Jesus is the God Almighty

LIVE SERVICE IN FULL

PRAYER - "The Joy Of The LORD Is Your Strength"

When Ezra first read the word of God aloud to the citizens of Jerusalem, everyone wept greatly. The priests ministered to the people so they could understand the words they heard. They admonished everyone not to weep or mourn. "This is a holy day unto the LORD." Celebrate! Have a feast! Do not grieve! Everyone gathered branches and made booths, and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles which had not been celebrated in decades. Sorrow weakens. Joy strengthens. Rejoice!  

Nehemiah 8:10,17 - "Neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ...And there was very great gladness."

PRINCIPALS - "The People Make A Covenant At Jerusalem"

Israel celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with rejoicing. But shortly afterward, the priests called a day of fasting and prayer in sackclothes. One fourth of the day, they listened to the reading of the word. One fourth of the day, they spent confessing their sins. Then they stood and loudly prayed and worshipped the LORD. The Levites rehearsed the story of the Exodus, then called everyone to make a covenant to serve the LORD.

Nehemiah 9:38 - "Because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it."

PRINCIPLES - "A Curse And An Oath To Walk In God's Laws"

The long, hard work of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah at last culminated in a real revival of the fear of God. The people wrote and sealed a covenant to serve the LORD according to His laws. They promised to separate themselves from the ways of their heathen relatives. They promised not to allow their children to marry the heathen. And they promised to pay tithes and give offerings to support the temple and the work of God.

Nehemiah 10:29 - "They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law."

PROPHECIES - "Casting Lots For Their Destiny"

Would you toss a coin to decide where you will live for the rest of your life? That is essentially what the Israelites did. Some volunteered to live in Jerusalem. The rest were chosen by casting lots. One of ten would dwell in Jerusalem. The other nine parts would dwell in other cities. The idea is not unusual. Generations of priests consulted the Urim and the Thummin to decide the will of God. Nothing is by chance.

Nehemiah 11:1 - "The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city."