Podcast - The Greg Lancaster Show, Live from the Glory Zone.

Greg, John, and Pat continue their discussion of the importance of having the heart of Nehemiah which they believe is the secret to rebuilding the church in America. They continue their discussion with Nehemiah 9:34.

“Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep.”

They did not pay attention. They ignored God. They continue to discuss the dangers of not warning God’s people even if God’s people will not respond. They continue to discuss how you can’t judge your ministry by how people respond. Your ministry is before the Lord and people just get the opportunity to benefit from it. Of those who claim to know God 97% are robbing God in their tithes according to George Barna. It is possible for a person and or complete nation to ignore God.

You are held accountable before God if you don’t warn them. You want to be one of God’s people who respond. A lot of people have a closet relationship with God while they are publicly rejecting God and what He is doing. Hardships come when we don’t do what God Says to do. Nehemiah 9:35 “Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.”

This is much of the American church today. God has so blessed us that our poorest citizen is richer than most in the world. America has been called the bread basket of the world. Yet in the midst of this we don’t credit God and take him out of our schools and bring down his commandments. Nehemiah 9:36-37 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.”

Don’t think for a moment America that although the country stays in place that we can be in slavery. Nehemiah is not blaming their captivity for no other reason but for their own sin. He realized that their abundant harvest went to the kings. The direction we are going in is high taxation. Slavery is 100% taxation. When Israel was rejecting God and wanted a king, He told them what the consequences would be. They would be taxed heavily and the king would make demands on them.

The Rule over Our Bodies

Even today laws are coming out regarding what you can eat and how you should raise your children. Nehemiah knew they were in slavery because they left God. They continue to discuss how Nineveh had a set date for disaster but when they responded to God he changed his plans toward them. Will God’s people do what Nehemiah did? There are always contingencies but the good news is that they did respond. If you get serious with God He will get serious with you. Nehemiah 9:38

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”

They responded publicly and even made a binding agreement. It takes this kind of commitment. You can make a pact with a party, or leader or you can make a pact with God. If we will do this, call out to God, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways then he will return back to us. We have to own this and quit blaming everybody. We have to own our sins and the sins of our fathers if we do maybe the Lord will grace us with a third great awakening

The Heart of Nehemiah: The Secret to Rebuilding the Church in America- Part 10

Greg, John, and Pat continue their discussion of the importance of having the heart of Nehemiah which they believe is the secret to rebuilding the church in America. They continue to discuss Nehemiah’s journey in Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 9:1 the Bible say that “On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.” They further discuss that the only one at this point who has repented was the leadership. Nehemiah acknowledges his sins and the sins of his fathers. At this point if you are not careful you may be tempted to think that his repentance was enough. However, it is time for all of God’s people to repent. The first thing they did was separated themselves from foreigners. We all have to walk through this. We need to separate ourselves. How can you be in the mud while you are trying to help the prodigal? We must not have a works mentality. We need to do things God’s way. You can’t fool yourself to think that because you been amongst the church doesn’t mean you are part of the church. The Bible shares in Nehemiah 9:2

They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

This is an outreach for God’s people who are in the world.

Acts 2 38-39

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

You have to personally repent. No blame game. You are not going to get to heaven by blaming others but only by the blood of Jesus.

Nehemiah 9:3

They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.

What does God say about this? They gave a quarter of the day to the word of God and a quarter of the day confessing their sin before God. You are repenting before God. God is not going to get emotionally invested in the consequences of your sin. It is time to confess sins. If we follow this pattern then we will see God move. They further discuss a move of God that took place on the campus of Asbury College which started when the leaders and then others began to confess their sins. God is here that’s why this is happening that’s what one person said. It didn’t have to do with the gifts. It had to with dealing with sin and mending relationships. We can have a move of God if we respond to God His way.

Greg, John, and Pat continue their discussion of the importance of having the heart of Nehemiah which they believe is the secret to rebuilding the church in America. They continue to discuss Nehemiah’s journey in Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 9:1 the Bible say that “On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.” They further discuss that the only one at this point who has repented was the leadership. Nehemiah acknowledges his sins and the sins of his fathers. At this point if you are not careful you may be tempted to think that his repentance was enough. However, it is time for all of God’s people to repent. The first thing they did was separated themselves from foreigners. We all have to walk through this. We need to separate ourselves. How can you be in the mud while you are trying to help the prodigal? We must not have a works mentality. We need to do things God’s way. You can’t fool yourself to think that because you been amongst the church doesn’t mean you are part of the church. The Bible shares in Nehemiah 9:2

They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.

This is an outreach for God’s people who are in the world.

Acts 2 38-39

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

You have to personally repent. No blame game. You are not going to get to heaven by blaming others but only by the blood of Jesus.

Nehemiah 9:3

They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.

What does God say about this? They gave a quarter of the day to the word of God and a quarter of the day confessing their sin before God. You are repenting before God. God is not going to get emotionally invested in the consequences of your sin. It is time to confess sins. If we follow this pattern then we will see God move. They further discuss a move of God that took place on the campus of Asbury College which started when the leaders and then others began to confess their sins. God is here that’s why this is happening that’s what one person said. It didn’t have to do with the gifts. It had to with dealing with sin and mending relationships. We can have a move of God if we respond to God His way.

Greg, John, and Pat continue their discussion of the importance of having the heart of Nehemiah which they believe is the secret to rebuilding the church in America.

Isaiah 59:4

No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity .They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Nehemiah 9:5

They are worshipping God for who He is. Worship is about Jesus. They acknowledge God and praised him for who He is. They acknowledge his grandeur. When you repent you reposition God in your heart.

They had to restructure who God is in their heart. King Josiah is an example of one who read Gods word and found out what God’s word says then repented and began to get things in order.

Nehemiah 9: 7 -8

You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.

Nehemiah acknowledges God’s faithfulness. God is faithful. He remembered the wonders of the Lord. While in bondage Nehemiah is remembering the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord and how God blessed past generations. He also recounts how they failed to listen and remember the miracles God has done for them. They continue to discuss how we are not going to have liberty if we leave God. It’s time for us to come up under the King Jesus. They further discuss how the majority of the church has stopped listening as 97 percent are not even tithing not to mention that according to George Barna only 19 % of believers read the word of God. We have leaders who are leading us into slavery. We begin to look for man to be our provider.

Nehemiah 9:17-18

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.

God is forgiving, merciful, and gracious to us. He is not one to desert his people. Even when they gave credit to false gods, God in His mercy did not leave them. God has not given up on you. You cannot serve other God’s. Don’t mistake the kindness of God for the acceptance of your sin and works.

Nehemiah 9:22-25

“You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon[c] king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.

Do you really think that if we don’t stop with the innocent shedding of blood of the 55 million babies that have been killed since 1973 God will not continue to judge us?

How can you be in a protest march regarding higher taxes when 97% of the church is robbing from God? You can say you are rejecting a preacher yet you are rejecting God. We don’t have to go into oppression. We can cry out to God just like others who have gone before us and God rescued them.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The Heart of Nehemiah: The Secret to Rebuilding the Church in America – Part 9

Greg, John, and Pat continue their discussion on how having the heart of Nehemiah is the secret to rebuilding the church in America. They continued right where they left off in their previous program regarding the warnings of attending “OH NO” meetings.

God is the one who is kept you from a particular job so that you don’t get dragged into an oh no meeting. You still have to watch out for the Sandy Sand storms that are coming against you.

Nehemiah 6:5

Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[b] says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

When the walls go up the enemy begins to freak out because they see they are losing control. Social media is often used as a gap that allows Sanballat to peak through the walls therefore using wisdom is important. They were all scared that they were losing all control and they were even telling on themselves by their false accusations against Nehemiah. They continue to discuss that you must face reality.

Nehemiah 6:8

I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”

You need to deal with them directly and tell them no that they are wrong. That is not going to make Sanballat happy. Nehemiah knew that they were just trying to frighten them. You can’t do it in fear you have to do it in faith. There is a thing called paralyzing fear but Nehemiah didn’t succumb but prayed and asked God to strengthen his hands. This reveals the humility that was in Nehemiah’s heart.

Further Opposition to the Rebuilding

Nehemiah 6:2 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[a] on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:

“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem[b] says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.” I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed. “But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands. “One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. He did not succumb to Sanballat's paid prophet.

They continue to discuss how if you remain faithful and don’t come off the Work- We Win- the Walls are completed

The church is scattered today. She is scattered because of leadership. A rebellion towards satan is good and submission to God is good. If you abide with God, He will tell you what to do. They prophesied to him to go lock yourself up in the building. You need to get outside the walls and preach the kingdom of God. All of lucifer’s tactics have one thing in common and that is to stop the work. Don’t be prideful and acknowledge to God that they aren’t trying to intimidate you. They were not stopped and the walls were built in 52 days. Tell yourself I am not going to leave the work. You can’t listen to fear or you will absolutely stop.

They further discuss that when we close up the gaps and build up the walls the church is in order and protected which will result in our nation having safe walls around the country. The whole thing Sanballat was trying to do is to break their confidence. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:35-38 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a little while he who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous[g] one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” Are we taking a long journey we don’t have to take? Let’s get outside of the walls.

Nehemiah 6:16

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

When they saw the work completed they lost their confidence because they realized they were coming against God. The very thing they were trying to do to you actually happened to them. We must have a heart of compassion like Moses by forgiving those who have come against what God is doing. We can rebuild, we will rebuild if we refuse to stop, remain humble, and put our total trust and allegiance in Jesus.

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The Heart of Nehemiah: The Secret to Rebuilding the Church in America – Part 8

You Got To Build and Fight

Greg, John, and Pat discuss how the heart of Nehemiah is the secret to rebuilding the church in America. They continue to discuss how that even today Israel still has to build walls to keep Sanballat out. It was not just their reality at the time but it is our reality for the church as well. Israel has to do the same thing. The technique of continual attack is one that Lucifer has perfected. Don’t be naïve. Just because people tell you that they are for God and for you but their fruit is knocking you up the head this is not good. If the enemy can’t get you to stop he will try to get you to leave your ministry work. One tactic that Sanballat used was the scheduling of meetings to get Nehemiah to just stop. They further discuss how the church is living stones being built up together. We are building material for the house of God. We are not the house. It’s about Him. Jesus is the one who is worthy. If you know that everything you are doing you are doing it unto the Lord then in then you will be okay. Your reward does not come from man if so that’s all you are going to get. Revival is about reviving the people not the building or the program. They further discuss how we are called to build the house of God with people. Anything that divides the church is of the enemy and anything that brings the church together is of God. Nehemiah never left the work. They even discuss how it is being reported that TBN is allegedly removing prophesy programs from their network.

- Nehemiah implemented strategy from heaven on how they were to complete the rebuilding of the walls which resulted in part of their life was going to be spent defending and the other was going to be spent building. If you are going to survive this thing you will need a sword in one hand and a trial in the other. Pick up the sword, which is the word of God, and set out to build. If you abide with the sword the word of God you are arming yourself. You got to build and you got to fight. There are mighty soldiers in God that God is rising up to fight this spiritual battle. In Nehemiah 4:16 we find that “From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” They also gave this instruction that wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet our God will fight for us. Also in Nehemiah 4:19-21 “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

If you don’t join what God is saying you will not be part of the battle and a part of the victory. When God is speaking there is a protection.

Nehemiah 4:21

So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

You can’t build God’s spiritual house just 15 minutes on a Sunday. We live and function in God all 7 days of the week. They continue to discuss the importance of being a part of a praying community. They continue to discuss how many people lose what God is has done in the day during the night. Stay steady, get rightly related and build. If you are going away in dark times then you left your position leaving the walls unprotected. None of Nehemiah’s men ever took off their clothes or their weapons. They encourage us to remain fully dressed, armed for battle. We are the temple of God not a building. God’s spirit dwells inside of us. Nehemiah had the right perspective; we are in bondage because we screwed up.

Nehemiah 5:9

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?

Don’t take advantage of your brothers. Nehemiah had to confront the greed and the idolatry of the people. Just as I shake the wrinkles out of my robe should you be shaken out of the kingdom for wanting to keep your brother in bondage?

Nehemiah 5:12-13

“…Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”

Don’t leave the Work for an “OH NO” Meeting

When anyone rejects authority than you are left with chaos and disunity. It boils down to who are the spiritual fathers who can speak into this.

Nehemiah 6:1

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—

Don’t be an access and don’t give access to the enemy. Everything was built up except the gates and doors and Sanballat came again. There is going to be a day people are going to be used to kill you thinking they are doing God a favor. So they plan for Nehemiah not to be about his work.

Nehemiah 6:2

2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[a] on the plain of Ono.”

He is invited to an “Oh NO” meeting because Nehemiah never left the work. They were scheming to harm Nehemiah. At some point you got to stop going to Oh No meetings. Nehemiah sends them a message. Nehemiah 6:3-4 I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

Don’t leave the work. Stay faithful working and building. Why would you leave the work? The fact they are asking you to leave the work points to the fact that they don’t know the season they are in. Whatever you do, don’t leave the work.

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