SCRIP-BITS

Nehemiah 9:3.     And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! But it’s obvious you don’t need me to tell you that, as the band of revellers chipping down the street with a heavy beat pulsing from the accompanying riddim section already attest to it, with shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday! Sing the chorus nuh! TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ Now Friends, please let’s not get too carried away, for it’s only a brief respite from our earthly labours. And to help us rein in our bubbling enthusiasm, let’s chant our Friday Chant, like we really mean it. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Yeh mih people, is only two measly days off, but it’s certainly better than nothing, so please, with God’s help, let’s use them wisely. Now Friends, here’s a very interesting scenario as described by our Bit: ‘And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part of the day they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.’ Wow! What a spectacular event that must have been! Just imagine all Israel, in fasting mode, dressed in sackcloth, with dust on their heads, having confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers, standing before the priests and elders who read from the long lost book of God’s law, for a quarter of a day (3 daylight hours), then spending another quarter day worshipping and praising God! Can you conjure up the reactions of the many who had never heard or understood the true Word before? Oh Friends, it’s a miraculous event like that, with repentance, confession, healing, praise and worship that we need today to quell all the evil turmoil and confusion that’s besetting our world. But are there enough people with the faith of Ezra and Nehemiah, who also have the backing of powerful rulers, plus the guts and devotion to do something like that? And even if there are people with those requirements, would the powers that be, who’ve recently focused on getting rid of God from our society, allow it? Unfortunately though Friends, it’s a godly revival of such great magnitude that we need today to make any real inroads into the evil empire that’s currently in power and who are hell bent on persecuting God’s children. But though there might not be any capable or willing people to put on such a big revival, there’s no reason to lose hope and forego our faith in our great and wonderful God. We can still chip away at Lucifer’s evil empire in small groups and individuals, for remember for every sinner brought to repentance, there’s oodles of joy in heaven. The Father will gladly take them one by one, if that’s the only way He can get them. Remember ‘one one cocoa full basket,’ and ‘the cents add up to the dollars.’ Now let’s go home with a description of the first day of the Israelite revival and the Feast of the Tabernacles restored. The leaders, after reading the Word to the people and making great efforts for them to understand it, said to them: ‘This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, not weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he (Nehemiah, the Governor) said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace (be still), for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth (rejoicing), because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.’ (Neh.8:9-12) Oh my people, let’s dream and pray for a day of cleansing and thanksgiving like that to happen soon in our society nuh! It would be so refreshing and revitalizing and bring untold glory to our magnificent and most deserving God! Much LOVE!…dreams only come true…after they’ve been sincerely worked on…