Category: Sermon

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160925_1103.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of our Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Nehemiah 12:44-47

44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. 45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs[b] of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

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I want to start by asking this question: What are some ways by which we can care for the people whom God has appointed to minister to us? Often our church experience and expectations end up being very consumerist. We may think that the elders/ministers exist for us but as we will see today, as much as we require being cared for, so do the elders and ministers and I believe this text helps us with that.

[bctt tweet=”Making much of God by caring for our leaders. (Nehemiah 12:44-47)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

We can care for our leaders/elders in 3 ways:

• Valuing our elders
• Encouraging our elders
• Supporting our elders

Value our elders

On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. (v44)

On the same day, we learn that men were appointed over storerooms meant for gathering tithes and offerings for the priests and Levites. As we learnt last week, it was a day of celebration! They celebrated the presence of God, they celebrated the work of God and they celebrated God being known through them. A continuation of this celebration was the celebration of the ministers. The end of v 44 says that “for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered”. Great joy for the men who served and ministered for them/to them.

So men were appointed to gather all the collection, tithes, wine, grain and oil to distribute it among the Levites and priests. Now why did the Law require them to be provided for?

From Deut 18:1-5 we learn that the Levites didn’t have a portion of land or inheritance in Israel. The food offerings that were brought into the temple were their inheritance. In fact, God tells them that “the Lord is their inheritance”. What an amazing privilege!

Why was this asked from them? It says in v5 that God chose them out of all the tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord. What a great and unique privilege. When we think about serving a normal human it may not seem like a huge deal but when we think about serving and standing and ministering in the presence of a Holy God…this is huge! And it’s interesting how in 1 Pet 2:9, it tells that we are a kingdom of priests as His redeemed. What an awesome privilege we get to minister and stand in the presence of God to a lost world.

So what did it mean for the people of Judah to rejoice over the Levites?

1. They acknowledged the privilege that the Levites and priests had to serve the Lord.
2. They recognized how important their role was in worship.

This attitude towards their spiritual leaders was only possible because of a repentant heart. Early on in this book we see how the people repented and were in right relationship with God. They gave prominence to the Law of the Lord and sought to obey all that the Lord had commanded. This resulted in finding extreme joy and value in the people God placed over them to lead them in worship.

This brings us to an important question: how do we view those who have been given the responsibility to lead and minister to us?

It’s not a norm these days. Sometimes in some circles people the perception is that only those who don’t have any career option in life, they end up in ministry. Otherwise, it’s perceived that pastoral ministry is a smart and easy way to get rich. These abuses in ministry have caused us to be skeptical. However, Scripture clearly tells us to respect and esteem those who labor among us.

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thess 5:12, 13)

And so it starts with the attitude of valuing our leaders. But how do we show them that value? By submitting to their authority through Scripture. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Heb 13:17)

Elders are those that keep watch over our souls and so being obedient to their instruction through Scripture is important to God. Sometimes people end up agreeing to everything that the pastor advices them but doesn’t really intend to make any changes in their lives. Does this mean that the person is submissive? I don’t think so. It’s like if your boss at your workplace asks you to specifically do something, and if you don’t do it. A failure to do it would mean disrespectful to the authority of the boss. Therefore, similarly the attitude we show to our elders is best displayed in our obedience and submission.

Encourage our elders

And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs[b] of praise and thanksgiving to God. (v45, 46)

The next two verses is the result of encouragement being given to the ministers in Nehemiah’s time. When they were being encouraged, they were able to perform and excel in their God given roles.

