Mar 23

 “…and confess the sins of the children of Israel…” Nehemiah 1:6

We don’t know a great deal about Nehemiah, except what we learn from the book that bears his name. He was one of the Jews of the Dispersion, following Israel’s deportation into Babylon, and was in the service of cupbearer to the Persian king. Persia had by this time conquered Babylonia and was set up as a sprawling and mighty kingdom. Somewhere along the line, he heard of the desolate condition of Jerusalem, his heart became heavy, and caused him to weep, mourn, fast and go to God in prayer. Communication with God in prayer, is where many great things originate. Nehemiah’s prayer did not begin with requests or petitions, but with confession of sin. Even though he lived many years after the Jews had been removed from their land to a foreign nation because they had turned away from the Lord, he confessed to God their sin and his own, as one. He took personal responsibility and included himself in the sin that brought God’s judgement against Israel, even if at that time he wasn’t yet born, and had probably never been in Israel personally! It is a prayer God answers, and a need God provides. It is a prayer steeped in repentance and sorrow, based on God’s word, and on fire with true humility. When we see wrong doing in the church, this is the kind of response that gets God’s attention! If only we would pray like Nehemiah did, taking personal responsibility for the communal performance of the church! It is naturally difficult for us to take on the shame and guilt of someone else’s unrighteousness, but if we reasoned it through, we would see that when one member in the body is sick, the whole body feels it and does not attack it, but participates in the healing process! That healing starts by admitting that we collectively have sinned before God, and need His mercy and grace. Instead we are often given to passing judgment, expressing negative and destructive criticism, attacking the spiritually sick with accusations, and turning our backs on those who are struggling, as if it is nothing to do with us! In fact, we become so detached from the reality of being part of the church, that even when we personally commit sin, we do not think of it as affecting the rest of the family of God! As lively members of the body of Christ, let us develop a deep and sincere sense of responsibility, firstly that we may be quick to repent and cleanse our own souls of any personal unrighteousness against God, and secondly to be just as willing to go to prayer and repent, for the wrong we may see our brother commit. In true sincerity and humility recognising that we should bear a common, contrite and compassionate burden, when it comes to praying and pleading with God to cleanse and restore the church! 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Mar 19

“…and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalms 32:2

Webster defines guile as “Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit”. The context of our verse is the blessedness of the individual who has been freed by the Lord from the charge and guilt of his iniquity – that is the description of what God does. Our part is to ensure we remain blessed because when God looks, He can see no duplicity or hypocrisy in our hearts! The ‘new’ man has a new spirit! He no longer attempts to hide his sin or colour his performance, through craftiness and deceit. He is a new creature, forgiven and freed to bring glory and honour to God. This is the blessedness of our life in Christ that we are delivered from the sentence of death which was hanging over us, and that we now walk in the purity of spirit, mind and heart, which glorify our Saviour! How incongruous that while claiming salvation and newness of life, we can yet uncover ulterior motives in our hearts, which align us with our past desires and works of the flesh! Such things must not be found in us, yet often we mar our blessedness in God, because they still exist, though hidden and under cover! What is worse is that we attempt to hide them from God, as if there was really a way we could keep any of our thoughts, words or actions from His scrutiny! If there is truly no guile in us, then our primary concern will be with how God sees us. We will not concern ourselves with the impression others may have of us. We will not attempt to cast a larger than life image of ourselves, highlighting our achievements and status. We will not mind admitting our faults and showing our mistakes. We will have no desire to be seen as anything but a saved, born again, cleansed and living holy, child of God! The idea here is not that we can claim perfection and innocence before God, but that we may have the honesty to confess our sins and faults to God without concealment. May we truly live as the blessed people God intends us to be, that the world around us may see and ‘taste’ of the wonder and glory of God’s salvation and of righted, pure and honest  Christian lives!   

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 12

“...separated themselves…and stood and confessed their sins..” Nehemiah 9:2

God’s people are to be a holy people. In this account we see three important actions which are relevant to all who call on the name of the Lord. In an act of restoration of commitment and closeness with God, the Israelites ‘separated’ themselves, ‘stood’ and ‘confessed’ their sins. If we are to remain people consecrated to God, it is necessary that we are willing to ‘separate’ ourselves. The call of God for His people to pursue holiness and purity is a continuous theme in scripture. What differentiates believers from the unsaved should be obvious and should shout the holiness of God through their actions, thoughts and choices. It is necessary if we are to be and stay close to the Lord, that we separate ourselves from the world and its ways. These things should be foreign and distant from us. The people then ‘stood’. This is significant for it represents a position of determination for the Lord. One of the greatest problems we face as Christians today, is the lack of willingness among believers to ‘stand’ for God, His ways, His principles and His absolutes. Close relationship with Jesus can only be maintained if we are prepared to stand for Him. He taught that if we are not ashamed of Him (who He is, His doctrine and example), then He will not be ashamed of us! In an age of weakness and compromise, let God’s true people stand in love and humility. The next thing they did was to ‘confess’ their sins. When we partake of the holiness of God and stand in the strength of His power, we don’t do so to point a finger at others and find fault in others but to first and foremost make sure we stand right in God personally! This means an inward look, an inspection and examination of our own heart and soul, followed by heartfelt confession to God and repentance of our sins. Jesus made it clear we cannot spiritually help anyone in their shortcoming or sustain them in their need, if we ourselves are at fault with God and our vision impaired by carnal obstacles, and our convictions weakened by compromises. Taking an example from the Israelites in our text, let us renew our dedication to God and reconsecrate our lives and living unto Him.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion