The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, “Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ” Jeremiah 30:1-3
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00:00Israel Dilemma, which really fits in with what I've been saying the last two this night and last week
00:06about how God sees Israel, particularly looking at the covenant in the Old Testament
00:11and how it works out in the events which took place.
00:15And it's kind of affirmed, the film actually affirms the fact that these events really took place.
00:19It's got quite a lot about archaeology, history, showing how the Bible is true
00:24and it describes things which really happened.
00:27So that'll be good next Sunday, so do come along to that.
00:31And I'll be doing the This Month in Prophecy, not on the last Sunday in the month, which is next
00:36Sunday,
00:37but the first Sunday in March, so that'll be on the 1st of March.
00:41So if you want to come to the This Month in Prophecy talk, come on the 1st of March
00:45and be looking at current events in the light of prophecy.
00:48And there's quite a lot going on.
00:50In fact, I don't know if you're aware of this, but at this very moment,
00:53American warships are steaming towards the Persian Gulf.
00:57They're threatening to take action against the Iranian regime.
01:01The Iranian regime says if they launch any missiles at us, we're going to hit them straight back
01:05and also hit Israel and the base is roundabout.
01:09And it could bring a huge blowout in that region.
01:15By March 1st, I guess we'll know a bit more about where it's going.
01:18But at the moment, it's a very serious situation and it could be quite unlock a whole chain of events
01:24which could take place.
01:25Or it could just kind of fizzle out.
01:27And I suspect it may just fizzle out.
01:29They may just say, well, we'll come to some kind of agreement and back off.
01:32But I'm not a prophet, so I don't know whether that's going to happen.
01:35But we can see that there are things happening which are tying up with the end time scenario.
01:42Conflict over Israel, centerpiece involving Persia, Iran, which is mentioned in the scriptures, as we know.
01:50And I'm not going to speak on that subject tonight.
01:52I did think about actually doing that, but I thought, no, I'll leave that till later.
01:57But we've got a whole lot of information about how this thing fits in with Bible prophecy
02:02and the end of days.
02:05So, come along next week and the following week and we'll give you more information on it.
02:09Tonight, we're going to look at the subject of Israel's restoration and revival,
02:13which is based upon the book of Nehemiah.
02:16I was looking at Nehemiah chapter 8 last week.
02:18I'm going to read chapter 9 this week and comment on it.
02:24So, as we come to the Word of God, let's just have a word of prayer.
02:28Lord, we realize we live in tumultuous times.
02:30We see things happening which line up with your word, which point to the second coming of Yeshua, Jesus the
02:35Messiah.
02:36We see it all concentrates on the Middle East.
02:38And right now, we see what's happening with America, with Iran, with all the potential blow up there.
02:45We just pray, Lord, you'll have your hand upon this situation,
02:48that you hold back any preemptive move towards Gog and Magog or Armageddon.
02:55And we pray, Lord, that you'll have your hand upon the rulers of these nations.
03:00We think particularly of the Trump administration, which kind of changes its mind from time to time,
03:06and we're not quite sure where they're going.
03:07We just pray that you will intervene and that you'll overrule in any decisions they make.
03:12They'll be right in your sight.
03:14Lord, we pray about the Iranian regime, which itself has committed atrocities in the last weeks,
03:20killing so many of their own people and imposing this antichrist religion of Islam upon their people and upon the
03:29Middle East.
03:29And we pray, Lord, you'll bring down that regime and that you'll help the people who are suffering.
03:34And we pray for the borders of Israel, that you'll keep your people safe in Israel,
03:37and that you'll protect the land of Israel and the people of Israel and turn their hearts to Yeshua.
03:43And pray you bless the reading of your word now in Jesus' name. Amen.
03:48So the subject really is Israel's restoration and revival.
03:52I believe that God has put the events which are taking place in the Middle East together.
03:59It's not random. It's not accidental prophesied in the scriptures.
04:03And yet to many people it appears to be just random and chaotic.
04:08I had a letter from somebody who was criticizing us for taking this stand on Israel.
04:14And they said Israel is a godless country.
04:16They don't believe in Jesus and they're antichrist and you shouldn't be supporting them.
04:20And all sorts of stuff which was actually quite anti-Semitic and quite anti-Israel.
04:26And that's what happens.
04:28And I think, Bobri, you do have to have a balanced view on it.
04:31You have to see that Israel is not perfect and this is really the theme which comes out in this
04:35reading from Nehemiah.
04:36But also that God has his purposes which are about restoration and revival
04:40and ultimately about bringing Yeshua, Jesus, back to this world at the second coming.
04:47If you were here last week when I did Nehemiah chapter 8,
04:51we saw how Ezra, the priest, was raised up after the return of the Jews from Babylon
04:57to lay a spiritual foundation for the returning exiles.
05:01As they came back from Babylon, he was bringing them together to read to them from the Torah,
05:07from the word of God, so that they would build the society not on their own ideas
05:11but on God's view, on God's values, on the scriptures.
05:15And that should be a basis for their restored community.
05:19He was urging them not to make the mistake which previous generations have made
05:22which led to the Babylonian captivity
05:25when they were taken out of the land, back to the land of Babylon, into Babylon
05:29and there they were in captivity in Babylon
05:34because they had neglected the Torah.
05:37They'd chosen other gods.
05:40And in this passage here, in Nehemiah, Ezra is relaying the foundation of the foundation
05:47which would be on the scriptures, on the word of God, which was the correct approach.
05:51I also pointed out last week that there was no such attempt made to lay such a foundation for modern
05:56Israel.
05:59There was even an argument when they declared the state of Israel
06:02and put out the Declaration of Independence
06:04whether they should have the name of God in it at all.
06:08So modern Israel was not founded upon the Bible, on the Torah
06:12even though David Ben-Gurion said that our basis for the land is the Bible
06:19that our mandate is in the Bible.
06:22But he was saying really that the mandate is there
06:25because God chose the Jewish people and he brought them back again to the land of Israel.
06:30But God's not just bringing them back to the land physically
06:32he wants to bring them back to the Lord spiritually.
06:36And that was the case here in the return from Babylon.
06:39Not just to bring them back from Babylon to the land
06:41but also to bring them back to the Lord
06:43and to bring them back on a foundation which was based upon the word of God.
06:48At that time the word of God meant that the covenant was mediated through the Torah
06:53given to Moses.
06:56As I said, if you look today, modern Israel has been reborn
07:00I believe it was a miracle, it was supernatural
07:03it was something which God overruled in the events of men
07:06but at the same time
07:08there's something which has to happen still.
07:11Modern Israel was rebuilt with the basis of different communities
07:15whether they're Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, secular Jews or religious Jews.
07:21The problem is how to build all these together
07:22how to hold them together
07:25how to hold together people of such different views and different culture.
07:29And if you've been to Israel as I have
07:31you may have seen that there is
07:33you go to different parts of Israel
07:34and they're totally different.
07:37You go to Tel Aviv, it's a modern city
07:38it's got all the sort of paraphernalia of modern things
07:42commercialism
07:43also some of the not so good things about modern society
07:46including quite a decadent culture
07:48you go down on the beach in Tel Aviv
07:50and you see girls dressed with not very much
07:52and you see the gay culture
07:54all that stuff is there in Tel Aviv
07:56it's a modern city
07:57with all the things which come from modern cities.
08:01You go a few miles down the road to B'nai Brach
08:03which is a religious Jewish suburb
08:06and you'll see all the men dressed in black
08:08you'll see the women modestly dressed
08:10with a covering over their heads
08:12and you'll see the kosher food laws
08:15Shabbat, Sabbath
08:18firmly kept
08:19and you see a difference between Tel Aviv and B'nai Brach
08:22just a few miles away
08:23totally different kind of culture.
08:26How do you hold these two different views together?
08:28How do you hold these different people together in one country?
08:31What's the basis that it should be on?
08:32What should be the model which Israel should be built on?
08:36In fact from our point of view
08:37both are inadequate.
08:39The secular view is obviously wrong
08:41because it misses out God
08:42and it misses out the Word of God
08:43and it does seem which are not in line with the Word of God.
