Nehemiah 1-4 — How To Respond When Church Becomes An Embarrassment
[Originally posted August 21, 2005] The church has been designed to function as the temple of God – the center of worship and of testimony to the glory of God....
Nehemiah 1:1-11 — Revival (Rebuilding) Starts with Concerned Confessional Prayer
GRIEF OVER THE SHAMEFUL STATE OF GOD’S KINGDOM PROGRAM MOTIVATES SPIRITUAL LEADERS TO PETITION GOD FOR REVIVAL WITH CONFESSIONAL PRAYER
Nehemiah 2:1-10 — Trusting God for Providential Favors – The Good Hand of God
PUTTING THE PRIORITY ON THE SUCCESS OF GOD’S KINGDOM PROGRAM REQUIRES BOLD FAITH THAT COUNTS ON PROVIDENTIAL FAVORS
Nehemiah 2:11-20 — Vision Must Translate Into Commitment – We Will Arise and Build
STRATEGIC VISION BASED ON A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT MUST TRANSLATE INTO COMMITMENT TO HARD WORK IN DEPENDENCE ON GOD’S GOOD FAVOR DESPITE INTIMIDATING OPPOSITION
Nehemiah 3:1-32 — Partnership in Mutual Ministry – God’s Honor Roll of Dedicated Workers
EVERYONE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SHARE OF GOD’S WORK – PARTNERSHIP IN MUTUAL MINISTRY GETS THE JOB DONE
Nehemiah 4:1-8 — Defending Against Discouragement – Boasting in Weakness
THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD CAN PROTECT AND PROSPER A FEEBLE FEW WHO DON’T QUIT PRAYING AND DON’T QUIT WORKING DESPITE ANGRY OPPOSITION
Nehemiah 4:9-23 — Keep Your Guard Up – Keep Praying . . . Keep Trusting . . . Keep Guarding . . . Keep Working
ANGRY OPPOSITION REQUIRES A CONSTANT STATE OF GUARDED READINESS WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON THE WORK AT HAND
Nehemiah 5:1-13 — Financial Exploitation – Threat From Within
GOD’S LEADERS MUST PROHIBIT ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION
(AND SET THE EXAMPLE FOR SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY)
Nehemiah 5:14-19 — Example of Sacrificial Ministry
SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE FOR SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY
Nehemiah 6:1-19 — God’s Work Prevails Despite Satan’s Devious Tactics
THE SCHEMING TACTICS OF GOD’S ENEMIES CAN NEVER THWART GOD’S PURPOSES
Nehemiah 7:1-73 — The Importance of Godly Worship
REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE (THE OUTER SHELL) PREPARES THE WAY FOR REVIVING THE PEOPLE INWARDLY TO FULFILL THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GODLY WORSHIP
Nehemiah 8:1-18 — The Celebration of the Truth – People of the Book
REVIVAL STARTS WITH JOYFULLY SUBMITTING TO THE VOICE OF TRUTH
Nehemiah 9:1-15 — Historical Review of God’s Covenant Loyalty
CONFESSION OF SIN LEADS TO GENUINE WORSHIP FOR GOD’S COVENANT LOYALTY — DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN HIS PROVIDENTIAL FAITHFULNESS
Nehemiah 9:16-31 — Historical Review of Israel’s Rebellion vs God’s Persistent Goodness
GOD PERSISTS IN DISPLAYING HIS GOODNESS TOWARDS HIS CHILDREN DESPITE THEIR REPETITIVE CYCLES OF UNGRATEFUL REBELLION –
WHY? BECAUSE HE IS GOOD BY NATURE
Nehemiah 9:32-38 — Is God Giving You a Fair Shake?
BENEFITING FROM GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRES FIRST EMBRACING GOD’S JUSTICE
Nehemiah 10:1-39 — Rededication to Covenant Obligations
REDEDICATION TO OBEYING GOD’S WORD SHOWS ITSELF IN SPECIFIC REFORMS
Nehemiah 10:30-39 — OT Practices – Sabbath Keeping and Tithing
REDEDICATION TO OBEYING GOD’S WORD SHOWS ITSELF IN SPECIFIC REFORMS – EMPHASIS ON SABBATH KEEPING AND TITHING
Nehemiah 11:1 – 12:26 — Mighty Men of Valor – Re-Settlement of Jerusalem
GOD’S KINGDOM ADVANCES WHEN MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR FORSAKE PERSONAL COMFORT TO VOLUNTEER FOR FRONT LINE DUTY IN THE FAITHFUL FULFILLMENT OF THEIR GOD APPOINTED ROLES
11:14 “valiant warriors”
Nehemiah 12:27-47 — Celebration of Successful Reviving / Rebuilding – Celebration of Mother’s Day
THE DEDICATION OF THE REBUILT WALL INVOLVED AN ELABORATE CELEBRATION BEFITTING THE CULMINATION OF SUCH A SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL
Nehemiah 13:1-14 — Dealing With Spiritual Slippage – Part 1: Corruption of Worship – the Boastful Pride of Life
CORRUPTION OF WORSHIP REQUIRES CONSTANT VIGILANCE AND GODLY LEADERSHIP TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMS
Nehemiah 13:15-22 — Spiritual Slippage – Part 2: Secularizing the Sabbath – Greedy Materialism – The Lust of the Eyes
SPIRITUAL SLIPPAGE REQUIRES GODLY LEADERSHIP AND BOLD CONFRONTATION TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMS
Nehemiah 13:23-31 — Spiritual Slippage – Part 3: Mixed Marriages – Fleshly Lusts
SPIRITUAL SLIPPAGE REQUIRES GODLY LEADERSHIP AND BOLD CONFRONTATION TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMS