Nehemiah 5
The call was a collect call from the county jail. A man to whom I had been ministering had been taken back to jail because he was accused of parole violations. He explained the situation that precipitated it. If he was speaking honestly, then he probably should not be in jail. I doubt that I was hearing the whole story. He wanted me to co-sign his bail bond. I asked how much it was. I quickly calculated that it was more than I could afford to give away if he were to not show up in court. There is a Biblical principle involved in loaning money or co-signing loans. If you can’t afford to pay it yourself, don’t co-sign. Similarly, if you can’t afford to pay it back, don’t borrow. If you can’t afford to give, don’t.
The children of Israel had been forgiven a great debt by the Lord. They had been returned to the land and given a great opportunity to make a new life for themselves. Yet they were forced into a situation by their brothers in the Lord where they had to borrow money in order to feed their families. Were their brothers from whom they borrowed showing the glory of their Lord when they lent and charged exorbitant interest? Were those who borrowed showing faith in the Lord when they borrowed? I think not. So what should have happened. Those who were able to give, should have given in such a way that it enabled their brothers to become dependent upon only the Lord. That is when His glory shines the most.
What did I do with the man who wanted me to sign? I gave to him in other ways. But in this way, I let him trust the Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
January 14, 2011
Nehemiah 4
Have you been following the case of the Chinese Human Rights Lawyer, Gao Zhisheng? A little more news about him surfaced today because President Obama will soon be meeting with Chinese officials. If you are interested, you can read the AP news story at
http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/01/ap-exclusive-missing-chinese-lawyer.html One on line comment to the AP article was by Housetop Shouter. That person commented:
Now in 2011 China has Most Favored Nation trade status with the US. In other words, USA's mammoth trade deficit plus the money borrowed from China has had the economic effect of putting China's boot onto USA's neck. Result is wasted effort for any grassroots boycott. I believe that prayer is still the best way to help brother Gao because God is greater than anything China can do to him. May the Lord set Gao free soon!
I believe that he or she is correct. Nehemiah demonstrates that principle. Look at:
v. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God,
v. 15 God had brought their plot to nothing
v. 20 Our God will fight for us.
It may be that Gao will never be released this side of heaven. We should pray for his release; however, God may use his martyrdom to advance His kingdom in China. Then again, He may use Gao’s release to advance His kingdom in China. We do not know. But we do know that we can pray as did Nehemiah. Somehow our prayers are interconnected with what God is accomplishing in this world. That is to God’s glory! It would be one thing for a Sovereign God to create a world and design for all the creatures to act in a certain way without any free will. It is a wholly different thing for a Sovereign God to create a world and design the creatures such that they can interact with free wills with him to accomplish His sovereign plan. They both exist. They both declare His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Have you been following the case of the Chinese Human Rights Lawyer, Gao Zhisheng? A little more news about him surfaced today because President Obama will soon be meeting with Chinese officials. If you are interested, you can read the AP news story at
http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/01/ap-exclusive-missing-chinese-lawyer.html One on line comment to the AP article was by Housetop Shouter. That person commented:
Now in 2011 China has Most Favored Nation trade status with the US. In other words, USA's mammoth trade deficit plus the money borrowed from China has had the economic effect of putting China's boot onto USA's neck. Result is wasted effort for any grassroots boycott. I believe that prayer is still the best way to help brother Gao because God is greater than anything China can do to him. May the Lord set Gao free soon!
I believe that he or she is correct. Nehemiah demonstrates that principle. Look at:
v. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God,
v. 15 God had brought their plot to nothing
v. 20 Our God will fight for us.
It may be that Gao will never be released this side of heaven. We should pray for his release; however, God may use his martyrdom to advance His kingdom in China. Then again, He may use Gao’s release to advance His kingdom in China. We do not know. But we do know that we can pray as did Nehemiah. Somehow our prayers are interconnected with what God is accomplishing in this world. That is to God’s glory! It would be one thing for a Sovereign God to create a world and design for all the creatures to act in a certain way without any free will. It is a wholly different thing for a Sovereign God to create a world and design the creatures such that they can interact with free wills with him to accomplish His sovereign plan. They both exist. They both declare His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Thursday, January 13, 2011
January 13, 2011
Nehemiah 3
“Your job will be to see that everyone in Kerr Hall has a chance to hear the gospel.” So spoke my CCC campus director at the beginning of my sophomore year in college. We were strategizing as to how we could take the gospel to every student at OSU. Other guys in the central action group had other responsibilities, but mine was Kerr Hall. I had three guys assigned to me who lived there. We started a Bible Study and began praying and thinking about ways to present the Gospel to every resident in the twelve-story dorm. I wish I could say that we accomplished that goal. We came close, but I don’t believe that we achieved it; although, we did saturate a couple of the floors especially the floors on which they lived.
There is a principle of leadership found here in this chapter of Nehemiah that is similar to the one we used then. Nehemiah assigned a section of the wall to those who lived next to the section. Why? Well, if your city was under attack, how strong would you want the wall next to you to be? I would want it to be the strongest in the city. I live there. I would be the most motivated to build it well and to finish it now. Nice principle of leadership, but what does it have to do with the glory of God?
Do I really desire to see the glory of God revealed in me? It is clear from the Scripture that He does. The only doubt here is, “Do I?” If I really desire that, then what am I doing to give Him permission to let His glory be revealed? It begins right where I live. I liken it to concentric spheres of my life. Concentric means, “Having a common center, as circles or spheres.” It begins at the center of my life. Is His glory the center of my private thoughts, goals, desires, and aspirations? The next sphere out is my closest family relations, spouse, children, parents, or the people with whom I live. The next sphere might be my employment. What am I praying and doing in order to enhance the glory of God in my employment? IF God has put me in a job, and for most of us He has, then I am not there just to make money. I am there to spread the glory of God by my actions in the quality of my work and by my words in how I interact with other people.
After I graduated, I and one of the guys, Marc, who lived in Kerr Hall and was in the Bible Study with me, both were hired at Mercury Marine and began attending Alliance Bible Church. We realized that we once again had common spheres of influence, our church and our employment. We covenanted together to try together make an appointment with someone from work with whom we could share the gospel. One week I would be responsible for trying to set up an appointment. The next week he would be responsible. To be honest, most of the weeks neither of us had an appointment, but some weeks we did! I remember on one occasion at work when I walked into the restroom. A fellow employee was picking himself up off of the floor. I asked him if he was all right. He said, “Yeah, I was just smoking a little too much.” (it wasn’t cigarettes) We talked shortly. I made an appointment with him. During the appointment at his apartment, Marc and I shared the gospel with him. He prayed to receive Christ with us. He began attending church with us. Within a couple of weeks, we had a layoff at the plant. He lost his job and moved out of town. I believe the glory of Jesus shone briefly in that sphere.
I think that is what the Lord wants to do. He wants His glory to shine beginning in the inner sphere of our lives, and then work its way out through the other spheres. There are other spheres than the ones which I have mentioned. They will be different for different people. But in each one the Lord wants His glory to shine. The only question that remains is, “Do I want His glory to shine there?” Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
“Your job will be to see that everyone in Kerr Hall has a chance to hear the gospel.” So spoke my CCC campus director at the beginning of my sophomore year in college. We were strategizing as to how we could take the gospel to every student at OSU. Other guys in the central action group had other responsibilities, but mine was Kerr Hall. I had three guys assigned to me who lived there. We started a Bible Study and began praying and thinking about ways to present the Gospel to every resident in the twelve-story dorm. I wish I could say that we accomplished that goal. We came close, but I don’t believe that we achieved it; although, we did saturate a couple of the floors especially the floors on which they lived.
There is a principle of leadership found here in this chapter of Nehemiah that is similar to the one we used then. Nehemiah assigned a section of the wall to those who lived next to the section. Why? Well, if your city was under attack, how strong would you want the wall next to you to be? I would want it to be the strongest in the city. I live there. I would be the most motivated to build it well and to finish it now. Nice principle of leadership, but what does it have to do with the glory of God?
