Nehemiah was without doubt a master administrator. His attention to detail and his ability to clarify tasks and accomplish them was exceptional. Whenever a Bible example of an administrator is needed, his name comes forward. He was gifted and equipped by God to do what he did. Obviously he had an ability to enlist capable persons necessary to complete the wall. He seemed to wisely cut up the overall task and subdivide it, delegating smaller portions to complete the big picture.

Some people just have this ability. I married one.

READ/HEAR: Nehemiah 6,7

When the exiles were working on rebuilding, many were violating God’s laws by indenturing their own people, profiting at their neighbors expense. Nehemiah challenged them to “avoid the reproach” that God would bring because they were exacting undue profits.

When we prioritize God’s ways and put others ahead of ourselves, we are qualifying ourselves for God’s blessings and His prosperity. It works.

READ/HEAR: Nehemiah 4,5

Jerusalem’s wall and gates had been damaged and portions torn down. It was vital to maintain protection for the city’s inhabitants. Nehemiah’s burden for its repair elevated him to oversee the process with the blessing and assistance of Artexerxes, king of Persia. Although great resistance was provided by Sanballot and Tobiah, the task was completed.

Why was there resistance to an obvious necessity for the well-being of the Jews? Those providing the resistance clearly did not have the welfare of the city at heart. God prevailed and the wall was completed.

READ/HEAR: Nehemiah 1-3

Ezra declared that the Jewish men who had returned from exhile and who had married foreign wives should put away their wives and children from those wives. This was a painful and extreme measure, a difficult pill for them to swallow. Nevertheless, many chose to do so to please the commands of the law of Moses that forbid them to marry foreign wives.

As New Testament believers in Christ we know that there is no distinction to be legally observed that would prohibit marrying a person from a different culture. The distinction is this; have they been washed in the blood of Jesus and are they in fellowship with Christ? For the NT Christian, the pain comes in deciding to separate from our pagan ways. The Holy Ghost can help take the pain out, though.

My grandfather had smoked excessively all his adult life. He was in the hospital for a back surgery and by God’s Spirit, told my grandmother to take his smokes home. He claims to have never even wanted one from that day on. God did the separation and took away the pain.

READ/HEAR:  Ezra 10

Ezra was distraught by the Godly culture pollution taking place as God’s people adopted the customs and ways of the heathen tribes they intermingled with. His response … confession and prayer in travail for God to intervene.

Our nation needs this kind of prayer right now. Christians contend for their children who are being subverted by a Godless culture. Vigilant intercessory prayer is the foremost tool for parents and leaders who refuse to let a generation slip into apostasy.

Pray for Marcy Westmoreland Sakrison. She is running for the Georgia House seat vacated by David Stover. She is contending for Christian values in government and schools. I know Marcy and she is the real deal!

READ/HEAR: Ezra 8,9

It’s amazing how Artexerxes, king of Persia, offered to foot the entire bill for the completion of the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra, the priest, was the focal point recipient of this gesture. He must have been a Daniel-type person who had won the king’s confidence and trust with a life of authentic Godliness.

God will always come through with His provision if we will wait, trust, and maintain a life of integrity before Him. He is a provider by nature. If He withholds our needs, it’s only to cultivate character qualities within us.

READ/HEAR: Ezra 6,7

The Jews who were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem met with great resistance. Political opportunists attempted to hinder and stop their progress by slandering the reconstruction to Artexerxes, king of Persia. He complied and momentarily halted their progress. Not until a new king took the throne did the work begin again, and that at the prompting of several Godly prophets.

If you are doing a good work for God, chances are that you will encounter similar resistance. The key is to listen to God’s voice alone and hold steady on your course of action. No weapon formed against you will prosper. With God, all things are possible. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done here in earth as it is in heaven.

READ/HEAR: Ezra 3-5

Ezra chronicled the rebuilding of Jerusalem with great detail. He numbered the returnees and inventoried the sacred items. God was putting it all back together so worship could once again occur in the Holy City.

We are all called to be worshipers. As God rebuilds the lives of broken people, he cleans them up and gives them a place in His Kingdom to worship Him and be His ambassadors.

God rebuilds lives, relationships, marriages, families, destinies. The key is to come back to Him to worship. Worship melts us down and permits God to reshape us they way He wants us.

READ/HEAR: Ezra 1,2

Upon reading the accounts of the Kings of Judah and Israel, we see God blessing the ones who honor Him and chastening the ones who don’t follow the Godly standards David established. We see kings who start well but end in disaster. We see kings who start poorly but turn to God.

Life is a faith walk. Maintaining our faith and lifestyle of devotion to the Lord requires a daily committment to the disciplines of scripture reading, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. At any time, a transgressor can repent and turn back to God and receive a merciful pardon and a clean slate. The kingdoms affected would be that person’s family and circle of friends.

Serve God and walk in blessings, or serve yourself and suffer. We learn.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 35,36

King Josiah was faithful to remove the idols of Israel. This pleased God greatly and held off God’s punishments that were due to the nation because of their rebellion.

Idols are life items that displace God. When an intentional effort is made to remove life’s distractions from preventing God’s best is made, we pave the way for abundance of favor and spiritual blessing. This is not a legalism or good works gesture. This is simply putting God first in everything. You can do that by prayer and committing your deeds to God.