1 Pet 5:1-5:

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

This passage gives a very good description on the responsibilities of an elder. And there is a huge responsibility! Elders are called to be under-shepherds of the flock of Jesus. And that’s what makes the responsibility big. However, I would like to look at these verses from a different angle. What if we looked at these verses from the perspective of someone who needs to submit to the leadership of an elder. What can it mean for us to not make it hard for the elders so that they can lead willingly and eagerly? What can we do to encourage the elders to be examples for us? And the moment we start thinking that way it changes the way we view the church. Coming back to the point of being a consumerist in church. Sometimes we need to step back and realize that elders also need the spiritual encouragement and accountability as much as we do. Most of the cases of ministers caught in adultery have taken place due to a life of no accountability. When was the last time you encouraged your elder telling him how he’s blessed you through his service? When was the last time you checked up on how your pastor was doing spiritually? I think this is key to ensuring that our elders are taken care of.

Supporting our elders

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. (v47)

Another thing that we need to do is support our spiritual leaders. We see in this passage how the whole nation was faithful in giving to ensure that the ministers could focus on serving in the Temple. In the next chapter we in fact see how the failure of having to support them led to a lot of problems. So coming to the question whether it is right or wrong to support those over us?

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (1 Tim 5:17, 18)

I personally wrestled with this question for a long time. And again I don’t think the question here is bi-vocational ministry or exclusive ministry better. I think we need to look at it in this way: if supporting a minister helps him to be more effective and focused in doing what God has called him to do then that should be done. And it’s not that this is should ever be a burden on the congregation but it should be done willingly and also as a way of honouring the people appointed over the church.

I think this point of support doesn’t only apply referring to financial support but also support in terms of being involved in executing the vision of the elders. Especially as the elders think of strategizing and finding way to get the gospel out, where people come alongside and cooperate in terms of that vision. That’s certainly good support!

Finally, I think what we need to realize that the main reason that prevents us from caring for and submitting to our leaders is due to our sin! It’s not them…it’s us! Resisting authority is a result of the fall and that’s why we desperately need the gospel. The gospel…the death of Jesus on the cross nailed the sin of selfishness and pride and ego and allows us to humbly be led by our elders. And humble submitting to our elders magnifies God – why because there is submission within the Trinity as well. The Son submits to the Father and the Holy Spirit submits to both the Father and the Son. All three persons in the Trinity are equal, yet we find submission. How can we then not view, rejoice, care for our elders with that in mind?

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/jeff.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of our Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Good morning Gathering! It brings me so much joy to be able to say that, and to be with you in person this morning. I want you to know that, even though there are stretches of time where we’re not with you in person, that doesn’t mean that we’re not lifting you up in prayer and giving thanks to God for you constantly.

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The truth is that it brings me so much joy to be able to partner with you in the work that’s happening here in Mumbai. I feel like Paul when he wrote to the Philippians and said: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

[bctt tweet=”Here’s what Celebrating & Rejoicing in the Gospel looks like. (Nehemiah 12:27-43)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

That is exactly how I feel. That is exactly how all of us feel in the Red Tree family of churches. It is a blessing to have family here in Mumbai and for us to be able to partner together in this great work — both here & in the US — because the need is so great IN BOTH PLACES.

I was reminded of the overwhelming need that exists here in this city as my plane landed on Thursday night. I saw fireworks from the window of the plane as we were landing and wasn’t sure what kind of celebration was happening.

But then, to drive the streets to Saju & Jane’s house, and realize that it was a festival celebrating Ganesh. My heart was reminded of the amount and the depth of lostness in Mumbai and just how desperately people need to hear the gospel. Because they’re all searching for something. That’s what I was reminded of, as we weaved through parades, and music, and dancing — — — all to an idol that will never bring the satisfaction, and contentment, and fulfillment that the people are looking for.

They won’t find it because those things are only found in the Creator & Sustainer of life. They’re only found in The Redeemer — — The One who has made the way for us to be reconciled to God.

So, what we see around us is utter lostness. Which isn’t much different than my context in the US — — it just looks more Christian on the surface. But, there is pervasive lostness there as well. The idols might not be as external and obvious, but the people have still taken idols into their hearts. Which is, in some ways,  even more dangerous.

People in my culture are searching for the same satisfaction, and contentment, and fulfillment and they’re also searching in the wrong places. They have set up idols in their hearts that are consuming their affections and their worship. THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE GOSPEL. This is why the work that’s happening here in Mumbai and the work that’s happening in St. Louis is the same work.

