Equipping Time 2020: Saturday

Nehemiah 11-12: A Ministry of Gratitude

A. Grateful People are Willing to be Used by God (11:1-2)

a. 11:2 – They “willingly offered themselves”

b. Grateful People are Generous People (12:43)

c. Because God had made them rejoice – that’s why!

d. Because we have been given much …

e. Their JOY was heard a long way off

f. When was the last time people “overheard” you being joyful?

B. Grateful People Honor Faithful Servants of the Lord (12:44)

a. The people rejoiced over those who served

b. They recognized these as gifts of God

c. They Provided for them

d. Grateful People Strive to be Holy People (12:45)

e. They did not just live in a holy city; they sought to become holy people

f. Cf. 12:30

C. Grateful People Offer Genuine Thanksgiving to God (12:46)

a. NOTE: Prayer, praise, and Thanksgiving

b. 11:17 – He was a leader in Thanksgiving!

c. 12:46 – regularly – daily

d. Not just on Thanksgiving Day

Chapter 13: Facing Lingering Sin with Lasting Success

A. We must stop Tolerating What We know to be Wrong (1-3; 15-22)

1. Spiritual decay begins with tolerating what we know to be wrong

2. Some of the people had still not followed through on their promise to get rid of the foreign influences in the city

B. Nehemiah’s Response:

1. Warned them v. 15

2. Contended with them v. 17

3. Reminded them v. 18

4. Posted guards v. 19

5. Still out there! – v. 20

6. Threatened them again – v. 21 (same word as v.15 – can mean reiterate!)

7. But they no listen!

They were violating the Sabbath! Treading wine presses/ selling fish on Sabbath

C. We must stop Compromising on What We know Right (4-14; 23-28)

1. Their enemy was living in the Temple

2. They had stopped giving their tithes and offerings to the Lord

3. Moreover, the sin of people had become so great that the priesthood was corrupted

4. Son of Eliashib, the Priest (vs. 28) had intermarried with daughter of Sanballat (the other figure threatening & ridiculing them)

5. SO … Tobiah was living in the Temple and Sanballat had inter-married into the priesthood

6. They had become corrupt in their Worship, Work, and their Homes

SOLUTION: Stop the sin before the sin stops you!

D. CHALLENGE

1. V. 3 – Nehemiah charged them to Separate!

2. V. 11-14 – Nehemiah demanded Obedience!

3. V. 22 – Nehemiah called for Purity!

4. V. 25-30 – Nehemiah contended for God’s Way Alone!

5. V. 30 – I cleansed them of everything pagan!