Shalom and welcome
Ezra, the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; beside him stood the elders and priests. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the act of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
NEHEMIAH 8:4-8
royal slave – regent of Judah
Examine the ancient saga of Nehemiah’s life, and you will quickly discover a tale fit for modern cinema. From the humble beginning as cup-bearer to the climatic rebuilding of Judah’s walls, the story of Nehemiah sets the perfect tone for our introduction to Sacred Desk Ministries. Not much is known about this extraordinary man’s life or background; we meet him as an adult serving in the Persian royal court as the personal cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah’s story soon unfolds.
He is given a God-orchestrated opportunity to oversee and record the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem, Judah’s capital city. Together, he and Ezra led a spiritual revival, directed the political and religious restoration of the Jews preparing their homeland after the Babylonian captivity. Nehemiah’s selfless and brave restoration of Jerusalem’s once-great city walls secured Israel and Judah’s future. Unbeknownst to Nehemiah, however, these walkways would someday bear the bloodied stained footprints of Jesus as He made His sacrificial journey to Calvary. It’s a beautiful story in the end, but living it costs so much in personal wealth and human equity.
strong spiritual foundations
In similar fashion to Nehemiah’s narrative, Sacred Desk is about strong spiritual foundations, building up a life of sacred Holiness out from those ruined and desolate places. The Old Testament shows us many excellent examples of Godly people who sought the Lord in everything they lived (1 Corinthians 10:11). Nehemiah’s life provides, in particular, depictions of an exceptional panorama for our introduction to Sacred Desk Ministries. His life is a study on leadership. “He overcame opposition from outsiders as well as internal turmoil. He exercised his administrative skills in his strategy to use half the people for building. Simultaneously, the other half kept watching for the Samaritans who, under Sanballat, threatened attack (Nehemiah 4–7). As governor, Nehemiah negotiated peace among the Jews who were unhappy with Persian taxes. He exhibited a steadfast determination to complete his goals. Accomplishing those goals resulted in a people encouraged, renewed, and excited about their future (https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-historical-books/nehemiah).
And so we see the cause for which we follow after in Nehemiah. As a servant, he served well, gaining his oppressor’s trust as he established prominence and influence. His heart was delighted with rebuilding his beloved city, knowing that the restoration process would restore his people to a holy God. He had to fight with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other, but his determination proved its worth in the end. Finally, he governed his people well, where peace and prosperity took root. Oh, if Nehemiah only understood the significance of Isaiah’s promised one, Jesus and the life He would lead through this restored promised land.
brick by brick
Nehemiah’s life echos the heartbeat for what you will experience with Sacred Desk. We are called to serve others as we learn to inherit the freedoms given to us by the Gospel truth. Like Nehemiah, there comes the point where we can’t endure to see the broken, torn down places in our lives. Soon, an innate desire wells up in our spirit as we seek to rebuild a spiritual walled city around the confines of our lives. No earlier than we start to build up God’s kingdom, we are attacked, ridiculed, and opposed at every turn.
Brick by brick, we build the spiritual foundations of life defending that work day and night. But as Psalm 126 tells us, “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:1-6)“ When the dust settles, we understand that the great spiritual rebuilding in our lives will serve as an example for generations to come. Firmly set in place, our spiritual foundations are laid, the walls of sacred understanding erected as we learn to govern our lives with righteousness, peace, and joy. And so it is with this online resource, we seek to build a well springing forth with living water in a dry and thirsty land.
The pulpit has often referred to as the sacred desk. It is the place from which the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed for God’s people’s nourishment. “
Earon M. James Sr
Perhaps you have grown weary with your current situation of life, knowing that more significant works have yet to manifest somehow and in some way.
At a certain point in a person’s spiritual journey toward the Kingdom of God, an innate desire (Psalms 37:3-6) for maturity, depth, wisdom, calling, rebuilding, and ministry beckons on the heart’s door. But did you know that the very God to whom you desire to grow in, also yearns to provide specific callings, ministries, works, every renewed life, love, peace, and joy? For as much as we pant for a just and Holy God, our Lord (Revelation 3:20), too, desires to be the chosen one used to nourish our souls.