Different culture, different context, same lostness. And the answer to that lostness is the same as well. Because there is but one way to be reconciled to God — — THE GOSPEL.

I love Ezekiel chapter 14 because it talks directly about the issue of idolatry in our lives and, more importantly, it shows us how God deals with us in the midst of our idolatry. Let me just read this for you quickly and, as I read, just listen to the language. This is The Lord speaking to Ezekiel.

“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.”

Doesn’t that tell us something profound about God? I think it tells us something very encouraging about God. That, in the face of our rebellion, in the face of our taking up idols, in the face of us worshiping the creature rather than the creator — all things that deserve only condemnation, and wrath, and separation from God. In the face of those things God responds with forbearance, and patience, and ultimately with Grace. Not ignoring the idols that we’ve set up as a stumbling block between our heart & His. But dealing directly with the multitude of our idols.

Why? Because He loves us! Because He loves us enough to lay hold of our hearts. Because He loves us enough to pursue us even when we are intent on running from Him and hiding our sin. Isn’t that beautiful?

Listen, some of you are here this morning and that’s all that you need to hear from this message. You’re playing “hide & go seek” with God. You’re playing “hide & go seek” with your sin. You’ve set up idols in your heart as a stumbling block between you & God. And it’s breeding feelings of guilt, and shame, and separation. And so, your tendency is to try to hide those things from God (just like Adam & Eve in the garden, hiding in the bushes).

The good news is that God loves you way too much to let you play that game. He will pursue you & work on you until you show Him what you’re trying to hide. I saying “trying” because you can’t hide anything from God.

Isn’t that amazing news this morning church? That, in the face of our rebellion, sin and idolatry, God loves us & pursues us through His Son Jesus Christ. That’s the Gospel.

It’s the good news that, over & above our rebellion, Jesus Christ has laid down His life so that His righteousness could be credited to us by grace through faith. And through His perfect righteousness we are reconciled to The Father and adopted as sons & daughters. And so, we no longer have to hide anything.

That’s the gospel. And that’s what we are here to celebrate this morning. That’s why we gather like this every week. That’s why we gather in gospel communities throughout the week. That’s why we learn to think missionally where we work, live & play. It’s all for the glory of God and the name & fame of Jesus Christ.

And — what a gift that we get to do that this morning in The Book of Nehemiah === === === If you have a Bible with you, I’d invite you to turn to Nehemiah chapter 12 this morning.

It’s hard to believe but we’re just a couple of months away from wrapping up this amazing book of the Bible. I don’t know about you, but this journey through Nehemiah has done so much to enlarge my view of the character & nature of God. It’s done so much to stir my affections for Christ. And, I pray that it’s been a blessing for The Gathering and for each of you individually. That God has revealed Himself more & more to you, and that He’s drawn you into greater intimacy through the process.

Alright, we will be in chapter 12, looking specifically at verses 27 – 42 this morning. Let’s go to The Lord in prayer and ask Him to work in us this morning. Let’s ask Him to lay hold of our hearts so that we might cast down our idols.

Read NEHEMIAH 12:27-42 (Click here to read the text)

 

Alright, so let’s spend a few minutes talking about the basics of what’s happening here so that we’re all on the same page. After that, we can dig down a bit and talk about some gospel implications for our lives.

Here’s basically what’s happening. As the header in your Bible suggests, we’re reading about the official dedication of the wall. As we have seen throughout this project, there has been no shortage of opposition, and frustration, and obstacles.

There has been opposition from outside the people of God. There has been opposition from within the people of God. And, in the midst of it all, God has led His people (through Nehemiah) to this day where the work is completed.

And, what we see in this text is the people have now gathered to celebrate God and dedicate the wall. It’s really a similar picture to what we see in Ezra chapter 6, where the people gather together (in what’s essentially a massive worship service) to dedicate the Temple.

And so, as we just read, the people send for the Levites who are settled around the city of Jerusalem. Which, by the way, is a very normal thing. The Levites and Priests served for a specific few weeks every year and, the rest of the time, they were home tending to their families.

So they brought them back into Jerusalem for the celebration and the dedication. And what was the point of the dedication? Well, they were essentially declaring that this city belongs to God. They were announcing the distinctness of Jerusalem because of the presence of God.

That’s basically what’s happening. Now, before we get to the deeper implications of where I think God wants us to go this morning, I think it’s worth pointing out something that exists in the correlation between the dedication of the wall here in Nehemiah chapter 12 and the dedication of the Temple in Ezra chapter 6.

When we think about the dedication of The Temple, that is an overtly spiritual event because you’re dealing with The Temple. After all, that’s the dwelling place of God. That’s where His presence was intended to reside. That’s where worship happened and sacrifices were offered.

So, you read about the dedication of the Temple and you think, “Well yeah, that was a worship service because we’re talking about The Temple!” But, what’s fascinating to me is that we see the same kind of worship celebration with the dedication of the wall.

Which, on the surface, doesn’t seem like as spiritual an issue as The Temple. The wall feels more like a civic issue (the protection of the city & the people in it). And yet, the worship celebration is just as detailed, and just as weighty, and just as celebratory as with the Temple.

Now, I think that raises a really important point that we need to consider in our lives. Our tendency is to compartmentalize areas of our lives. We tend to think in terms of work, and family, and our faith, and our social circles, and our duty as citizens all as separate areas.

Which — can easily lead to a lifestyle where our worship is reserved exclusively for the “spiritual” or “church” compartments. But that’s not what living out the gospel looks like at all. Living out the gospel (being a Christian) means that worship permeates every single area of our lives. To the point where we see our families — — as worship. We see our jobs — — as worship. We see our role as citizens & our civic duty — — as worship. We see social circles & neighborhoods — — as worship. We understand that they are all opportunities to glorify God & magnify the gospel.

Being a Christ-follower means that we break down the walls of compartmentalization in our lives. It means that we understand & live in such a way that living for the glory of God & worshiping Him with our whole lives permeates, more and more, every single area — NO MATTER THE COST.

The people in this text are celebrating the work of God and worshiping Him for the rebuilding of the wall the same way they did with the rebuilding of The Temple. That’s because they knew that everything is spiritual. They knew that everything is about what God is doing and every situation represents an opportunity to proclaim His greatness.

That’s very helpful if we’re actually going to live out the gospel and see the gospel proclaimed through our lives. And that’s basically what’s happening here. So, knowing that, how does this speak to our lives and inform what God has called us to?

Let me point out a few things that really had an impact on my heart as I studied this text. First, when you look at the circumstances of where the people find themselves and the overall scope of resettling Jerusalem, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Just think about this. They still have to address issues of rebuilding other buildings, and establishing organization in the city. There are systems that still need to be put in place and infrastructure that needs to be developed. The list of things that still need to be accomplished goes on and on. And yet, the people are celebrating. There’s so much work still before them, and yet, they’re worshiping in the midst of it all. Here’s what I find so fascinating about that; we must learn how to celebrate in the midst of the struggle. We must learn to celebrate in the midst of the mission, while there’s still work to be done.

I think it’s really easy for the church to slip into the mind-set that we are waiting to celebrate, and waiting to rejoice, until the work is finally and ultimately done. And that’s true! We are waiting for Christ’s return. We are waiting for God to complete His redemptive work. We are waiting for everything to be set right and returned to its proper order. And we will celebrate when that happens, there’s no question. But, if we don’t learn to celebrate in the midst of the work still happening, it can easily produce a depressed, hopeless mentality among the people of God. And, sadly, that happens all too often in the church today).

Can I just say something that should be incredibly obvious for us? CHRIST HAS ALREADY WON THE DAY!!!! Sure the battle is not yet over, but the victory has already been secured by Jesus. === === And so, WE CELEBRATE THE WORK OF GOD, right now!!!! WE REJOICE, right now!!!!

It’s amazing when you look at the things that Scripture says are true of us right now (not later) but right now… (PAUSE)…

• Co-heirs with Christ
• Adopted sons & daughters — (literally children of God)
• A royal priesthood
• A holy nation — (Not just becoming holy. He has made you holy in Christ)
• A people for God’s own possession
• Ambassadors // Ministers // Proclaimers of His excellencies
• Righteous

We could spend a long time listing out all the things that Scripture says are true of you (RIGHT NOW) if you are in Christ. Is that not cause to celebrate? You’re not waiting for joy, Psalm 16 says, “In His presence is a fullness of joy.” Guess what? By the blood of Jesus have you been brought near into the presence of the most High God. There is joy RIGHT NOW.

SO, my first encouragement to all of us is that we learn to celebrate and express joy in the midst of the work that God has called us to right now. It is good and right to celebrate during the struggle.

The other thing I would point to is THE REASON THAT WE CELEBRATE. This was true of the people in this text, and it’s just as true for us today. Let me point to 3 things that drive celebration & joy in our hearts.

** We celebrate the presence of God
** We celebrate the work of God
** We celebrate God being made known through us

I want you to think about this phrase in verse 43 for just a moment. “For God had made them rejoice with great joy…” Isn’t that an interesting phrase? “God had made them rejoice.” I’ve been thinking about that for the last week or so. What does it mean that God would make His people rejoice with great joy?

Well, let’s think about the answer to that based on the 3 points I just listed. We need to remember that God is with us (He’s present), and that God is doing His work among us, and that He’s using us to make His glory known to the world.

I want to contend this morning that those things WILL produce joy in us. His presence, His work and His mission. Those things WILL produce joy in His people. Not perfectly and not in every season of life. But, as our sanctification progresses, our joy will increase along with it.

And, if there’s one thing that the people of God should be known for, it’s joy! If there’s one thing that God’s church should be known for, it’s joy! Just think about this for a moment: What is the message that’s presented by a lot of churches right now? Sometimes it’s moralism & religiosity. In some cases it’s separation from the world and the attitude, “You’re wrong & we’re right!” There can be all kinds of messages that come from churches. But I want to contend this morning that, when the world looks at the church, the primary thing that they should see is JOY. Joy that is emanating from the presence of God & the work of God in our lives.

And that’s produced by the presence of God among His people, which Christ has purchased for us, and by the work of God among His people, and by the work of God through His people to glorify His name to the world.

I love how Nehemiah points out — — that “The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Isn’t that how this is supposed to be? That’s the whole point of what God is doing. The people here are declaring to the world that they are God’s and He is theirs. They are declaring that He’s with them and that He’s moving. They are declaring that He is real and that He is GLORIOUS!!!!!

This is Psalm 67 — — — “God Bless us and be gracious to us and make your face to shine upon us…” That’s verse 1. We love verse 1, don’t we? Yeah, but you can’t stop at verse 1.

“God Bless us & be gracious to us & make your face to shine upon us, SO THAT your way will be known on the earth, SO THAT your saving power will be seen among the nations.”

Church, that’s what this is all about. Every single thing that God is doing in us, and among us, and through us, is for the purpose displaying His glory to the world around us!

And, ultimately, that fills us with more joy. Not just because we are His. Not just because He is with us. Not just because He has reconciled us through the life, death & resurrection of His Son. But, because His name is being proclaimed through us.

Because His name is being brought to bear against the darkness of our world and the idolatry that exists in the hearts of people. Because His gospel is going forward and pushing back the darkness in places like St. Louis & Mumbai & every other corner of the earth.

BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS FOR HIM

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/the-true-meaning-of-worship.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Our text for today is Nehemiah 12:1-26

So far from Nehemiah 1-11 we saw how God restores his people back to himself through a man called Nehemiah who participates in the re-building of the broken walls.