08:47The religious view is also wrong
08:48because the religious Judaism has
08:50missed the point that Yeshua is the Messiah who's come
08:53and has built a society based upon Orthodox Judaism
08:56which involves not just the Torah
08:59it involves a whole lot of rabbinic teachings
09:00which are added onto the Torah
09:02and which become more important sometimes than the Bible itself.
09:06In fact I once talked to an Orthodox Jew around here
09:09and he said that our religion is 90% Talmud
09:12that's the rabbi's writings
09:1310% Tanakh, that's the Bible.
09:16In other words our religion is based upon
09:18what the rabbis say
09:20what has been written in the post-Christian era
09:24after Jesus has come actually
09:25and the Talmud was written about 300 AD
09:28to 500 AD
09:29and those things are much more important
09:31to many Orthodox Jews than the Bible itself.
09:35I repeated that 90% to another Orthodox Jew
09:37and he said no you're wrong there
09:38it should be 99% for the Talmud
09:40and 1% for the Tanakh.
09:42Now I think that's probably an exaggeration
09:44they do read the Bible
09:45they do base it on the Bible
09:46they read the Bible in the synagogue services
09:48but when it comes to practice
09:50much more study is planned upon
09:52the rabbinic teachings
09:54which are additions to what God says in His Word.
09:58so you've got two foundations
10:00both of which are wrong
10:02now God's view
10:03God's view through all of this
10:04is that He wants to build a foundation
10:06upon Yeshua the Messiah
10:08because we now live
10:09in the time of the New Covenant
10:11so as the Jews have been scattered
10:14in fact
10:15Jesus said they were going to be scattered
10:17in Luke chapter 19
10:20as Jesus was riding into Jerusalem
10:22on the day we call Palm Sunday
10:23or the Triumphal Entry
10:25he stopped halfway down the Mount of Olives
10:27he looked over Jerusalem
10:28and he said
10:30these words in Luke chapter 19
10:35verse 41
10:36as he drew near
10:37he saw the city and wept over it
10:39saying if you had known
10:40even you especially in this your day
10:41the things that make for your peace
10:43but now they're hidden from your eyes
10:45days will come upon you
10:46when your enemies will build an embankment
10:48around you
10:49surround you and close you in
10:50on every side
10:51and level you and your children
10:53within you to the ground
10:54they will not leave in you
10:55one stone upon another
10:56because you did not know
10:58the time of your visitation
11:00so here Jesus prophesies
11:02before it happened
11:03the event which is going to take place
11:0440 years later
11:05when the Romans would indeed
11:08surround Jerusalem
11:08after the Jewish revolt
11:09they would then destroy
11:11the city of Jerusalem
11:12and begin the great dispersion
11:14of the Jewish people
11:15into the nations
11:17and Jesus gave a reason for this
11:19he said because you did not know
11:20the time of your visitation
11:22so what does he mean by that
11:25the time of your visitation
11:26is the time when Yeshua
11:27the Messiah is coming
11:28in fulfilment of Bible prophecy
11:30to be the suffering servant
11:33if you recognise him as the Messiah
11:34you're going to be in a right relationship
11:36with God
11:36if you don't
11:37then you're going to miss out
11:38on what God is doing
11:39in the new thing he's doing
11:40through the new covenant
11:41he's saying to Jerusalem
11:43if you don't accept Yeshua
11:44as the Messiah
11:44then you're going to be out
11:46of that relationship with me
11:48and as a result
11:49going on in chapter 21
11:51he says that Jerusalem
11:51is going to be trodden down
11:52of the Gentiles
11:53and the Jewish people
11:54are going to be scattered
11:55throughout the nations
11:57but they're not going to remain scattered
11:59he says they're going to come back again
12:00and the Bible tells you
12:02they're going to be a return
12:03a restoration
12:04and we're living in that time
12:05of the restoration right now
12:08and the question is
12:09what should the returning nation
12:10be built upon
12:11what should be the foundation
12:13should it be upon
12:14rabbinic Judaism
12:14should it be upon
12:15secular Zionism
12:16or should it be upon
12:18Yeshua the Messiah
12:20and actually the events
12:21which are taking place
12:21the last day's events
12:23or the troubled things
12:24which are taking place
12:24are actually pushing
12:25the nation towards
12:27the fulfillment
12:27which will come with
12:29Jesus the Messiah
12:30returning
12:33Zechariah chapter 12
12:34it says
12:34when the armies gathered
12:35together against Jerusalem
12:36they should look upon me
12:37whom they have pierced
12:38and mourn for him
12:39as for an only son
12:41and then the Holy Spirit
12:42is going to be poured out
12:42upon them
12:43so when you see an army
12:45gathering together
12:45against Jerusalem
12:46going to cause trouble
12:48and there's going to be
12:48a revelation of Yeshua
12:50Jesus the Messiah
12:51to the people
12:52that remain in Jerusalem
12:56okay so going back
12:57to Nehemiah
12:58what has this got to do
12:59with Nehemiah
13:00well why I chose
13:02this passage in Nehemiah
13:03because Nehemiah
13:04was a time
13:06when the Jewish people
13:07were being restored
13:08after the captivity
13:09in Babylon
13:10as I said
13:11in chapter 8
13:13Ezra
13:13who's a priest
13:14is raised up
13:14to tell the people
13:15how they should live
13:16in this restored situation
13:20and these chapters
13:21chapter 8
13:21and chapter 9
13:22they describe
13:22a genuine revival
13:24of faith
13:26a lot of Christians
13:27today get excited
13:27about revival
13:28and revivalism
13:29you hear people saying
13:30we're living in a time
13:31of revival
13:33well we're living
13:35in a time
13:35when people are getting saved
13:36that's good
13:39there's a lot of
13:40falling away
13:41as well
13:42in fact there's much
13:43more falling away
13:43in the church
13:44that I see
13:44than revival
13:45but we do believe
13:47there is going to be
13:47some form of revival
13:49in the last days
13:50people turning to Christ
13:52I don't believe
13:52there's going to be
13:53this revival
13:53which the revivalists
13:55talk about
13:55in which we're going
13:56to take over
13:56the nations
13:56and rule
13:57for Jesus
13:58before the second coming
13:59because that's only
14:00going to happen
14:01after the second coming
14:03but we can believe
14:03God for many people
14:04to be saved
14:05but a lot of
14:06what they call revival
14:07is kind of
14:08froth and bubble
14:09and it doesn't actually
14:10get to the heart
14:11of the matter
14:11look at this passage
14:12which we read
14:13in Nehemiah chapter 8
14:15last week
14:17describes a genuine
14:18revival taking place
14:20and the features
14:21which you see in it
14:22are return to the Torah
14:23to the book of the law
14:24of Moses
14:25which God commanded
14:27through Moses
14:29and the reading
14:30of the law
14:30publicly to the people
14:31and they take note of it
14:33probably what they read
14:34was the book
14:35of Deuteronomy
14:36the book that Moses
14:37read to the people
14:38before they entered
14:39into the promised land
14:40in chapter 8
14:41we saw how Ezra
14:42brings a public
14:43reading of the law
14:44to this assembly
14:45of men and women
14:47and he says
14:48that they were
14:48very attentive
14:49to the book
14:49of the law
14:51he stood on
14:51a platform
14:52of wood
14:53an elevated pulpit
14:54to be seen
14:55and heard
14:55as he delivered
14:56this message
14:58and the people
14:58stood up
14:59out of respect
14:59for the book
15:00of the law
15:01and they worshipped
15:02God as they read
15:02the book
15:03and we talk
15:04about worship
15:05one of the features
15:07of worship
15:07actually is
15:07reading and hearing
15:09the word of God
15:10because when we read
15:10and hear the word
15:11of God
15:11when we're
15:13having a communication
15:14from God
15:14who gave the word
15:16and we return it
15:17by worshipping him
15:18and giving glory
15:18to the Lord
15:21interesting details
15:22in chapter 8
15:23how Ezra is helped
15:24by assistants
15:25who explain it
15:25to the people
15:26and give the sense
15:27of it
15:28so part of the job
15:29of preaching
15:30is not just to read
15:31and to preach on it
15:33it's to make people
15:33understand what it means
15:35so Ezra was telling
15:36people what these
15:37things mean
15:37how to apply it
15:38to your life
15:40and people
15:41were responding
15:43first response
15:44actually was to
15:45weep
15:46when they heard
15:47the words
15:47of the book
15:48of the law
15:49so why would
15:49they weep
15:51well they wept
15:51because they saw
15:52how far
15:53they had fallen
15:53short of what
15:54God required
15:55and when we
15:56understand God's
15:57holiness
15:57we understand
15:58God's truth
15:59we realise
16:00that we fall
16:00short of it
16:01and we realise
16:02that in one sense
16:03we're in trouble
16:05there's a God
16:05who is holy
16:06we're not holy
16:07and as the Israelites
16:08heard this message
16:09they realised
16:09that this was
16:10their condition
16:11but God's also
16:12saying there is
16:13a solution
16:13to this
16:15and in fact
16:15in Nehemiah
16:16he says
16:16that you should
16:17not weep
16:17you should rejoice
16:18because now
16:18you're having
16:19the foundation
16:20relayed again
16:20now you have
16:21the opportunity
16:22to put things
16:23right with God
16:24and if you put
16:24things right
16:25with God
16:25then God's
16:26not going
16:26to be angry
16:26with you anymore
16:27God's going
16:27to bless you
16:28and God's
16:28going to keep you
16:28and God's
16:29going to build you up
16:30that of course
16:31is a message
16:31to all of us
16:32as well
16:34how many of you
16:35read the word of God
16:36and think
16:36hey I don't do that
16:37I've fallen short of it
16:39how many people feel
16:41you know
16:41sometimes when you
16:42read the word of God
16:42you actually feel
16:43quite condemned by it
16:45well you should
16:46feel convicted
16:47actually not condemned
16:48because when you
16:49feel convicted
16:50then the Holy Spirit
16:51will tell you
16:51what to do about it
16:53and sometimes
16:53when we hear
16:54the word of God
16:54and it convicts us
16:55then say
16:57okay Lord
16:57what do I do about it
16:58and God will show us
16:59what we do about it
17:01the devil actually
17:02just like to condemn us
17:03and make us feel terrible
17:05and tell us
17:06that there's no way out
17:07there's always a way out
17:08with God
17:09no matter what we've done
17:10in the past
17:11if we confess our sins
17:12he's faithful and just
17:13to forgive us our sins
17:14and the blood of Jesus
17:15the Messiah
17:16will cleanse us
17:17from all unrighteousness
17:18and he gives us
17:19the Holy Spirit
17:20and help us to
17:20read a new life
17:21and that's really what
17:23the theme in this passage
17:24is about
17:25and they should rejoice
17:26because they're hearing
17:27the word of God
17:28and the word of God
17:29is giving them light
17:31so that's the background
17:32let's read chapter 9
17:33chapter 9
17:34I'm going to do this
17:35in sections
17:35because it's quite
17:36a long chapter
17:36and there are relevant
17:38things to say
17:38as we read through it
17:40so that's the background
17:42they're reading
17:43the word of God
17:43they're actually keeping
17:44the feast of tabernacles
17:45which is an 8 day feast
17:46and as they keep this feast
17:48every day
17:49they're hearing
17:50the word of God
17:50and being added to
17:51as they read
17:52God's word
17:54okay chapter 9
17:55verse 1
17:59now on the 24th day
18:00of this month
18:01the children of Israel
18:01were assembled
18:02with fasting
18:03in sackcloth
18:04and with dust
18:04on their heads
18:06and those of Israelite
18:08lineage
18:08separated themselves
18:09from all foreigners
18:10and they stood
18:11and confessed their sins
18:12of the iniquities
18:13of their fathers
18:14and they stood up
18:15in their place
18:16and read from the book
18:17of the law
18:17of the Lord their God
18:19for one another
18:20for one fourth
18:22of the day
18:22and for another fourth
18:24they confessed
18:24and worshipped
18:25the Lord their God
18:28okay we'll take it
18:28in sections
18:29because it's quite long
18:29the first passage here
18:30says that as they heard
18:32the word of God
18:32they assembled
18:34with fasting
18:34sackcloth
18:35and dust
18:35on their heads
18:37quite a strong reaction
18:39why did they do that
18:40because as I said
18:41the word of God
18:42was convicting them
18:43they were sensing
18:44their sin
18:44and they were sensing
18:45they had to
18:45get right with God
18:47so they were
18:47humbling themselves
18:48before the Lord
18:51also said
18:52they separated themselves
18:53from all foreigners
18:55does that mean
18:56they were being racist
18:56and not having
18:57to do with anyone
18:58who was not
18:58of their
19:00past
19:01path
19:01no they were
19:02actually separating
19:03themselves from those
19:04who were worshipping
19:05other gods
19:06and that was an
19:07important part of their
19:09rededication to God
19:09that they should not
19:10be linked up
19:12with people who were
19:13in some kind of
19:14false religious system
19:17or leading a way
19:19of life which was
19:19contrary to the way
19:20which God wanted
19:21them to live
19:22and there's a place
19:23for us to be
19:23separate
19:24separate from
19:25influences
19:26and from people
19:26who would lead
19:27us astray
19:27they did this
19:30and they
19:32as they did this
19:33they confessed
19:34their sins
19:35before the Lord
19:37and
19:38as they stood
19:39and confessed
19:39their sins
19:40so God
19:41would
19:42receive their
19:43confession
19:44and
19:45in the New Testament
19:46we're told
19:46that we should
19:47confess our sins
19:48not to a priest
19:49not to me
19:50but to God
19:50if we confess
19:52our sins
19:52it says
19:52he's faithful
19:53and just
19:53to forgive us
19:54our sins
19:54and the blood
19:55of Jesus
19:56our Saviour
19:58will cleanse us
19:58from all sin
19:59so there is a place
20:01for confession
20:02and there's a place
20:03for receiving
20:04forgiveness
20:05and new life
20:06through Jesus
20:06the Messiah
20:09then they
20:10embark on the
20:11story of Israel's
20:12history
20:12in fact from
20:13chapter 5
20:14through to chapter 38
20:15from verse 5
20:16to 38
20:16there is a long
20:18passage
20:18which records
20:19and recounts
20:20history of Israel
20:21in the Bible
20:22through the Torah
20:26and this also
20:26shows the truth
20:27of the Bible
20:30these are events
20:31which really happen
20:32they're not just
20:33stories which are
20:34made up
20:34after the event
20:35we believe that
20:36the Bible events
20:37truly happen
20:38and they show
20:38that God
20:39who made us
20:40is active
20:41in his world
20:42he's not just
20:43switched on
20:44sort of
20:45machine
20:45which will then
20:46run itself out
20:47he is actively
20:48involved
20:49in the world
20:49which he created
20:50and he's involved
20:51through his people
20:55also
20:56when you recount
20:57the history of Israel
20:58it recounts both
20:59the good and the bad
21:01which tells me also
21:02that it's true
21:02if you look at other
21:04stories from ancient
21:05histories
21:05they always tell you
21:06just the great victories
21:07they've done
21:07and how wonderful
21:07things they've done
21:09Israel's history
21:10tells you
21:11the good things
21:12that God has done
21:12for them
21:13but also
21:13the bad things
21:14that they've done
21:15and it tells you
21:16that this is
21:16part of their history
21:19and there are
21:20lessons to be learned
21:20from it
21:22okay so let's look
21:23at chapter
21:249 verse 5
21:27it says
21:27the Levites
21:28Yeshua
21:28Kadmiel
21:29Bani
21:31Hashabaniah
21:32Sherebiah
21:33Hodiah
21:34Sherebin
21:36Sherebaniah
21:36and Petathiah
21:39said
21:40stand up
21:41and bless
21:41the Lord
21:42your God
21:42forever and ever
21:43blessed be your
21:44glorious name
21:45which is exalted
21:46above all blessing
21:47and praise
21:47you alone are God
21:49you have made the heaven
21:50the heavens of heavens
21:51with all their hosts
21:52the earth
21:53and everything that is
21:54and everything on it
21:55the seas
21:56and all that is in them
21:57and you preserve them all
21:59the host of heaven
22:00worships you
22:02so we start off
22:03with a general
22:04thanksgiving to God
22:05God is to be praised
22:06and blessed forever
22:08why is he to be praised
22:09and blessed forever
22:09because he is the maker
22:10of heaven and earth
22:13I actually believe
22:14that the first verse
22:15of the Bible
22:15is true
22:15in the beginning
22:16God created the heavens
22:18and the earth
22:18I hope you do
22:19a lot of people tell you
22:21that it came about
22:21by a big bang
22:22and all sorts of stuff
22:23millions of years ago
22:24or billions of years ago
22:26the Bible tells you
22:27it was made
22:29by God
22:30who is the creator
22:31who deserves therefore
22:32to be praised
22:32and worshipped
22:33forever
22:34and when you take out
22:35the creation
22:36then you end up
22:38worshipping
22:38the thing which is made
22:40rather than the one
22:41who made it
22:41and you end up
22:42with all kinds of
22:43false things being taught
22:44as Paul teaches
22:46in Romans chapter 1
22:49he's the maker
22:50of heaven and earth
22:51heavens
22:52the heavens actually
22:53the heavens in the plural
22:56our Hebrew word
22:57is shamayim
22:58it's a plural word
22:59means that there is
23:00a heavenly host
23:01which is
23:02the universe
23:03there's also
23:04a heavenly place
23:05where God dwells
23:06there's even a place
23:07where Satan dwells
23:08actually in heavenly realms
23:09according to Ephesians
23:10chapter 6
23:11but God created
23:13the heavens
23:13he created the earth
23:14he created all things
23:15and he needs to be worshipped
23:17he needs to be prayed
23:19we need to pray to him
23:20he's also actively
23:22concerned for his creation
23:24he intervenes
23:25and makes himself known
23:27there's a communication
23:29between heaven and earth
23:30between God
23:31and his chosen people
23:32working through his prophets
23:34his priests
23:34and even the kings of Israel
23:37and today
23:38this God
23:38who we believe in
23:39is a God
23:39who communicates
23:40he wants to communicate
23:41his word to us
23:42he wants us to hear his word
23:44he wants us to act upon it
23:45he's not just a God
23:46who is absent
23:48and who's set the world
23:49in motion
23:49and just left it
23:50to go on with itself
23:51God remains concerned
23:52and involved
23:53in his world
23:55and he's going to become
23:56even more involved
23:57when Jesus comes back again
23:59but that's another story
24:00we won't get into that
24:01but God is concerned
24:02and God is working
24:03through his people
24:04in his world
24:05and he's communicating
24:10these are all truths
24:11which we need to remember
24:13let's move on
24:14chapter
24:15verse 7 and 8
24:17you are the Lord God
24:18who chose Abraham
24:19brought him out of the
24:20era of the Chaldeans
24:21and gave him the name Abraham
24:23you found his heart
24:24faithful before you
24:24and made a covenant
24:25with him
24:26to give him the land
24:26of the Canaanites
24:27the Hittites
24:28the Amorites
24:29the Perizzites
24:30the Jebusites
24:30and the Gagashites
24:32to give it to all
24:33to give it to his descendants
24:34you perform your words
24:36for you are righteous
24:39ok so God's intervention
24:40involved choosing
24:41a man called Abraham
24:42who had his name
24:44changed to Abraham
24:45which means
24:45father of the people
24:48Abraham was a man
24:49of faith
24:49who believed God
24:50and it was counted to him
24:51for righteousness
24:53and because of his
24:54faithfulness
24:55God made a covenant
24:56with him
24:56if God makes a covenant
24:58that means it's something
24:58which God is going to keep
25:00God's covenants
25:01are not just
25:03sort of casual
25:04arrangements
25:04they're things
25:06which God commits
25:06himself to
25:07which God is going
25:08to keep
25:08by his word
25:10and by his
25:11power
25:13it's an agreement
25:14which cannot be broken
25:15from God's side
25:17and there are two things
25:18which God
25:18specifically promised
25:20to Abraham
25:20he'd give him
25:21a multitude of descendants
25:22as many as the stars
25:23in heaven
25:23stand on the seashore
25:25and also the covenant
25:26deeds of possession
25:27of the land
25:28upon which he was
25:29a stranger
25:29the land of Canaan
25:31also the land of Israel
25:33and if you look
25:34in the passages
25:35we deal with this
25:36Genesis 15
25:37through to Genesis 17
25:40and other passages
25:41later on in the Torah
25:42that covenant
25:44from God's point of view
25:45is unconditional
25:47so it doesn't depend
25:48upon Abraham
25:49it depends upon God
25:50keeping his word
25:52if you go to
25:53Genesis chapter 17
25:55and verse 7
25:57verse 4
25:59God says
26:00as for me
26:00behold my covenant
26:01is with you
26:02you shall be a father
26:03of many nations
26:03no longer shall
26:04your name
26:05be called Abraham
26:06your name shall be
26:07Abraham
26:08for I have made you
26:09a father of many nations
26:11I'll make you
26:11exceedingly fruitful
26:12I'll make nations
26:14of you
26:15and kings shall come
26:16from you
26:16and I will establish
26:18my covenant
26:18between me and you
26:19and your descendants
26:20after you
26:21and their generations
26:22for an everlasting covenant
26:23to be God to you
26:25and your descendants
26:25after you
26:27also I give to you
26:28and your descendants
26:28after you
26:29the land in which
26:30you are a stranger
26:31all the land of Canaan
26:32as an everlasting possession
26:34and I will be their God
26:36so God's making
26:37some pretty strong statements here
26:39he's going to say
26:39that to you Abraham
26:40and to your descendants
26:41I'm giving the title deeds
26:43of ownership
26:43of this land
26:46and God's going to remember
26:48his covenant
26:49Psalm 105
26:50it says he is
26:52this is Psalm 105
26:53verse 7
26:54he's the Lord our God
26:55his judgments are
26:56on all the earth
26:57he remembers his covenant
26:58forever
26:59the word which he commanded
27:00for a thousand generations
27:02the covenant which he made
27:03with Abraham
27:04and his oath to Isaac
27:06and he confirmed it
27:07to Jacob for a statute
27:08to Israel
27:09as an everlasting covenant
27:10saying to you
27:11I will give the land
27:12of Canaan
27:13as the allotment
27:14of your inheritance
27:16notice this
27:16to Abraham
27:17to Isaac
27:19and to Jacob
27:21not to Abraham
27:22and Ishmael
27:23to Abraham
27:23Isaac and Jacob
27:24so the covenant
27:26is with
27:26one son of Abraham
27:28Isaac
27:30transferred
27:31to his son
27:32Jacob
27:33which lends it down
27:35to the children
27:36of Israel
27:37so the covenant
27:38is with Abraham
27:39his descendants
27:39through Isaac
27:41and Jacob
27:41in other words
27:42the children
27:42of Israel
27:43he says
27:44to them
27:44I've given you
27:45the covenant
27:46deeds
27:47of control
27:48over this
27:48of ownership
27:49of this land
27:49the land
27:50of which you
27:50are a stranger
27:52a lot of people
27:52say that's unfair
27:53why should God
27:54do that
27:55well it's God's
27:57world
27:57and he can do
27:57what he wants
27:58with his world
27:58and he says
27:59because I loved you
28:00I set my seal
28:01upon you
28:01and I've given you
28:02this land
28:03so don't argue
28:04with God
28:04just accept
28:05what God says
28:07and this covenant
28:08is unconditional
28:09and it's going
28:10to last
28:11for a long time
28:12in fact
28:12according to
28:13Jeremiah 31
28:13it's going to
28:14last as long
28:14as the sun
28:15and the moon
28:16and the stars
28:17are shining
28:17in the heavens
28:19so as long
28:20as the universe
28:20exists
28:22Israel
28:22this covenant
28:23is going to be
28:24in place
28:26and that's the
28:27basis upon which
