The Payer after the Service

1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God. 4 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. 7 Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous: 9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; 10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. 11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. 13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. 20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. 22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. 24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations. 27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies; 29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. 30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. 31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: 34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. 35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it. 1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. 9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. 14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; 29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; 30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: 31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. 32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; 33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law: 35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord: 36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: 37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

Series: A Closer Look at the Book: NEHEMIAH

Pastor Steve N. Wagers

The Longest prayer in the Bible!

Neh Chapter 9 and 10

Outline

Sermon Outline

1. Lord, Redeem Us!

A) Immense Conviction

1) Humiliation

2) Separation

B) Intense Confession

1) Personal Confession

2) National Confession

A) A God who is Preeminently Sovereign

1) He Created it All

2) He Controls it All

3) He Completes it All

B) A God who is Patiently Sympathetic

1) Bountiful

2) Merciful

3. Lord, Renew Us!

A) A Commitment to Stewardship

B) A Covenant of Lordship

1) Obey the Word of God

2) Honor the House of God

3) Seek the Glory of God

Sam Jones was a fiery preacher of the past generation. Born in Cartersville, Georgia, he was famous for what was known as "quit tin'" meetings. His preaching was directed to Christians, and he urged them to give up any sinful practice in their lives.

His messages were very effective and many people had committed to quit swearing, drinking, smoking and gossiping.

I believe it would safe to title as a 'Quit tin' meeting.

neh 8 - Praise and revival

The wall is finished

The internal sins within the camp have been addressed publically

Taking advantage of the poor

Taxing beyond their ability to pay

Allowing the outside heathen to influence policy and doctrine

In , there was a Watergate revival. It was a 7 day Bible conference, which highlighted Bible exposition at its finest.

he priest brought the Word, the preacher taught the Word, and the people caught the Word.

Today, we hold 3-5 day services and call them "revivals." However, when the last service is over, things are still the same way they were before the first service started. Thus, while we may have had a meeting, we did not have revival.

However, while the 7 day Bible conference had ended, in , the revival continued in .

there was a time of feasting;

there is a time of fasting.

was a time of celebration;

is a time of contrition.

This great chapter, the bulk of which is a prayer, reveals both the depravity of man and the majesty of God. A vivid portrait is painted to depict awful sinners, as well as an awesome Savior.

It is a prayer that is marked by humility and honest; guilt and grace; pity and praise.

It is a prayer that reflects a people who are getting things right with God.

Lord, REDEEM Us!

contains the longest recorded prayer in the Bible.

It is not just a prayer marked by length, but by lamentation.

It's interesting that 3 of Israel's great 'national' prayers are recorded in , , and . [1]

Behind these prayers is the promise of ,

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I The first part of this prayer finds the people crying out to God for redemption and forgiveness. For one thing, there is:

The first part of this prayer finds the people crying out to God for redemption and forgiveness. For one thing, there is:

I IMMENSE CONVICTION

Nehemiah 9:1 KJV 1900

1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

[9: 1] "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them."

It is now 3 Â½ weeks after the Watergate Revival, and a national day of repentance is called. The Feast of Tabernacles had ended, but the people lingered to hear more of the Word of God. As they did, feasting had turned to fasting, and meditation had turned to mourning.

They heard the Word of God, and they felt the immense heat of the Spirit's convicting fire.

Keep in mind, that these people asked Ezra to "bring the book of the law." The people cried out, "Preach, preacher, preach!'

As a result, for 7 days straight, 5-6 hours a day, the people came and "stood" in reverence for the Sacred Scroll. They longed for the Word. They listened to the Word. They desired the Word. They devoured the Word. And the result was immense conviction over their sin. It resulted in:

a) HUMILIATION

"The children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them."

Fasting was a sign of utter dependence on God and desperation for God. Sackcloth was a rough, coarse material. It was made from the dark hair of the Oriental goat or camel, and worn in situations of sorrow and repentance. [2]

Putting "earth" or dirt upon one's head was a symbol of great mourning or grief.

Simply put, when these people heard the Word of God, and when they encountered the God of the Word, they responded in utter humiliation.

W. G. Blaikie said, "In the new light of the higher truth, we suddenly discover that the 'robe of righteousness' in which we have been parading is but 'filthy rags.' Thus, our once vaunted attainments become despicable in our eyes." [3]

As long as we see the picture of ourselves that we desire, we will never see our deepest need. But, at the moment we see the picture of ourselves that God sees, there is only one response; and, that is utter desperation and humiliation.

Ladies and gentlemen, WE ARE SINNERS! Every person in this room shares this one common denominator. The only difference is that some may be saved sinners, and others may be lost sinners; but, nevertheless, all are sinners.

The determination does not come from man's estimation of man, but with God's estimation of man. So widely accepted is the concept that man is not so bad off after all. But, the Bible does not measure man by man; it measures man by the God who created him.

And, when the numbers are all plugged in, and the equation is worked out, it equals to the fact that the creature is measured by the Creator and is found wanting.

The evolutionist may debate it, the humanist may doubt it, the secularist may defy it, and the materialist may despise it; nevertheless, no one can DENY it, DOUBT it, or DISMISS it.

With humiliation came:

b) SEPARATION

Nehemiah 9:2 KJV 1900

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

Once these people got a clear picture of who they were, and what they were, they did something quite interesting.

This act of separation was quite significant at this time. It represented the fact that the people of God distanced themselves from the people of the world.

1 Peter 2:9–10 KJV 1900

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

They separated themselves from the pagan, heathen, idolatrous nations for this time of spiritual emphasis.

To put it simply, when the Word of God was opened, and the Spirit of God began to work, these people got away from everything, and anything that would interfere with this special time of worship and repentance.

The Wilds .....

Friends

Music

Entertainment

As the saved, redeemed, blood-bought people of God, we may be in this world, but we are not OF this world. A bona-fide, born again child of God has never fit in with this world.

We are a saved people. We are a special people.

We are a sanctified people.

We are a separated people.

God has called us to be "Salt" and "Light;" not 'Sugar' and 'Spice.'

To be a friend to the world means that we are the foes of God. Yet, to be the friend of God means that we are the foes of the world. As such, we can expect not to be accepted, applauded, admired, or appreciated. This world has never, and will never understand the things of God.

Separation, or sanctification, is a lost message in today's church of convenience, compromise, and cultural relevance.

However, in being separate, we do not become isolated from the world; we become INSULATED from the world. Warren Wiersbe writes, "Separation without devotion becomes isolation; but, devotion without separation is hypocrisy." [3]

Someone might ask, "Well, pastor, how do I know if it is of the world?" That is a great question that has an even greater answer.

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." ()

"Lust of the flesh" speaks of sinful affections. "Lust of the eyes" speaks of sensual attractions. "The pride of life" speaks of selfish ambitions. That is a clear resume of the world in which we live.

Thus, to separate ourselves from this world means that we have no comradery, and we make no compromise with the menu this world presents to us. We "decrease" so Jesus can "increase." We "reckon ourselves dead unto sin, but alive unto God," "deny ourselves...take up our cross" and follow the Lord Jesus.

Because of immense conviction came:

II INTENSE CONFESSION

Nehemiah 9:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.

I have watched many people, down through the years, fall under deep, and heavy conviction; yet, walk away unchanged, untouched, and unmoved. I have watched them get up and leave a service, squirm in their seat, and grip a hold of a pew until their knuckles turn white.

There was conviction, but there was no confession. God spoke to their heart, and they heard His voice, but they did not heed His voice. The invitation was extended, but it was not embraced.

However, such is not the case in . The same Word that brought immense conviction also brought intense confession. There was:

a) PERSONAL Confession

[9: 2-3] "And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins. [3] And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God."

What an altar call! Three-and-a-half weeks ago they stood for 5-6 hours a day, for 7 days, to hear the Word of God. Now, we read that for 3 hours, "one fourth part of the day," they read the Word; and, then for 3 hours, "one fourth part of the day," they responded to the Word. It was a worship service that involved reading and repentance.

The annual Day of Atonement had already passed, and they did not wait until the next Day of Atonement to confess their sins. They seemed to be aware of the fact that they stood in constant, continual, and consistent need of confession and cleansing.

Matthew Henry said, "In the glass mirror of the law, we may see our deformities and defilements, and know what to acknowledge and what to amend."