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Against all the opposition and problems they could see God’s sovereign hand over them and when the walls are completed they go back to the Law of God and as the Word of God convicts their heart they confess and repent of their sins.

In Nehemiah 10 we saw that they don’t just stop there but continue to give themselves to God’s work of redemption in their lives.

[bctt tweet=”The Meaning of True Worship. (Nehemiah 12:1-26)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

They now have a renewed understanding of what it means to live like children of God, they are more committed to God, they are courageous to walk in obedience to God’s word.

Last Sunday in Nehemiah 11 we saw another serious side of their commitment where they are now inhabiting the land and giving themselves in serving God. Two lessons we learned about serving from those verses were

1. Serving God is unpopular yet pleasing in the eyes of God
2. Serving God is unattractive yet beautiful in the plans of God.

In today’s passage in verse 1-9 we see a list of names of the chief priests and Levites that came up with Zarubbabel, in verse 10 & 11 we see the succession of the high priests, in verse 12-21 is the next generation of the other chief priests, verse 22-26 gives the names of the eminent Levites that were in Nehemiah’s time.

What caught my attention while reading 1-26 was verse number 24 which said

“And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God”

The statement “prescribed by David the man of God” is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 8:14 but in different context and slightly different words. It says

“In keeping with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their duties, and the Levites to lead the praise and to assist the priests according to each day’s requirement”

The context in 2 Chronicles is that now Solomon has completed the building of the temple of God which his father assigned to him, he is now appointing priests who will offer worship to God on behalf of the people.

In both these context what we see common is God re-establishing His worship. We saw in Nehemiah earlier that the reason why God brings them all together is not because there were better job opportunities in the land but because He wanted to re-establish his worship.

Worship is at the center of God’s work in their lives. Even today Worship is at the center of God’s mission on earth. Just as in the times of Nehemiah or Solomon even today God gathers His people to himself only for one reason and that is to worship Him.

Jesus points that in John 4:23 and says

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”

Why does God demand, seek or request that we worship him?

Worship is “to give honor, homage, reverence, respect, adoration, praise or glory to a superior being”

• Firstly, God demands worship because He and He alone is worthy of it. He is the only being that truly deserves worship

Rev 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

And Exodus 20:3-5 God says

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me”

• Secondly, God expects us to worship Him as an expression of reverence and thanksgiving to Him

Heb 12:28

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”

• Thirdly, God desires that we worship Him because our eternal destiny depends on our worship of the true and living God.

Please do not be deluded to think that God is here to make you rich and famous, and to give you a comfortable living with no troubles.

God desires his glory and worship more than anything else.

And our greatest pleasure and satisfaction in life will come only when we worship the true and libing God giving him the highest glory he deserves.

So, what is worship?

Is it just singing some songs on a Sunday morning? Lets answer that question from God’s word.

In Nehemiah 12 God is re-establishing His worship, Levites and priests are been appointed in the temple courts in a particular fashion as prescribed by David, which originally points to Leviticus and the times of Moses.

In the time of Moses when God brings the people out of slavery from Egypt, he instructs Moses to build a tabernacle for Him where he will be worshipped by the people, offering sacrifices at the altar.

In the book of Leviticus we see God giving Moses specific instructions about every single detail of the tabernacle. From what material should be used, its measurements, the design of each and every object in the tabernacle, the kind of clothes the priests were suppose to wear while conducting the ceremonies, what kind of offerings were acceptable, what kind of fire should be used etc.

In total that book of Leviticus has 27 chapters and all verses were instructions given by God on how they were supposed to worship him.

When we read that book we feel overwhelmed and wonder whats the point behind doing all of it. How did they even remember to follow all of it to the dot?

The apostle Paul talking about the Laws and regulations in Galatians 3:10, he says

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

He says that if someone fails to keep every command perfectly he is cursed and condemned.

