Haggai Chapter 2 - Building God's Kingdom

Study on the second chapter of the Book of Haggai to learn how God works in & through,

1. Discouraged People

2. Dreadful People

3. Delay & Depletion of Resources

4. Defiled Work & Defiled People

5. Disadvantaged People

 

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Haggai Chapter 2 - Building God's Kingdom from Mariyosh Joseph

Haggai Chapter 1 - Building God's Kingdom

Study on the first chapter of the Book of Haggai to learn the,

1. Chronology of God

2. Concerns of God

3. Concentration of Life

4. Carelessness towards God's work

5. Call of God

 

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Haggai Chapter 1 - Building God's Kingdom from Mariyosh Joseph

Truly Devoted to God & His Work

Meditation from Nehemiah Chapter 5

Through Nehemiah's life we can see the characteristics and priorities of a person whose life is truly committed to the Lord.

1. Redemption : Nehemiah comes to know that the leaders in Jerusalem were oppressing the people & taking interests from them. (5:6-9)
He is angered that the leaders were taking advantage of the people whom he had redeemed.
Because his priority is to redeem the people who are in bondage and not to make money out of them.

2. Rights : As a governor, Nehemiah had the right to enjoy the allotted benefits. But he forego his rights for the sake of the people. (5:14,15)

Am I seeking after my rights, to enjoy or am I sacrificial, for the cause of people? Do I willingly forego my rights or am I upset when I don't receive what rightfully belongs to me?

3. Reward : Nehemiah was devoted to the LORD's work that he did not acquire land for himself. (5:16).

He was not serving to earn property for himself, for he was seeking the eternal not the earthly.

His reward was not the property that he could earn but the eternal reward.

Unless we leave earthly mindedness we cannot inherit the heavenly mind. To leave is to not cling to the earthly possessions or to seek after them.

4. Request (Demand) : So many people were being fed everyday. Yet Nehemiah did not demand even his food allowance. (5:16)

Am I satisfied with what is given or am I demanding? Am I seeing the burdens of people or am I only looking at my requirements?

The life of a person truly devoted to the Lord is no ordinary life; for his or her priorities are not only godly, but God's kingdom and His work centered.

Does your life & priorities exhibit God & God's Work centeredness or self centeredness?

Today's Intercession :

# Pray for the children who are writing the 10th and 12th board exams.

# Pray that they may write without fear and with confidence.

# Pray for their good health and clarity & peace of mind.

# Pray that they may know the living God who holds their future and to be assured in Him.

Have a blessed day!

Kingdom Minded

Meditation from Nehemiah Chapter 2

Nehemiah's life shows the life and works of a person who is minded of God's kingdom and His work.

1. Joy / Sadness : The king had never before seen Nehemiah sad. He was sad because of the condition of Jerusalem (2:1,2)

If we are kingdom minded our joy & sadness will also be for the Kingdom.

2. Requests & Prayers : When the king ask him what he wants, Nehemiah asks not anything for himself. Secondly, he prays to God before he responds (2:4)

The requests of a kingdom minded person are not personal but for the Kingdom and he seeks the will of God in prayer for the requests.

3. Humility : To be kingdom minded is to be humble. Even though Nehemiah had close access to the king, he doesn't misuse it. He seeks the king's favour and does it with all humility (2:5,7)

4. Needs : The needs & requests that Nehemiah lists are pertaining to the rebuilding of the wall and gates and then for the house in which he would live (2:7,8). 

5. Priority : Day and night Nehemiah goes around the city and inspects everything, alone (2:11-15).

If we are kingdom minded we will prioritise God's work irrespective of the time of the day.

6. Influence / Inspiration : After looking at the ruins and the destructive conditions of Jerusalem, Nehemiah does not discourage people, but uses it to influence positively and to inspire people to join together with him in rebuilding (2:17,18).

Do you gossip negatively or inspire people positively towards God's kingdom building?

7. Opposition / Barrier : Even before he started the work, Nehemiah faced opposition. But neither he was discouraged nor he discourages the people, but declares boldly that the Lord will give success and that they will start building (2:19,20).

Nehemiah displays the right attitude to face opposition. When we are building the kingdom of God we will face oppositions, but the Lord will give success, for this is His work.

Develop this attitude of Nehemiah so that the Lord may use to build His kingdom and to inspire people towards God's kingdom building.

Today's Intercession :

# Pray for the new school building which was inaugurated yesterday.

# Pray for the essential works that are yet to be done.

# Pray for cooperation from NTPC management.

# Pray for the name of the Living God to be glorified and for every other barrier to be removed.

# Pray for Kingdom mindedness in all the staff of the school.

Have a blessed day!

Understanding & Fulfilling God's Plan

Meditation from Nehemiah Chapter 1

Nehemiah is a classic example of how God makes us understand & does His plan in & through us.

1. Need / Unfinished Task : Nehemiah hears through the returning Jews the condition of Jerusalem and it burdens him. (1:2,3)

When God's concern becomes our concern, it's the beginning of our understanding of God's call. Are the needs of people & God's kingdom your concern?

2. Intercession : Nehemiah converts the burden into prayer. He weeps, mourns, fasts & prays for days. (1:4)

How is your prayer life? Do you take your burden for the people to the Lord in prayer?

3. Introspection : He also confesses & acknowledges the sins of him & his family. He includes himself as the guilty (1:6,7).

4. Word Restoration : He acknowledges that the word of God was not obeyed and restores priority to the Word and to obey it (1:7,9)

Without prioritising and obeying God's Word we cannot understand His plans & cannot be that person through whom God can accomplish His purposes.

5. Success & Favour : Nehemiah is already successful; he is the cupbearer to the king. What more success he needs? He is asking God to grant success & favour from the king to fulfill the need that which he has seen and is burdened (1:11).

The success of the kingdom of God and in Fulfilling the needs must become our success. The measure of our success is not in our personal growth in career, but in the fulfillment of God's plans & the needs of people.

Have a blessed day!