Neh week 9

Role of Nehemiah/role of elder/pastor: to equip and appoint ()

Ephesians

Lego set

Nehemiah 7:1 ESV

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,

v1 Singer

v1 gatekeepers (Those who see things done)

Nehemiah 7:1 ESV

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,

v1 gatekeepers (Those who get things done)

nehemiah

Deacons, security, admin, grounds, later on we will see that they were entrusted with moral responsibilities as well

v1 singers (Those who lead in seeing God)

Worship team, prayer teams

worship keeps the personal life balanced. It keeps our local and national life balanced as well. In worship we reflect on the meaning of life. By that, I mean we reflect on who is the meaning of our life.

Transition from Jim to Luke

v1 levites (Those who lead people toward knowing God)

Pastor, elders, those appointed to teach. To engage the mind of the people in the truths of life in Christ.

Nehemiah 7:2–3 ESV

I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.”

v2-3 leaders (Those who equip and release…it’s more than Nehemiah)

Leaders need to equip and release other leaders.

Life Groups

...and to call the whole community to

Nehemiah 7:4–5 ESV

The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt. Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

v4-5 (ref 6-60) passion about the potential

v61-65 purity in belief and practice

Nehemiah 7:61–65 ESV

The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

The work is not done yet.

v61-65 purity in belief and practice

Nehemiah 7:61–65 ESV

The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

Not about a pure race, but about a pure faith. (NT passage on elders protecting from bad teaching)

Nehemiah

v66-73 generosity of time, treasure, talent, and testimony

Nehemiah 7:66–73 ESV

The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. Their horses were 736, their mules 245, their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720. Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver. And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests’ garments. So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

Disciples who love God and are committed to his work sacrificially give.

time

talent

treasure

testimony

Conclusion: The role and duty of the Pastor/Elder is to equip and appoint leaders and call the whole body to purity in faith and generosity of heart.

Neh week 9

Outline (to be deleted)