James 2:10 says “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”

The Law is basically points us to the standard of God’s Holiness and gives us an impression that no matter how hard we try we can never match up to God’s Holiness.

Recently I saw a video of R.C Sproul where he gives an excellent demonstration of Gods standard of holiness in comparison to ours while explaining the concept of sanctification and glorification.

What does this teach us about Worship?

In Psalms 96:9 the Psalmist says “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

• The first lesson we learn here is that True worship should lead us and point us to God’s Holiness.

When the people of God gathered around the tent to offer sacrifices they would revere and acknowledge God’s Holiness and worship him and tremble before him.

Even God takes his holiness quite seriously. In Leveticus 10:1-3 Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of God because they offered unauthorised fire before the Lord.

• The second thing the Law and the rituals reveal is our sinfulness

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law”

Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”

What does it teach us about worship?

It teaches us that True worship of God should reveal our sinfulness when we compared to the standards of God’s Holiness. The more the people of God approached God’s Holy Laws the more they realized how sinful they were in the sight of God.

Even today when we worship on a Sunday morning or when we worship him in private we should remind ourselves that its not just about singing and dancing but its about acknowledging and remembering God’s Holiness and our sinfulness.

Thirdly, in the book of Leviticus God instructs the people to offer sacrifices to compensate for their sins. Every time the people of God would approach him they would bring a sacrifice with them, either a goat or a dove or grain etc and offer it at the altar as a burnt offering and the aroma of the sacrifice would reach God.

Why would the aroma of a sacrifice be important to God?

The importance of the sacrifice’s aroma was not the smell but what the smell represented – the substitutionary atonement for the sins of men – a temporary solution that God offered by which the people could go near him and enjoy his presence.

The permanent solution God offers is His son Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:14-22

1 John 2:2 says “Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

What does it teach us about worship?

• It teaches us that True worship eventually should lead us in appreciating the finished work of Jesus on the cross – His death as a perfect sacrifice for the compensation of our sins.

It the Jesus that bridges the gap between God’s Holiness and our sinfulness and we should cherish that.

So, what kind of worship is God re-establishing for himself?

It’s not the one that ends up as singling spiritual songs on a Sunday morning without pointing us to God’s Holiness and our sinfulness leading us to appreciating and cherishing Christ above everything else.

In the light of what’s been shared here are three questions I want us answer today.

Q1. When we come to worship on a Sunday morning and in our private time do we come to God in reverence in our hearts, acknowledging His holy presence or are we too casual about it?

Q2. When we come to worship do we see our sinfulness and our inability to please God in our own strength or do we come with pride in our hearts and a self righteous attitude?

Q3. When we come to worship do we see and cherish the beauty of Christ and his finished work on the cross that helps us relate with God?

I believe that as we give ourselves to God in worship in this manner every single day He will sanctify our hearts and make us more like Christ.

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Growing up I always thought serving God was a very attractive thing. Be it in the experience of leading thousands of people in worship song or preaching before a crowd. My Christian experience was defined by commercial and cultural Christianity. However, the more I read God’s Word, the more I realized how wrong that idea was. People suffered and were rejected while serving God! I believe today’s passage teaches us two things about service to God:-

1. Serving God is unpopular yet pleasing in the eyes of God
2. Serving God is unattractive yet beautiful in the plans of God

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1. Serving God is unpopular yet pleasing in the eyes of God (v1-2)

Though the temple had been rebuilt and the city walls repaired, Jerusalem still remained to be an unpopular place to live in. Why was that so? Nehemiah 2 actually describes how bad the condition was earlier:

I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” (Nehemiah 2:3)

[bctt tweet=”What does it mean to serve God? (Nehemiah 11)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” (Nehemiah 2:17)

These two verses clearly show how unpopular the city was for inhabiting. The gates were burned down and the temple was destroyed. The word “derision” meant that rival nations were mocking them and ridiculing them. Total and utter disgrace and shame! Even though the city was restored, people were still hesitant to settle in a place which was considered as a place of disgrace and shame.

