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Paul makes a direct comparison to a Christian's life with that of the Temple of God. This was both in terms of the significance of the articles in the Holy Place as it was the severity of how those things were to be treated and handled.1. God meets with His people just like He met with Israel at the Temple.2. God hears the prayers of His people just like He enjoyed the incense of the Altar. 3. Sin's influence over our lives causes us to wither and unable to enjoy God like His Temple was intended to.

Paul's correction of the church of Corinth's carnality continues with an explanation of what he means by that term. A carnal or naturalistic perspective isn't fitting of an informed Christian life. A mature Christian is someone who takes whatever they rightly know about Jesus and lives accordingly. His exhortation was for them to learn enough about Jesus to do something practical with it.1. Christian maturity is when what they know becomes how they live.2. Jesus is not a topic Christians should “move on” from.3. There is a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be shunned.

Nehemiah and Ezra respond to the people of Israel's desire to celebrate the wall's completion with an organized demonstration of praising God for all the things He's done through them. It is from this perspective we also see the purpose God has for praise in our lives as well.1. Praise means to acknowledge what God has done.2. Praise refocuses our past, present, and future onto the faithfulness of God.3. Praise's greatest blessing gets our minds off of ourselves and onto Someone more worthy of our attention.

Joseph, like his namesake, shows a pattern of a godly father. Since Jesus was the only being in existence who could choose who would be his earthly father before He was born, we see the kind of man He chose as a model for the modern calling of Fatherhood.1. A Father models truth to his children by submitting to the Word of God.2. Wisdom is the ability to accept correction as often as provide it.3. A Godly Father is one that is there for his family especially when things get difficult.

Nehemiah and the leaders of Israel begin to repopulate the city of Jerusalem. While it wasn't a comfortable or safe setting, they were a part of the work God was doing in their generation and they were honored for it.1. The best leaders lead by example.2. God's calling for your life isn't always to be comfortable.3. God's approval of our choices is worth infinitely more than man's.

Paul reminds Corinth of the kind of difference a relationship with Jesus makes in life. The world around them can't understand the Word of God because they don't want to know the Author. The church knows the Author and should use Him as He intended to appreciate His Word and live a life that reflects it.1. You won't understand the significance a personal letter without a relationship with its author.2. A word from the Lord should always be tested with the Word of the Lord.3. The mind of Christ we've been given is the perspective and attitude Jesus would have towards the things of this life.

Nehemiah and the Priests establish a covenant with God after their restoration to the land because they wanted to rather than out of obligation or coercion. This is the same attitude we should bring to the promises we make to God in our own relationship with Him.1. God takes the promises we make to Him as seriously as the promises He's made to us.2. Why we are doing something is as important as what we are doing.3. Giving is a tangible demonstration of where our priorities are at in supporting the works of God we benefit from.

Paul continues to address the Corinthians' pride regarding who they have received their understanding of who Jesus is and what He taught by giving them a sober reminder that they don't know as much as they think they do. Their immaturity was demonstrated by believing they had all the knowledge they needed. He calls them to return to reality by appreciating how much more they need to learn and appreciate about the simplest of truths that it will take an eternity to fully appreciate.1. Maturity is a healthy understanding of how much more you need to know.2. A Mystery from God isn't something hidden and unknown, but something continuing to be revealed.3. The Holy Spirit is the only reason we are aware of our need for Jesus. We also need Him to grow closer to Him.

Nehemiah 9 is the longest prayer recorded in scripture. Due to the fact it was biblically informed and essentially summarizes the first 7 books of the Old Testament, it serves as a reminder to us of what an informed and practical prayer life looks like.1. Prayer should be to an audience of One.2. God's Word should inform you of the God you're talking to in prayer.3. God is more capable of keeping His promises than we are in making them.

This is the one chapter in the Bible that is fully dedicated to Isaac, the son of Abraham. During his life we see that he had a sin that came up in his life that was experienced by his father too. God showed up and reveled to Isaac not to flee during a famine but to stay in the Promised land. The land of Canaan. It made no sense, but God assured Isaac that he would be taken care of if he trusted God. Isaac obeys and then proceeds to lie to the king of the Philistines and in turn puts his wife, Rebekah, in a compromising position. God shows great mercy in the life of Isaac in blessing Isaac with numerous wells with water. There is a beautiful heart of Isaac to restore the water wells that his dad had built. In the greater Biblical narratives, we are shows that Isaac indeed is the promised line of Abraham that will produce the redeemer for mankind. We also are reminded that Jesus is our greatest example of how to live. Jesus also in a groom that will never hurt or forsake us. Jesus lastly is our living water that restores and brings times of refreshing in our lives!