Obstacle of Compromise
Notes
Transcript
Obstacle of Compromise
INTRODUCTION
End Justifies the Means
-philosophy that says that you can do bad things as long as it is to accomplish a greater good.
-kill innocent people if it stops a war.
We compromise our faith when we make excuses for our sins.
-I speed so I can have more time with family.
-I shoplift so i can feed my kids.
-I use bad words so I can fit in and witness to lost people.
-I watch pornography so i don’t cheat on my wife.
Nehemiah is placed in a position of compromise. Would he give in?
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”
11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”
12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
4 Results of Compromise
1- Compromise Destroys Your Character (6:10-14)
1- Compromise Destroys Your Character (6:10-14)
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”
11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.”
Character is about doing the right thing.
Character is more than just knowing the right thing to do. It is doing the right thing no matter what the cost.
Nehemiah was asked to go against God’s commands concerning the Temple in order to save his own life.
Two Parts of His Character at Play
He doesn’t run from a fight. - No Fear.
He doesn’t disobey God. - For any reason.
David had strong character because he did what needed to be done.
Goliath - “Who is that uncircumcised philistine...”
Do you easily compromise your character in order to protect yourself or to stay out of trouble?
2- Compromise Destroys Your Joy (6:15-19)
2- Compromise Destroys Your Joy (6:15-19)
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.
19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
Should have been celebrating the wall. Enemy still trying to hurt them.
Even Nehemiah’s enemies were recognizing the miraculous work of God for them to get the walls built.
Nobles of Judah had compromised.
Nobles should have been the ones celebrating.
These are the ones that refused to serve God.
5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
They couldn’t celebrate the completion of the Temple because they were on the wrong side
Instead of celebrating they continued to make it hard on Nehemiah.-
Their alliance was with Tobiah- not Nehemiah.
Everyone was taking sides- clanning up.
No place for different groups within the church.
Paul called out church for choosing between him and Apollos. Choose Christ.
Dividing up means you’ve taken sides and can’t celebrate the joys of success.
3- Compromise Destroys Your Confidence (7:1-4)
3- Compromise Destroys Your Confidence (7:1-4)
1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,
2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.
3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.”
4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
The gates are built but what good are they if they are not used and guarded?
4 Times the Great Wall of China was penetrated. All four times it was because of the guards were bribed.
Nehemiah provided 3 types of defense.
Those guarding the gates.
Watchmen on the Walls.
“Neighborhood watch” - area around your houses.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
A failure to stand firm would mean that all their work was in vain.
Without a defense we can lose confidence.
ILL- The couple who shot police escaped around our home. - I was in Oklahoma.
We realized we needed more security.
When we compromise what we need to be doing for the Lord we become vulnerable to the enemies attacks.
Put on the armor of God and stand firm.
4- Compromise Destroys Your Integrity (7:63-65)
4- Compromise Destroys Your Integrity (7:63-65)
63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).
64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.
Integrity is about qualifications because you didn’t mess up. You haven’t disqualified yourself.
Integrity is more about what you didn’t do. Character is more about what you sacrifice in doing.
Are you qualified?
Why do we have Biblical qualifications for certain church positions?
You want people with integrity.
They haven’t compromised the commands of God.
Not that they are sinless, but that they are above reproach and have high integrity.
These people were not allowed to serve because they may not have been qualified. They needed to determine the will of God.
The Law of Moses made it clear that only those whose family line was clearly in the family of Aaron could minister at the altar.
Urim and Thummim
30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.
A lack of integrity can limit your ability to serve in certain ways.
CONCLUSION
70 Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver.
71 And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests’ garments.
73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.
They stood firm. They did not compromise.
They worshipped the Lord.
Giving
Praise
Studying the Bible
It was the seventh month and Israel was supposed to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
A time to remember the grace and mercy of God.
Even when we do not compromise we are sinners in need of grace. Have you accepted the free gift of forgiveness through Jesus?
Even when we do not compromise we are sinners in need of grace. Have you accepted the free gift of forgiveness through Jesus?