Friday, May 30, 2014

Nehemiah 13...


As I finished reading through the book of Nehemiah yesterday with She Reads Truth, it's a bit discouraging that the children of Israel who were under captivity to Babylon due to their disloyalty to God and His ways, who had worked so hard to restore the temple and rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, were so quick to return to their old ways of compromise and neglect of the things of God.

It's especially disconcerting to read in verse 4 that Eliashib, the priest, had given Tobiah a room in the temple of God.  Tobiah had fought against, intimidated, and discouraged Israel in their efforts to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.  He was also an Ammonite and God had expressly forbidden the Israelites to allow Ammonites into their assembly.  Yet, in the very room that should be used to store articles of worship, the priest had allowed Tobiah to take up residence.

I can definitely understand Nehemiah's righteous anger when he discovers what Eliashib had done, and yet, I've done the same thing.

In the New Testament God's Spirit lives within His people.  We are His temple.  As God's temple, I should be a house of worship that is clean and pure and consecrated for His glory.  And yet, I too have let the enemy set up residence in my temple.  The very same enemy that fights against me, and tries to intimidate me and discourages me and wants me to quit God's assignment in my life!  Yes, I've opened wide the door to unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, resentment, judgmental attitudes, faultfinding and said, "Come on in and make yourself at home!"  I've entertained these guests like bosom friends instead of barring the door to them like God clearly has instructed me to.  I've sat with them and eaten with them and had long and lengthy conversations about how used and abused I've been by others and how these sinful attitudes have a legitimate right to hang around in me.  Yet, in the beginning God made clear the way to deal with the enemy when he comes knocking at the door, "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."  In other words, pull a Nehemiah.  He booted Tobiah right on out of the temple and threw his belongings right on out with him.  Then he cleaned and purified that room and filled it back on up with the instruments for worship.  

I know now what I need to do.  I must throw these adversarial attitudes out of my mind and heart, out of my soul and spirit, out of my temple.  No matter how justified I think I am to hold on to my offense,  I must get rid of every bit of their slimy stuff.  Then I must cleanse the room that I allowed them to occupy.  Thank God that Jesus will help me with that.  Next, I need to fill that room right on up with the love of God and hang a sign on the door..."NO ENEMIES ALLOWED!"

I want to be a clean, pure and free temple of worship for God.  I'm thankful for the lessons I've learned from Nehemiah on what to do to get there.

still following,





Scripture and Snapshot


SUNDAY STILLNESS
Also happily linking up with Lisha Epperson.








28 comments:

  1. Hi Elizabeth,
    Following you from The Weekend Brew.
    While reading your post I was brought to think about Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. It is such a struggle, but a struggle that keeps us humble and with humbleness it keeps us growing closer to Jesus.

    Blessings,
    <><

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    1. Thank you so much. So happy that you stopped by and took the time to comment.

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  2. Thank you So much for those insights. They're so good. I needed them. XO

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  3. Well, you've written many a good one but this is one of my top 10 favorites--I was trying to put all of that together in my mind and the Holy Spirit, through you, let it all come together. Thank you, I receive this great Word from God.

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    1. LOL! You always say that. You're my number one fan! Love you bunches, my friend.

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  4. Visiting from the Weekend Brew. Love the concept that we should hang a 'no enemies allowed!' sign on the doors to our hearts and minds. It's all too easy for them to slip in and get comfortable if we're not watching.

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    1. So glad you popped in from the weekend brew! We have to be vigilant to guard our hearts don't we?

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  5. So good!! Throw everything out and cleanse that room! Blessings for your insight today.
    Candacejo ♥

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  6. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 …tearing down strongholds, and every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ..
    Thank you.

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  7. Yes and amen! I want a clean heart!

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  8. How humbling. I have been struggling with this very thing this week. I have allowed myself to feel used and abused and had a grand old pity party. I know why God sent me to my laptop before breakfast.
    Thank you, Elizabeth. I, too, am still following.

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    1. Regena, it's a blessing to know that God used what He spoke to me to speak to you as well!

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  9. I am a Nehemiah lover. Would LOVE to meet him when I get to heaven. Stood up so straight and dealt with so much sinfulness around and about to so many. Anyhow, as usual, Elizabeth, you grabbed a lot of hearts again. Bless you.

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  10. Just finished the Nehemiah study by Kelly Minter. So good. Somehow I always blocked out the last few chapters... after the wall was completed. Depressing how quickly they returned to their ways. BUT. You blog post really shed some light that I had missed. How I am guilty of handing over a room in my temple that is intended to store things for the Lord and for His glory. Rocked me when I read it. Thanks for the wake up call.

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    1. It was a wake up call for me to, friend! Let's just say, there was a whole lot of repentance going on!

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  11. Thank you so much, Laura! God really blessed me through this study.

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  12. "I want to be a clean, pure and free temple of worship for God"

    echoing your prayer...

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    1. And where two or three agree it will be done, right?

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  13. I love that..." Pull a Nehemiah". You're speaking my language Elizabeth. Happy Sunday!

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    1. Thanks, Lisha and thanks for being such a great hostess!

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  14. Yes to keeping our hearts pure before Him. Thanks for your words here and your visit to my space from Lisha's. blessings to you!

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  15. Nehemiah keeps coming up in conversations or studies recently. I, too, almost finished Kelly Minter's Nehemiah study, and then a friend mentioned it would be good for me to read the first three chapters to see how Nehemiah petitioned to the Lord on behalf of the Israelites--including himself as a sinner. Much to be learned in this book.
    And YES to throwing out the enemy. Like you, I allow him to make himself comfortable. Time to put a stop to this! Drop over and see my post on "Are You Heading Down a Dead End? Has some similar thoughts.
    Blessings,
    Janis

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