Determine & Dedicate

Nehemiah 11:1 CSB

Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.

INTRO—

Chapters 11-12 are the natural, God-honoring step in the lives of God’s renewed and refocused people.

Two major components in living for God’s glory and the furthering of His kingdom…

DETERMINE God’s Will [Nehemiah 11.1-4]

Determining the will of God…

Casting lots (Nehemiah 11.2)

In this case of determining who would live where…it makes sense that many of the leaders would live in Jerusalem (as they oversee the project, et al., not as ‘celebrities’). So, as to the rest of the plan…

Proverbs 18.18 “Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents.” [Man…nope, nope, nope.]

Today, the Holy Spirit indwells believers. We learn God’s will…

Through His word. [What we claim to be God’s will must be in line with Scripture.]

Through inner conviction. [What we would describe as the leading of the Holy Spirit…]

Through His providential guidance. [God’s direction in our lives, history, etc. …& in our churches, through the vote of our membership, etc.]

Hindrances to determining God’s will...

We’re not in God’s word. [Not Tuned In]

We’re too in the world. [Static on the radio…out of range or on the wrong frequency]

We’re not rejoicing in God’s presence. [His sovereignty, His providence, His blessing, His direction, His commands]

[[Nehemiah 11.5-12.26… While these verses are not unimportant regarding the who & where everyone specifically settled (I mean, hometowns shape us, etc.), this section isn’t primary for us today. For the record, all these lists…are people!]]

DEDICATE (to) God’s Work [Nehemiah 12.27-47]

[SLIDE: “Also, ‘Dedicate TO God’s Work’”]

The dedication of God’s people should not be ignorable.

Nehemiah 12.43 “On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away.”

DEDICATION IS:

Praise (12.27-29)

Worship…celebration of God, and what He has done, and what His people are poised to do!

Purification (12.30)

Repentance…to be, pursue holiness (God-honoring life, actions, thoughts, speech…).

Pervasive (12.31-43)

Meaning, “All Encompassing.” (all upon the wall, all around the city, all the people… A L L; All our lives and life together committed to the call)

Presenting (12.44-47)

Offering(s)… sustaining the spiritual life of God’s people in Nehemiah’s day through the Temple; for us…our time, talent, and treasure to strengthen and further the life of our church’s ministry.

CONCL—

[I desire that…] We go on record as a church…

Seeking GOD’S WILL for us a His church.

…AND…

Dedicating ourselves to honor GOD’S WORK among us…both for us, and through us.

Nehemiah 12:47 CSB

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.