Do I really desire to see the glory of God revealed in me? It is clear from the Scripture that He does. The only doubt here is, “Do I?” If I really desire that, then what am I doing to give Him permission to let His glory be revealed? It begins right where I live. I liken it to concentric spheres of my life. Concentric means, “Having a common center, as circles or spheres.” It begins at the center of my life. Is His glory the center of my private thoughts, goals, desires, and aspirations? The next sphere out is my closest family relations, spouse, children, parents, or the people with whom I live. The next sphere might be my employment. What am I praying and doing in order to enhance the glory of God in my employment? IF God has put me in a job, and for most of us He has, then I am not there just to make money. I am there to spread the glory of God by my actions in the quality of my work and by my words in how I interact with other people.
After I graduated, I and one of the guys, Marc, who lived in Kerr Hall and was in the Bible Study with me, both were hired at Mercury Marine and began attending Alliance Bible Church. We realized that we once again had common spheres of influence, our church and our employment. We covenanted together to try together make an appointment with someone from work with whom we could share the gospel. One week I would be responsible for trying to set up an appointment. The next week he would be responsible. To be honest, most of the weeks neither of us had an appointment, but some weeks we did! I remember on one occasion at work when I walked into the restroom. A fellow employee was picking himself up off of the floor. I asked him if he was all right. He said, “Yeah, I was just smoking a little too much.” (it wasn’t cigarettes) We talked shortly. I made an appointment with him. During the appointment at his apartment, Marc and I shared the gospel with him. He prayed to receive Christ with us. He began attending church with us. Within a couple of weeks, we had a layoff at the plant. He lost his job and moved out of town. I believe the glory of Jesus shone briefly in that sphere.
I think that is what the Lord wants to do. He wants His glory to shine beginning in the inner sphere of our lives, and then work its way out through the other spheres. There are other spheres than the ones which I have mentioned. They will be different for different people. But in each one the Lord wants His glory to shine. The only question that remains is, “Do I want His glory to shine there?” Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
January 12, 2011
Nehemiah 2
I remember watching an episode of MASH where Hawkeye was sitting on his bunk looking at his hand and then began discoursing on the marvels of the human hand. I remember very few things about MASH, but for some reason that little soliloquy has stuck in my mind. Have you ever thought about the wonders of the hand? As I type, I am arthritis free and injury free. My fingers fly over the keyboard without me really even thinking about where the fingers should go. I just think the words, and my fingers seem to go there. There is no hunting and pecking. They just go. It is natural for my hand upon the key board. How does that happen? Does it not make you marvel?
Is it natural for the “hand of God” to be upon us? Apparently it is not natural. Why? Even Nehemiah seems to think it important to twice say, “the good hand” of my God was upon me. Does God have a bad hand? Obviously this is a figure of speech. But none-the-less figuratively speaking, does God ever have a bad hand upon us? If a human hand is a thing to marvel about, and it is, then how much more should be the hand of God a thing about which we should marvel? And in light of our sin, how much more should we marvel at His good hand upon us.
One thing is clear from this passage, when we are in line with the purposes of God, we can expect “the good hand” of our God to be upon us. What does it look like? I don’t know, but for Nehemiah it looked like the favor of the king when he did something very dangerous. He allowed himself to look sad in the presence of the king. It meant that the king granted his request to give a decree to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (a prophecy of Daniel 9). It meant a perilous journey to Jerusalem. It meant an undercover tour at dark of the walls of Jerusalem. It meant talking the residents of Jerusalem into a dangerous act. It meant opposition from the non-Jews in Judea. But God’s good hand upon Nehemiah made his fingers fly to the task. It started the building of the walls and the countdown to the cutting off of the Messiah, the cross. Isn’t God’s hand good? Because Jesus went to the cross, we live! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
I remember watching an episode of MASH where Hawkeye was sitting on his bunk looking at his hand and then began discoursing on the marvels of the human hand. I remember very few things about MASH, but for some reason that little soliloquy has stuck in my mind. Have you ever thought about the wonders of the hand? As I type, I am arthritis free and injury free. My fingers fly over the keyboard without me really even thinking about where the fingers should go. I just think the words, and my fingers seem to go there. There is no hunting and pecking. They just go. It is natural for my hand upon the key board. How does that happen? Does it not make you marvel?
