Intro:

Melissa and I have a nephew, he’s in his 20’s and has recently shown interest in the old vinyl records…

Now… I personally don’t know much about these work, but my understanding is that vinyl records store sound as physical grooves on their surface. They are placed on a turntable and a needle moves through these grooves, causing vibrations that are converted into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified and played through speakers, producing the sound we hear.

As you play and listen to these records, they are prone to wear and of course can be scratched or damaged if not taken care of properly.

Many times, if a record acquired a scratch then the needle would get stuck in the same groove, repeating the same few seconds of music over and over. No matter how many times you try to move it forward, it always finds its way back to that same worn-out spot.

In many ways, Israel’s history is like that broken record—stuck in an endless cycle. Time and time again, they would experience God’s faithfulness, yet soon after, they would fall into rebellion, turning away from Him.

As a result, they would find themselves in slavery and suffering, crying out for deliverance… And in His great mercy, God would hear their cries, redeeming them and restoring them to a place of blessing. But before long, the pattern would repeat, and they would once again drift away.

If we are being honest with ourselves, I am sure we would all admit that at times we feel like we’re stuck in a groove—repeating the same spiritual patterns over and over.

There are seasons when we are fully devoted to God, but then, almost without realizing it, we start to drift away. Before long, we find ourselves distant from Him, needing renewal once again.

The question is… How can we break this cycle? How can we, like Israel, truly return to God in a way that leads to lasting obedience?

Nehemiah 9 is a moment where the people of Israel recognize the groove… the spiritual cycle that they have been stuck in… and decide to break it.

They come before God in humility, confession, and worship, acknowledging not only their sins but also the overwhelming faithfulness of God. They are ready to renew their covenant and commit to a new path.

And over the course of the next couple of weeks, we are going to see how godly leadership is essential in guiding not only individuals but families, churches, and even entire nations back to the heart of God.

As we look at Nehemiah Chapter 9, we are going to be talking about…

Guiding People to Renewal

And before we read the few verses that we will look at today, I want to ask you this… … Why do you read God’s Word? … The reason I ask this question is because everything we are going to see in Nehemiah 9 happens as a direct result of what took place in Nehemiah 8.

The nation of Israel, after nearly a hundred years, had gathered together to hear and read the Word of God once again. This was not just a casual reading or an intellectual exercise—it was a powerful, transformative moment that changed the hearts and actions of the people.

In chapter 8, we saw the people of Israel standing attentively as Ezra reads the Law of Moses aloud. They listen with reverence, they weep as they recognize how far they have strayed, and they celebrate with joy as they rediscover God’s faithfulness.

For us, the question remains… Why do we read God’s Word? Is it just a habit, is it a way to gain knowledge so that we can use it as a weapon against others?… Or do we, like Israel, allow it to penetrate our hearts, convict us of sin, and draw us closer to God?

Lets look at the first few verses of Nehemiah chapter 9… (Read vv. 1-3)

Meat:

As we talk about…

The Steps to Spiritual Renewal:

It has to start with something very specific…

1. Humility

The Israelites had just celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8), a time of rejoicing, but as they continued in their spiritual journey, they recognized their deep need for repentance. They did not come to God casually or superficially but with fasting, sackcloth, and dust on their heads.

Humility is…

1.1 Acknowledging Our Need for God

This has to be the first step in spiritual renewal because it brings us to the realization that we are not self-sufficient… we cannot do it on our own…

“Without Him I could do nothing

Without Him I’d surely fail

...without Him I would be drifting

Like a ship without a sail”

From reading His Word, the Israelites understood that they had strayed from God’s commands, and v.1 says that they were fasting…

When the Israelites fasted, they were intentionally denying themselves food to focus on God and to express their deep sorrow over their sins… It was a way of saying, “Lord, we need You more than we need physical nourishment.”

They were humbly acknowledging their need for God… …

Humility also…

1.2 Leads to Genuine Repentance

By fasting they were acknowledging their need for God… By putting on sackcloth, which was a coarse, rough fabric made from goat’s hair, worn as a visible sign of grief and repentance, the Israelites were publicly acknowledging their sorrow over their sins and their brokenness before God.

