The Roman Empire at its peak in 117 AD. Including the Mediterranean Sea, it emcompassed the land equivalent to the United States.
Historians agree the downfall of the Roman Empire began from within including things such such as political instability, economic issues, social issues, and decline in military.
Outward opposition leads to a rally. Inward opposition leads to
.
Read it…
1And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren. —Nehemiah 5:1
The first group of people had no means to work because their husbands and sons were doing other work.
The second group of people gave up their land in order to get food.
The third group gave up their children because they couldn’t repay their loans to the king. They say the interest in those days was 40-50%.
Feel it…
8At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense. —Nehemiah 5:8 (NLT)
Despair stalls progress forward.
When the inevitable happens, make it
.
The word Scripture uses in this situation is RECONCILIATION.
Restoration of friendly relationships and of peace where before there had been hostility and alienation. —Baker Encyclopedia
There was, then there wasn’t, and then there was again.
Reconciliation is a mutual effort.
A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual. It is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. —Easton’s Bible Dictionary
13Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise. —Nehemiah 5:13
The “AMEN” is the collective agreement of moving forward together.
There is a responsibility for those who have done wrong to do right.
There is a responsibility for those who have been wronged to do right.
Do right by
to God.
15But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. —Nehemiah 5:15
What does this look like for us?
25Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil. 28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:25-32
How is any of this possible?
20But you have not so learned Christ, 21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. —Ephesians 4:20-24
Have you surrendered your life to God so you can do right?