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August 17

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HAVE YOU NEGLECTED GOD’S HOUSE?

From: August 17, 2023

‘I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?”’ (Nehemiah 13:11 NLT).

After Nehemiah completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, he was recalled by King Artaxerxes. When he obtained leave from the king and returned to Jerusalem, he found that those he had left in charge had not kept their promise to support the house of God. Many of its priests and musicians had left the ministry and returned to their lands to farm, in order to support their families. The tithes and offerings were not being given, the ministry was in decline and even the newly rebuilt Temple was already showing signs of neglect. Nehemiah couldn’t believe how quickly the people had forsaken the house of God. So he led in rebuilding the ministry of God’s house.

The same question might be posed of believers today, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Where are the faithful ones? Where are the people of God who will pray and give sacrificially to continue the ministry of God’s house?

Today, the people of God are God’s house. We are His Church. Christ has been called to the Father’s right hand. Yet, one day He will return. Will Jesus ask, “Why has My house, My Church been neglected?” For those who neglect the fellowship of the saints, have neglected God’s house.

As the book of Hebrews instructs us, “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your house. Your Son is the Chief Cornerstone and we are its living stones, being built up into a spiritual house. Forgive us where we have neglected Your ministry and where we have forsaken our first love, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit this day to be faithful and to do the work You have called us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“With every bone in my body I will praise him” (Psalm 35:10 NLT).

From: August 17, 2022

TELL DEM BONES TO PRAISE THE LORD! 

David declared his intent to praise the Lord “with every bone” in his body in anticipation of the Lord’s rescue. David would not offer the Lord half-hearted worship. He was a whole-hearted worshiper, and out of that came a commitment to whole-bodied praise. David would hold nothing back from God in his worship. As he told his wife after she attempted to shame him for publicly dancing before the Ark of the Lord, “I will be even more undignified than this” (1 Sam. 6:22). David didn’t care for the opinion of others. He sought the applause of the One.

Just as God told Ezekiel to preach to the bones and the bones came to life (Ez. 37:4-5), so David preached to his own bones that they would worship the Lord!

How are your bones doing today? Are they stiff and sore? Tell “dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones” to hear the Word of the Lord! And to come alive in worship! For worship is more than singing praises, it’s also serving others in Jesus’ name. So get them bones moving today for Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we offer You our all today, body and soul. We praise You not only with our words, but with our actions today. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to praise You with all our being. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Why has the house of God been neglected?” (Nehemiah 13:11 HCSB).

From: August 17, 2021

HAVE YOU NEGLECTED GOD’S HOUSE?

After Nehemiah completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, he was recalled by King Artaxerxes. When he obtained leave from the king and returned to Jerusalem, he found that those he had left in charge had not kept their promise to support the house of God. Many of its priests and musicians had left the ministry and returned to their lands to farm, in order to support their families. The tithes and offerings were not being given, the ministry was in decline and even the newly rebuilt Temple was already showing signs of neglect. Nehemiah couldn’t believe how quickly the people had forsaken the house of God. So he led in rebuilding the ministry of God’s house.
 
The same question might be posed of believers today, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Where are the faithful ones? Where are the people of God who will pray and give sacrificially to continue the ministry of God’s house?
 
Today, the people of God are God’s house. We are His Church. Christ has been called to the Father’s right hand. Yet, one day He will return. Will Jesus ask, “Why has My house, My Church been neglected?” For those who neglect the fellowship of the saints, have neglected God’s house.
 
As the book of Hebrews instructs us, “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25).
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your house. Your Son is the Chief Cornerstone and we are its living stones, being built up into a spiritual house. Forgive us where we have neglected Your ministry and where we have forsaken our first love, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit this day to be faithful and to do the work You have called us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?”’ (Nehemiah 13:11 NKJV).

From: August 17, 2020

WHY IS THE HOUSE OF GOD FORSAKEN?

After Nehemiah completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, he was recalled by King Artaxerxes. When he obtained leave from the king and returned to Jerusalem, he found that those he had left in charge had not kept their promise to support the house of God. Many of its priests and musicians had left the ministry and returned to their lands to farm, in order to support their families. The tithes and offerings were not being given, the ministry was in decline and even the newly rebuilt Temple was already showing signs of neglect. Nehemiah couldn’t believe how quickly the people had forsaken the house of God. So he led in rebuilding the ministry of God’s house.
 