People often acknowledge and apologize for their sin only because they were caught in it, not because they truly regret their actions. This is not genuine repentance…

True repentance involves a sincere change of heart and a commitment to turn away from sin. When someone simply says "sorry" without real conviction, they tend to fall right back into the same behavior, showing that their apology was empty rather than a true desire to change.

The Israelites’ actions showed that they were not merely regretful but truly broken and repentant over their sins. They were not blaming others or making excuses; they were humbling themselves before God, admitting their failures, and seeking His mercy.

Putting dust or ashes on one’s head was another powerful symbol of repentance. It was a way of recognizing human frailty and unworthiness before a holy God.

The act of covering oneself in dust symbolized complete surrender and recognition of their sinfulness. It was as if they were saying, “We come from dust, and apart from God’s grace, we are nothing.”

You see, as God’s word was read to them, they would’ve heard the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is found in Genesis chapter 18…

Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities that were infamous for their wickedness… … one area in-particular that is clearly seen, is the area of blatant homosexuality.

Abraham had a nephew named Lot, whose family resided in one of the two cities. When God revealed His plan to destroy the cities, Abraham interceded, pleading for mercy if righteous people could be found there.

He negotiated with God, asking if He would spare the cities for the sake of 50, then 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally 10 righteous people. However, not even ten were found.

It was during this negotiation that Abraham uttered the words…

Genesis 18:27 NASB95

27 “… I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.”

Abraham was saying, “Compared to You Lord, I am nothing but dust and ashes”

Also, upon hearing this account, the Israelites would’ve came face to face with the reality of God’s wrath against sin… they would’ve heard how quick and violently God destroyed the unrepentant cities.

No wonder they covered themselves with sackcloth and dirt… They wanted to make sure that God knew they were serious about their repentance…

When we pray, do we approach God with that same humility?…

Do we truly understand and acknowledge that we are utterly dependent on His grace?…

Or do we come with pride, expecting our own merits to carry weight?

Do we approach prayer as an exchange program?… “God, I helped miss sally get her groceries this week, so I really hope you say yes to my prayer requests…”

True faith humbles itself before God, trusting not in our own righteousness but in His goodness and mercy.

Spiritual renewal does not begin with action but with attitude—an attitude of humility before God.

Proverbs 3:34 NKJV

34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

James 4:10 NKJV

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The next step to Spiritual Renewal is…

2. Separation

Look at v.2 of Nehemiah 9…

Nehemiah 9:2 “Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.”

Now, there are some who look at this verse and say… “See, the nation of Israel is racist… they “separated themselves from all foreigners;”

However, their decision to separate themselves was not based on hatred or arrogance but on a desire to be entirely devoted to God.

Their separation was…

2.1 A Return to God’s Standards

They realized that their previous compromises with pagan nations had led to spiritual corruption.

Again, as they heard God’s Word for the first time, they would’ve heard…

Leviticus 20:26 NKJV

26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

Separation was not about ethnic superiority but about spiritual purity—remaining faithful to God's laws rather than adopting the corrupt practices of other nations.

God’s holiness demands that His people live differently from the world around them.

They also would’ve heard this regarding the people of pagan nations…

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 NKJV

3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods…

Israel’s alliances with ungodly nations often led to idolatry and moral decline.

So, Separation was necessary to maintain faithfulness to the one true God.

The latter part of Deut. 7 v.4 even gives the consequences of not abiding by this command…

Deuteronomy 7:4 NKJV

4 … the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

And yet, despite these warnings, Israel repeatedly failed to obey, and the results were disastrous… and their lack of obedience was the very reason they had been exiled to Babylon.

Fast forward once again to our passage in Nehemiah, and upon hearing all of this, they had learned from their past failures and realized that to experience spiritual renewal, they needed to separate themselves from worldly influences.

And guess what… this principle of separation was not only for the Nation of Israel, but it is for us today, as the Body of Christ…

This principle of Separation is…

2.2 Still Required Today

Again, not as a call to physical isolation… God doesn’t want us to lock ourselves in our homes until Jesus returns.

But rather, this is a call for spiritual isolation. We are to isolate our complete devotion to God, in everything that we do…

Paul writes in…

2 Corinthians 6:14 NASB95

14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Paul warns against forming close partnerships with those who oppose God’s ways.

This applies to marriages, business partnerships, and even close friendships that can pull us away from our devotion to Christ.

Peter says…

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Just as Israel was called to be set apart… believers today are called to live differently—reflecting Christ’s holiness in our actions, our relationships, and our choices.

On their path to spiritual renewal, the Nation of Israel has humbled themselves and came to a point of repentance, they have separated themselves, and now they are ready for the next step…

3. Confession

Nehemiah 9:3 “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.”

Before renewal can happen, there must be a recognition of what is broken. The Israelites listened to the Law and realized where they had fallen short.

In our study through Daniel, we saw Daniel do the exact same thing that Israel is doing now…

Daniel 9:3–4 NKJV

3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession…

When Daniel did it, he was alone… but here in Nehemiah, this confession is…

3.1 A Collective Act

It was not just Nehemiah or Ezra out their confessing the sins of the nation… it was the Nation as a whole…

This shows us that our journey to spiritual renewal… our sanctification process is not just something that we work on all by ourselves… but it is a journey that takes a team… a journey that takes a family… a family of believers, gathered around each other, encouraging one another and confessing sins together.

Now, I am not suggesting that we build a booth with two little rooms and a window in between… However, I do believe that having a few, well trusted friends, that you are able to share your struggles and short comings with, is definitely a biblical principle.

It is easy for Satan to keep you trapped in sin when nobody else knows about it… However, confessing sin together creates an environment where individuals are accountable to each other for their spiritual growth.

Accountability, whether through small groups, prayer partners, or even church-wide practices, encourages people to walk the path of righteousness not just for themselves but for the collective good of the family.

And… It creates an environment where individuals don't walk alone in their struggles but have the support and prayers of others to help them in there walk with Christ.

And lastly today…

When coupled with a repentant heart, Confession…

3.2 Restores our Relationship with God

Sin creates a barrier between people and God. Confession, as seen here, is a way of seeking restoration. By admitting their failings, the Israelites humbled themselves before God, paving the way for His mercy and grace.

This aligns with 1 John 1:9 which states that when we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Closing:

At the beginning of this message, I asked… “Why do you read God’s Word?”

Do you read it to get your check mark for the day?… - Yep, I got my chapter in… I got my 10 minute devotional done…

Or do you read it with the intention of having it change your life?

James 1:23–24 NASB95

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

The ladies may relate more to this than some of us guys… but the point is… you don’t just take a passing glance when you look in the mirror… You have to look in the mirror long enough so that you can see what needs to change.

It is the same with Scripture… Just as the Nation of Israel allowed God’s Word to expose their sin… we too have to use it as a mirror for our lives and linger at it long enough to know what changes we need to make.

The Israelites didn’t just hear the Word—they responded to it. And through their response, we see three key steps, not just for spiritual renewal of the believer who has been stuck in a groove… … But we also see the steps that lead others straight to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Humility - You acknowledge your need for a Savior.

The Israelites came before God in humility, recognizing their sin and their deep need for Him. The same is true for us today. The first step to salvation is recognizing that we cannot save ourselves. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." No amount of good works, religious rituals, or self-improvement can erase the stain of sin in our lives.

But here’s the good news: God, in His mercy, has provided a way. Just as Israel cried out for deliverance, we too must acknowledge our need for a Savior. And that Savior is Jesus Christ.

Through Separation - You can turn away from your sin and start living a life that honors God.

The Israelites separated themselves from the worldly influences that led them away from God. This was not about ethnic division but a commitment to holiness. Likewise, when we come to Jesus, He calls us to repentance—to turn away from our old life of sin and walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." True faith in Christ is not just about saying a prayer; it is about a transformed life—leaving behind the things that pull us away from God and choosing to follow Him wholeheartedly.

And… with Confession - you can receive God’s forgiveness.

The Israelites didn’t just acknowledge their sin—they confessed it. Again, God gives us this same promise in:

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This is the Gospel! Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, and through His resurrection, He offers us new life. When we confess our sins and place our faith in Him, we are completely forgiven, made new, and restored into a right relationship with God.

The cycle of sin and brokenness can be broken—but only through Jesus.

Will you trust Him today?

Prayer: