Hello Everyone,

This week we are looking at “The tool of distraction”.

In Nehemiah 6:2 The enemy wants to talk to Nehemiah, or so they say. 'Maybe we can work out a compromise.' Nehemiah knew they were not sincere. And when the devil can't defeat us as a roaring lion, he will try to approach us as an angel of light.

“Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”

'Let's have a retreat together down in the valley.' Let's cozy up. Then he tries to distract us to compromise.

A man was bear hunting up in Alaska. He was so cold, he would really like to have a fur coat, and it consumed his mind. He just wanted to bag his game and get out of there. Then he saw his prey in the distance, coming right towards him. He got the bear in his sights, and was about to pull the trigger when the bear said, "Wait, can't we talk about this?" "I guess it can't hurt." the man said. The bear said, "All I want is a nice meal, and all you want is a fur coat...thanks for talking with me, because now we're both gonna get our way!"

First the devil tries to cozy up to us in order to devour us. But once we are saved, he fails at that. Next, he tries to neutralize us thru entangling alliances. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and then take over!

Very subtle-why the valley of Ono?

Nehemiah 11:35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

Nehemiah is a craftsman, so he is especially tempted with this offer. Maybe he could get some ideas or tools to help with the wall. But it wasn't God's way...to join with the enemy to get ideas.

And we shouldn't go to the world for our ideas in building the church. Many churches are using worldly marketing strategies, and trying to attract people using worldly ways.

Our goal should not be to get the crowd rocking, but to get them established on the Rock.

The churches Jesus commended in Revelation were congratulated on the basis of values such as love, faith, patience, endurance, etc.

We love our growth, but if we have to compromise to do it than forget it. Having a big crowd is not necessarily having a church.

Nehemiah saw right thru the devil's attempt at distraction and compromise. He said, the valley of Ono? O No! Aren't you glad he said no no to Ono?

GREATER Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Do you seem to get distracted easy form what and who God has called you to do and be? Read with me:

Nehemiah 6:1-4

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— ² Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages 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.

So far the devil has tried to use these tools to keep them from rebuilding the wall:

Ridicule-we will be laughed at but we shouldn't back up or back down.

Discouragement-We sometimes get tired IN the work, but never OF the work.

Bodily harm-threats came but they battled and built with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other.

Debt-financial bondage won't keep us down if we follow God's money principles.

In chapter 6 the devil tries 4 more things, we'll just look at the first one this week.

Starting tomorrow the tool of distraction.

Until then remember greater things are still to come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

We've seen the problem of financial bondage, now...

The Principles of Financial Freedom:

Priority.

5:14 Nehemiah is saying, "I was in charge and could have easily taken advantage and lined my own pockets. But I didn't because I fear God!" God in your heart should be greater than greed. God is #1 in my life, not making money.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Some things are more important than making money.

Your integrity for one thing!

I know believers whose conscience made them quit driving a beer truck or working a Sunday job, or whatever was getting in the way of them putting God first.

The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom; it is the beginning of wealth.

Industry.

5:16 , I devoted myself to the work… Nehemiah could have just supervised, but he got his hands dirty and set the example.

I read this: "Many people are itching for things they aren't willing to scratch for!"

We need to work, or not eat! There are some who are legitimately disabled and need help, but they can't get much because our tax dollars are going to so many who just don't want to work!

Isn't it the ultimate goal to be able to quit your job and not have to work? They buy lottery tickets, and seek get rich quick schemes.

We think of work as a curse, but God told Adam to work before sin ever came into the world.

I may someday get to the place where I don't have to work for money, but I never want to get to the place where I no longer have to work for God! I want to finish well.

Proverbs 20:4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.

Proverbs 20:13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Proverbs 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

You can't get something for nothing. We need to work!

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

In America today- half the people don't think they need to work because the other half will feed them, and the other half thinks it does no good to work because they'll just have to give it to someone else. We're in trouble!

The government can’t give to anyone what it does not first take from somebody else.

"Where do you get your check?" "The government." No, they have no money. We the people, we are the government, and it's time we take our nation back!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

You've already made the decisions about your fixed items. What is left over is the only REAL money you have!

Don't consider plastic as real money, because it is not! Don't enslave yourself in a dungeon of your own making. Christ wants to set us free from financial bondage. He wants to raise us up from drowning in a sea of debts!

Now, what if your fixed expenses are more than your paycheck? That means every week you go in the hole, and that's before you buy anything you want. That means nothing can ever break down or need repaired.

That means you never save, never get a vacation, and never get a break!

Obviously, there's only 2 possible fixes:

· Decrease your outflow

· Increase your income

Most of us really could do some downsizing, but we're upsizing everything including our extra value meals! Whichever solution we choose, the one thing we cannot do is ignore the problem.

We must sit down on purpose and prayerfully work this thing out!

You don't have to be poor to be in financial bondage.

Neh. 5: 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them.

The nobles and the rulers were the wealthy who were taking advantage of the people. They were charging high interest rates, foreclosing on properties, and they themselves are in financial bondage, because they weren't good stewards of money either, even though they had a lot of it!

Some think they are doing ok. But are you in financial bondage? Ask youself...

Do I trust in my money MORE than in my God? I don't care who you are, you are supposed to pray 'Give us this day our daily bread.' Your money could take wings and fly away! Money talks-it says, 'bye bye!'

Are your personal goals in tune with God? Are you trying to build a personal portfolio or the Kingdom of God? Are you laying up treasures on earth or in heaven? Are your values temporal or eternal?

Is every dollar you have available to God? Not just the tithe. What about the other 90%?

Do you find yourself making money when you ought to be serving God? Do you ask for overtime on God's day? Do you say, "I can't go to church, I'm too tired from work."

Or, has God blessed you to the point that you buy things which in turn take you away from Him? The worst thing that ever happened to some Christians is that they had enough money to buy a boat! They have money to travel, and travel they do, especially on God's day, because Monday is coming, and I've got to make money to cover things!

Let’s Make It Right! Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

What are some of the Symptoms of financial bondage:

1. Having to CHARGE necessities of life.

Do you use credit for groceries and gasoline, clothes, etc., knowing you won't be able to pay it off in full that month?

2. Borrowing money to pay FIXED expenses.

The house payment/rent, car payment, phone or cable? Borrowing from one card to pay on another card?

3. Are CREDITORS writing and calling you for their money?

(If there's a person in your life you'd like to never see again, just loan them some money!)

4. Are you tempted to be DISHONEST about money?

Do you try to talk your way out of bills? Think about cheating on your taxes? Tempted to do something dishonest or unethical?

5. Do you ever say, I can't AFFORD to tithe?

Do you bring the Lord's tithe [10%] to the Lord's house on the Lord's Day so the Lord's work can be done in the Lord's way?

6. Do you and your spouse ever ARGUE about money.

"Theirs was a perfect marriage, except a fatal flaw--one was quick on the deposit, but the other was quicker on the draw!"

One guy said, "My wife and I never argue about money. We made an agreement years ago, that I would make all the big decisions about money, and she would handle all the little ones. It's worked out great, we've been married 30 years and there hasn't been a big decision to make yet!"

7. Do you know how much you really OWE?

Are you afraid to add it up? It's amazing in counseling how many people know they are in financial trouble, but have no idea how much they really owe. They sweep it under the rug. They try not to THINK about it.

Proverbs 27:23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

We cannot bury our heads in the sand. God has told us to be good stewards of what He gives to us. He is entrusting us with money, and we are letting Him down!

8. Do you know what it takes to SURVIVE each week?

Make a list of all your bills, necessities of life. Put God up top, give Him the first fruits! Don't leave anything off the list, if it is a need to survive. These are non negotiables. Do the math and see what you have left.

If your total need is $612, and your income is $615, you've got a problem. You and your spouse are arguing, and really, you are arguing over 3 dollars! The rest of the money is a no brainer...already spoken for.

Let’s Change Things! Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil