At the Messianic congregation in Romania, motzei Shabbat.

Today was a very busy day.  Baruch taught from 9:30am – 1:30pm at a congregation about an hour’s walk from our hotel.  He taught the book of Ezra and the first 2 chapters of Nehemiah.  It was a very interesting study for me and I noticed something I wanted to share with you.

Ezra and Nehemiah had quite an undertaking at hand.  As we know, while being in exile in Babylon for 70 years, the Children of Israel became totally ignorant of the laws of G-d. They did not take it lightly.

Ezra 7:10 states, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the L-rd, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

Ezra 8:21 states, “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our G-d, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”

Nehemiah 2:18b states, “… And they said, Let us rise up and build.  So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”

What I saw in all 3 verses is that these men were seeking or had already been given a task by G-d, but the made preparation to carry out these tasks.  In order to be an accountant (CPA)  you can’t just decide to do it and start a business.  You have to go to school first and pass the CPA exam.

If you want to run a marathon, you don’t just go run one, without having spent months working up to be able to run one.

Before Nehemiah left to go to Jerusalem, he got a letter from the king, so that he could take timber from the king’s forest for the rebuilding.  This was good planning!

In that same way, maybe G-d is calling you to some form of ministry.  What preparation do you need?  Do you need theological training?  Do you need a degree?  Do you need more preparation spiritually?  I think we will all need preparation spiritually.  When we decide to follow G-d and His plans for our life, you know that satan will attack you.  I cannot tell you how many times I have prayed earnestly about something and then within 24 hours I have been attacked  by satan concerning that very thing!

As you pray about the direction you should take in your life, be prepared to do whatever is required to be ready to carry it out, as well as spiritually for the attack that will follow.

After speaking at the one congregation, we then went to the Messianic congregation, where Baruch taught on Hanukkah.  They had a nice size group and they are always very welcoming to us.  Please pray for their leader Yehoshua and his wife Laura.