Daily Devotional

The Garrison of the Heart

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Garrison of the Heart
Words of Faith 7-10-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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CONTEXT OF THESE DEVOTIONS: The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a leader who heard of the great need in Jerusalem and responded to God's call by rebuilding the city's walls to make it safe. Most of the people of Israel were taken away into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. This was allowed as a punishment from God because Israel had worshiped idols and had been unjust to the poor. The exile began with the terrible defeat and devastating destruction of Jerusalem. The fabulous Temple of Solomon was destroyed and looted by the Babylonians, and the city was leveled. Finally, the period of punishment ended, and groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple in about 538 BC. But Jerusalem remained weak and unprotected with the walls in ruin for nearly 100 years. Nehemiah heard this and prayed earnestly. As the cupbearer for the King in Persia, who had conquered Babylon, he heard from God and obeyed.
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Nehemiah 7
[1] After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. [2] I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.

Okay, members of the choir, praise team, and worship leaders– get ready, get set, GUARD! That's right. Part of your duty is to protect the city, secure the gates, and watch the walls. Right along with the gatekeepers, we find that Nehemiah assigns the temple singers and the Levites (who attended to the details of worship) to the guard detail.

It's pretty clear that the physical wall, while very important, was not the ultimate source of security. The battle for security is not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities of this dark age. It is a battle waged in worship, prayer, praise, and intercession.

Are you insecure? Do you feel "safe"? Physical walls are important. There is a place for locked doors and windows to be sure. But there is also an insecurity that is never calmed by physical fortification. This is probably because much of our insecurity has deeper roots.

The truth is that we feel most insecure when we are not connected with the God of the universe, who is in control of all things. We may even have known the security of His love at one time in our lives, only to drift away. We may seek security in other material fortifications, such as the clothes we wear and the cars we drive. But as long as we are not fundamentally connected with our loving Father, it is for naught. We may struggle long and hard to control our own destiny and fortune, only to find ourselves less secure than when we started.

What is the answer? God’s Word instructs us through the Apostle: "Rejoice in the Lord always." I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7). The word “guard” literally means to build a garrison. He will garrison your heart with His peace.

We need to fortify the gates of our lives with personal, intimate worship of our Lord. We need to build up the walls through prayer. When we enter into worship, the walls are suddenly patrolled by a heavenly force of angelic sentries.

Lord, fortify the gates of my life. Draw me so near to You that Your security will guard over my heart and very life. Wean me away from worldly sources of security that prove empty in times of trial. Give the peace which surpasses understanding to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. In His Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.

Fifty-Two Days to Victory

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Fifty-Two Days to Victory
Words of Faith 7-9-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 6
[15] So the wall was completed on the twenty fifth of Elul, in fifty two days. [16] When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
[17] Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them. [18] For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son in law to Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. [19] Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

Have you ever wondered what God could do through a person or a group of people wholly surrendered to Him and His purposes? We have a great testimony here from Nehemiah. The wall of Jerusalem, which was nothing more than rubble, was completely restored in fifty-two days by families and friends who worked together for the Lord. It was a miraculous feat. After being laughed at, scoffed at, attacked by rumor, and undermined by intimidation, the wall was finally done to the glory of God.

In fact, it was a feat so miraculous that many have questioned its validity, saying that it would be impossible to complete such a wall in this amount of time, no matter how many people were working. Even the Jewish historian Josephus, writing centuries later, gave dates that indicated a longer period for the task. But while Josephus is thought to be reliable, his writing was never added to the canon of Holy Scripture and does not stand above the testimony of God’s Word.

The question is this—Could God have empowered Nehemiah to miraculously rebuild the wall in such a short span of time? Interestingly enough, archaeological investigations by Kathleen Kenyon seem to confirm the Biblical record of this historic event. Her estimation of the circuit around the city and discovery of a part of Nehemiah's wall indicate a structure solidly built, about 2.75 meters thick, with a rough finish, as though executed rapidly.

The answer to the question? Not because of an archeological analysis examining some rocks but because of God's Word—Yes. God can do exactly as He pleases in whatever period of time with people who are surrendered to Him. With God, even what appears monumental is achieved with stunning speed. He has been known to lift open the sea so that his children can pass through without building a bridge or tunnel. He has defeated huge armies with small bands of warriors who never should have been able to win. He even does a nifty three-day resurrection.

So here is a good question. Is there something monumental in your life that you need God to accomplish? Is there something that appears impossible but would secure a part of God's Kingdom? Are you facing an impossible task? An impossible journey? An impossible need for protection and security? This same God, the God of Nehemiah, is your God and can do the impossible. He can build security in your life and in mine with stunning speed. He can rebuild that which was broken down and create protection once again. We know that what is impossible with man is possible with God. The God that Nehemiah trusted is here for you and me to trust as well. Imagine just for a moment how much the world might change for God in the next fifty-two days through a person or some people surrendered to Him?

Lord, give me the faith to believe You for whatever You direct, no matter how impossible it may sound. Lord, I offer to you the next fifty-two days of my life. Build the walls that are needed and break down those that are not. Make me into who You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Snare of Intimidation

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Snare of Intimidation
Words of Faith 7-8-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 6
[10] One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you– by night they are coming to kill you." [11] But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" [12] I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. [13] He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
[14] Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.

The assignment of Nehemiah's enemy was simple: Stop the construction of the wall at any cost. So far, the enemy had used ridicule, distraction, lies, and rumors. The last snare was much more subtle—intimidation.

This crafty enemy used someone relatively close and trusted to attempt to undermine Nehemiah's confidence. Shemaiah was probably a priest who had some spiritual respect and had legitimate access to the Temple. Nehemiah was a layman who had no such access to the Temple. In fact, God's Word specifically forbade him, as a ruler, from using or seizing the Temple.

Shemaiah created the illusion of danger by hiding himself. He then urged Nehemiah to hide in the Temple. But if Nehemiah had given in to this, it would have destroyed Nehemiah'sleadership, showing him to be a coward with no regard for God's law. In the end, Nehemiah discovered that Shemaiah had been hired to create this intimidation and tempt Nehemiah to abandon faith in God and His Word.

One of the great snares plied by our Enemy today is to work from within through intimidation. It starts with someone who seems close and trusted, who may have, in a sense, "sold out" to the enemy as Shemaiah did. While it may not be as intentional as in Nehemiah’s case, a person or group may work to undermine the confidence of a leader. They may erode the confidence of the leader in their own judgment or in God, so that they doubt their ability to complete the task that has been assigned.

Such a person may even isolate themselves from the body but claim to have "inside spiritual knowledge" of danger as Shemaiah did. They may share this sense of "danger" as a "concern" in very spiritual language. Suddenly, amid all this perceived "danger", a leader may second-guess the vision that God gave or the direction He has already confirmed. The zinger is when this person suggests something that is against God's Word.

How do you battle this kind of subtle, crafty snare?

First, Nehemiah recognized the ploy and that it did not fit with his overriding trust and confidence in God. Such recognition is possible because a leader has attended to their relationship with God. Confidence in the Lord cannot be easily undermined if we are in daily conversation with Him.

Next, Nehemiah recognized that a true prophetic word would never instruct him to break God's Word. This is always a key litmus test when considering the counsel or advisors. One can only be clear in such discernment through great familiarity with the Word of God. We must do more than the quick course. We need to study and meditate upon His Word. We must soak ourselves in His Word.

Finally, having discovered the snare, Nehemiah prayed for those working against him. This was the sign of a powerful leader. We might say that Nehemiah was long ahead of his time. Jesus instructed this very thing in Matthew 5:44— “I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”The Apostle Paul put it this way— "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21).

