There Is great debate in this country right now about building a wall in order to secure our border. As important an issue as many think that is, the building and repairing of spiritual walls has great importance also. When God created man, He placed him in an enclosed, or walled garden to provide the man a protected place. Within that enclosed garden, the LORD had daily fellowship with the man He created. Scripture teaches about the importance, and the challenges, of the building of these walls.
Nehemiah ("Jehovah comforts, consoles, pities, pants, groans, repents, laments") served Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, as a cupbearer. The job of a cupbearer to the king is to stand between the king and danger. In that sense, Nehemiah served as a living wall around the king. A cupbearer oversees the preparation of the king's food and drink to prevent tampering, as well as tasting it for possible poison before it is served to the king.
Nehemiah was greatly saddened and troubled by the news he had received of the conditions back in Jerusalem. He heard a report that the remnant remaining there were in great affliction. The wall around Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates in the wall had been burned. When Nehemiah heard this disturbing news, he mourned and fasted for days. He prayed to the LORD, and began to repent for the sins of himself, and his people, for their failure to keep the commands of the LORD (Neh. 1:1-7). He remembered the prophetic warning of Moses: that if the people transgressed the commandments of God, they would be scattered (Neh. 1:8, Lev. 26:31-33), but if they faithfully kept the LORD's commandments, they would be gathered back together to the place of the LORD's name, and restored (Neh. 1:9, Deut. 30:1-3). The breaking of the commandments of God cause a nation to become desolate, and overrun by its enemies. Repentance and the keeping of God's commandments bring miraculous restoration to a people, and a nation (2 Chron. 7:14).
Nehemiah was so troubled by the report he had heard, that he could not hide his sorrow from the king, as he would normally do, and was expected to do. The king questioned him about his sadness (Neh. 2:1-2). As Nehemiah told the king about the desolation of Jerusalem and its wall, the king asked him what request Nehemiah would make regarding it. Nehemiah prayed before answering, and then requested to be sent to Judah to restore it. The king granted his request and sent a letter with him decreeing that Nehemiah should be given all materials necessary for the rebuilding. Back in Jerusalem, the enemies of that city and people were not happy to hear that restoration would begin, and would continually plague Nehemiah and the work. We shouldn't be surprised if wickedness does all it can to oppose us as we answer the Lord's call to restore the spiritual walls and gates. After Nehemiah secretly inspected the ruins of the wall and the city, he revealed his mission to the remnant of the desolate Jerusalem:
"...Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach." Neh. 2:17
Nehemiah went on to report, "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." Neh. 2:18
The prophet Isaiah tells us that restoration and rebuilding is not accomplished as the result of empty, religious works that do not have the power to bring spiritual change. We cannot fast, and pray, and seek God, and at the same time, continue to live and speak in a manner that opposes the commands of God: being full of strife and debate, smiting in wickedness, oppressing and exploiting the poor and weak, pointing the finger of accusation at others, dishonoring His holy Sabbath by seeking our own pleasure and speaking our own words (Isa. 58).
On the contrary, as we saw above, Nehemiah was greatly afflicted in his soul by what he heard, and sought the LORD in heartfelt fasting, prayer and repentance, and God heard him and answered him with favor. Isaiah says the same:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh...and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as noonday... And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
Isa. 58:6-7, 10, 12
Because we have disregarded the commands of the LORD, our nation's spiritual walls have been broken down, and our gates have been burned. The LORD is seeking those living walls, like Nehemiah, who see the spiritual desolation around them, and are grieved in their hearts: those who draw out their souls to others and to Him in repentance, seeking the consolation and restoration only God can deliver.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch Dr. Stevenson's complete message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
"...Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach." Neh. 2:17
Nehemiah went on to report, "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." Neh. 2:18
The prophet Isaiah tells us that restoration and rebuilding is not accomplished as the result of empty, religious works that do not have the power to bring spiritual change. We cannot fast, and pray, and seek God, and at the same time, continue to live and speak in a manner that opposes the commands of God: being full of strife and debate, smiting in wickedness, oppressing and exploiting the poor and weak, pointing the finger of accusation at others, dishonoring His holy Sabbath by seeking our own pleasure and speaking our own words (Isa. 58).
On the contrary, as we saw above, Nehemiah was greatly afflicted in his soul by what he heard, and sought the LORD in heartfelt fasting, prayer and repentance, and God heard him and answered him with favor. Isaiah says the same:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh...and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as noonday... And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
Isa. 58:6-7, 10, 12
Because we have disregarded the commands of the LORD, our nation's spiritual walls have been broken down, and our gates have been burned. The LORD is seeking those living walls, like Nehemiah, who see the spiritual desolation around them, and are grieved in their hearts: those who draw out their souls to others and to Him in repentance, seeking the consolation and restoration only God can deliver.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch Dr. Stevenson's complete message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
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