To confess means, "To agree, or acknowledge." In other words, as they listened to the Word, and specific areas of wrongdoing were pointed out, for the next 3 hours, they confessed, "God, you are right. We have sinned. We are sinners. We agree with you!"

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I can say from personal experience, the closer that I walk with God, the more that I see my defilement, darkness and depravity.

The closer I get to the "Light of the World," the more I see the darkness of my depraved soul and have to cry out,

"God, you are right and I am wrong. I have to agree with you. Please cleanse me and make me whole. Take away from my heart anything that does not bow before Thee as Lord; whatever in me does not have Thy name on it; all that is resistant to the Holy Spirit; everything impure and unworthy of Thee; attitudes and opinions and convictions that do not originate with Thee; desires, motives, plans and ambitions in conflict with Thy will for my life; anything that runs and hides when You enter; that laughs when I believe, that squirms when I pray, that fears when I trust; whatever in me that does not give Thee joy, make Thee proud, or serve Thy purpose; all of this and everything else that holds me back, weighs me down, and cheapens the product. Purge me immediately! Cleanse me completely! Sanctify me wholly!

Glorify Yourself in me eternally!'"

Personal confession led to:

b) NATIONAL Confession

Nehemiah 9:2 KJV 1900

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

neh 9.2

Nehemiah 9:33 KJV 1900

33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

neh 9.

[9: 33] "Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but WE have done wickedly."

It's interesting to note that they did not pray, "Lord, THEY have sinned," they prayed, "Lord, WE have sinned." They identified with the sins of the nation, and acknowledged their own participation, association, and identification with those sins.

When the Jews of Nehemiah's day confessed the sins of their fathers, they acknowledged their guilt for their father's sin. They did not seek to excuse the sin, but they took ownership of it.

Today, however, we seek to do everything but take ownership of anything. No matter what we do, it is never our fault. It is the result of bad genes, poor diet, low self-esteem, or the wrong breakfast.

"I know I have a bad temper, but I'm just like my father. There is nothing I can do about it!"

If you knew the kind of family I was raised in, you would understand why I am the way I am.

Where I come from, everyone does this to get by."

Psychology may encourage this kind of thinking, but when revival comes, people stop trying to excuse themselves by what others have done, and instead confess their sin because of what they have done.

A couple of years ago, Reverend Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate. Everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. And, once again, let your face shine upon us. In Jesus name, Amen!"

Ladies and gentlemen, before we can ask forgiveness for the White House, we must ask forgiveness for God's House. We must lay it all on the altar, and agree that we are as bad off as the Bible says we are.

What are you broken about?

Through the 7 day Watergate Bible conference, and the 3 hour time of reading and repentance, the people got a clear presentation of who God was. Thus, they not only asked to be redeemed, but they asked to be remembered.

They understood that they were talking to:

A God who is PREEMINENTLY SOVEREIGN

So much of our praying today is focused on the needs of man, rather than the nature of God. But, when you study the great prayers of the Bible, you discover that those prayers are not man-centered, but God-centered.

This great prayer is focused on the God who is sovereignly preeminent and preeminently sovereign. The people recognize that:

He CREATED It All

[9: 5-6] "Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. [6]Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein

Augustine wrote, "Thus does the world forget You, its Creator and falls in love with what You have created, instead of You."

The people acknowledge the God, who is the uncreated Creator of everything. S. M. Lockeridge put it this way,

"God stepped from behind the curtain nowhere, onto the platform of nothing, and spoke a world into existence. The reason God came from nowhere was because there wasn't anywhere for Him to come from. And coming from nowhere, He stood on nothing, and the reason He stood on nothing was there was nowhere for Him to stand. And standing on nothing, He reached out where there was nowhere to reach and caught something where there nothing to catch, and hung something on nothing, and told it to stay there. Then standing on nothing He took the hammer of His own will and He struck the anvil of His omnipotence and sparks flew everywhere. He caught these sparks from the tips of His fingers and flung them into space and bedecked the heavens with stars. And nobody said a word. The reason nobody said anything was because there wasn't anybody there to say anything. So God to Himself, by Himself and for Himself said, 'That's good!'"