Is it natural for the “hand of God” to be upon us? Apparently it is not natural. Why? Even Nehemiah seems to think it important to twice say, “the good hand” of my God was upon me. Does God have a bad hand? Obviously this is a figure of speech. But none-the-less figuratively speaking, does God ever have a bad hand upon us? If a human hand is a thing to marvel about, and it is, then how much more should be the hand of God a thing about which we should marvel? And in light of our sin, how much more should we marvel at His good hand upon us.
One thing is clear from this passage, when we are in line with the purposes of God, we can expect “the good hand” of our God to be upon us. What does it look like? I don’t know, but for Nehemiah it looked like the favor of the king when he did something very dangerous. He allowed himself to look sad in the presence of the king. It meant that the king granted his request to give a decree to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (a prophecy of Daniel 9). It meant a perilous journey to Jerusalem. It meant an undercover tour at dark of the walls of Jerusalem. It meant talking the residents of Jerusalem into a dangerous act. It meant opposition from the non-Jews in Judea. But God’s good hand upon Nehemiah made his fingers fly to the task. It started the building of the walls and the countdown to the cutting off of the Messiah, the cross. Isn’t God’s hand good? Because Jesus went to the cross, we live! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
January 11, 2011
Nehemiah 1
When your team is being beaten, it is hard to claim your coach as #1. Oklahoma State University finished an almost fairytale football season this year. What was supposed to be a rebuilding season ended up being a record season for OSU. For a little while we even had a glimmer of hope of being #1. But then we lost to Nebraska and then to the University of Oklahoma. It was impossible to claim the #1 spot after those two losses. But we had the greatest year that OSU has ever had. Mike Gundy was named Big 12 coach of the year as a result. Wouldn’t the most natural thing be to proclaim the coach of the number one team as the coach of the year? Well that depends on what the coach had to work with. A coach who produces a dream team out of a bunch of unproven talent is quite possibly a better coach than a coach who produces a dream team out of a lot of greatly talented players.
Nehemiah’s team was being beaten. The gates and walls of Jerusalem were lying in ruins. Before the invention of gunpowder, if you did not have city walls and gates, you had no security. They were defenseless. How could they have a good coach when the coach did not provide the needed defense? But Nehemiah is still convinced of his coach’s great ability. He knew that his God was great, fearsome and faithful. So he acted upon that knowledge and asked his coach/God for a game plan to improve the defense. He held God to His promises and made sure that he performed what was necessary at his end of the promise. He was willing to take the risk and do what the Lord prompted him to do. It was a risky plan. He could be killed for doing what he planned to do. But he knew the strength and power of His God, and he was willing to risk it all to see that strength and power displayed.
Am I willing to risk it all to see God’s strength and power displayed in my weakness. Now that is a weird game plan. But it is the only one that works because it is the only one that displays His glory. Everything else honors my name, not His name. Lord, put me in places where only your power can deliver for only then will your glory be exalted. Glorify Your name! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
When your team is being beaten, it is hard to claim your coach as #1. Oklahoma State University finished an almost fairytale football season this year. What was supposed to be a rebuilding season ended up being a record season for OSU. For a little while we even had a glimmer of hope of being #1. But then we lost to Nebraska and then to the University of Oklahoma. It was impossible to claim the #1 spot after those two losses. But we had the greatest year that OSU has ever had. Mike Gundy was named Big 12 coach of the year as a result. Wouldn’t the most natural thing be to proclaim the coach of the number one team as the coach of the year? Well that depends on what the coach had to work with. A coach who produces a dream team out of a bunch of unproven talent is quite possibly a better coach than a coach who produces a dream team out of a lot of greatly talented players.
Nehemiah’s team was being beaten. The gates and walls of Jerusalem were lying in ruins. Before the invention of gunpowder, if you did not have city walls and gates, you had no security. They were defenseless. How could they have a good coach when the coach did not provide the needed defense? But Nehemiah is still convinced of his coach’s great ability. He knew that his God was great, fearsome and faithful. So he acted upon that knowledge and asked his coach/God for a game plan to improve the defense. He held God to His promises and made sure that he performed what was necessary at his end of the promise. He was willing to take the risk and do what the Lord prompted him to do. It was a risky plan. He could be killed for doing what he planned to do. But he knew the strength and power of His God, and he was willing to risk it all to see that strength and power displayed.
Am I willing to risk it all to see God’s strength and power displayed in my weakness. Now that is a weird game plan. But it is the only one that works because it is the only one that displays His glory. Everything else honors my name, not His name. Lord, put me in places where only your power can deliver for only then will your glory be exalted. Glorify Your name! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
January 10, 2011
Ezra 10
What is the glory of God worth to you? Would you give up your marriage if it was a choice between God and your spouse? Jesus said that unless we are willing to leave everything, we are unworthy of the Kingdom. So is the glory of God worth giving up your marriage? Certainly the Scripture teaches the sanctity of marriage. Certainly it teaches that our marriages are to reflect His unity. What if that marriage is a union between a pagan and a believer? From the reading of the instruction of the apostle Paul, we would learn that whatever marital state, which we were in when we found Christ , we should be content with that marital state. However, if the unbeliever wants to leave because of Christ, we should let them go.
How does that contrast with the situation with Ezra? The nation of Israel had been exiled because they had gone after the gods of the pagan nations. The kings had led the nation in this immorality. It was imperative with the return that the nation remains pure in their pursuit of Yahweh. Marrying pagan women threatened to undo the purity that they had achieved. It threatened their walk with the Lord. Would you give up your marriage for the glory of God. I am not suggesting that God desires divorce. He would have preferred that these men had never married the pagan women. For their time and their situation, this was a choice which they had to make. Was it worth the glory of God?
Yes it was! What does that tell us about the glory of God? He far exceeds the pleasure of any relationship, which we can ever have. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
What is the glory of God worth to you? Would you give up your marriage if it was a choice between God and your spouse? Jesus said that unless we are willing to leave everything, we are unworthy of the Kingdom. So is the glory of God worth giving up your marriage? Certainly the Scripture teaches the sanctity of marriage. Certainly it teaches that our marriages are to reflect His unity. What if that marriage is a union between a pagan and a believer? From the reading of the instruction of the apostle Paul, we would learn that whatever marital state, which we were in when we found Christ , we should be content with that marital state. However, if the unbeliever wants to leave because of Christ, we should let them go.
How does that contrast with the situation with Ezra? The nation of Israel had been exiled because they had gone after the gods of the pagan nations. The kings had led the nation in this immorality. It was imperative with the return that the nation remains pure in their pursuit of Yahweh. Marrying pagan women threatened to undo the purity that they had achieved. It threatened their walk with the Lord. Would you give up your marriage for the glory of God. I am not suggesting that God desires divorce. He would have preferred that these men had never married the pagan women. For their time and their situation, this was a choice which they had to make. Was it worth the glory of God?
Yes it was! What does that tell us about the glory of God? He far exceeds the pleasure of any relationship, which we can ever have. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Sunday, January 9, 2011
January 9, 2011
Ezra 9
15“O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!” What was their guilt? Ezra confesses things that he personally had not done. Why? He understood corporate guilt. There are times when we are corporately guilty. Ezra saw the need for corporate resistance. As their leader, he leads them in corporate repentance. What do we see about the glory of the Lord in this prayer of repentance? He is righteous. He punishes us less than we deserve. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
15“O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!” What was their guilt? Ezra confesses things that he personally had not done. Why? He understood corporate guilt. There are times when we are corporately guilty. Ezra saw the need for corporate resistance. As their leader, he leads them in corporate repentance. What do we see about the glory of the Lord in this prayer of repentance? He is righteous. He punishes us less than we deserve. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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