Learning from the Past (Message)

GOD has answered my heart's prayer. In adversity again, my ministry was thwarted by discouragement and even wrong assumptions born out disbelief that we as ordinary people could do anything for GOD. I went to church yesterday seeking the LORD to show us direction in this new year and HE answered my heart's cry through the message in Mark 6. This morning's beginnings in Nehemiah is further answer that to do GOD's work HIS way, we need to return once again to Nehemiah, which is where I started on this journey of ministry 10 years ago. I am encouraged and ready to learn again the principles needed to be obedient to the LORD in HIS work to save HIS people with the love of JESUS. I am excited to learn again persistence to see things through in the midst of adversity, within my family circle. I am praising the LORD for answering prayer through HIS divine WORD. mary nicosia

Thanks. Simply, Cally

My husband and I listened to this years ago. It is a good reminder for me to pull out those old CDs. Thanks again.

Pastor Begg makes the statement in this teaching “History cannot be understood without the bible.” The more I study, the more I realize the reverse is also true: The bible cannot be understood without history. This teaching makes the context of Nehemiah 1 clear and alive.

Pastor begins in 1 Samuel 17, with David and Goliath. David followed God and God blessed Israel for David’s 40-year reign.

Next, Solomon, David’s son is made king (1 Kings 2:12). Solomon, however, loved foreign women and their goddesses. God was not pleased, and after Solomon’s reign God split the kingdom in two: north and south.

See 1 King 11:11 and 31. 10 tribes were in the north, Sumeria, and were called Israel. Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant, was the first ruler. 2 tribes went to the south, Jerusalem, and were called Judah. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, was first ruler there. Thereafter, Israel and Judah engaged in civil war.

722 BC: the Asyrians destroy the northern kingdom and some Israelites escape south to Judah. Judah does not follow God, who sends prophet after prophet after prophet to tell them to repent. They do not.

586 BC: Babylon invades Judah and destroys the southern kingdom. Judah now serves Babylon (2 Chronicles 26:30).

539 BC: The Babylonians were destroyed by the Medo-Persians.

Cyrus, in the first year of his reign told Ezra to go rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. BUT, the next Persian king tells Ezra to stop building the wall.

445 BC: Enter Nehemiah the cupbearer, serving King Artaxerxes in the capital city of Suza. Nehemiah’s brother shows up and Nehemiah asks “how are the things of God.” Not so good.

Pastor Begg brings the history alive and reminded me how essential it is to study and understand Nehemiah’s world. The entire book makes so much more sense when this is understood.

Please don’t think that these notes replace Pastor Begg’s sermon. It’s not to be missed, and is a solid foundation for the study of the remaining books of Nehemiah.