Olabode Ososami's Blog, page 17
July 28, 2015
A Solemn Assembly
Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner
A solemn assembly is a gathering of people, fasted and sober … prepared to bear spiritual burdens of nations, communities and families before God. On the eighth day, there was a solemn assembly.
Zephaniah 3:18 – “I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. “
Zephaniah spoke of another assembly at a time when the children of God will be under reproach. The late David Wilkerson wrote once
“…According to Zephaniah, the House of God in the Last Days is going to be under reproach. The Hebrew word here means “shame and disgrace”. There is going to be shame and disgrace in the House of God. We are not talking about the backslidden, liberal modern church. . . . The Lord said on the Judgment Day, He will deal with that Church. We can pray for them, but we are not to spend any of our grief on that which is not really the Church. …God is looking for a people who will sorrow and grieve over the reproach that is being fostered on the Church of Jesus Christ in these last days. I am talking about the Church that was born at Pentecost. I am talking about the Church that was born in the teaching of the Apostle Paul and the Apostles. The Church born in the doctrine of the Godhead of Jesus Christ. That born-again Church is under attack. That Church is suffering reproach.
God has a remnant that will not sit idly by while the Church is invaded. God says, “I will have a people that are not going to be satisfied to go their merry way and just ignore what is happening as Charlatans and money-mad false prophets are coming into the House of God and destroying everything in sight.”
Do you have a burden to please God in the Church, in business, in the market, in governance …have you taken those burdens to God in a solemn meeting? Are you of the remnant that will carry burdens that others laugh and giggle about to a God waiting for His Daniels who want to be different for Him …
Verses for further meditation
Joel 1:14 ; Exodus 32
Thoughts for Business and the work place
There is a price to pay for revival. Men sacrificed much … True leaders pay a heavy price
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, raise leaders who will bear the burdens of the present reproach in a solemn assembly. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 27, 2015
Very Great Gladness
Nehemiah 8:17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
There was very great gladness amongst the children of Israel, as they restored divine directives that had been ignored for many years, almost completely forgotten. Recollections and narrations of the great deliverances in the times of Moses and Joshua gave them new hope, knowing God is able to do even more for them. Somehow I suspect they paid less attention to the fact that their disobedience and rebellion against God had always been their undoing … but God is the God of many chances …it was enough that His grace had selected this generation for an awesome revival.
While it is good that we rejoice and are filled with gladness when revival is in the air, this needs to be matched with watchfulness, because the enemy has not gone asleep …and we need to know how he strikes and how to defend the walls that have be rebuilt and the families who now live within.
They were glad because their deliverance from captivity was sealed with the word and celebration of the feast of booths suggesting to them that the God of Abraham was mighty and pleased to bring them safely back. They could now be a unique people again, consecrated to their God, free to practice their faith.
There is every reason to be glad in the knowledge that God is with us and for us. There is every reason to be glad to know that what He has done before He can do again. There is every reason to be glad that we belong to Him totally and completely and He watches over us like the “apple of His eye” … like cherished treasure. Why don’t you sing songs of rejoicing, make new melodies in your heart …and dance to praise and honor Him? But be also watchful.
Note “great gladness” is usually associated with the crowning of admired Kings, special feasts worshipping Jehovah and times of spiritual and political revival. May these times come again.
Verses for further meditation
Psalm 122:1 ; 1 Chron 29:22
Thoughts for Business and the work place
Where the leadership is good, the people are glad. That gladness can be a great gladness.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, give us leaders who will restore community to an era of great gladness.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 26, 2015
Godly Rituals
Nehemiah 8:16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
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We read that all the people made booths as the law required and prepared for the feast. These rituals were symbolic to remind them of their uniqueness forging a unity in their identity as children of Israel. There is nothing unusual about traditions. The children of the devil also have their own rituals and ways …their own traditions, fashions and priorities. You will find their rituals steeped in the fashion, music, worldliness, greed, and obsession with self, exploiting the vulnerable and focus on health, financial and earthy promises of blessings.
The rituals of God point to repentance, godliness, God’s eternity and judgment, love of God etc. You can know which rituals you are involved in. When last were you moved to repent at a Holy Communion devotion? Remember, the ritual is a symbol of greater truths that need to be constantly remembered …just like TV commercials remind us that to stay healthy we need to execrcise. We do not lose weight by watching these commercials. Similarly, unless we respond by repenting/making adjustments to our lives, the grace during Holy Communion has been in vain.
Attending church, camp gatherings, holy communion, special solemn assemblies are important in uniting the family and the body of Christ and for helping us to remain focused on God when so many other distracting modern rituals aim to lead us astray. Without these rituals, you will find yourself easily deceived by the devil’s rituals and gradually justifying the very things you once abhorred … thinking you have found modern perspective.
We thank God that in the covenant of grace, His ways have also been written in our hearts, by His Spirit which leads and guides His children.
Verses for further meditation
Isaiah 55:8-9 ; Hebrews 3:10
Thoughts for Business and the work place
God used biblical traditions and rituals to reinforce His values. Think about the rituals of your organization and whether they reinforce the right values.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, do not allow me to bound in worthless traditions – teach me your ways O Lord.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 25, 2015
As it is Written
Nehemiah 8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
Everything was to be done as it is written. True revival is a fruit of God’s word seeded afresh in our lives. Teachings on Genuine Repentance, White Throne Judgement, Eternal Damnation, Falling in love with Jesus, Pursuit of God, Saving Grace, Holiness, The Power in the Blood of Jesus, The Power in the Name of Jesus and The Wrath of God on Unrepentant Sinners … are all in the word of God to revive us, but to many forgotten or completely lost. The new focus was on what is written and obedience rather than aiming to use God to do what we want.
We should be careful not to be weaned only on nuggets in the word that point to how we can make gains and earthy success while allowing many other things to be forgotten. The whole counsel of God especially the important pillars of repentance are so key, we must go over them over and over again. Reading the gospels and Psalms and Proverbs alone is not enough … the old testament truths have not been abolished and there are many lessons from the trials of Job …and the backsliding of Jonah. So much has been written to guide our lives … wherever we find ourselves playing a role, if only we pay closer attention to what is written in the word … not only what looks easy for us to implement.
Verses for further meditation
Matthew 4:4-12 ; Matthew 21:13
Thoughts for Business and the work place
It is good to rediscover areas of forgotten or missed Bible truths – for application in your workplace.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, give me a fresh hunger for your truth and the grace to obey fully.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 24, 2015
The Wilderness Experience
Nehemiah 8:14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month
For seven days during this feast, it was required that the children of Israel live in booths as a vivid reminder of the days in the wilderness living in tents. These directives had been forgotten and was now being brought to the fore. The feasts were ordained by God to point to important events and learnings from the past to guide them for the present and future. The wilderness experience should never be forgotten, for it proved God’s constant preservation day and night in the desert for decades. It also reminds us of the hard-heartedness of rebels in spite of great deliverances and how God judges stubbornness.
After the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles lasts for seven days. Immediately following this festival is the final, one-day festival we call the eighth day . These events picture the final steps in God’s master plan to bring all of humanity into His eternal family. The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Ingathering and is called Sukkoth by the Jews today. This festival pictures the 1,000-year rule of Jesus Christ on this earth, known as the Millennium which follows after the binding of Satan pictured by the Holy Day of Atonement.
We can be carried away by daily ups and downs and forget the important reality that God has an eternal timetable and we need to have in focus the issues that lead to final events and how we are to prepare …always having oil in our lamps. The leader must have an eternal perspective or he or she will soon be seduced by power and opportunity to sell the soul to those who trade in souls for the devil. Remember that there will be wilderness experiences where we will see God bring water out of the rock if we just trust Him …by not cutting corners.
Verses for further meditation
Leviticus 23:33-39 ; Revelation 20: 1-3
Thoughts for Business and the work place
Do your business with your eyes on God’s Heaven where you have your citizenship
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, let me never forget that there is another fellowship in heaven. Help me to make it there.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 23, 2015
Leadership sessions
Nehemiah 8:13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
Leaders do not eat the same thing as those that will be led. Harder meat with bones is served to the chief of the fathers, priests and scribe. This session is for a deeper understanding of the law of God. You cannot provide leadership to people who are at or above your level in the understanding of what needs to be done. This is the reason why the preparation of the leader is uniquely different and considerably tougher … the leaders are isolated to understand matters that are not covered with the others. This is an important principle.
Organisations have leadership sessions and training programs that are usually far more demanding to prepare and filter out those that can be trusted with the mantle of leadership. Joseph was not trained like his brothers … after his father , Jacob had done what he could, God had to remove him for practical exposures and isolation in Egypt where he was being spiritually prepared to rule. The understanding of leaders must be richer in many regards and their learning deeper and broader. Nehemiah set aside another day … successful organisations know that leadership training is a must. Leaders are justified not by the title, but the depth they exhibit that comes with different exposures and more comprehensive learnings
Verses for further meditation
Matthew 5:1 ; Matthew 9:37
Thoughts for Business and the work place
No one is born a good leader. It takes time, experience and education.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, teach and prepare me to labor in your vineyard.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 22, 2015
Great Mirth
Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
When God’s word is well understood, it will cause a great rejoicing. This does not pamper sin, but because the sinner has grace to find repentance, there is also a great mercy that produces rejoicing. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy … therefore basking in the excitement of divine presence may be good, there is still a warfare, a soberness and a diligent watching. God does not begrudge our moments of mirth, indeed God’s people must be a joyful people … only that mirth should strengthen us to remain in His will.
