Our Fire-starter comes this morning from Nehemiah 1. Our fire-starter thought is What are you carrying in your cup?

I can imagine how happy Nehemiah is being the cupbearer, but the message bearer has brought some news that has put Nehemiah to mourning and weeping over what is going on. The king's cupbearer has one specific task and that is to make sure whatever goes to the king is safe for the king and will not hurt the king. He asked God for wisdom to go to the king about this burden. 

As I read this text it reminded me of what we are supposed to be. I understand we are not cupbearers Physically but spiritually I want to ask you what you are carrying in your cup? 

If Christ doesn't like how something taste to him, he puts a wedge in our fellowship till we get clean from it. You may have bitterness in your cup this morning, that is hurting our Savior How about a grudge? That doesn't taste good to our Savior. Yes, to the flesh it is appealing but to the Spirit it is poison if you will. What you allow in your life will ultimately show how well the flesh or the Spirit is getting fed. 

Nehemiah knew to be careful when it came to the cup. How many Christians are careful with the things we listen to, the people we hang around, the jokes we tell, the conversation between each other? Is God displeased with your cup? Is he disgusted at what he has tasted from you? 

He is disgusted with the average Christian today. Notice what Revelation 3:14-16.

Revelation 3:14-16 KJV
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

The Laodicean Church is a lukewarm church. They have nasty taste when it comes to our Savior. What do I mean by this? So many are on the fence today, they like to add their worldly view to their Christian standards, and they don't mix Try drinking lukewarm water. You will not want it. I would much rather take a cold glass of water or a hot cup of water more than a lukewarm cup. You say i don't agree with that Bro. Justin that's fine but look at it this way, When the water is cold it is refreshing, when it is hot it is useable for cooking. By the way Cold water can be turned into hot water with a little heat. Lukewarm water can be turned into cold water by putting it in the refrigerator it can also be turned into hot water by putting some heat in it. No one uses lukewarm water to cook. They use Hot water. 

Back to what's in your cup, if you gave Christ the substance in your cup would he be pleased with it? 

My prayer this morning and I hope it is your prayer that God would fill my cup with the good things that is pleasing to him. I do not want to be in the place of where I hurt my Savior and I hope that is the place you would not want to be in as well. 

Have a great Day!!!!! 

Nehemiah 1:1-11 KJV
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, [2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. [4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, [5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: [6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. [7] We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. [8] Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: [9] But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. [10] Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. [11] O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.