Against opposition - How then shall we stand?
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The answer is in the history
The answer is in the history
We need to remember our history!
Who am I?
Where am I?
Why? - God!
Who is God, for me?
So what am I to do?
Biblical history - the golden thred of the Bible!
God, who made you, has chosen some, to restore His glory, for many!
And you, B… S.... are one of the few (the remnant)
see (Ne. 9:6-32!!
But something is wrong?
(Look around you … see the fear, the doubt, the sense of letting it all go to ruin …)
Ne. knew it! - And you ca know it, in spite of best efforts to not know, not care, not feel guilty!
The problem?
7 We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses.
8 Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.
9 But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.”
Unfulfilled commitments
Unfulfilled commitments
Ne. returns and finds:
10 I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field.
11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
The backround:
44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving.
45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed.
46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron’s descendants.
Commitments, friends!
Make a list:
Yesterday Esti and I were able to catch up on a few tasks that had remaind undone for far too long!
Repainted the fence
Took some paint marks of the floor
Gave Rex a bath
Things I had committed to, but had renaged on!
But ther are bigger commitments!
My participation in the life and learning of our church!
To answer the call of eldership!
To commit my talent to the choir/singing group
To commit to Sunbday Worship, on the day of the Lord!
This series, is al about our returning to church, not for legalistic reasons, but as a sure sign of how serious we take our committment to God!
(Like our marriage promises!)
Do you remember your profession of faith promises?
Parents, adults, do you remember your baptism promises?
What does Ne do?
11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses.
13 I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues.
And Ne also looks towards God’s promise, as he restores the honour of the house of God:
14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.
But, as Ne does his roundds after returning from Susah, from king artaxarxes:
what would he see?
Nehemiah 13:15 (CSB)
15 At that time I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.
Not only have the people of God not fulfilled their commitments, they have downright broken their promises!
Unkept promises
Unkept promises
31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day. We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year and will cancel every debt.
The example of marriage - the promises to holy living!
Not legalistic! To our sanctification and growth in Christ!
Means of grace: Prayer; preaching; sacraments!
Teach our children!
Exercise in faithfulness - read your bible; pray; and in the strength you receive, exercise leadership by keeping ypour promises!
How does Nehemiah lead?
Strongly, as much as lovingly!
19 When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the city gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force against you.” After that they did not come again on the Sabbath.
Gentleness is not weakness!
Why is Sabbath observance so important?
Christians are known by the fact that they are different than non-believers, by their coming to church on Sundays! It is a sign of our being set apart to honour God above all else!
It is an acknowledgement of God as Creator God, down to the number of days in a week, and how we are to live our lives to His glory and honour!
It is an acknowlegement that God is our faithful provider!
It is a sign to the world that our Spiritual life is foundational for our physica life! We seek God’s Blessing, first, and then, in gratitude, look out for the provisions of God, the stuff in our lives that may or may not be important!
It is about understanding thegreat blessing of rest - Sabbath rest - to enjoy the goodness of God! - As it will be in the new kingdom!
So what does Ne do?
How does he lead?
19 When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the city gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force against you.” After that they did not come again on the Sabbath.
But wait, there’s more...
Having noticed how the people had not fulfilled their commitments; not kept their promises; he is saddened to see ...
Unholy marriages
Unholy marriages
23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.
Now before you gasp in horror that someone would be so politically incorrect to suggest people should not marry who they choose, but who they believe will be God honouring - hear this:
It is not about race; it is about faith!
- Faith in the One true God!
That, puts a different spin on things, doesn’t it, friends?
You see … we can play ‘what-ifs all morning, but at the bottom of it all is this:
Who am I?
Am I my work title? Dr so and so; Barrister sos and so; Garbage Man no one insignificant?
Or am I a human being, made in the image of God, to His glory and honour and to be a blessing to my neighbours?
(You see, it’s all in our understanding of our history!)
DON’T LET YOUR CHILDREN MARRY UNVBELIEVERS
We need to break that down ...
Don’t - God’s word tells us what we are to doooo … and to don’t - not the contemporary culture, or our feelings!
Let: give permission (yes, you are responsible and accountable for your children’s understanding of the world - religion; love life; financial knowledge - so you must be those who give permission .. or refuse them!
(that is why they are children, and you are the parent - accotrding to God’s purpose and provision).
Marry! - Love! Is more than a feeling, it is asign of our understanding of faithfulness; … of God … in Jesus .... who is the husband .... of His bvriede .... the church!
See that?
In about three weeks friends
Getting ready to come back to church!
Getting ready to come back to church!
30 So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.
31 I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, with favor.
The wall
The ceremony (sacraments)
The Word of God (Bring out the Book)
Looking to God for his faithfulness, as He fulfills His promises!
Amen