When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 2:10 REFERENCE Nehemiah 2:1-10 Nehemiah had been raised by God as a reformer, a restorer, and a rebuilder of broken humanity. God had given him favor with the king, with the governors of several regions, and with the Treasurer General of the province. He had kept him from perils and dangers in his journey to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and to restore hope to the broken people of...
So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 REFERENCE Nehemiah 1:1-11 & Nehemiah 2:1-3 At its political peak, Babylon invaded Jerusalem, ransacked the city, destroyed King Solomon’s temple, and took the inhabitants captive. After decades of slavery and captivity, the Israelites were granted leave to return to a desolate and derelict Jerusalem. The gates and walls were burnt and weakened from years of neglect; the homes had been razed to the ground and farmlands overtaken by weeds. The...
This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Titus 3:8 REFERENCE Titus 3:1-8 In this Epistle of Paul’s to his son in the Lord, Titus, he charged him to set in order the requirements for the pastoral office for his immediate audience and for the body of Christ but went further to lay down the lifestyle that should mark those who are believers in Christ. It is very easy to think that...
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matthew 25:15 REFERENCE Matthew 25:14-30 The first thing that strikes you about this parable is the ‘seeming imbalance’ in the way the master shared the talents amongst these servants; it looks almost unfair, but in his foreknowledge, he did it according to each person’s ability. Like the master in this story, God gives us talents in proportion to our abilities; these talents can be likened to our God-given gifts. Both servants with...
The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecclesiastes 7:8 REFERENCE Ecclesiastes 7:8 Guess what? We are in the final month of the year; the countdown to year-end has begun. God has been faithful; so, if you are reading this, pause and thank Him for His love and mercy towards you. We are at the beginning of the end, and King Solomon, by inspiration said that the end will be better. Have you witnessed a marathon race before? The runners start the race all huddled together, but...
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest - Matthew 11:28 REFERENCE Matthew 11:28 To everyone who labors and is heavy laden, Jesus gives such a person an invitation to come to Him, because in Him, you can find rest for your spirit, soul, and body. Being heavy laden is synonymous with carrying a burden, a care, it means you are troubled or facing a difficult situation that is weighing you down (emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically, maritally, or otherwise). You don’t need to look too far in the world we...
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. - Acts 12:5 REFERENCE Acts 12:1-12 Prayer is powerful; we all have personal testimonies of the power and the efficacy of prayers in our lives. Despite the fact that we know the power of prayers, it is shocking that many people often go days unending, carrying burdens that they do not pray about. The hymn writer wrote, “Oh what peace we often forfeit and what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We forget...
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and… they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. ~ Acts 14:19-20 REFERENCE Acts 14:8-24 Paul experienced ‘supernatural restoration’ after being stoned because people of faith gathered around him – people of his own company. Paul probably wouldn’t have survived the ill-treatment meted out to him by the Jews if not for those disciples that rallied around him and made sure he got back on his feet again. Indeed, the...
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. - Isaiah 60:1 REFERENCE Isaiah 60:1-3 Looking at all the darkness (wars, lack, insecurity, joblessness, failed relationships, wickedness, etc.), in the world today, it is safe to say that Isaiah’s prophecy is already taking place right before our eyes. However, there is an assurance in this prophecy for the believer; which is, “The Lord will arise over you and His glory shall be seen all over you.” This means that, regardless of the darkness that covers the earth or the deep darkness...
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:17-18 REFERENCE Mark 16:17-20 It is the plan of God that every Christian walks in the supernatural, that your life is lived beyond the natural and elementary order. He wants you to live as a carrier of His power so you can bring remedy to hopeless situations, and shine His...