The Joy of Holiness
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The Joy of Holiness
Nehemiah 13:1-14
ILL- From Mountain to the Valley
Moses- on mountain with God. 40 days- can you imagine the spiritual high? Face shined.
Comes off the mountain to the valley- The people were worshiping Egyptian gods.
Moses gets angry and breaks the 10 commandments.
How do you keep up the momentum of a revival.
(youth- Momentum - trying to keep the momentum from camp)
Nehemiah had taken the Jews through physical and spiritual reform.
They experienced this great revival.
Will it last?
1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,
5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king
7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.
11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.
13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
As Christians, we are overcomers.
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
How can we remain faithful when things return to normal?
3 Ways We Remain Faithful
3 Ways We Remain Faithful
1. Focus on God's Word (1)
1. Focus on God's Word (1)
1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
We let the Word of God change us. We don’t change the Word of God or we attempt to change God.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
sanctification is the process of us being made holy after justification.
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
ILL- Mowing the Law- look back would see the beauty but mess up the present and future.
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
You have to keep focusing on Jesus.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Where we are looking is where we will be pulled.
Watching too many movies? it is pulling you.
Watching too much news? it is pulling you.
YouTube? TikTok? Facebook? Instagram?
Average American spends over 7 hours a day in front of screens doing leisure things (not work relqted).
Spend more time in God’s Word.
2. Repent Continually (2-3)
2. Repent Continually (2-3)
2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
When you are convicted, you repent.
Religious discrimination not racial.
21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
God desires all nations and tribes and tongues.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Christians should marry Christian’s or they are bringing false God’s into their home.
Secularism is a god.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Yoke= two animals yoked for a task.
If one animal is stronger than the other, they will never go in a straight line.
3 As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.
They studied God’s Word and repented when they didn’t measure up.
Conviction or Offensive- people are offended when God’s word doesn’t line up with what they think.
Is God the authority or you?
God’s Word or your feelings?
3. Take Worship Seriously (4-14)
3. Take Worship Seriously (4-14)
Remember the Vision - (6-7)
Continually realign the vision. Know what God wants and stay the course.
6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king
7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
Next sermon series.
Continually look at where you are headed.
People Matter- High Standards
Negative (4-9)
4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,
5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6 While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king
7 and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8 And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
Tobiah- A pagan living in the Temple? (Ammonite- Nehemiah called him an enemy on multiple occassions.)
The result of this sin- Levites had to leave Jerusalem (10)
Remember the sacrifice of everyone returning in chapter 12.
Allowing the wrong people to have influence.
High social standing is not a reason to give leadership within the church.
Positive (11-14)
11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.
13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.
Leadership given to reliable men.
It matters who is leading and influencing decisions within the church.
CONCLUSION
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
“Good Deeds”= Faithful Deeds= hesed (loyalty to the covenant)
Hesed- used of God’s covenant love with Israel.
“Good Deeds” are those we do in the name of God. “In Jesus’ Name”. Deeds for God not ourselves.
Live you life ‘In Jesus’ Name”.
God is faithful- he will do what he promises.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Stop living for your own name and surrender to Jesus.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Are you faithful?
Statement:
Naaman first…
I know that we want to love and support the Renard family as they go through this trial. Naaman will be on Personal Leave for 3 months, while he receives counseling and a chance to focus on himself and his family. Church leadership will be walking in prayer as we determine the best ways to support them and our church. This is a hard place, but we want to be found faithful as we seek counsel from the Lord, his Word, and those in leadership. As a church we want to love the Renard family as we would any family in our church going through a trial. Let us help them walk with the Lord. We want to be obedient to God and love His people. Please pray for them and those of us in leadership to have wisdom.
We will be doing our best to fill in the gaps as this leaves a big hole on our pastoral leadership team. Naaman will be around some this week as we learn to do some of the things he is responsible for. But from then on I encourage you to remain respectful to the Renard family. You will see Naaman and his children here on most Sundays. We are their church family. It is where they need to be. Contact Naaman as a friend and encourage him, but please, if there is any church business, please go through me or Lance so that we only bother him with the most pressing of issues. This is a time for them to work on their relationship with God and each other.
I know this is not what any of us wanted to hear this morning. But we live in a fallen world and none of us are immune to the affects of sin. Let it be a reminder to pray for those of us in leadership and all the families of our church. We have an enemy who wants to destroy us but we have a God who has paid the ultimate price to restore us to himself.
Let us stop and pray.