Lord, protect my ears and heart from anything that would intimidate my faith in You and what You are doing in my life. Protect me from the "dangers" shared, the "concerns" whispered, and the “suggestions” that are not according to Your Word. Keep my eye on You and my faith in Your steadfast love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Snare of Rumor

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Snare of Rumor
Words of Faith 7-7-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 6
[5] Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter [6] in which was written:"It is reported among the nations– and Geshem says it is true– that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king [7] and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together." [8] I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head." [9] They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."

Have you ever had someone say something that was wholly untrue about you… Simply in order to undermine your progress or get their way? If not, I hope and pray that it will never be so! Rumors can be among the most painful darts the enemy flings, and they sometimes come from a direction we would least expect. A rumor is an insidious snare not only because it can destroy reputation but also because it draws us away from our focus.

The problem with a rumor is that the more we try to resist it, the more it seems to stick around. You might remember the "tar-baby" in Uncle Remus’ tales of Br'er Rabbit. The tar-baby doll was a snare made of tar and turpentine used to entrap Br'er Rabbit. Once Br'er Rabbit touched the tar-baby, he was stuck. The more he would fight to get free from the tar-baby, the more entangled he would become. Rumors are like that.

“Sandy” (Sanballat) was back in action to start a rumor about Nehemiah. Sandy sent a message in an unsealed letter. In ancient times, a letter was always sealed both to attest to its authenticity and to keep it private. But this letter was intentionally circulated as an "open letter."The letter included the dangerous rumor that Nehemiah was seeking to become King. Such treason was usually punished by death. It was a terrible rumor to start and could have had disastrous results.

So how did Nehemiah respond?

First, it appears that Nehemiah was able to trust his good relationship with the King of Persia. When a nasty rumor spreads, we find where our strongest bonds of trust lie. Some of the best “rumor control” is done in advance and lies in simply living a life of integrity that builds strong bonds of trust.

Next, Nehemiah answered the rumor directly at the source, calling it false, but he did not engage in any of the typical “damage control” that one might expect. He made no accusation against others. Most rumors are only fanned into a more fiery flame when we try to fight the sparks with denials and arguments. The more we engage in petty arguments with petty people, the more a rumor will seem to stick. Often, our best strategy is to state the truth and then simply not engage.

Finally, Nehemiah set out to prove the rumor-makers wrong, not with words but with action. The rumor makers were certain that the Jerusalem wall project would fail because of weariness. It was not the “dogged determination” of Nehemiah that won the day but his prayer life. Nehemiah was determined to pray—"Lord, strengthen my hands" — and then put those hands to work. Much tenacity and perseverance can arise within us when we face the desperate barbs of a rumor monger. Bathe that tenacity in prayer, and God will indeed strengthen our hands for the work that is ahead, even as He strengthens our hearts against the snare.

Are there any rumors swirling around you? How do we fight that attack and avoid that snare? Realize it is another attempt by the enemy to distract you from the work the Lord has put before you. Do not engage. Answer with the truth. Pray for the strength of the Lord to carry you through and prove the rumor-makers wrong. Get to work.

Lord Jesus, protect me from the fiery darts of the enemy. Protect me from worry concerning the opinions of men. Keep my eye on You and my hand steady in the work You have put before me. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.

The Snare of Distraction

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

The Snare of Distraction
Words of Faith 7-6-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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CONTEXT OF THESE DEVOTIONS: The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a leader who heard of the great need in Jerusalem and responded to God's call by rebuilding the city's walls to make it safe. Most of the people of Israel were taken away into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. This was allowed as a punishment from God because Israel had worshiped idols and had been unjust to the poor. The exile began with the terrible defeat and devastating destruction of Jerusalem. The fabulous Temple of Solomon was destroyed and looted by the Babylonians, and the city was leveled. Finally, the period of punishment ended, and groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple in about 538 BC. But Jerusalem remained weak and unprotected with the walls in ruin for nearly 100 years. Nehemiah heard this and prayed earnestly. As the cupbearer for the King in Persia, who had conquered Babylon, he heard from God and obeyed.
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Nehemiah 6
[1] When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it– though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates– [2] Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."
But they were scheming to harm me; [3] so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" [4] Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

Dr. Gavin de Becker is a Los Angeles security advisor who is widely regarded as the nation's leading expert on stalking. In his extensive study of stalkers and associated violence, he notes that a stalker will often pose as a "friend" as a way to distract his victim and take advantage of his or her natural politeness. But this "friend" is, in fact, an enemy. Nehemiah knew that same truth.

The enemies of Nehemiah used the same ploy. The wall around Jerusalem was nearing completion, but the gates were not in place. A failure at this point would render all the work thus far useless. The enemy's ploy took the form of a distraction. A message came: "Let's meet together as friends in a neutral place."But Nehemiah was too wise. He knew that he had a task directed by God, and so he refused. He refused to be distracted.

Someone once said that if the enemy cannot cause you to fall, then he will settle to distract you. He may try to befriend you. He may compliment you or flatter you. He may attempt to set up a meeting. He might invite you to a "neutral location."But the truth? There is no negotiation with the enemy of our Lord. There is no friendship to be had with that enemy. There is no meeting place that is safe. There is no "neutral location" for a conversation.

If you think about it, relatively few ministries actually fall to the "big sins"; we just hear a lot about those that do. The ministries that fall are weakening when they "drift" because of distractions. It is so easy for people, churches, denominations, and mission groups to become distracted and forget what the first calling was all about. It is easy to neglect the important mission of keeping the main thing the main thing. For Nehemiah, the main thing was building the wall and providing security for God's people. He would not be distracted.

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. It is often noted that the biggest distractions are not the bad things… but rather the “good things” that are not the best thing. It is difficult to set aside the many good things that might distract us from the best thing.

How about you? What is the main thing God has called you to do? What is the best thing that He has set before you? Any distractions? Have you drifted from your first love? Has the world been trying to make friends with you at a "neutral location"? Decide right now. Refuse to be distracted.

Lord Jesus, give me grace to keep my eye on You and my heart on the task You have called me to do. Give me wisdom to see the distractions and courage to set them aside. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Generous Leadership

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Generous Leadership
Words of Faith 7-2-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 5
[17] Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. [18] Each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days, an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. [19] Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.

Nehemiah might be listed as the most personally sacrificial governor in the history of Judah, but he cannot be listed as being inhospitable. In fact, Nehemiah displayed an example of an open and generous table that exhibited the power of hospitality.

We should understand that there was an expectation in the ancient world that governors and rulers would lavishly entertain dignitaries and officials. This was part of the social responsibility of the age. As an example, when Solomon became king, he sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and held a great seven-day feast for the assembly (1 Kings 4:23; 8:62-65). An ancient text discovered at Nimrud records the feasting of 69,574 people for ten days on this occasion. And you think you had to entertain a lot of people to watch the Super Bowl!

The point here is that Nehemiah extended generous hospitality to both Jewish officials and people from the land. He invited the wealthy and well-placed to his table as well as the poor. The meat listed here would be sufficient to provide one meal for 600 to 800 persons, including the 150 Jews and officials mentioned.

Of course, one of the “fringe benefits” of being governor in Judah was a food allowance, granted him by the Persian officials for the official entertaining of guests. But Nehemiah did not take advantage of what was rightfully his. In providing food for many Jews and entertaining dignitaries from other nations, he served food and wine from his personal resources. And as far as we know, the people were not even aware of this! This was not some grandiose gesture to pick up the bill at the restaurant.

Nehemiah used the ancient equivalent of a “state dinner” to extend hospitality generously to both powerful and common people. As a leader, Nehemiah used his table to bring people together, without demanding his allotment from the tax revenue. In the modern world, this would be like the President holding a lavish state dinner to honor state officials and dignitaries but also including people from across the nation who had no pull or clout whatsoever… and then picking up the bill personally.

What we want to see here is leadership that is generous and displays a genuine commitment to the people. Leaders who are in it for what they can get are not really leaders. Leaders who serve for the sake of what they can give foster an amazing sense of rapport and stability among those they serve.

The truth is you don’t have to put on a state dinner in order to be hospitable, and you don’t have to treat 800 guests in order to be generous. It really comes down to a few qualities. Are you able to use your home and table to bring people together? Is God calling you to do that? Are there ways and places that you can create hospitality that will build goodwill between people? Are there ways you can extend generosity in ways that will serve a wide variety of people?

Father God, help me to be a godly leader. Show me the ways that I can open my home and my life so that people can come together and know You. Teach me the ways that I can extend the generosity that You have shown me and bless others. Show me how to lead through sacrifice and generous hospitality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sacrificial Leadership

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Sacrificial Leadership
Words of Faith 7-1-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 5
[14] Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty second year– twelve years– neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. [15] But the earlier governors– those preceding me– placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. [16] Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

If someone was around accusing Nehemiah of taking on the governorship of Palestine for selfish reasons, Nehemiah wanted to clarify a few things. These were not boastful matters.

In all the time that Nehemiah served his first term as governor, he, of course, had a right to tax the people in order to provide for his own life and expenses. But he did not. For a first term of twelve years and then another term after that, Nehemiah refused to collect the "food allotted to the governor." Instead, Nehemiah went out of his way to sacrifice even what was normally his due to serve as an example to the people. Sometimes leadership requires sacrifice.

This was in stark contrast to other governors who had imposed a heavy tax burden on the people. Nehemiah's behavior as governor was guided by principles of service and by God's call rather than by opportunism. This was rare in the ancient world. In the Roman period, honest governors like Cicero were exceptional, and the Roman governors who came to Palestine were known for their predatory greed.

Leadership requires sacrifice. Those who are in it for what they can get will leave, move on, or be found out and thrown out. Sometimes extra effort is necessary to establish trust and solidify the people of God.

The Apostle Paul approached things in this way during his ministry. He pointed out that while he had the right to receive support from believers during his travel, he chose instead not to do so. “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense against those who sit in judgment on me. Don't we have the right to food and drink?” (1 Corinthians 9:1-4)

Paul clearly declared to the Thessalonians, “We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you (2 Thessalonians 3:8). Sometimes leadership requires sacrifice.

There are several legendary business leaders who took “dollar-a-year” salaries to lead through tough economic times. This is commendable. One thing often not mentioned about those situations is that these executives received stock options that were not subject to payroll taxes. So it really was a rather sweet deal. I have known people who entered into full-time Christian service in missions or ministry staff for a “dollar-a-year”… literally, but there were no stock options except those paid in heaven.

Sometimes leadership requires sacrifice. I have known a number of pastors and leaders who have gone without paychecks or pay increases or taken salary reductions because this simply had to be done in difficult economic times. But this also established a clear solidarity with the people.

Leadership requires sacrifice. Perhaps it isn’t unpaid, but leadership requires sacrifice. What is your sacrifice?

Father God, teach me how to walk like Nehemiah. Teach me to walk in complete trust of You. Teach me how to sacrifice in response to Your leading, for no other reason and for no other time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Fold of God’s Robe

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

The Fold of God’s Robe
Words of Faith 6-30-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 5
[10b] Let the exacting of usury stop! [11] Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them– the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."[12] "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. [13] I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"At this, the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

In the ancient world, men wore robes. Because they had no pockets, there was a fold in the robe beneath a rope or sash used to carry things. Like a large pocket, this fold was a place to carry valuable things close to the body. As Nehemiah concluded his plea for fairness among the people of God, he gave a powerful image using the fold of his own robe.

Nehemiah stood before the priests, nobles, and officials, as they promised to change their ways. In response, he suddenly shook out the folds of his own robe, spilling any small coins, important papyrus, or pocket items. The items would have fluttered and clattered as they were released into the air and chattered to the floor. Then Nehemiah made this prophetic statement— “In this way may God shake you out of your house if you do not keep this promise.”

The point was made, and it must have been stunning, because everyone said Amen! This means, “We trust this to be reliable—this is the truth!”

The oath was very simple. The people agreed that charging interest to poor brethren was wrong. They had been charging about 12% annually, or “the hundredth part of the money,” each month to impoverished people. Then they had seized land and homes when the debts could not be paid. These people made an oath to return property and charge no more interest to their brethren.

What is this thing that Nehemiah says? "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise? So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" Was it a curse? Was it a blessing? Perhaps it was simply the truth. Not a truth in the sense that people who gain interest through a bank will be shaken from the robe of God. But it is a reminder that if we are blessed, it is only at the gracious hand of God.

What a powerful image. We are in the fold of God’s robe. We are in His pocket. We are close to Him and secure. But we put that relationship in peril when we turn against others who are going through a hard time. If we take advantage of or profit from others' misery, we risk losing our place near God. If we promise to show compassion and fail to follow through, we risk that place. The shaking of the robe is not so much a judgment against the unjust as it is simply the shaking out of a relationship already broken by greed.

Lord God, I want to be close to You. I want that place close to You in the fold of Your robe. Help me clear away any broken relationships that have resulted from my neglect or greed. Help me see the needs of others as needs in my own family. Help me keep just relationships with others so that I may not be shaken from the fold of Your robe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Name It and Claim It

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Name It and Claim It
Words of Faith 6-29-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 5
[6] When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. [7] I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them [8] and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet because they could find nothing to say. [9] So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? [10a] I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain...

There is a time to be angry. But how do you deal with that sort of anger? Nehemiah gives us a good model. Nehemiah was angry because some in Jerusalem were taking advantage of others. But he did not take it for granted that he was "right." He observed that some were making great sacrifices, while others were making the most of the situation for selfish reasons. He felt angry. Dealing with that anger correctly was a matter of critical concern.

Many Christians believe that there is no place for anger in the life of the believer. If that is so, then Jesus would have made a very poor Christian. Jesus was clearly angry at times (Mark 3:5) and was even known to turn over a table or two in the Temple when it needed to be done.

There is such a thing as righteous anger. This is not a selfish anger. It is not a misdirected anger. This is not anger about something else that is dumped on the wrong person. This is anger concerning the things of God that is then expressed appropriately and seeks either justice, reconciliation, or both.

Look at the model we see in Nehemiah for dealing with his anger.

1st - Nehemiah identified the anger and named it. He focused on the emotion and claimed it. He did not make a religious euphemism about his feelings. He was not “puzzled” or “perplexed." He did not write a memo about his “concern” or “disappointment." He was angry. He knew himself well enough to name it. He was angry. In fact, he was very angry.

2nd - Nehemiah “pondered” the matter in his mind. He did not immediately assume that he was “right” about all this. The Hebrew word means “to take counsel with oneself." This is where Nehemiah stepped back and made certain he was on the right track.

The key to a Godly response is not “to ever have anger,” but to be sure we are angry at the right things and not at the wrong things. Is our anger selfish? Is our anger petty? Is our anger really about something else? Is the anger about some other wound? Wisdom teaches us not to flare with anger but to take counsel with ourselves. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools (Eccl 5:6; 7:9).

3rd - Nehemiah confronted the offenders. Nehemiah went first to the “nobles and officials” who had been involved before calling a larger meeting.

It is amazing how closely this parallels the teaching of Jesus. Jesus taught that when a brother or sister has sinned against you, we are to go and show that person their fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother or sister over. Jesus also directed that if such an offender will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Finally, if a person who has sinned against you refuses to listen to them, “tell it to the church”, that is, seek the authority of the Body of Christ to intervene. Those who refuse to listen even to the authority of the church forfeit the privilege of close fellowship and are to be treated “as you would a pagan or a tax collector”, that is, with prayer and compassion but not with a trusted place of authority (Matthew 18:15-17).

Is there something you are angry about? Name it. Claim it. Take counsel within yourself about it. Approach it correctly by going first to the person who has sinned.

Father God, teach me the patience of conflict resolution. Teach me to be a peacemaker. Keep me from being a peace breaker. Give me the courage not to be a peace-faker. Help me to deal with righteous anger and especially give me the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Fair Approach

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0400

A Fair Approach
Words of Faith 6-26-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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CONTEXT OF THIS DEVOTION. The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a leader who heard of the great need in Jerusalem and responded to God's call by rebuilding the city's walls to make it safe. Most of the people of Israel were taken away into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. This was allowed as a punishment from God because Israel had worshiped idols and had been unjust to the poor. The exile began with the terrible defeat and devastating destruction of Jerusalem. The fabulous Temple of Solomon was destroyed and looted by the Babylonians, and the city was leveled. Finally, the period of punishment ended, and groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple in about 538 BC. But Jerusalem remained weak and unprotected with the walls in ruin for nearly 100 years. Nehemiah heard this and prayed earnestly. As the cupbearer for the King in Persia, who had conquered Babylon, he heard from God and obeyed.
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Nehemiah 5
[1] Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. [2] Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."[3] Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine."[4] Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. [5] Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others." [6] When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. [7] I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them [8] and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. [9] So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? [10] I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! [11] Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them– the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."[12] "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, many families had been through hard times. Some had returned with nothing and attempted to scratch a living from the land. Others had remained in the land during the exile and had a certain advantage. Many had gone into debt to pay taxes and just to live. Land and homes had been lost. Some had even seen their children indentured to pay the debts. But the worst of it was that excessive interest was being charged by fellow Jews!

Now Nehemiah watched these same struggling families set aside everything to see the project through to completion. Many began to hurt just for money to buy food. Nehemiah was paying off debts to get fellow Jews freed from slavery only to find other brothers still “sticking it to” the brethren. What is wrong with this picture!? No wonder he was angry! Nehemiah had sacrificed everything in order to set the people of God free and provide a place of security for them, only to have other "brothers" profiteering!

After pondering the situation (Nehemiah was never one to jump ahead of the Lord), he confronted those who were profiting from those less fortunate and those who had sacrificed to rebuild the wall. "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?" The Spirit of God must have brought a powerful conviction, because they agreed to repay the unfair interest. The people of God began to cooperate in trying to set people free.

I wonder if a similar situation ever exists in the Body of Christ.

I’m not talking about the fact that we should always be fair in business no matter who is involved. That goes without saying. I am just wondering if there are ever situations where some give faithfully and sacrificially to further the Kingdom while others profit from God's work.

Over the years, I have known of situations where generous Church contracts were awarded on the basis of a good-old-boy network or family affiliation, and thousands of dollars were wasted. I have known situations where some members "loaned" a tithe to the Lord to subscribe to a church bond issue, while others in the same church sacrificed a double tenth in order to pay that debt.

Most often, it boils down to some who suffer in their sacrifice for God, while others neglect their basic responsibility. But the more significant issues may concern deeper realms of the Kingdom. I wonder sometimes. Is there someone who must serve several times their share because I had other things to do when it was time to serve? Is there someone who had to pray an extra hour today at God's leading to make up for the hour I failed to lift my church and my missionaries before the Lord? Have I exacted a sort of spiritual usury on the Body of Christ by my failure to do my part in making the dwelling of God secure?

Uh oh. Stepping on my own toes a bit there! Better go back to money! I confess that I have observed the dearest of servants on the mission field who were struggling to survive and going personally into debt to meet the most desperate of human needs, while others in the Body of Christ asked for "less talk about money."

Nehemiah might well say, "Friends in Christ, this is not right." Shouldn't we walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our enemies?

Let us not forget that we are stewards of God's resources— spiritual, emotional, and physical. Let us share with God and with His work. Let us share with His people. Let us give all we can and then give a little more. Let us serve all we can and then serve a little more. Pray all we can and then pray just a little more.

Lord, forgive me if my failures have added to the burden of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lead me into a life of faithfulness. Lead me into places of loving service, deeper prayer, and faithful stewardship. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.