28:27I believe
28:28the present
28:29restoration
28:29is taking place
28:31God has brought
28:32the people
28:32back to the land
28:34the purpose
28:34actually ultimately
28:35is for them
28:36to be restored
28:36to Yeshua
28:37to the Messiah
28:37and Jesus
28:38the Messiah
28:39is going to
28:39come back again
28:40this time
28:41as King of Kings
28:41and Lord of Lords
28:42come back to the
28:44Mount of Olives
28:44outside Jerusalem
28:45and set up his throne
28:46during the millennial period
28:48for a thousand years
28:49reigning from Jerusalem
28:52that's why it's important
28:53that's why what's happening
28:54is important
28:54and it's based upon
28:55the word of God
28:58okay let's move on
28:59verse 9
29:00of chapter 9
29:03back to Nehemiah
29:04you saw
29:04the affliction
29:05of our fathers
29:06in Egypt
29:06heard their cry
29:08by the Red Sea
29:08you showed signs
29:09and wonders
29:10against Pharaoh
29:11against all his servants
29:12against all the people
29:13of the land
29:15for you knew
29:16that they acted
29:16proudly against you
29:17so you made a name
29:18for yourself
29:19as it is this day
29:20you divided the sea
29:21before them
29:22so they went through
29:23the midst of the sea
29:24on dry land
29:25and their persecutors
29:27you drew into the deep
29:28as a stone
29:29into the mighty waters
29:31wherever you led them
29:32by day
29:33with a cloudy pillar
29:34and by night
29:35with a pillar of fire
29:37to give them light
29:38on the road
29:38which they should travel
29:41okay so you have
29:41the miracle of the Exodus
29:43that God brought them
29:45out of Egypt
29:46where they'd been
29:46afflicted as slaves
29:47God saw their distress
29:49and brought them out
29:50and made them a people
29:53taking them through the sea
29:56on dry land
29:57and leading them
29:58through the wilderness
29:59in the pillar of fire
30:00and the pillar of cloud
30:02again this shows
30:03that God is active
30:04on behalf of his people
30:05he's not just a distant God
30:07he's a God
30:07who involves himself
30:08in human affairs
30:10and the Exodus
30:11and what comes after it
30:13is one of the great
30:13interventions of God
30:14which shows that God
30:16is active
30:16in this world
30:17in the events
30:18which take place
30:19in this world
30:20through his people
30:23moving on
30:23verse 13
30:24you came down
30:25also on Mount Sinai
30:26and spoke to them
30:27from heaven
30:28gave them just ordinances
30:29and true laws
30:30good statutes
30:31and judgments
30:32you made known to them
30:33your holy Sabbath
30:34and commanded them
30:35precepts
30:36statutes and laws
30:37by the hand of Moses
30:38your servant
30:39you gave them bread
30:40from heaven
30:41for their hunger
30:41and brought them water
30:42out of the rock
30:43for their thirst
30:44and told them to go in
30:45and to possess the land
30:46which you had sworn
30:48to give them
30:48to give them
30:51we come to the next part
30:52of the covenant now
30:54so God
30:55then makes a covenant
30:56with them
30:58through the event
30:59which took place
30:59at Mount Sinai
31:01God gave them
31:02good laws
31:02and good statutes
31:04so if God is good
31:06he's going to give people
31:06something which is good
31:07to live by
31:08so he gives them
31:09a whole
31:10he gives them
31:11first of all
31:11the ten commandments
31:13then a list
31:14of other commandments
31:14which they're to follow
31:15as they go into the land
31:18and this is part
31:19of the covenant
31:19as well
31:22last time
31:23we did read this verse
31:24but I'll read it again
31:25in Exodus chapter 24
31:27Moses comes down
31:28from the mountain
31:28reads to the people
31:29the ten commandments
31:31and all the words
31:32which the Lord
31:32had given to him
31:34we go to Exodus 24
31:36verse 3
31:38it says
31:38Moses came and told
31:39the people
31:39all the words of the Lord
31:40and all the judgments
31:41and all the people
31:42answered with one voice
31:43and said
31:43all the words
31:44which the Lord
31:44has said
31:45we will do
31:46Moses wrote
31:47all the words
31:47of the Lord
31:48and he rose
31:49early in the morning
31:50and built an altar
31:51at the foot of the mountain
31:52and twelve pillars
31:53according to the twelve
31:54tribes of Israel
31:55and he sent young men
31:56of the children of Israel
31:57who offered burnt offerings
31:58and sacrificed peace offerings
32:00of oxen to the Lord
32:02and Moses took
32:03half of the blood
32:05half the blood
32:05and put it in basins
32:06and half the blood
32:07he sprinkled on the altar
32:08then he took the book
32:09of the covenant
32:10and read it
32:10in the hearing of the people
32:11and they said
32:12all that the Lord
32:13has said we will do
32:14and be obedient
32:16Moses took the blood
32:17sprinkled it on the people
32:18and said
32:19this is the blood
32:20of the covenant
32:20which the Lord
32:21has made with you
32:22according to all
32:23these words
32:25okay so there was
32:26this side of the covenant
32:27is actually conditional
32:29God now says
32:30I'm giving you these words
32:31this covenant
32:32this is my law
32:33you should keep it
32:34and you should
32:34accept it
32:35and obey it
32:36and the people says
32:37all that the Lord
32:38has said we will do
32:39and be obedient
32:41did they mean it
32:43I think they did
32:44did they keep it
32:45no they didn't
32:47and that's the problem
32:48of the human race
32:49God gives us his law
32:50he gives us his covenant
32:52we respond to it
32:53we want to do it
32:54but there's something
32:55which is opposing
32:55which causes us
32:56to break these words
32:58but God's saying here
32:59that if you keep my word
33:00if you do according
33:01to what I'm saying
33:02I'm going to look after you
33:02I'm going to be your God
33:03you're going to go
33:04into the land
33:05you're going to be
33:05blessed in the land
33:06and I'm going to be
33:08with you
33:10he shows this
33:11by leading them
33:11in the pillar of fire
33:12and the pillar of smoke
33:13providing for them
33:14with the manor
33:15in the wilderness
33:15all these things
33:16which he does
33:17which shows them
33:17that God is with them
33:18and God is going to keep them
33:19and God is going to bless them
33:21and their condition
33:23what he asks them to do
33:24is to obey
33:24to keep the words
33:25of the Lord
33:27now there's a parallel
33:28with our experience
33:29as well isn't there
33:30God wants to bless us
33:31he wants to do good to us
33:33he wants us to
33:35be a joyful people
33:36to be a people
33:37who have
33:38our needs provided for
33:39he wants us to be blessed
33:41but there's a condition
33:42we have to
33:43do what he tells us to do
33:45and if we don't do
33:46what God tells us to do
33:47then we can't be
33:48we can't complain really
33:50if
33:51things go badly for us
33:54and
33:54you know
33:54I can see in my own life
33:55times when I've
33:57obeyed the Lord
33:57God's blessed me
33:58times when I've disobeyed
33:59the Lord
33:59and done things
34:00which I shouldn't do
34:01trouble's come into my life
34:04if trouble comes into our life
34:05because we disobey
34:06it's not the end of the story
34:07some people say
34:08well you're finished then
34:09if you
34:10break God's laws
34:11no
34:12you confess your sin
34:13and you put it right
34:14you start going God's way
34:15but there is this condition
34:17and that's very important
34:21and you look through Deuteronomy
34:23it's clear that
34:24in the whole of Deuteronomy
34:25God's saying
34:26keep my commandments
34:26be blessed
34:27disobey me
34:28come under my judgment
34:33it also says here
34:34that he gives him
34:35the Sabbath
34:37Sabbath was given
34:38actually exclusively
34:39to Israel
34:40as a sign of Israel's
34:41acceptance of the Torah
34:44the only one of the
34:45Ten Commandments
34:46which is not restated
34:47in detail
34:47in the New Testament
34:50is there in the New Testament
34:52but you find there are
34:53kind of adaptions to it
34:54and I don't believe
34:54that we are actually
34:55under the law