A good reason to start the day with a time of reading and understanding how to apply the word for the day’s questions, is that it gets you started with the right perspectives. The psalmist declared “this is the day that the Lord had made, I will rejoice and be glad in it ….” and went out to face the Absaloms, Ahitophels and the Shimeis who had other plans. But in God, David survived all the turmoil …because the word of God was hid in his heart. The business and political arena can be very tempestuous … get anchored well in the word before setting out.
Verses for further meditation
Hebrews 6:19 ; Psalm 107:29
Thoughts for Business and the work place
To succeed your mind needs to be fortified with God’s mirth … the right attitude.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, teach me to daily put my trust in you and to constantly find the right attitude and perspectives from your truths.
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 21, 2015
Be Still
Nehemiah 8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
The battle was never ours. There is a peace and stillness we require in the understanding that our fussing and and worrying yield little. Resting on God is not just important but after we have allowed the word of God to open and cleanse the wound that has caused grief, we can expect God to heal and complete His renewal in His way. Wounds can worsen if they are not left alone undisturbed. But when safely in the hands of the healer there is hope. God is capable of awesome reconstructions from even nothing … how much more when we present our situations to Him.
Being still, does not mean being lazy … but these are times of meditation and recharging for tomorrow’s challenges. To see God’s hand, the hands of men needs to be bowed to God’s instructions. We need training in hearing God above the noise of our many meetings and seminars. To discern His redirection or push to move faster or perhaps to simply wait. There is need for days to be set apart for introspection on so many issues once we sense God calling us to the prayer closet. Many questions are answered after stillness … many victories completed while abiding in His peace.
Verses for further meditation
Psalm 46:10 ; Exodus 14:13
Thoughts for Business and the work place
Everything can change if only we have the right instructions and answers.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, replace the grief and panic from disappointments with the peace and stillness from above. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 20, 2015
The Joy of the Lord
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
There is comfort in God and in His graces. God’s people are a joyful people. The gospel of Christ is good news and should be proclaimed. After the bitterness and wounding of conviction, there must be revival and comfort, but this joy is different from the joy of men. There are different joys … indeed many sin happily imagine they have joy, but they are only being fattened for an eternal slaughter. The joy of men comes first … and then great sorrow. But repentance, conviction and sorrow for sin is the first experience of those who will enter into God’s joy. This is a joy which strengthens to complete our divine assignments.
The man or woman who will lead change realizes that there is a strength that men can not diminish or attack, but also that this joy is found only through repentance, the word of God and surrender to Jesus Christ. Just as the word seems to bring to desolation, there is a lifting and a strength that exceeds the might of great lions and the takeoff force of eagles. God’s work cannot be done with human strength. The revival is a supernatural event and every aspect of it be it in business, families, politics or government will be supernatural victories first …and then physical change will take its natural course. Until God’s strength defeats evil hindrances, toiling will only produce little progress. Rejoice in the Lord …go in your strength. His strength.
Deu_33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Verses for further meditation
Exodus 15:2 ; Acts 9:22
Thoughts for Business and the work place
To lead and bring about change to witness deliverance and revival of nations, communities and families … will require supernatural strength.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, strengthen my hands for your ordained purpose. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
July 19, 2015
Conviction
Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
Conviction is a good thing. It is better to weep now and adjust so you will not mourn in the future. The people wept when they saw how far they had deviated from the word of God and how they had displeased God. It takes good teaching and spiritual revelation to be so convicted of wrong. Most will find some comforting justification for their sin … but as the children of Israel were taught concerning God’s holiness and His love for holiness and truth, we observe that all without exception wept …even as Nehemiah had to comfort the people. The word of God must first wound before it heals … hearers of the word of God must first be abased by it before they rise up. The tears come before the celebrations.
It is also better to administer the tough pills as leaders to the people, so they will laugh later … the difficult sacrifices of not consuming the seed must be made so that a harvest in future is reaped. Leaders lead in sacrifice and painful self-correction and can initiate the initial painful realization of need for personal change before things can move forward. Most people apply the blade of the word to others and can dodge the sword’s wounding piercing their own heart. It takes strong and bold teaching to help people admit their errors and be set to admit to the need to make painful personal adjustments.
Be certain your business is on the right side of God’s judgments, for there is a future weeping foretold.
Rev_18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Verses for further meditation
John 16:20 ; Eccle 3:4
Thoughts for Business and the work place
Be certain your business is on the right side of God’s judgments.
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, help me to see the important adjustments you desire to be made in the areas of my influence. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
To subscribe to the devotional, please enter your email address (the left column) above the “subscribe” button (and enter on the green button). God bless you.
Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
