Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we come to Nehemiah 7 we enter into a new section, which has been called the “second book,” of Nehemiah. The focus shifts from rebuilding the walls, to rebuilding the people. This process begins by gathering more people into the city. But, here’s the catch – the city must be populated only by those who ought to be there, for the city of God is not for everyone.

You will notice approximately 130 names of the original returnees from Babylon 100 years earlier (See Ezra 2). It is a list verifying that these are the people of God. Now that the walls were built, the city needed to be populated according to the heart and the mind of God.

Nehemiah 7 shows us how God has provided a good city for His people. It is a city which He has ordered by His wisdom. But the presence of this city raises questions: Are you living in the city of God? Is your name written in the lambs book of life?  Have you entered in to the city according to God’s way? Are you a citizen of the city of God or are you still a citizen of the city of man?

Notice this: the city is ready, but there is still much room for more people… this is the situation with the church today. We must continue to gather people into the city of God through the spread of the gospel of  Jesus Christ.

Here are a few things we learn about God in Nehemiah 7: Through Jesus Christ, God establishes a dwelling place with protections for His people in His Church; God knows your name; God draws  you into His story; God provides for your public worship; God calls you into His city.

Here is the outline of chapter 7:1-73

1. Men were appointed to minister and protect, v1-3
2. The conditions in the city are stated – few houses and sparse population, v4
3. The people were registered, 5-73

Prayer will be held at the Noah’s

Please pray for the group traveling to Montgomery Alabama for two conferences this weekend. The first will take place on Friday evening, which feature a small gathering of black pastors to consider the state of fatherhood in the church. Carlton McLeod, Clarence Simmons, Jason Dohm, Tom Ford, Scott Brown and others from the Montgomery area, including the former Chief Justice of Alabama, Roy Moore will be speaking. Then on Saturday Jason, Tom, Clarence, Carlton, Scott and Paul will be speaking at a family conference. Others making the trip are, Isaac Burke, Will Arterburn, Joah Carpenter, Jake and Laura Dohm, Michael, Malachi and Isabelle Templeton.

On Sunday evening Mike will continue his instruction in the Baptist Confession 1689, chapter 22, on “The Worship of God and the Sabbath.”

Don’t forget about the Father Daughter Retreat, August 11-12, where we will be doing character studies – biographies – on great Christian women in history. And we will be running the Neuse River in Canoes on Saturday afternoon…

Our singing together on Sunday will feature these songs:

• I Sing the Mighty Power of God
• How Great Thou Art
• Rejoice in the Lord
• All I Have Is Christ
• Amazing Grace
  
  

I Sing the Mighty Power of God
I sing the mighty pow’r of God
that made the mountains rise
That spread the flowing seas abroad
and built the lofty skies
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day
The moon shines full at His command
and all the stars obey

I sing the goodness of the Lord
that filled the earth with food
He formed the creatures with His word
and then pronounced them good
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed
wher-e’er I turn my eye
If I survey the ground I tread
or gaze upon the sky

There’s not a plant or flow’r below
but makes Thy glories known
And clouds arise and tempests blow
by order from Thy throne
While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care
And everywhere that man can be,
Thou, God, art present there

How Great Thou Art
O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thro’out the universe displayed

  Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!

When thro’ the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim:  my God, how great Thou art!

Rejoice in the Lord
God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

   O Rejoice in the LORD; He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

All I Have Is Christ
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

   Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Amazing Grace
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun