PARTNER

Day: Day 4
Date: January 11, 2024

Today let’s look at God’s hand on Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 2:7-8 NKJV

7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah,
8 And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the Temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.

We already have focused on the favor that comes when partnering with God’s plan, but let’s look at the very last statement in verse 8:

“And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me. “

We must recognize this for ourselves as well, and understand what it means for us.

The hand of God was evidently on Nehemiah.

He discovered what his real purpose was.

God was hearing and answering his prayers and actively guiding him.

God was providing help for him.

God was with him, giving him favor and wisdom

God was imparting to him a mantle to lead and influence others to join and help the work succeed.

God was empowering him with courage and faith.

So let’s look at each of these things and see how they apply to our lives also.

Nehemiah discovered what his real purpose was.

This man, who was willing to lay down his life for a Persian King, was now finding himself willing to LIVE his life for a different King.

God took a humble man, who was willing to serve – even unto death, and transformed his perspective in one conversation.

When Nehemiah inquired about what was going on in the epicenter of the Jewish nation’s faith, God knew just how to connect him to the purpose that
God always had in store for him.

He connected his heart to His heart.

Nehemiah, however, had to allow his heart to be filled with compassion for the Temple and the people who needed this place of meeting.

The secret of God’s empowerment lies in:

Wanting to know what is on God’s heart
Responding to it properly.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Broken means shattered and altered.

Allow God to alter your heart and bring change to it that brings alive different priorities.

Allowing God to imprint your heart with remedies that will bring change for you, your family—AND OTHERS.

God always wants us to join Him in the higher cause—partnering with Him to reach to the one He knows needs to be impacted by love and to be able to live a life that has been transformed.

He wants His people to experience the brokenness of heart for others, because it will birth the compassion needed to RE-ESTABLISH things from an eternal viewpoint.

He wants to bring His people to a higher status to be the influencers with excellence of heart. That excellence comes from their partnering with God for the higher cause.

But, we must also realize that in repairing the brokenness some decisions will constantly have to be made.

That is where the problem lies with a lot of people who identify as Christians.

The higher cause will always come at a cost.

Didn’t Jesus pay the price, you ask? Yes, He did! He paid the price to reconcile us to the Father and through that reconciliation, relationship with Him became possible.

God is separating part-time Christians from full-time Christians.

This is not meant to insult anyone.

However, we must realize that if we are taking the time to fast and pray, there must be a focused reason.

And to know the Father and the power of His purposes is how He wants to RE-ESTABLISH His Church.

Too many of His children serve Him at their convenience. Too many offer Him praise in Church and use His name as a curse word during the week.

Too many are willing to serve as long as it doesn’t keep them from their favorite pastime.

The problem is, there will be a day when we are past time, where everyone will stand before the Lord. On that day, what can we offer Him from our choices that is worthy of the price He paid for our reconciliation?

I believe the purpose of our focusing on Nehemiah and what God enabled him to do with RE-ESTABLISHING the Temple is a mirror of what He wants His people to do again.

We cannot be effective if we are half-hearted in our endeavors concerning our King and His Kingdom.

Now, this is in no way to condemn.

When Nehemiah was aware of what was broken down, he did what was necessary. He did not fight against conviction. He owned his and his family’s shortcomings, and he repented.

Contrite means feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for improper behavior.

He didn’t just repent for himself, but for the whole nation. Let’s look at the verse again:

Psalm 34:18 NKJV

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

A contrite spirit moved in Nehemiah’s heart, and then it empowered him to be the difference.

Our King will enable us to build His Kingdom. He is going to make it evident where the walls need to be rebuilt, and it will also be evident that the hand of God is upon us to do the impossible.

God is going to release provisions for the vision.

We have the same privilege as Nehemiah.

I am praying that God has got our attention and our affection. We will be able to accomplish the impossible as we recommit ourselves to giving God our attention even at the most inconvenient times.

The Lord is near right now and He is present to save.

PRAYER

Oh, Father,

I do not want anyone or anything to take my affection or my attention away from Your bigger picture.

I am asking You to reveal to me the walls that are broken down in my own life, my family’s lives, and the Body of Christ.

I want to provide a home for Your presence to dwell full-time.

I want Your BECAUSE to become my cause.

- Because there is a lost and dying world waiting to hear the real truth so they can be set free.
- Because people need to experience Your salvation.
- Because people need healing.
- Because people need peace.
- Because people need to come out of the entrapments of the devil and experience real freedom that only You can bring.

I recognize that there is no convenient time to be the difference that the world needs, so I am determined to make a decision, right here, right now.

Forgive me, Lord, and RE-ESTABLISH me from the foundation up, so that I can live my life to be the difference for those You love and have assigned me to reach and disciple.

In your precious Son’s name,

Amen.

WORSHIP/VIDEOS

Temple – Jeremy Riddle