34:56to keep the legal
34:57Sabbath
34:58otherwise we should be
35:01probably having our meetings
35:02on Saturday
35:02not Sunday
35:03and we should be
35:05not working at all
35:06during that day
35:07and you shouldn't be
35:08traveling in your cars
35:09and doing all that stuff
35:10that's another story
35:12but it was given to Israel
35:13as a sign to them
35:14and as Israel kept
35:16the Sabbaths
35:16so they were showing
35:18obedience to the Lord
35:19and he was blessing them
35:20and you see right
35:21through the prophets
35:21he tells them
35:22to keep the Sabbath
35:23to keep it holy
35:25to the Lord
35:26and we should have a day
35:27when we keep it holy
35:28to the Lord
35:29and we learn from the Lord
35:30set a path for God
35:32we don't have to keep
35:33the legal Sabbath
35:34as given in the Torah
35:36but the principle is there
35:38to have a day
35:38set aside to the Lord
35:39a day also to rest
35:40from our everyday work
35:42not to work 24-7
35:44every day
35:45which would be harmful
35:47to our physical being
35:48as well as to our
35:49spiritual nature
35:51so have a time
35:52to be before the law
35:53but it is something
35:54given specifically
35:55to Israel
35:57and it's a sign
35:58that when they're
35:59keeping the Sabbath
36:00they're keeping God's law
36:02and walking in his ways
36:06move on
36:07chapter 16
36:07verse 16
36:09but they and our fathers
36:10acted proudly
36:11hardened their necks
36:12and did not heed
36:13your commandments
36:13they refused to obey
36:14they were not mindful
36:15of your wonders
36:16that you did among them
36:17they hardened their necks
36:19and in their rebellion
36:20they appointed a leader
36:21to return to their bondage
36:23but you are God
36:23ready to pardon
36:24gracious and merciful
36:25slow to anger
36:26abundant in kindness
36:28and did not forsake them
36:29even when they made
36:31a moldy calf for themselves
36:32and said this is your God
36:33that brought you up
36:34out of Egypt
36:35and worked great provocations
36:37hid in your manifold mercies
36:39you did not forsake them
36:40in the wilderness
36:41the pillar of cloud
36:42did not depart from them
36:43by day
36:44to lead them on the road
36:45nor the pillar of fire
36:46by night
36:47to show them light
36:48and the way they should go
36:50you also gave them
36:51your good spirit
36:52to instruct them
36:53and did not withhold
36:53your manner from their mouth
36:55and gave them water
36:56for their thirst
36:59forty years
37:00you sustained them
37:00in the wilderness
37:01they lacked nothing
37:02their clothes
37:03they did not wear out
37:04and their feet
37:04did not swell
37:07you read the account
37:08of Israel's wandering
37:09in the wilderness
37:09and you find that
37:10there were times
37:10when they
37:11many times
37:12when they disobeyed the Lord
37:14notably in the
37:15making of the golden calf
37:16big sin
37:18and you could have said
37:19God could have said
37:20well you've done
37:20such a terrible sin
37:21now you said
37:22even this calf
37:23led you out of Egypt
37:23when I led you out of Egypt
37:25I'm finished with you
37:28I'll let you just
37:29perish here
37:30in the wilderness
37:31God could have done that
37:32but he didn't
37:33because he's a merciful God
37:35and even when we sin
37:36if we repent
37:37and put it right with God
37:38then God will be
37:39still with us
37:39and he'll lead us forward
37:42but it tells us here
37:43that there was a tendency
37:44in the human race
37:45to fall away from God
37:46which is something
37:47which we know about
37:48we all fall short
37:49of the glory of God
37:50we all tend to
37:52drift away from God
37:53or we do something
37:55which is totally
37:55out of order
37:56and totally
37:57anti-God's commandments
37:59like making a golden calf
38:00and dancing around it
38:01which the Israelites did
38:03and we can all do
38:04these kind of things
38:06perhaps not in such
38:07a blatant way
38:08but in some form
38:09we can find ourselves
38:12going away
38:13from what God requires
38:16and the wonderful thing
38:17here it says
38:18is that God
38:18is ready to pardon
38:19gracious and merciful
38:20slow to anger
38:22abundant in kindness
38:23and you did not
38:24forsake them
38:26God is a pardoning God
38:27and he forgives
38:28and that's the reason
38:29why God has kept
38:30his people
38:31for so long
38:32and he's telling to us
38:33that if we turn to him
38:35he's going to
38:35keep his word to us
38:37and he's going to be
38:38faithful to us
38:39even if we're unfaithful
38:40but we have to make
38:42the step back to him
38:48okay moving on
38:49verse 22
38:50wherever you gave them
38:51kingdoms and nations
38:52divided them into districts
38:53so they took possession
38:54of the land of Sihon
38:55the land of Heshbon
38:56the land of Og
38:57king of Bashan
38:58you also multiplied
38:59the children
39:00as stars of heaven
39:01brought them into the land
39:03which you had told
39:05their fathers
39:05to go in and possess
39:07people went in
39:08and possessed the land
39:09you subdued before them
39:10the inhabitants of the land
39:11the Canaanites
39:12to give them
39:13into their hands
39:14with their kings
39:15and their people of the land
39:16that they might do
39:17with them
39:18as they wished
39:19and they took strong cities
39:21and a rich land
39:21and they possessed houses
39:22full of all goods
39:24cisterns already dug
39:25vineyards
39:26olive groves
39:27and fruit trees
39:28in abundance
39:29they ate
39:30and grew fat
39:30and delighted themselves
39:31in your great goodness
39:34so God did bring them in
39:36he delivered on his promise
39:38to bring them
39:38into the promised land
39:39and you can read about it
39:41in the book of Joshua
39:42and the events
39:43which followed
39:43how God brought them
39:45faithfully
39:45into the land
39:46and gave them
39:47the things
39:49which are described here
39:52rich
39:53strong cities
39:54a rich land
39:58and
39:58cause them to delight
40:00in your great goodness
40:05but still
40:05there was a problem
40:07moving on
40:08in 26
40:09nevertheless
40:10they were disobedient
40:11and rebelled against you
40:12cast your law
40:13behind their backs
40:14killed your prophets
40:16testified against them
40:17to turn them
40:18to yourself
40:19and they worked
40:20great provocations
40:21therefore you delivered them
40:22into the hand
40:23of their enemies
40:23who oppressed them
40:24and in the time
40:25of their trouble
40:26when they cried to you
40:27you heard from heaven
40:28according to your
40:29abundant mercies
40:30you gave them
40:31deliverers
40:31and saved them
40:32from the land
40:32hand of their enemies
40:34but after they had rest
40:36they again did evil
40:37before you
40:38therefore you left them
40:39in the hand of their enemies
40:40so that they had
40:41dominion over them
40:43yet when they returned
40:44and cried out to you
40:45you heard from heaven
40:45and many times
40:46you delivered them
40:47according to your mercies
40:48you testified against them
40:50that they might bring them
40:51back to your law
40:53yet they acted proudly
40:54and did not heed your commandments
40:55but sinned against your judgments
40:57which if a man does
40:58he should live by them
41:00they shrugged their shoulders
41:01stiffened their necks
41:02and would not hear
41:03yet for many years
41:04you had patience with them
41:05and testified against them
41:07by your spirit
41:08in your prophets
41:10yet they would not listen
41:12therefore you gave them
41:13into the hands
41:13of the peoples
41:14of the lands
41:16nevertheless in your great mercy
41:17you did not utterly consume them
41:19nor forsake them
41:20for you are God
41:22gracious and merciful
41:24don't need to go into detail there
41:26but you can read
41:26the history of Israel
41:28in the books of Kings
41:29and Chronicles
41:30and see that
41:31that was exactly what happened
41:33times when they were with the Lord
41:35God blessed them
41:35times when they went away
41:36from the Lord
41:37God brought judgments upon them
41:39and the most severe judgment
41:41was actually taken out of the land
41:42taken out of the land of promise
41:44into the land of Babylon
41:48and over and over again
41:49there was this
41:50kind of
41:52revival
41:53turning back to the Lord
41:54then falling away
41:55you can see it in the time of Hezekiah
41:57time of Josiah
41:58they turned back to the Lord
41:59and God blessed them
42:01time of Ahaz
42:03they returned away from the Lord
42:04time of Manasseh
42:05they went even further away
42:06from the Lord
42:08and this continual
42:09up and down
42:09up and down
42:12does that ring true
42:13to our lives as well
42:14did it happen to us
42:15yes
42:18and you can see
42:19there's a pattern
42:19in God's dealing with Israel
42:21and the pattern
42:22with His dealing with us as well
42:24times of blessing
42:25times of judgment
42:27and there's a call on us
42:28to put our lives right with Him
42:30and to be in that time of blessing
42:31because we keep His commandments
42:34and the wonderful thing
42:36although the judgments
42:37can be very severe
42:38and very terrible
42:40in some of the ways
42:41which happened to Israel
42:43that God is also a pardoning God
42:45and He keeps His word
42:46He keeps His covenant
42:48and despite Israel's unfaithfulness
42:50God kept His word to them
42:52and preserved them as a people
42:54and when we're coming to this
42:56book of Nehemiah
42:58it's the time after
42:59they've returned from Babylon
43:00and the beginning of the
43:01rebuilding of the land
43:03after the edict of Cyrus
43:05to bring the people
43:06back from Babylon
43:07rebuild the temple
43:09and reconstitute the nation
43:11in the promised land
43:13and so you have this pattern
43:15of falling away
43:16and the pattern of returning
43:19and being in
43:21back in God's favour
43:23or back in the land
43:28okay
43:28just the final bit
43:29so
43:31from verse 32
43:32He's now saying
43:33about our condition now
43:34He's talking to them
43:35that last bit
43:37He's rehearsed Israel's history
43:39in what's actually
43:40the longest passage
43:42which rehearses Israel's history
43:43outside of the Torah
43:45verse 32
43:46He says
43:47now therefore
43:47our God
43:48the great and mighty
43:48and awesome God
43:49who keeps covenant and mercy
43:50do not let all the trouble
43:52seem small before you
43:53that has come upon us
43:54our kings
43:56and our princes
43:57our priests
43:58and our prophets
43:58our fathers
44:00and all your people
44:02from the days
44:02of the kings of Assyria
44:03until this day
44:05however you are just
44:06in all that has befallen us
44:08for you have dealt faithfully
44:09but we have done wickedly
44:11neither our kings
44:12nor our princes
44:13our priests
44:14nor our fathers
44:15have kept your law
44:15nor heeded your commandments
44:17or your testimonies
44:19which you testified
44:20against them
44:21for they have not served you
44:23in their kingdom
44:23or in the many good things
44:24that you gave them
44:25or in the large and rich land
44:27which you set before them
44:28nor did they turn
44:29from their wicked ways
44:31here we are servants today
44:32and the land you gave
44:34to our fathers
44:34to eat its fruit
44:35and its bounty
44:36here we are servants in it
44:38and it yields much increase
44:39to the kings
44:40you have set over us
44:41because of our sins
44:42and they have dominion
44:44over our bodies
44:45and our cattle
44:46at their pleasure
44:47and we are in great distress
44:51so he's saying
44:52God is faithful
44:53he's kept his word
44:55even though we haven't
44:56been faithful
44:58our kings
44:58and our princes
44:59and our priests
45:00have all
45:01been unfaithful to you
45:03verse 33
45:04very important verse
45:05he says
45:05you are just
45:06in all that has befallen us
45:08you have dealt faithfully
45:09we have done wickedly
45:11so God is faithful
45:12but we're not faithful
45:16he's saying
45:19here we are
45:20back in the land
45:21which you gave
45:21to our fathers
45:23to eat its fruit
45:24and its bounty
45:26so God's faith
45:27has brought them
45:27back to the land
45:28but there's a problem
45:30they're no longer
45:30a free people
45:31in the promised land
45:32as they were
45:33before the captivity
45:34they're now
45:35under the
45:36Persian Empire
45:37and its kings
45:39and
45:40we have to pay taxes
45:41to them
45:41we have to give
45:42the fruit of our labour
45:43to them
45:44we
45:46set over
45:46these
45:48other kings
45:48because of our sins
45:50they have dominion
45:51over our bodies
45:52and our cattle
45:52at their pleasure
45:54and we're in great distress
45:55so even though
45:56they're back in the land
45:57they're still in a situation
45:58of distress
46:00and you can see
46:00that is part of the
46:01restoration
46:02which has taken place
46:03is in part
46:04but not in full
46:06they're not yet
46:07a free people
46:07under God
46:09and they're actually
46:10living in what we call
46:11technically in the Bible times
46:13the times of the Gentiles
46:15which is referred to
46:17by Jesus
46:19and it really deals
46:21with the time
46:22from the Babylonian
46:23captivity
46:23in the book of Daniel
46:25strived
46:26through the Babylonian Empire
46:28to the Persian Empire
46:29to the Greek Empire
46:30to the Roman Empire
46:31to the Great Dispersion
46:33and even to the present time
46:35when Israel's back
46:35in the land
46:36they're still
46:37in the times
46:38of the Gentiles
46:40which means
46:40that basically
46:41the Gentile kings
46:42have rule over their lands
46:43and they have some
46:44control over it
46:46and that time
46:47is going to continue
46:48Jesus said
46:48Jerusalem's going to be
46:49trodden down
46:50of the Gentiles
46:50until the times
46:51of the Gentiles
46:52are fulfilled
46:55the end of the times
46:56of the Gentiles
46:56will be when
46:57the stone
46:59hits the image
47:00in Daniel chapter 2
47:01if you know what I mean
47:01I won't go into detail
47:03but you read the book
47:03of Daniel
47:04and he sees a great image
47:05which represents
47:05the kingdoms
47:06of this world
47:08going right down
47:08from Babylon
47:09through to the end times
47:11which I believe
47:12we're living in now
47:13and a stone
47:14which hits it
47:14and then destroys
47:15the image
47:16and fills the earth
47:18the stone is actually
47:19Jesus coming
47:19the second time
47:21the image represents
47:22the world system
47:23and the world system
47:24is going to have
47:25some control
47:25over the people of Israel
47:26until the second coming
47:28of Jesus
47:30now think about it
47:31Israel's back in the land
47:32but are they
47:32a free people
47:33to do what they want
47:34in the land
47:35are they under God
47:36no
47:38the nations still
47:39have some control
47:39over it
47:40and right now
47:41you have a controversy
47:42over the status
47:43of Jerusalem
47:43you have the nations
47:44of the world
47:45the UN
47:45and all that stuff
47:46making decisions
47:47about the future
47:48of Israel
47:49now you have Trump
47:50and the peace plan
47:51all of which
47:52bring in the nations
47:53of the world
47:53to deal with
47:54something to do
47:55with Israel
47:56Israel's not actually
47:57free to do what
47:57they want in the land
47:59not even free
48:00to make Jerusalem
48:00their capital
48:01because the world
48:02is trying to stop
48:02from doing that
48:03want to divide
48:04Jerusalem again
48:05it's all
48:06what's happening
48:07in the times
48:07of the Gentiles
48:09and as long as
48:10they're in this time
48:12they're not going
48:12to be a free people
48:14and they're only
48:15going to be a free
48:15people under God
48:16when the Messiah
48:17comes a second time
48:18who is Yeshua
48:18and breaks the stronghold
48:19of this Gentile power
48:21over them
48:22but also going to
48:23break the power
48:24of the evil one
48:25and of false religions
48:26and of false systems
48:28which still prevail
48:29over the people
48:30of Israel
48:31because they're going
48:32to have revealed
