In Nehemiah ch.9, the Israelites had finished building the temple and the walls. They the word of God to the whole congregation and found and ordnance to keep the feast of Tabernacles. The feast was to prepare their hearts to repent of their sins. And on the day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the whole congregation was to approach God and repent. They gathered at the temple and the levites and priests led them in worship and praise to enter in the presence of God. They began to repent of their sins. The priests began to count their sins from Abraham until then. The Law is the knowledge of sin and repentance. And John the Baptist came preaching repentance for the remission of sin. Jesus came and died for us to recieve grace after we repented of our sins. So that we can enter into the kingdom of God. This is God’s plan for everyone. And all you have to do is turn to God and repent and believe Jesus.

Crain Blanchard.

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In Nehemiah ch.8, Nehemiah had the entire congregation gather at the water gate on the first day of the 7th month, Jewish New Year. Ezra opened the word of God and began to read. For many people, this was the first time they heard the word of God. They all began to wept before the Lord. The levites and priests taught the people what it meant. Nehemiah sent everyone home and told them to stop crying. He said this a day to rejoice. Go home and cook food and share with your neighbors. For the joy of the Lord is our strength. Then the celebrated the feast of tabernacles. There are 3 feast that Israel must celebrate every year. Those feast are Tabernacles, Passover and Pentecost. Jesus’s life revolved around those 3 feast. When He was 12 years old, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles. He was crucified on Passover. And rose into heaven on Pentecost. That the word of God be fulfilled.

Crain Blanchard.

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In Nehemiah 7, the Israelites had finished the wall and the temple. But they hadn’t finished their homes. Nehemiah told them to keep the gates shut until the sun was high in the sky. There wasn’t a lot of people who had returned. Safety was still a concern. Then, Nehemiah began to record the people by families to prove they were Israeli. Some 42,000 people had returned with Nehemiah. Some were removed as priest because they couldn’t prove their lineage. In Judaism, your mother must be Jewish, to be a Jew. For the priesthood, your mother must be of the sons of Aaron. The sanctification of the people must begin to make oneself presentable to God. God is holy and we must cleanse hearts before God. The process takes a lifetime. It isn’t a onetime thing. We must be holy to enter into the presence of God. God called the Israelites home after their captivity. It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t. But it is always simple.

Crain Blanchard.

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In Nehemiah 4, the Israelites heard what the people of the land were going to do. They prepared to fight against the Israelites to stop them from building the temple and the walls. Nehemiah gathered all to the temple and prayed that God would stop the attack on them and put it on the people of the land. Nehemiah had everyone carry his sword as he built the walls. He divided them by night and day and by those building and those guarding the wall. If the trumpet sounded everyone would run to the call of the trumpet. This is our life. Jesus said if they hated me, how much more will they hate you. We are watchmen on the wall. We are to defend ourselves with the gospel. We are to carry our swords with us wherever we go and pray for God’s mercy and grace. Our swords are meant for use in the kingdom and in love. Remember, our swords are two-edged, dividing even soul and spirit. This is why we are to use them in love only. Be the watchman and live in God’s grace.

Crain Blanchard

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Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem and the work had stopped. He had letters from the king for supplies and permission to rebuild the temple. He looked at the entire city and saw what was necessary. The people of the land didn’t want them to rebuild Jerusalem and despite the letters from the king, they were going to stopped them. Nehemiah had everyone carry their sword and divided the work among the labourers. At any given time, they were ready for battle. But continued the work of rebuilding. Although we have been given permission from our king, Jesus, there are people who don’t want us to rebuild our temple. God has given us letters which we are to read and study, which in turn will defend us. It’s called the sword of the Spirit, the bible. We are to rebuild our temple and defend the ground we stand on and rebuild our temple on the way home.

Crain Blanchard.

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In the 2nd chapter of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is the king’s cup bearer. It was his turn. He was so sorrowful that the king could see it. He ask Nehemiah what was wrong? He told the king about Jerusalem. The king asked what he wanted to do. Queen Esther was sitting next to him. Nehemiah asked that he could to Jerusalem to finish the work. The king gave him letters to convey him home. When you ask the King to go home and rebuild your temple, Jesus give you letters to convey you home (the bible). Nehemiah’s struggle wasn’t over. He had to build the temple and the walls of city. And the people of the land still came against him. The Israelites had to arm themselves with their swords and be ready to defend themselves. Rebuilding your temple isn’t easy. It is always simple. But you will have to arm yourself with the word of God, the sword of the Spirit. To be ready to answer any questions or problems that arise.

Crain Blanchard.

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Nehemiah was the king’s cup bearer. He was an important man in the Kingdom. And people from Jerusalem came and he asked about Jerusalem. They told him that the work of the temple has stopped. The people have abandon it and the walls are still broken down. And Nehemiah began to weep and to cry. For 3 days Nehemiah fasted and prayed to God. His prayer was of repentance. And the people with him also fasted and prayed. Nehemiah prayed for mercy and forgiveness. He wanted God to change the hearts of the people. He wanted the work to continue. His heart ached and his face showed it. A life of repentance is what we live. We need to ask God to forgive us on a daily basis because we’re not perfect. We aren’t to let sin dominate our lives. Prayer and fasting brings everything into focus. We begin to see what’s in our heart so that God can deal with us. Nehemiah prayed and fasted for 3 days. And God changed his world.

Crain Blanchard.

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In chapter 10, Ezra called for all the men of the captivity to gather at Jerusalem in front of the temple. He said any man that would not come would be separated from Israel and not have part with God’s promise. Every man showed up. As Ezra said many of you have taken strange wives (wives of other nations) and worshiping other gods. Today you have to separate yourself from the wives and children. Because this was a sin before God and we need to correct it, to repent. Priest and religious leaders had taken strange wives. They could not perform their duty before God because of it. Some men had children but they still had to separate themselves from their wives and their children. Then all Israel repented before God. This is the call of God. You can’t decide what you want. You have to surrender and let God have His way. God’s way is perfect and simple to follow. Ezra’s call was God’s call.

Crain Blanchard.

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Ezra lived under the law. Because the grace of God comes through Jesus Christ. Ezra had returned to Jerusalem to find out that the ruler, princes of Israel, had married heathens. And they were practicing worship of idols. Ezra sought God. He tore his clothes and lay before God the whole day. The people gathered for evening prayers. Ezra got up and began to preach the gospel. He recounted why Israel was taken captive in the first place. Then he talked about how in God’s mercy, He brought a remnant home to Jerusalem. Now you choose to sin against God again. God’s will is spelled out in the bible. It is exact. If you stray from it, how do you expect to survive. For the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life. God says choose life.

Crain Blanchard.

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King Cyrus was stirred by God to let the Israelites return to Jerusalem. He called for someone to lead the people back. Ezra was in Cyrus’s court as a scribe. Ezra volunteered and was chosen by the king for this expedition. Cyrus gave Ezra a kings ransom in silver and gold as a freewill offering. Ezra gathered everyone going home together. They fasted and prayed for 3 days. He didn’t want to ask the king for a military escort. Because he told the king that God called him to go. He was worried that thieves and robbers would steal everything. So they sought God and His mercy. The bible says that God was intreated. They made their way to Jerusalem with no incidents. Even when we have sinned against God, we can intreat God to forgive us. Because He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And all you have to do is ask.

Crain Blanchard.

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