Entries from May 2008

May 31, 2008

9.3 First and Foremost

Remember the story of Cain and Abel? Read this scripture carefully:

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked [...]

May 28, 2008

9.2 Wall Fortification

Another essential way to keep your walls strong is to stay in the Scriptures daily. It’s the sword of the Spirit, which you can use both offensively and defensively to defeat the Enemy. Nehemiah knew the power of Scripture to change hearts and make the people more like God.

Many men have told me that [...]

May 27, 2008

9.1 Keeping Your Walls Strong

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
So on the first day of [...]

May 26, 2008

8.11 GIGO

You may have heard this expression before. GIGO means “Garbage In – Garbage Out.” It mainly refers to computers (i.e., don’t blame the computer…if you put in bad programming, you’re going to get a bad result.), but it applies to our mental computers, as well. If you stock your brain full of garbage, be certain [...]

May 25, 2008

8.10 Guarding Your Mouth Gate

Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. (Proverbs 4:24)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be [...]

May 24, 2008

8.9 Replace What You Remove

When you are in the moment of temptation, it’s not very effective to try to not think about what is tempting you. It’s like trying to not think of a purple elephant – you just can’t do it. You have to replace the thoughts with something godly.

There’s an old story about a man who had [...]

May 23, 2008

8.8 Deflection & Redirection

The technical term for shooing the birds is “deflection and redirection.”  God expects us to put up a fight.  We’re not helpless.  When our gates are attacked, we need to have a plan to turn back the Enemy.  God will meet us there.  Isaiah 28:6 says,
He (God) will be a spirit of justice to him [...]

May 22, 2008

8.7 Preventing Nest-Building

At times, it seems impossible to prevent our minds from thinking sexual thoughts. Anything can trigger them… an attractive woman, a billboard, a store window… even a harmless comment. I’m convinced that the Enemy plays a part. He whispers thoughts into our mind, and he points out sexual images to tempt us.

While you’ll never [...]

May 21, 2008

8.6 Pure vs. Impure

These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. (Nehemiah 7:64)

Verses 4-63 of chapter seven list the exiles who returned. The list ends with Nehemiah’s note that those who could not prove their family lineage were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. Some [...]

May 20, 2008

8.5 Gate-Keeping Rules

I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” (Nehemiah 7:3)

Nehemiah created guidelines for [...]