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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">July 22, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b>WEEK
48 - NOV 25-DEC 1 - EZRA-NEHEMIAH - THE BIBLE AND COVENANT RENEWED</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOV
25</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. EZRA 2:1-2a (1-2)
RESTORATION AND RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL.</font> “Now these are the
children of the province, that went up out of the captivity of those
that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
had carried away unto Babylon, and that returned unto Jerusalem and
Judah, every one unto his city; <font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">2</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">
</font>who came with Zerubbabel” (ASV ‘01). </b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">Jeremiah's
prophecy; Daniel's prayer; Your response, Father! You worked them
altogether for good! </span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Hallowed
be your :name.</i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOV
</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">2</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">6</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">.
6:14 (3-6) TEMPLE REBUILT. </font> “And the elders of the Jews
built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet
and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it,
according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to
the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.”
</b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
bless You Father, for the ministry of Your prophets. We thank You for
restoring them again to the church at the end of this age. O may we
hear Your voice through them as You would speak through them! </span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOV
27</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. 9:9 (7-10) RETURN
UNDER EZRA.</font> “For we are bondmen; yet our God has not
forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness unto us
in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving to set up
the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall
in Judah and in Jerusalem.” </b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">Fresh
grace following revival can be so swiftly sinned away! Forgive us in
our day as You forgave Israel in the days of Daniel and Ezra! </span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i>Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth. </i></font></b></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOV
28</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">. NEH 2:17 (1-2)
RECONSTRUCTION OF WALL PLANNED.</font> “Then said I unto them, You
see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the
gates of it are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall
of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” </b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-weight:normal">Forgive
us Father, that the spirit of Nehemiah is not more often among us! We
need to </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">meditate</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
upon Your word concerning Your servant, until he rubs off on us;
until You put this same spirit and determination in us also! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">NOV
29</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">.
6:15-16 (3-6) RECONSTRUCTION OF WALL COMPLETED. </span></font><span style="text-decoration:none">
“So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">day</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
of </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the month</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
Elul, in </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u>fifty and
two days</u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">.
</span></span><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">16</span></span></font><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">of
it</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">,
that all the nations that were about us </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u>feared</u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">,
and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that
this work was worked of our God.” </span></span></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Hallelujah!
Victory for the forces of Righteousness! Right triumphs over might
through our God! </span></span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">NOV
30</span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">.
9:3 (7-10) RECONSTRUCTION OF PEOPLE THROUGH WORD. </span></span></font><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
“And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law
(</span></span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Torah or
Teaching)</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; and </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">another</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Jehovah their God.” </span></span></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Three
principles walked in Father, enable You always to deliver Your people
from backsliding. We pledge to walk likewise! </span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">DEC
1</span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">.
12:30 (11-13) RECONSTRUCTION OF PEOPLE COMPLETED. </span></span></font><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
“And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they
purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.” </span></span></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">O
the lessons and principles we learn from this, Father! All things are
Yours. All we are and all we do is </span></span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">for
Your pleasure</span></u></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span></span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">one.</span></span></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><b><span style="font-style:normal">NOTE</span></b></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">:
Covenant</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
and the Bible run arm in arm throughout history. Nehemiah 9:38 tells
how covenant was used to seal the reading of the Word and public
commitment to walk in its truths. Marriage is a covenant. How
important it is for us to covenant ourselves to our spiritual
bridegroom!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Alan
Redpath from England came to lead the Moody Memorial Church of
Chicago in the '50's. He also introduced English Keswick to
Mid-America in 1955. But perhaps most significantly, he wrote books
on Ezra and Nehemiah, and pointed out the principles of success used
by these two leaders, and how we today can profit wonderfully by
them.!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">I
served on the Africa Inland Mission Board of Mid-America under
Redpath for two years. I learned </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">much</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
from this man of courage, integrity and humility. On one occasion he
said, “I find vital morning devotions the most difficult discipline
to maintain in my life.” This encouraged me! He also said, “A
person can be </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">orthodox</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
in doctrine - but </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">heretical</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
in spirit!” This latter has resonated with me strongly through the
years!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">The
Rebuilding of the Temple under Ezra, and the Rebuilding of the Walls
of Jerusalem under Nehemiah, are most unusual feats of history in the
Old Testament. Consider the tremendous opposition of enemies they
</span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">both</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
faced in these two projects. Count on it - any great project assigned
by God, will raise up fierce opposition from Satan and his minions!
Consider the restoration of Israel to her land in 1948 after 2000
years, and what she has faced </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">every</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
year since!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">It
pays to reread these two books again and again - to </span></span></span><u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">meditate</span></span></u><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
upon them, and to draw on God's grace to walk in the principles they
set forth by example before us. </span></span></span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">From
the time the edict of Cyrus went forth, forty nine years elapsed.
Within that time the Temple, the Walls and the City were rebuilt and
completed. Though Herod improved this Temple, it was essentially
here, within these walls and in this City that Jesus of Nazareth
ministered, died, rose again and gave the gift of Pentecost.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Memory
Verse: Ezra 10:3 - </span></span></span><b><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Therefore
let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and
their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who
tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according
to the Law” (ESV).</span></span></font></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
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