When God Moves, Part III, by Karen A. Roth

“WHEN GOD MOVES” Part III by Karen A Roth

When God Moves, there is an alarm, sign, warning, trumpet sound… that goes forth from His Throne Room to awaken those God desires to participate with Him. In the book of Nehemiah, WHEN GOD MOVES—there is only a remnant from those taken into Babylonian captivity 70 years earlier that heeded God’s call. Most didn’t respond and remained in Persia.

Initially, Nehemiah also had no intention of traveling back to Israel. He held a prominent position as Cupbearer to the King of Persia. But when he listened to his brother Hanani testify—he heard it as a ‘WHEN GOD MOVES’ trumpet call. Nehemiah sensed that he was in position for “such a time as this.” God made him a Key Player to lead the third and final wave of immigration to their homeland in Israel.

Key Players receive God’s favor and promotion, and no one can prevent it from happening. (RM 8:31) God showed Nehemiah what needed to be done and empowered him to accomplish the task. He was promoted to governor of Judah, the king signed a Decree, and sent his army as escort—along with letters of introduction for governors of neighboring nations, and for wood, etc.

NEHEMIAH REVEALS HIS PLAN:

“I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.” ~NE 2:18a

Nehemiah journaled his view of why Judah needed to rebuild the wall and carefully detailed their condition. He recited the list of their needs to the leaders—that the broken-down wall/gates caused economic distress, their personal ‘shame and dishonor,’ and the disdained ‘reproach’ from other nations.

Most importantly, he spoke how Divine Providence supported his efforts in soliciting the king of Persia to help them. Nehemiah’s most convincing evidence came with the king’s actual sealed Decree—clearly granting them permission to rebuild their walls and nation. It proved to the surrounding governors that Israel had strong connections to Persia, so don’t mess with them.

Once Nehemiah revealed his plan, an enthusiastic rallying of the remnant began. His testimony strengthened them in their conviction to join the ‘good work.’ They wholeheartedly committed themselves with zealous shouts of, “Let us rise up and build!” ‘Rise up’ is synonymous with Resurrection Spirit. Their response illustrated that WHEN GOD MOVES, a ‘Turning-Point’ or ‘Spiritual-Shift’ occurs.

GOD WILL PROSPER US:

Then I answered (the adversaries), and said, “The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore, we His servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” ~NE 2:20

The conflict in the Region around Israel intensified the moment permission was given to reestablish Israel’s homeland. The King of Persia’s Decree interfered with the surrounding governors plans because it restricted their ambitions of claiming the land of Israel for themselves. They began to criticize and create problems for the Jews—expecting Persia would abolish Israel if they appeared as the troublemakers in the Region.

As governor, Nehemiah addressed the opposition’s complaints. He clearly stated it was none of their business—only Israel can voice a complaint.  The adversaries had “no portion”—no allotment, heritage, or property in Israel, so they couldn’t make allegations. The opposition had “no right”—no authority that warrants vindication because they weren’t listed in the Jewish generations. And, they had “no memorial”—no documented proof of any historic privilege from God since nothing had ever been prophesied or recorded.

Today, we have a portion/heritage as “joint heirs with Jesus.” It’s documented—after His resurrection, Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters. Peter recorded us as “a royal priesthood” with rights as the sons of God. We have a memorial like the prayers of Cornelius that came up before God. We are written on the palms of God’s hands and in His mind perpetually. “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” (IS 49:16)

SPIRITUAL WALLS AND GATES:

God brought a remnant back from captivity to flourish in Israel, but their security and well-being depended on their relationship with God. Israel’s wall served as protection and separation from enemies. They needed a strong wall, but it is not a shield around Jerusalem unless they ‘closed’ the gates. In other words, the problem was never the strength of the wall, but who or what would be allowed through the gates, and if they would close them to keep the Sabbath day holy.

We likewise need a spiritual wall to defend ourselves from the adversary. We ‘build-up’ the spiritual man to flourish in Christ Jesus. If we are maturing in Christ, our ‘building-up’ is not the problem, but rather it’s our interactions with the world that could allow the enemy to sneak in and cause confusion. Our spiritual development may be genuine; but we might still be weak and susceptible at our gate/door area. That’s why Jesus warned His disciples to watch and pray. (MK 14:38) We keep a watchful eye, so the enemy does not infiltrate our spiritual wall and lead us into temptation.

We must guard our souls and vigilantly monitor what we permit to enter. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (PR 25:28) We control our gate.  Closing the door/gate takes discipline; keeping it locked takes self-control. Are we ‘built-up’ in self-control to close the gate/door and keep it shut? When you examined your situation prayerfully, what did God show you to do? Ask God to reveal what is “of Christ” and what’s ‘useless rubble’ in your life. As part of His Spiritual Tabernacle and Temple of His Holy Spirit, what would God have you do to put your temple/life in order?

GOD CALLED YOU BY NAME:

God said, “I have named you.” (IS 45:4) But what does He call us? We ‘raise our hands in praise’—are we called after the tribe of Judah? God recently responded that we are His ‘REMNANT’ …that we are not ‘end-timers’ or the ‘left-overs’ from a previous age. He further added that He prepared us ahead of time and calls us ‘FORERUNNERS.’ In the Greek it means “scout, guide, or one sent before a king to prepare the way”—such as John the Baptist. (LK 1:17) The word is used only once in the New Testament and describes Jesus, Who tore open the veiled doorway to the Throne Room so we can always dwell in God’s Presence. (HE 6:20)

When King Cyrus decreed that all those uprooted in the Babylonian Captivity could return to their homelands, historical documents reveal Israel initially sent a hundred of their young unmarried men as ‘scouts’ to search out the territory, find the best travel routes, and locate homesteads before the first wave of immigrants journeyed with their wives, young children and older parents. These ‘scouts’ sent word to ‘guide’ the Jews in how to travel safely to their homes. The ‘scouts’ that came were ‘forerunners.’ But the ‘forerunners and firstfruits’ included all three waves of returning Jews from Babylonian captivity.

Nehemiah wanted to change the fate of his homeland. He believed that unless the walls were rebuilt, and gates repaired, the attacks from surrounding nations could bring an end to Israel’s existence. Nehemiah is a ‘forerunner,’ who guided the ‘firstfruits’ in Jerusalem to invest their time, energy, and money to rebuild/repair the wall/gates—a feat they finished in only 52 days!

“FORERUNNER”

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where THE FORERUNNER has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. ~HE 6:19-20 

In 2013, the Angel of the Lord spoke: “Get Ready! … It’s time to put the House of God in Order. Pray for the Awakening of the Spiritual Tabernacle of God in the Earth.”

Like Nehemiah, God calls us ‘forerunners’ because ‘in Christ,’ we guide others into the Kingdom. We participate with Him to build/repair walls so that all who are His ‘lively stones’ are joined together and ‘built-up’ into the Body of His Christ—the glorious Tabernacle of His Holy Spirit.

Putting the House of God in order allowed Israel’s leaders to again govern in Jerusalem. Their history portrayed them as ‘sitting in the gate.’ (See RU 4:1,11) WHEN GOD MOVES, He likewise uses us to restore His GOVERNMENT in the Earth. Jesus is the ‘FORERUNNER’…but as “joint heirs with Jesus,” He also calls us ‘forerunners’—called to order the House of God and to rule/reign in His Kingdom “according to the order of Melchizedek.”

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Karen Roth is the wife of Dr. Roger Roth Sr., and a ministry son of Dr. Mark Hanby. They are he set ministry of a local church in Northeastern Wisconsin; and oversee the Bloodline Network Newsletter. They consider it an honor to work with Dr. Hanby for many years, helping to oversee the ministry of Papa Mark’s extended family—”The Father’s Heart.”

Any questions or comments please contact them at rogerandkaren@live.com