CCW Podcast

Week of our "School of Prayer" series. Listen in today to hear about Pressure Praying!

Starting our series on School of Prayer! Join us for this incredible message on Problem Praying!

This Sunday we will be diving into chapter eight in Nehemiah which deals with Spiritual Renewal. Once the wall of Jerusalem was complete and the people were officially registered in the public records by genealogy, it was time to build a strong spiritual foundation, one that would last for generations to come. Nehemiah understood well that rebuilding a nation meant rebuilding the people. He knew that the Jews would have to seek God with all their hearts, obey His holy Word, and be totally devoted to the Lord. Join us as we look at how Nehemiah summoned all the people to a great Celebration and Dedication Service.

Have you ever struggled with feelings that your life is not worthwhile? I think we all feel that way sometimes. I know that I do. Life goes by so quickly! I often think about, “What am I accomplishing that really matters? How can I spend my life so that it counts for something worthwhile?” The correct answer to those questions is to spend our lives so that they count for God and His purpose. If our lives count for God, then they count not just for time, but for eternity. This Sunday we will examine our lives in light of making an impact for eternity!

This Sunday, the title of the message is Resisting Satan’s Traps & Schemes. The threat of attacks is nothing new for God's people. Centuries ago, the apostle Paul warned us to “put on the full armor of God, so that we will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). Our enemy has used deception, trickery, and other schemes to try to destroy or at least neutralize God’s people from doing what we are called to do by God. If we want to finish our course and accomplish God’s purpose for our lives, we must learn how to resist Satan’s schemes. Paul said, ”I must finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." This Sunday we will look at how we can have victory and avoid Satan’s traps.

A man heard his daughter and some of her friends arguing loudly in the back yard. He went out and reprimanded her. “But Daddy,” she protested, “we were just playing church.” Ouch! It’s sad, but true, that the church of Jesus Christ has often been marked more by factions than by fellowship. In the history of the church we have seen that when the devil could not destroy the church by persecution, the next thing he did was join it!

If you have been a Christian for very long, you have probably heard of or experienced a church going through a church split. Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25). This Sunday we move into chapter five of Nehemiah to examine how Nehemiah handles Problems From Within.

This Sunday we will be in Nehemiah chapter four. The context of this passage involves Nehemiah and his men in the midst of a serious work. In fact, the future of Jerusalem, and of Israel itself, depends on the successful completion of their project. As they labor, they provide a valuable illustration for those of us who are involved in the work of the Lord in these days. This passage will give us some valuable information for those who want to see God’s work done in the Church. May God give spiritual wisdom for his workers as they do His work.

This Sunday we continue in Nehemiah to see how God uses us as co-laborers to build His church (1 Corinthians 3:9). Nehemiah 3 provides us with an illustrative answer. It’s an account of the divisions of labor in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah’s leadership. God made us as individuals and we should not deny it. But at the same time, He has made us many members, but one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Christ wants us to learn to work together. God Himself is a Trinity. He is one God consisting of three persons, each of which is fully God. The three persons are in perfect unity working together. God wants His people to reflect His image by working together in unity and harmony (Ephesians 4:3). This Sunday we will dig into this!

As we continue in the book of Nehemiah, we will look at the three ringleaders who tried to keep Nehemiah from rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. In spite of the fact that things were moving in Nehemiah's favor in a wonderful way, there was still opposition to the work. The devil does not cease his evil just because God’s work is prospering. Satan does not give up easily. John 10:10 says,” Satan has come to steal, kill, and to destroy.” Remember when you are doing God”s work that not everyone is pleased. We can not get discouraged when opposition comes while we are doing God’s work, but we must remember, “If God be for us who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).

This Sunday we will be in Nehemiah 2, looking at The Realities of Serving God. It’s easy to be idealistic about serving God until you meet the actual people that you have to work with! Suddenly you realize the truth Linus of the Peanuts cartoon shouted, “I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand!” I often hear pastors say that the ministry would be great if it weren’t for people! But the ministry involves people. Many pastors bomb out of ministry because they never learn how to work with people. They’re abrasive or insensitive and when people react against them, they develop a persecution complex. Nehemiah had his challenging people too, but he showed us how to work with the people to accomplish the great task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in fifty-two days. Nehemiah was sensitive and responded with tact. But when necessary, he confronted people with uncompromising strength.