Nehemiah_10

Scripture Nehemiah 10:39 “We will not neglect the house of our God.”

Observation

 

The rebuilding of the wall was complete. There was celebration, worship, thanksgiving, prayer and fasting, consecration...and a new covenant between God’s people and the Lord.  One of the promises was how they were going to take care of the house of God by giving.

 

Nehemiah 10:39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

 

BETHEL - (beth ha-'elohim), a designation of the sanctuary = "house of Yahweh"  Spiritually, in the New Testament, the "house of God" (oikos theou) is the church or community of believers

 

Understanding

 

God is so good and so worthy of our praise and obedience.  When I think of all God has done, how he has shown himself faithful to me, time and time again. He reveals his love for me by meeting my needs financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He continues to show love as he teaches and disciplines me. 

 

Using my church community at Desert Streams has been one of the main ways God has shown himself to me. My pastors teach the word so I am able to apply it to my life. Serving has created opportunities for me to be discipled by my ministry leaders. 

 

My friends in my church community have prayed for me when I’m in need, they have counseled and ministered to me when I need emotional support. They have been able to come alongside me and offer real life support when my family or I have had a need, whether it is financial or meals or just friendship. 

 

I couldn’t imagine neglecting it. 

 

Application

 

I am so grateful for the church body and all that it has given to me.  Yes, even the conflict with other people is good. Why? As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

 

In what ways has God used the church body in your life? In what ways has God been using Desert Streams church body in your life? In what ways can you bless our church community today? 

• Be grateful:) Say thank you to our pastoral leaders who give their time to teaching the word, counseling, and praying for you. 
• Serve:) Sign up to serve in one of our ministries. Even our house has work to be done. What better house to work in than God’s house:) and alongside our church community. 
• Give:) Give your time, give your gifts and talents, give your finances. In our own homes we establish that all members of the family are contributing members. They give by doing chores, preparing meals, maintaining repairs, paying bills... “It’s always better to give than to receive.”

Should it be any different in our church home? We need all our church community to partner together with God. We can only fulfill our mission together!

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

 

Deborah Lee

Revelation 4

Scripture

 

Revelation‬ ‭4:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

”Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.””

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 Observation-What does it say?

 

The book of Revelation was written in a four fold type of communication (God, Jesus, the Angel and John). It was to reveal what would soon take place. Although John wrote it with his hand, he was essentially the secretary who wrote down everything that was communicated to him through visions and prophecies. In this chapter, the throne in Heaven is revealed to John and all that can be seen is praise and worship to Jesus. First there are 4 living creatures who are singing, then 24 elders, then both, then an innumerable host of angels, then a universal worship of the lamb of God!

 

(Source: Notes from Gary Parker’s Revelation class in Higher Learning several years ago.)

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

The one thing we can be sure of in eternity is that unending praise and worship will erupt to the One who sits on the throne, which is Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King!

 

Imagine John’s wonder and amazement of being given the privilege and honor to see a chorus in Heaven shouting their unending praises to Jesus...it’s purely out of awe for who Christ is and because He alone is worthy. That must have been so humbling and overwhelming which is how I would’ve felt (in a good way), yet the most beautiful sight and powerful sound because it’s worship at its best with Jesus sitting on His rightful throne to top it off! Truly amazing!!

 

Life Application

 

If we were to picture Jesus sitting on His throne, how would that change the way we worship Him today?

 

When we speak about worship, we are not only talking about on stage worship or in the congregation worship, although that’s part of it. We are talking about our worship in our everyday going about at work, in our marriages, with our children, in our relationships, in the way we spend our time and money, and in the way we share our faith.

 

Let’s always be in a mindset of worship, prayer and praise because as the 4 living creatures, 24 elders and hosts of angels taught us in this chapter, He is worthy of it 24-7.

 

We give You honor and praise Jesus for the pure fact that You alone are worthy of all of it! Amen.

 

“...They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

-Michelle Gaddi 

Revelation 3

Scripture

 

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭NLT

 

“Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Jesus tells the church of Sardis to, “Wake up, and stay awake.” He told them that there were certain aspects of their faith and practice that were still alive, but they needed to be more serious about their worship, devotions, and ministry. Jesus was tired of the church of Sardis  just going through the motions. He was calling for a spiritual overhaul. The church had received a revelation from God. Now it’s up to them to put it into practice...before it’s too late!

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

When God reveals to you a problem you are having, it would be a wise of you to fix it.

 

Jesus revealed to John His analysis of the church in Sardis. It would be wise for anyone who receives advice from God to make sure they follow it through. It reminds me of that television show Kitchen Nightmares. In it, a restaurant business isn’t thriving the way it can be. It has potential, but for some reason it’s just not working for them. In comes world renown chef, Gordon Ramsay. He doesn’t hold any punches back. He tells the owner of the restaurant exactly what’s wrong with their establishment, and what they need to fix. Sure the owner of the restaurant is set in their ways and are stubborn of change. But they understand the life of their restaurant depends on it. For the most part, the restaurant owners take the advice of Gordon Ramsay. They begin to see the business flourish. Then months later the show follows up with the restaurant to check up on them. The ones who took the advice and continued to follow through with it were the restaurants who succeeded. Then you have the restaurants who stuck with the advice for a short time, then fell back on their old habits. The same habits that put them in that mess to begin with! Needless to say, those restaurants either continued to struggle, or they flat out died completely. 

 

So are you going to take heed to what God reveals to you in His Word or through His people? Our lives depend on it.

 

Life Application

 

Pray to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you things in your life that may be causing a rift between you and God. Spend a couple of minutes in silence to listen and see what He shows you.

 

“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭6:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

Be obedient to the Holy Spirit and follow through what He asks of us. Have faith that He knows what’s best for us, and watch “our business” thrive the way it should.

 

-Moses Gaddi