 

They didn't want to be in the eye of scrutiny. 

These were people who had seen the Living God, but didn't want to stay in his presence. 

Why would we stay in his Presence? 

1. Fear
2. Cost
3. Religious requirements
4. Loved the experience of Power they felt but may require change -Selfishness settled in 
5. Some enjoyed the nearness but still preferred the World 

We say we are Christians, but there is so much distraction we really can not grow in him. 

• We need to be still
• he will honor us if we find that time
• if we don't we loose our edge we become dull. 

Sometimes we want enough to make us comfortable, but not to have to change. 

Do we know him fully? 

Are we truly following? 

A lot of times we give into the superficial. 

Why do we hesitate to call to him first? 

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of theLord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

 Jonah 1:1-3 

The Lord spoke to Jonah, Jonah heard and then ignored. 

Just like the people of Israel. 

Jonah's disobedience landed him in the belly of a Fish. ( Then he decides to listen) 

God will speak as many times as he needs to and he will put things in our way to make us listen. 

It is up to us if we actually do. 

Sometimes we have a picture of the way something should be or look. We need to give it up. 

Jonah became angry with God. 

He didn't think grace should have been given to the people. he didn't want to go because he knew that God would show them Grace and bring them to him.  God was compassionate and Jonah knew this. He didn't think this was the way. They didn't deserve this. 

Are we real about our Faith? 

Do we want to invite him into every facet of our lives? 

Do we want to leave him behind  when we know that he is going to do something in our minds we don't like or agree with? 

2 Chronicles 8

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

 Prov. 16:3

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 Phil. 2:13

We could save ourselves a lot of pain if we would just listen the first time. 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

 Phil 3:10 (intimate relationship) 

If we saw God and was so comfortable in his presence. Like that comfy chair you love you just didn't want to leave it. 

You cannot manufacture the glory of God in your life. 

Don't we want to know him so well that we will go? 

 Are we Dynamite in the world that is stagnant?  

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Tater Tot Casserole
1 pkg frozen tater tot crowns
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 bunch green onions
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together. Pour into greased pan.
Bake 350 until bubbly.

Thanks Lisa! It was Delicious:) 

Updates and Prayer Sight For Sherry King

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sherryking

Here is a link to keep posted on Prayer request and updates from Sherry Personally.

 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live  Deut 30:19

Week 6 Homework

Pray and read Nehemiah 11.

What were the main responsibilities of those that chose to stay in Jerusalem?



Have you ever decided not to move or go somewhere because you felt that you would encounter God in a way you never had before?




What do these scriptures say about God's care as we make decisions?



Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.    Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’    But their prosperity is not in their own hands.. (Job 21:14-16 NIV)



Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,    because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. (Psalm 107:10, 11 NIV)



Lord , you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1 NIV)




Lord , you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1 NIV)


Are there plans that you are making now that you to commit to the Lord?

Nehemiah 10 Continued

Sometimes we miss the meat because we are still living for ourselves. 

Walls are built so now what are we going to put in them? 

They were people who had been distracted, but now they understood what God wants

The flaming arrows are going to come and they can be distractions!! 

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery

 darts of the wicked. "

Ephesians 6:16

If we are not planted in God these will distract us. 

One way they turned was in giving.

They remembered what God said and renewed that commitment.

What does God say about us giving? 

Sacrificial Giving

He guarantees he will bless us. 

"And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."

Nehemiah 10:38

storeroom-Chambers
tithes-treasures

They were going to bring tithes to chambers because God asked them to. 

They tithed on EVERYTHING:

• Herds
• crops
• children
• money

It was stored to be for God's house. 

They had neglected it for to long. 

"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 10:39

To HONOR God, we will not forsake God. 

This was not just stored up for anything, but to be used by the House of God. 

Are you in a church that uses the tithes to give? Or are they storing up? 

Do not neglect the house of God. 

They committed to do this no matter what they had little or a lot.

2 Corinthians 8-9

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Matthew 23:23

Your heart may be right, but it is not enough to just give. 

God loves a cheerful giver! 

Can we trust God and give sacrificially? 

Give first to the Lord. Give out of poverty.  2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Give whether you are in want or wellness. 

We should give off of everything given to us! Even those bonuses. 

When we are under server trial it;s easy to turn inward and look at everything we need and want. 

Do we honor God with our giving? 

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:7

Plan for it!

Purpose for it! 

Do we know God in a way that we fully trust him with everything? 

God wants us to make wealthy of every good work. 

Evaluate where you are giving? 

   Is it expanding God's work or the worlds work that will perish? 

Do we have pure hearts in Giving? 

Look up Giving and search what God's word says. Acts is a good place to start. 

Homework this week! Nehemiah 10 again!

Week 5

Pray and read Nehemiah 10 again.

What does Nehemiah 10 say about the people's commitment to giving?

In a concordance look up giving. Write down three or four scripture verses about giving. In your own words write what they say.

Does giving mean we only give 10 percent?

What is the difference between tithing and giving?

Nehemiah 10

We need to keep on, be there to Encourage one another.

Where am I to build a wall?
-For Some it is personally
-Internationally
-in their city 
-church
-etc....

Behind the wall are people who had been renewed, but had found devastation due to sin. 

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."

Matthew 23:13

"6For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations"

Deuteronomy 7:6-9

The Children of Israel had God's eye! 

this was not due to ;

• perfection
• money
• looks
• home
• or anything else

He just LOVED THEM!!!!

Covenant: If you do what I say, I will give my greatest blessing, if not I will cut you off. 

But even then with the warning they still did not follow God. 

The people rebelled and then they experienced the devastation of their sin. 

But then they put their eyes back on the Lord. 

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 

2 Chronicles 16:9"

They confessed and then Praised him.

Only then did they understand!

CLEARED HEARTS!!!! 

The covenant was something they knew about-As they started to see they saw in a different light. 

Then they became people of ACTION! 

They wanted to renew the covenant

-Sacrifice of blood was not needed but something personally.

• Money
• Family
• Time

These things were important to them. 

"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. "

Luke 22:20

As believers we are under a new covenant, but intends for us to see these things. 

FAMILIES

• tell about God moments. So his greatness is passed from generation to generation.
• We need people who SAY TI! 
• Marry who God wants. Do not be un equally yoked.
• "Marry a Prince not a Project" This a believer that believes but it also needs to be someone who is where you are in your relationship with the Lord so you are not the one dragging them. If you are not equally yoked do not give up take it to the Lord he can redeem anything!

God is VICTORIOUS no matter what the situation. 

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? "

2 Corinthians 6:14

Time

• Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 
• It's okay to take a break! God does not intend for you to burn out.
• We don't have to run around busy all the time
• Ask for help
• It will get done! 
• It does not matter the day you do this just a day! 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalms 46:10

How are we going to spend our time? 

MONEY

main point is it is off:

-Food

-time

and Money 10% our tithe but it can be more

We have been given so much! 

In Malachi God tells us this is one area we can test him in. 

It will dwindle if we don't.

Change me God in this. Show me. 

The secret things of God we don't have to worry about, but the things he has shown us we do. 

He intends to BLESS US!