Category: Nehemiah–BibleTrekToday
Trek through Nehemiah
Prayers affect heaven and earth!
Scripture reading for December 12th: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8
Revelation 8:1-4 “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
Today’s reading gives us insight on what happens to our prayers in heaven. As the priest went before the altar of incense with prayers and incense in the earthly Jewish tabernacle, so an angel presents our prayers with incense as they are offered before God’s throne. The response to these prayers was the angel taking his censer and filling it with fire from the altar and hurling it on the earth. The result of this response brought thunder, lightning and an earthquake on the earth itself. God is powerful and answers prayers. He is holy and brings justice for those who depend on Him and call to Him. Prayers touch heaven and God shakes the earth in response! What amazing grace!
Revelation 8:12-13 “The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow.”
Prayer: Father God, I love You and depend on Your power and mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive me when I fail to pray about everything or doubt Your hearing or ability to answer. Lord God, remember Your children who are calling on You for help and deliverance from the evil and persecution here on earth. May I fulfill my calling as a priest before you and remember me for good.
Nehemiah 13:29-31 “”Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God for good.””
Multitudes clothed in white!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Revelation 7: 13-17 “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He Who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””
In the heavenly vision given to John, he beheld a great multitude of people from every tribe of the earth standing before God’s throne. One of the elders around the throne asked John who they were. John wisely answered, “Sir, you know.” It was revealed that these were those who came out of the great tribulation of the last days. They had white robes because they had repented of sins and come to Jesus Christ for cleansing and His righteousness. They had been martyred and now stood in God’s presence cleansed and satisfied by the Good Shepherd who wiped away every tear and gave them living water! Praise His Name forever and ever!
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your mercy and for Your justice. Thank You for showing mercy in the great tribulation to those from all nations who will repent. I have given my body to you to use for Your purposes of reaching the nations and all lost with the Good News of salvation and righteousness in the kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ and His blood. May I worship You through obedience today.
Nehemiah 9:3 “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.”
Who can stand?
Scripture reading for December 8th: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Revelation 6: 12-17 “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great Day of their Wrath has come, and who can stand?”
John is given a vision of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) opening the seven seals on the scroll He received from His Father. As the seals are opened, various judgments fall upon the earth and creation. As the sixth seal is opened, a great earthquake rocks the earth and causes such upheaval that the sun is darkened and the moon turns red like blood from all the shaking on earth. During this shaking, those on the earth from rich to poor hide themselves and call to the rocks to protect them from the wrath of the Lamb and God Almighty. This will be known as the great Day of Wrath. The question the earth-dwellers ask is “Who can stand?” Those so hiding have had opportunity to repent and turn to God for salvation but have refused and now rely on the rocks for protection. They cannot and will not stand on the Day of Wrath.
Psalm 98:2-3 “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing Your salvation and righteousness to me at the ends of the earth. Jesus Christ, Your Son and the Lamb of God is the last and complete revelation to all the earth. Help me today to fight for the souls of my brothers, my sons and daughters, my friends and my compatriots that none may be trusting in rocks but in The Rock, Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord!
Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Worship of the Worthy One
Scripture reading for December 7th: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5
Revelation 5:6-10 “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
John beheld the throne of God and One seated there holding a scroll sealed with seven seals. John began to weep because there was no one to open the scroll when a mighty angel proclaimed that the Lion of the tribe of Judah was worthy! John looked to see Him, and he beheld a Lamb, standing as if He had been slain! This ‘Lamb” had seven horns and seven eyes and He took the scroll. As He did, all the elders and living creatures around the throne fell down to worship in a new song this Worthy One. He was ‘worthy’ because He had been slain and His blood was the ransom for all the people of God. He ransomed them that they might have the kingdom of God and reign with Him on the earth! This new song brought worship from every creature in every place in the universe! Worthy is the Lamb to rule!
Revelation 5:13 “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them saying, “To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Prayer: Father God, Worthy are You and the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ, to receive all worship, honor, glory and praise now and forever and ever! You bought us with Your own Son’s blood and by grace and mercy gave us eternal life as priests and kings in Your eternal kingdom. You answer our prayers and grant us power and favor to witness to the lost of Your eternal plan of salvation and build Your church! Amen!
Nehemiah 1:11, 2:8 “O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your Name, and give success to Your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” . . .’And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.”
A diverse traveling mission
Scripture reading for March 12th: Luke 8
Key Scriptures: Luke 8:1-3 “Soon afterward He went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the Good News of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
Jesus Christ came to earth to reach lost people, beginning with those in Israel. He had been anointed by the Holy Spirit and was given instructions through prayer as to where to go and who to select as His disciples and followers. Great crowds of people gathered to receive His ministry of healing and deliverance and the Good News of the kingdom of God. We have names of several who had received healing and deliverance who traveled with Him and supported the ministry out of their personal finances. One was even a manager in Herod’s house! He acted in total obedience to His Father and His Word went forth and brought fruit for eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Luke 8:20-21 “And He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But He answered them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I am thankful that You called me to follow You and further the Good News of the King and kingdom of God. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and knowledge of Your will for my daily work and witness that I might hear and obey.
Nehemiah 4:6 “So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
Prayer shakes the earth!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Nehemiah 10-13, Revelation 8
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:1-5 “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
As John looked, the Lamb opened the seventh and final seal of the scroll, thought to be the title deed to the earth. This caused a holy hush that lasted a half-hour to come over all in heaven around the throne. Seven angels who serve God were then given seven trumpets and prepared to sound them. Another angel stood at the altar of incense and with a golden censer, offered incense along with the prayers of the saints before God. The angel then took the empty censer and filled it with fire from the altar and in response to the ascended prayers, cast the coals of fire upon the earth with dramatic consequences. Powerful effects of prayer are felt on earth!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, we are told in Scripture to be still and know that You alone are God. We are also told to pray without ceasing. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers that rise with sweet incense before Your throne. Shake the earth and heaven for Your saints!
Nehemiah 12:43 “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”
The multitude in White!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Key Scriptures: Revelation 7:9-12 “After this I looked and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””
John’s attention was taken up next by a great multitude of white-clothed people from every nation and people group of earth. Their garments had been made white by the blood of the Lamb through faith. These were standing around the throne surrounding the multitudes of angels, the elders and the four living creatures. They were declaring the infinite worth of the One seated on the throne and the Lamb from Whom came salvation. The angels, elders, and living creatures prostrated themselves in agreement and worshiped the eternal God of Heaven, declaring His worth in eternal praise!
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I declare You alone are the source of salvation and are eternally worthy of praise and honor. I look forward to dwelling in Your presence and worshiping You for all eternity with the white-robed throngs of heaven brought in from every nation!
Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads ad worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
How long?
Scripture reading for December 8th: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Key Scriptures: Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”
The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, opened the scroll given Him by His Father and began to break open the seven seals. Each seal brought new revelations of judgments falling upon those on the earth. The fifth seal brought a revelation of souls of martyrs resting under the altar in heaven. They were crying out to God, asking how long before the judgment of those on earth would be final. The Lord then gave them white robes and told them to rest a little longer. There were others on earth who would also join them there, resting and clothed in white. The time of the end-time judgments would require patience during the process and testing.
Psalm 98:8-9 “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the judgments of the last days to Your Bride, the Church. Help me to fight for my brothers, my sons, my daughters, wives and homes, even if great suffering or even death comes because of it.
Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Worship the Worthy One!
Scripture reading for December 7th: Nehemiah 1-3, Revelation 5
Key Scriptures: Revelation 5:11-13 “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Worship in heaven is awesome to behold and enter into. John was shown the throne room of heaven and the activity going on there. There was a seven-sealed scroll in the right hand of God. The question went out as to who was worthy to open the scroll and break the seals. No one in heaven or on earth was able to open the scroll or look in it. Then one of the elders spoke, “Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.” As John looked, he saw “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,” the Lord Jesus Christ alone was worthy! Worship flowed as Christ Jesus took the scroll!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy to receive all my worship, allegiance, and service, now and forever and ever! You are the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Lamb slain for my sins and the sins of the world.
Nehemiah 1:5-6 “And I said, “Oh Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God Who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those Who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant that I now pray before You day and night for the people of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.”
Grace through faith!
Scripture reading for June 18th: Nehemiah 13, Esther 1-3, Romans 4
Key Scriptures: Romans 4:19-22 “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about 100 years old) or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Now unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
Paul used the example of Abraham to drive home his argument of justification by faith. Abraham was not declared righteous by keeping the Law. The Law had not yet been given. But Abraham was given a promise that he would become the father of many nations and through his “Seed” all nations would be blessed. He believed God, even when it looked impossible in the natural!
Esther 2:16 “And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, the king loved Esther more than all the women and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the other virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head. . .”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the grace and favor showed to all men through faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to believe Your word and receive all Your promises! Amen.