Outline of a sermon preached at the People’s Church in June 2022.

Introduction – It is said that Thomas Edison lost much of his work due to a severe fire in his lab. It happened at a time when money was in short supply and Edison was in his senior years. His son was worried as to how his father would handle the great loss. Edison’s response however was, “we will build bigger and better on the ruins!”

Background to the Book of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah (meaning – ‘The Lord comforts’) was cupbearer to the King of Persia. He received news that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken and in ruins, with the gates burned down (Nehemiah 1:3).

This meant that the city would most probably face insults and mocking from surrounding nations. Also, that Jerusalem would be in great danger, and vulnerable to enemy attacks. The people were living in disgrace.

Many Waters to Cross – This is a short excerpt (including a prayer) taken off a sermon I preached at the Peoples’ Church in Colombo on the last Sunday of 2021. To watch the full sermon click the link below. https://youtu.be/dm0F-NvilIY

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? —Matthew 6:26

It was with a heavy heart that I sat down for my daily hour of meditation and prayer. “Lord, I need added faith this morning” I prayed. Many anxieties weighed upon me – chief among them being that my son would have to physically attend his main Cambridge exam in the midst of a lockdown, with Covid infections rising.

A few minutes later, I felt an urge to open our balcony door; something I normally don’t do till I finish praying. Little did I realize that such a simple decision, ordained I believe by God, would provide me with a powerful lesson.

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:1-6

This devotional is based around a Shunammite lady who had been greatly blessed by Elisha’s ministry. Not only was she blessed with the miracle of a child (2 Kings 4:17), but later, the now grown up son, was raised from the dead through God’s power (2 Kings 8:1).

On Elisha’s instructions thereafter, she had left her home and gone to Philistine territory to avoid a 7 year famine (8:1-2). When the famine was over, she returned home, only to find to her dismay that the house and land no longer belonged to her. It is possible that the land had either been seized by the Government, or been encroached on.