The evolutionist claims to be scientific when he is not scientific at all. Evolution is simply a godless explanation about creation that seeks to displace, dismiss, and deny God.

He CONTROLS It All

[9: 6] "And thou preservest them all."

The word "preservest" is the Hebrew chayah, which literally means, "To keep alive." In other words, they acknowledge Him as not only the One who created it, but the One who controls it.

They acknowledge the same God who made this world, maintains this world. The same God, who originated it, is the same God who oversees it.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is a good piece of news in this day of insecurity and instability. As believers, our eternal hopes do not lay in Wall Street or Main Street, but in Hallelujah Boulevard. Our hope is not in the government who bails everyone out, but in the God who holds it all together.

We can say,

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2]My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." ()

He COMPLETES It All

[9: 6] "And the host of heaven worshippeth thee."

The seraphim worship Him. The cherubim worship Him. The angelic host worships Him. Why? He is the only One worthy to be worshipped because He is the One who created it, He is the One who controls it, and He is the One who completes it.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." ()

If we would ever get a concept of Who it is we are talking to when we pray, it would change our prayer life. We are talking to the One who created it, controls it, and completes it. He is the God who is preeminently sovereign. But, He is also:

A God who is PATIENTLY SYMPATHETIC

The preeminently sovereign God is a universal God that may appears so far away. But, the patiently sympathetic God is a personal God that becomes so close by. Oh blessed thought to think that God who created it all, controls it all, and completes it all would take the time to be involved in the affairs of your life, and my life.

This prayer continues by focusing, not only God's greatness, but upon God's goodness. He is acknowledged as a God who is:

BOUNTIFUL

Fifteen times in the prayer we find the word "give" or "gavest." The word speaks of the benevolent grace and goodness of God.

[7] He gave a great name to Abraham.

[8, 35-36] He gave Israel the land of Canaan.

[12] He gave "light in the way" to guide them.

[13] He gave them His Word ("right judgments")

[15] He gave them "bread" for hunger; "water" for thirst

[20] He gave His "good spirit to instruct them"

[22, 24] He gave them victory over "kingdoms and nations"

[27] He gave them "saviours who saved them out of the hand of their enemies."

[35] He gave them "great goodness."

The gifts of God are the result of the grace of God. Any gift of grace is a good gift, because it is the exact opposite of what we deserve. The people deserved punishment, but instead they received pardon. The people deserved judgment, but instead they received joy. They were guilty, but God was gracious.

I have often heard people say, "God is not fair," and they are exactly right, because God is not fair, He is just. If He was fair, we'd all be sinners with no hope of salvation, condemned to hell forever and ever.

Grace leans over the sapphire sill of Heaven's splendor and bestows on us things we do not deserve, we could not earn, and we would not merit.

A mechanic can take a piece of steel, weld it, bend it, mold it, and make it look new: that's Skill. A poet can take a napkin, write on it a symphony of prose, and make it worth thousands: that Genius.

An artist can take a canvas, paint something breathtaking, and make it worth tens of thousands: that's Art. Bill Gates could take a blank piece of paper, sign his name to it, and make it worth millions: that's Capital.

But, only God can take a hell bound, hell deserving sinner, a murderer on death, an outcast of society, wash Him clean in the blood of the Lamb, make Him a brand new creature in Christ Jesus, and make Him fit for eternity: that's GRACE!

MERCIFUL

is a history lesson of the nation of Israel. It highlights such historic events as Abraham's call to Egyptian bondage to the Red Sea to God's provision in the wilderness to entrance into the Land of Promise.

God had proven Himself to be faithful to His people, but His people had not proven themselves to be faithful to Him.

[9: 16-17] "But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments. [17]And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage."

God's just response would have been to forget His promise, to forfeit His plan, and to forsake His people. But, while the conduct of the people displayed misery, the character of God demonstrated mercy.

[17] "But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not."

[19] "Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness."

[31] "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God."

[33] "Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly."

Have you ever let God down? Have you ever failed to keep a promise you made to God? Have you ever violated one of God's holy standards? Of course! You have! I have! We all have!

Yet, God's faithfulness to us does not depend on our faithfulness to Him. Even when we leave Him, He never leaves us. Even when we forsake Him, He never forsakes us. Although He would be right, and justified to do so, that is contrary to His nature.

Someone has said, "God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you don't want to listen, He still speaks; and, whenever you want to talk, He'll always listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and yet He chooses your heart. That should make your life a piece of cake."

Finally, they pray:

Lord, RENEW Us!

Their sin caused them to pray, "Lord, redeem us." Their sorrow caused them to pray, "Lord, remember us." But, their service caused them to pray, "Lord, renew us." True revival results in a response of those who have been revived.

In other words, God has done great things for His people, now His people want to do great things for God.

A COMMITMENT to STEWARDSHIP

They have seen themselves as guilty sinners, they have seen God as a gracious Savior; thus, they now offer themselves as grateful servants.

[9: 36] "Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it."

The remorse and repentance they had shown was much more than tears and talk; but, the tears and talk resulted in transformation. John Butler writes, "You may say you are sorry, but until you change your ways, your professed sorrow is nothing but hollow words. A true confession of faith always results is a total conduct of faith." [4]

Our true devotion to Christ is not revealed by what we say with our lips, but by what we show with our lives. Do you love Jesus? Are you grateful for His grace? Then, here's my question: WHAT DOES GOD HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT? With everything God has done for you, here's my question: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR HIM LATELY?

These Jews said, "Lord, we are sinful. Lord, we are sorry. Lord, you have saved us. So, Lord, we want to serve You!" The response of redeeming and restoring grace is, "God, I could never do enough for You! I could never give enough, I could never witness enough, I could never worship enough, and I could never sacrifice enough."

A COVENANT of LORDSHIP

[9: 38] "And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it."

These were much more than vain, empty, hollow words of religious jargon. They were serious about this commitment; so much so, they made a covenant with God, in the presence of the people, signed by 84 notary publics.

The "seal" was how men signed documents in those days. They would take a seal, or a ring, and make an impression on the document which made it official, and legally binding.

lists the names of 84 men who "sealed" their names to this covenant. What were they promising? They made a covenant to:

OBEY the WORD of God

[10: 29] "Entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law...and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes."

HONOR the HOUSE of God

reflects how the people covenant to honor God's house by bringing their:

[10:33] "offering"

[10:35-37] "firstfruits"

[10:38] "tithes"

SEEK the GLORY of God

Notice how their vow is summed up.

[10: 38] "And we will not forsake the house of our God."

To forsake the house of God meant to bring a reproach on the name of God; thus, debase the glory of God. Everything part of their covenant was for one purpose: to glorify God to the pagan nations around them.

This covenant served as their Constitution of Commitment and their Declaration of Devotion. God had given to His people; now the people wanted to give back to God.

The story is told of a peasant woman in West Africa who had been a Christian for more than 50 years. An American evangelist came to hold a crusade in her little village, and one night she watched as people brought gifts of corn, crafts, jewelry, and many other things.

Yet, her heart was broken, because, although she desperately wanted to give something to the One who had saved her and changed her life, she was so poor that she had absolutely nothing to give. The last night of the crusade, she went forward and laid a silver dollar on the altar. The missionary was somewhat reluctant to let her do it, but not wanting to create a scene, he said nothing.

Following the service, he found the woman and questioned her about the silver dollar. She began to tell him what Jesus had done for her, how he had changed her life, and how happy He had made her. However, although she wanted to give something to Jesus, she had absolutely nothing to give.

She then told him that, earlier in the week; she had gone to a nearby plantation and sold herself as a slave for life for a SILVER DOLLAR. It was that silver dollar she laid on the altar; hence, giving herself as a slave to her rightful Master.

To borrow a phrase from Ron Dunn's classic message on the life of Abraham, "Until Isaac was on the altar, God was not on the throne." Can I rephrase that and say, "Until you and I are on the altar, God is not on the throne."

But, once we lay ourselves on the altar, then as Gypsy Smith said, "Draw a circle around yourself and ask God to revive everything in that circle. When that happens, you will have revival."

When it's true revival, it will outlast the church service.

Endnotes

1) "Be Determined," Warren Wiersbe, pg. 107.

2) Nehemiah, John G. Butler, pg. 228.

3) Exposition of the Bible, W. G. Blaikie, Vol. 2.

4) IBID, Butler pg. 250.

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