48:32to them Yeshua
48:33Jesus as the Messiah
48:37okay from the time
48:38of Nehemiah
48:39that was still
48:39way in the future
48:40from our time
48:40it's actually
48:41not too far
48:42in the future
48:43we're seeing
48:43the restoration
48:44of Israel
48:44we're seeing
48:45the events
48:45taking place
48:46which are pointing
48:46up to the second
48:47coming of the Messiah
48:49and the second
48:50coming of the Messiah
48:51is going to be
48:51the breaking
48:52of the power
48:52of the nations
48:53over Israel
48:55and in fact
48:56of the Antichrist
48:58system
48:59over the whole world
49:01and the setting up
49:01of the kingdom of God
49:02under Yeshua
49:03Jesus the Messiah
49:05and if you're a believer
49:06in Jesus
49:07you're going to have
49:07a part in that
49:08and I am
49:09and I hope you are
49:10as well
49:11because if you believe
49:12in Jesus
49:12that's what's going
49:12to happen
49:13we're going to be
49:13there with him
49:14we're going to see
49:15the world put to rights
49:16when Jesus returns
49:17we're not there yet
49:20but it's something
49:20in the future
49:21and it's something
49:21to look forward to
49:23but it needs to be
49:24we need to be
49:25on the right foundation
49:26and that's what
49:27they're doing here
49:28they're putting Israel
49:29on the right foundation
49:30they're recognizing
49:31the sins of the past
49:32they're putting them
49:33behind them
49:34they're confessing them
49:36and for Israel
49:37to come into the right
49:37foundation
49:38in the new covenant
49:39they're going to have
49:39to confess
49:40the sin
49:41of rejection
49:42of the Messiah
49:42Yeshua
49:44and accept him
49:45through the blood
49:46of Jesus
49:48now we're pro-Israel
49:49in the sense
49:49that we believe
49:50Israel has a right
49:51to exist
49:51we're also pro-Jesus
49:52in that we believe
49:53that Jesus is the answer
49:55you go out to the
49:56Jewish community
49:56and we do
49:58they're pleased
49:59that we do support
49:59Israel's right
50:00to exist
50:01they're not so pleased
50:02that we say
50:02that you need
50:04Jesus to sort
50:05the mess out
50:07because Jesus
50:08is the only one
50:08who can do it
50:09but that's the truth
50:12now at this point
50:13in Nehemiah
50:15just to conclude
50:16this talk
50:18they do the right
50:19thing
50:20look at verse 38
50:23because of all this
50:24we make a sure covenant
50:25and write it
50:26our leaders
50:26our Levites
50:27and our priests
50:27seal it
50:29I won't read
50:30the whole of chapter 10
50:31but it tells you
50:32what they do
50:32in all the people
50:34who do this
50:34they make a covenant
50:35before the Lord
50:38and in fact
50:40we will read
50:40just a bit
50:41from verse 28
50:41it says
50:42this is chapter 10
50:43verse 28
50:44that was the good
51:14thing to do
51:14wasn't it
51:15they were doing
51:16what was right
51:16in the sight
51:17of the Lord
51:18at that time
51:18they were making
51:19a covenant
51:19they were making
51:20an agreement
51:20that they themselves
51:21would put themselves
51:22under the covenant
51:23which God had given
51:24them through Moses
51:26as long as they did
51:27that God was going
51:28to bless them
51:31there was a lot
51:32more yet to come
51:34to come through
51:35Yeshua
51:36ultimately
51:36but as far as
51:37they were doing
51:38at that time
51:39the Messiah
51:40hadn't yet come
51:41they were doing
51:41the right thing
51:42they were entering
51:43into a covenant
51:43with God
51:44to keep his
51:45commandments
51:45to do his will
51:48we haven't yet
51:49entered into
51:49the fullness
51:50of the messianic
51:51kingdom
51:51because it's not
51:52here yet
51:52but in the meantime
51:54we can enter
51:55into the covenant
51:55the new covenant
51:57through faith
51:57in Yeshua
51:58we can commit
51:59ourselves to do
52:00his will
52:00we can separate
52:01ourselves from
52:02the unclean
52:02things of this
52:03world
52:03and commit
52:05ourselves to
52:05follow the
52:06Lord Yeshua
52:07Jesus the Messiah
52:09and as we pray
52:10for Israel
52:10as we do
52:11God is calling
52:12Israel
52:12to make
52:13that commitment
52:13as well
52:15to be based
52:16not upon
52:17secular Zionism
52:18not to be based
52:19upon traditional
52:21Judaism
52:21but upon
52:22messianic
52:24Judaism
52:24or messianic
52:25faith
52:25in Yeshua
52:26Jesus the Messiah
52:29and the Bible
52:30does say
52:31that there's going
52:31to be a movement
52:32of God
52:32towards this
52:34direction
52:34it's already
52:35happening
52:35and we pray
52:36that it may
52:37increase
52:38that many
52:39more Jewish
52:39people may
52:40come to
52:40recognize
52:40Jesus as
52:41the Messiah
52:42and that the
52:43right foundation
52:43may be built
52:44in their lives
52:45and in the
52:46life of Israel
52:48so we pray
52:49for Israel
52:49to be saved
52:50but in the
52:51meantime
52:51we also
52:52recognize
52:52there's a
52:52battle
52:53between
52:54God and
52:55Satan
52:56between the
52:56spirit of
52:57Christ
52:57the spirit
52:57of Messiah
52:58and the
52:58spirit
52:58of Antichrist
53:00and that
53:00spirit of
53:01Antichrist
53:01is going
53:01to get
53:02stronger
53:02and stronger
53:02as we
53:03reach
53:03into the
53:03last days
53:05and amongst
53:05other things
53:06it's going
53:06to seek
53:06to come
53:08against
53:09believers
53:09in Jesus
53:10the Messiah
53:10and to
53:11come against
53:12Israel's
53:12existence
53:13and they
53:14want to
53:14the
53:15Antichrist
53:16forces
53:16don't just
53:17want to
53:19make life
53:19difficult
53:20they want
53:20to eliminate
53:20Israel
53:21whether it's
53:22the Islamists
53:23or the
53:24radical
53:24leftists
53:25whoever they
53:26are
53:26they want
53:27to break
53:27Israel's
53:28existence
53:29and God
53:30doesn't want
53:30that to
53:31happen
53:31so there's
53:32a battle
53:32on that
53:33front
53:33but there's
53:34also more
53:34importantly
53:35actually the
53:35spiritual
53:36battle
53:37which is
53:37to break
53:37the strongholds
53:38of evil
53:40and to
53:41reveal Yeshua
53:41Jesus as
53:42the Messiah
53:43the Jew
53:44first
53:44and also
53:45to the
53:45Greek
53:45to the
53:46Gentile
53:46to the
53:47world
53:48which is
53:48what we
53:49stand for
53:49so believe
53:50in Yeshua
53:51the Messiah
53:52and
53:53these passages
53:54in the Old
53:54Testament are
53:55kind of
53:55instructive to
53:56us
53:56and they
53:57show us
53:57something about
53:58God's
53:58nature
53:58how he
53:59deals with
53:59his people
54:00and we
54:01can learn
54:01from all
54:01of them
54:02but they
54:03all point
54:03us to
54:04the answer
54:05which is
54:05found in
54:06the New
54:06Testament
54:07in Jesus
54:08the Messiah
54:09so believe
54:10on the
54:10Lord
54:10Yeshua
54:10the Messiah
54:11and you
54:12shall be
54:12saved
54:12amen
54:13let's just
54:14have a word
54:14of prayer
54:16Lord we do
54:17pray for Israel
54:18we pray for the
54:18Jewish people
54:19we pray you'll
54:19open their eyes
54:20to the fact
54:20that Jesus
54:21is the Messiah
54:22we pray for
54:23Israel
54:23in its present
54:24distress
54:24as we see
54:25so many forces
54:26coming against
54:26them
54:27and we
54:28just pray
54:28you'll open
54:29the eyes
54:29of your
54:29people
54:30whether
54:30they're
54:30secular
54:31or religious
54:32to the
54:33fact that
54:34they're on
54:34the wrong
54:34foundation
54:35at this
54:35present
54:35time
54:36that the
54:37Messiah
54:37has come
54:38in Jesus
54:38and they
54:39need to
54:39build their
54:40lives
54:40on that
54:40revelation
54:41of Yeshua
54:42Jesus
54:43the Messiah
54:44and we
54:45pray you
54:45bless and
54:45strengthen
54:46all those
54:46who believe
54:47in you
54:47in the
54:48land of
54:48Israel
54:48and in
54:49the
54:49diaspora
54:50and we
54:51pray for
54:51many people
54:52in these
54:53last days
54:53to come to
54:54faith in
54:54Jesus
54:54the Messiah
54:55and to
54:56preach your
54:56word
54:57we pray
54:58this in
54:58Jesus
54:58name
54:59amen
55:01amen
55:01praise the
55:02Lord
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