Holiness
How then do we ever prepare ourselves to stand before the One so mighty and Holy that at the very mention of His name demons tremble, earth and water quake, Angels sing endlessly, mountains move and time and space bow down in reverent submission? The answer begins with a desire for Holiness and laying down the foundations of truth! Without Holiness, it is simply impossible to please or see God (Hebrews 12:14). Sustaining a life of Holiness starts with an eye toward eternity, consuming God’s knowledge, and finally, putting into practice a Nehemiah mindset, a Nehemiah work. Meaningful spiritual journies occur when we begin to examine those places spent in ruin, choosing to rebuild the sacred things for an everlasting reward.
In his letters to the early church, Paul beckoned them to be imitators of God in everything . In doing so, they represented Jesus as beloved sons and daughters (Ephesians 5:1). We could then assume that when we serve God in all things, we do so nourished from God’s Kingdom. Those who are called the children of God find nourishment when consuming God’s Kingdom’s spiritual elements. Learn to build Christ’s holy city in your life. Soon, you will flourish, being encouraged, renewed, and excited about your future.
The interplay between the physical world we live in and the spiritual atmosphere we seek to live by is profound and mind-boggling. Our constant battle with sin makes being sacred and holy an intense undertaking. The apostle Paul understood this mind-boggling dilemma when he stated: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (Romans 7:23).” Yet Paul concludes: “There is, therefore, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
For God’s people’s nourishment
The term sacred has a simple definition of meaning to dedicate or set apart; however, sacredness seems mysterious at times and awe-inspiring at others. Earon M. James Sr states that: “The pulpit has often referred to as the sacred desk. It is the place from which the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed for God’s people’s nourishment. “
Tucked away in the Word of God is a rich history of Holy nourishment, a grand narrative of an atoned people who set the sacred patterns for Godly living. Various writing methods are used throughout Sacred Desk to investigate scripture, such as expository, topical, and textual explorations of God’s word. Yet, it would be a great shame if we become so heady or systematic in our approach that we lose the heart-work needed for real-life transformation. Thus, we choose to satisfy the pangs of spiritual hunger through an intimate examination of God’s Kingdom principles, line upon line (Isaiah 28:10) being doers, not just hearers only (James 1:22-25). We often read and hear about holy living, but sadly little is given on how to go about it practically. Our supreme goal then is to practice God’s wisdom as living testimonies as we expand the narrow glimpse of our temporal existence and move toward the eve of eternal things.
an eternal reward soon to come
I invite you to explore God’s sacredness and learn how to build up a walled city in your heart. Above all, prepare your life now for an eternal reward soon to come. Make no mistake, Jesus is coming back for His bride soon. Who will be counted worthy (Revelation 3:21, Matthew 25:34) to stand with Him at His right hand? Who among us will forsake the things of this world, and like Nehemiah, choose the restoration of a Holy life and sacredness toward others?
If you are desperate to drink and be nourished from Christ’s living water, then this is a place for you. If you desire depth and maturity in the Kingdom of God, this is a place for you. If, in the end, you question your readiness to receive those glorious words: “…well done, thou good and faithful servant …(Matthew 25:21) “, then this online teaching resource is a must for you. Finally, if you are desperate to rebuild and fight for your family’s spiritual survival, then it is here where you will learn how to gather the foundational spiritual stones from the hinterland of God’s kingdom.
Nehemiah recorded the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem, Judah’s capital city. Together, he and Ezra led the people’s spiritual revival, administered the political and religious restoration of the Jews preparing their homeland after their bitter captivity. Perhaps one day, because of the holy places built in your life, you too will stand in the congregation of your influence sharing God’s wisdom, giving the understanding and nourishment to all that hear.
-Launching 2021-