The same question might be posed of believers today, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Where are those who will call us back to God? Where are the people of God who will pray and give sacrificially to take up the ministry of God’s house?
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your house. For Your Son is the Chief Cornerstone and we are its living stones, being being up into a spiritual house. Forgive us where we have forsaken Your ministry and where we have forsaken our first love, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit this day to be faithful and to do the work You have called us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich” (Proverbs 21:17 NLT).

From: August 17, 2019

WHAT WE LOVE MATTERS

The one who loves pleasure and comfort will eventually live in poverty. So says the proverb, and also anyone who has lived for any length of time. For loving comfort the one fails to work and failing to work, comfort cannot be afforded. Yet, might not the proverb be reversed? So, the one who loves to work might be prosperous, but may also never learn to enjoy the blessings of life.
 
What we love matters. For it appears that we were created to love something greater than this world offers. Isn’t this why Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves? Jesus warned that “those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity” (John 12:25).
 
PRAYER: Father, we focus our hearts on You. We love You. Forgive our tendency to love anything or anyone more than You. For loving the things of this world is idolatry. We were made to be in a loving relationship with You, dear Father. And we want to grow in knowing You more and more. Thank You that You first loved us, so that we might love You in return. Help us to walk in Your Spirit today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“With every bone in my body I will praise him” (Psalm 35:10 NLT).

From: August 17, 2018

TELL DEM BONES TO PRAISE THE LORD!
David declared his intent to praise the Lord “with every bone” in his body in anticipation of the Lord’s rescue. David would not offer the Lord half-hearted worship. He was a whole-hearted worshiper, and out of that came a commitment to whole-bodied praise. David would hold nothing back from God in his worship. As he told his wife after she attempted to shame him for publicly dancing before the Ark of the Lord, “I will be even more undignified than this” (1 Sam. 6:22). David didn’t care for the opinion of others. He sought the applause of the One.
 
Just as God told Ezekiel to preach to the bones and the bones came to life (Ez. 37:4-5), so David preached to his own bones that they would worship the Lord!
 
What are your bones doing today? Tell “dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones” to hear the Word of the Lord! And to come alive in worship!

“Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.” (Psalm 35:1 NKJV).

From: August 17, 2017

David cried out to the Lord to be both his advocate and avenger. He prayed that the Lord would “plead” his case as a defense attorney would one falsely accused, and “fight” for him as a warrior defending his own.
 
Yet, what David brought before the Lord as a prayer, those in Christ can depend on as a promise. The Lord Jesus is our Advocate. As the apostle John wrote, “… if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). And the Lord Jesus is our Avenger. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
 
David’s prayer has become our promise. Jesus is our Advocate and Avenger.

“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV)

From: August 17, 2016

Headship is a biblical title of relational authority. It is a beautiful word that unfortunately rubs many of our generation the wrong way. In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul was trying to restore God-honoring order to their worship services, which had fallen into disarray. He reminded them that Christ is the perfect picture of headship and submission. As the Head of the Church, He lay down His life as a sacrifice for sin and will one day return to receive her as His bride. At the same time, Christ did all of this in submission to the Father, who is His head. They are coequal, yet the Son always submits to the Father. In like manner, those who would lead in worship must submit to appropriate headship and lead as servant-leaders. Clearly, men and women are to follow the order of creation and the intent of the Father in this. God’s Word, not human culture should be the “head” of how we worship.

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV)

From: August 17, 2015

Headship is a biblical title of relational authority. It is a beautiful word that unfortunately rubs many of our generation the wrong way. In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul was trying to restore God-honoring order to their worship services, which had fallen into disarray. He reminded them that Christ is the perfect picture of headship and submission. As the Head of the Church, He lay down His life as a sacrifice for sin and will one day return to receive her as His bride. At the same time, Christ did all of this in submission to the Father, who is His head. They are coequal, yet the Son always submits to the Father. In like manner, those who would lead in worship must submit to appropriate headship and lead as servant-leaders. Clearly, men and women are to follow the order of creation and the intent of the Father in this. God’s Word, not human culture should be the “head” of how we worship.

“For the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem, the Levites throughout the land were asked to come to Jerusalem to assist in the ceremonies. They were to take part in the joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres” (Nehemiah 12:27 NLT)

From: August 17, 2014

Nehemiah organized the Levite singers and musicians into two groups and had them march along the top of the newly restored wall, singing and playing as they went. After circling the entire city of Jerusalem, the two choirs converged onto the Temple courts still singing and playing loudly. The sound of their joyous celebration could be heard from far away. Can you imagine being among that happy throng as they filled the air with praise? When a work is finished, celebration is in order. For us, Christ has finished the work of salvation and our entire lives should be marked by worship and praise. Let our celebration of God’s Son be heard among the nations!