Why did Nehemiah and the other leaders deem it necessary to re-populate the “holy city”?

As we’ve been discussing the whole issue of repopulation in Jerusalem, it wasn’t because there were better job opportunities out there, it wasn’t because their life was going to get more comfortable, neither was it because it was a land occupied by their ancestors…we realized that the primary reason for inhabiting the city of Jerusalem was to re-establish the worship of the One True God. In the OT, Jerusalem was the place where the temple was located and built. Prayers were offered by turning towards the city. God would demonstrate his forgiveness, justice, grant help, shower mercy and grace from this temple and city. The whole idea was of God dwelling among His people and meeting with them in Jerusalem. You can see how this city was of extremely great importance to both God and His people. There was a very close relation between the “land” and “worship”. When the people contaminated their worship by worshipping idols, they were removed from the land and the worship of God. Why? Because God as our Creator and Savior desires our utmost affection and obedience. It can’t be shared with anyone else as if anybody else could replace or substitute God. Here’s what Solomon prayed when the temple was being dedicated way before the people were exiled into Babylon:

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). 52 Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.” (1 Kings 8:46-53)

We know what happened after that, how God lovingly pursued them and brought them back to their land. A return to Jerusalem meant that the people could once again worship and relate to God as before! It’s a huge deal.

With what the recruitment policies were the people relocated to Jerusalem?

Firstly, the leaders of the people volunteered to live in Jerusalem. (v1) Such a great example of the leaders leading from the front! People were afraid, skeptical and uncomfortable to move to the city. So what did the leaders do? They volunteered to move first and settle down. And that works wonders when it comes to motivating the others to do the same. They didn’t want to be leaders who were only asking others to make uncomfortable choices, they were the ones who took the initiative and showed the way.

Secondly, they cast lots to bring 1 out of every 10 people to live in the city. You could say that this was a fair way of choosing volunteers because people were being picked randomly and so it removed the whole argument of partiality.

Thirdly, we also see a group of people who in addition to the ones who were picked by casting lots “willingly offered to live in Jerusalem”. (v2)  No compulsion but they willingly decided to step into uncomfortable grounds. It says that those people were commended and blessed because they volunteered to move to the city of Jerusalem.

What would you do if you were in the shoes of the people of Judah and Benjamin? Would you be skeptical and stay back or would you willingly offer yourself to the work of God?

If we had to contextualize this situation in our day it would be something like this: there are places in the country and in the world where they haven’t even heard of Jesus. If God calls you out, would you volunteer to serve in the place of greatest need? It would mean forsaking your idea of a comfortable life out here, it would mean abandoning your ambitions, it would mean moving away from family, it would mean starting from scratch in a new place and so many other things.  

To top it all, this new place might not be comfortable or safe to live in. Would you still do it for the sake of the gospel? This is a serious question we need to ask ourselves. How far are you willing to go to serve the Lord? Let’s put it in another way: To what extent are you willing to relinquish your comforts, ambitions and possessions for the service of God?

These questions were to uncover the idols in our hearts but I don’t want to leave it there. Rather I want to share how the gains of our service outweigh the pains during the service.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:8-16)

When we look at Abraham’s example, do you think he was the biggest loser or the biggest winner? Winner! Such an amazing thing is written. God says “I am not ashamed to be his God!” That’s an astonishing statement of appreciation. In abandoning everything he gained everything! How awesome! Just imagine if the CEO of your company comes to you and says “I’m proud to be your CEO!” And this is God…God who says that. Isn’t that amazing? Being acknowledged by the Almighty God! God is magnified when you live out radical lives for the sake of the gospel! And He is so delighted in that! It pleases Him

2. Serving God is unattractive yet beautiful in the plans of God (v3-24)

In Nehemiah 7:66, we learn that there were 42,360 people who returned from exile but most of them were occupying the outskirts of the Jerusalem rather than be in the city. When you sum up the number of people who moved into the city, the total comes up to 3044 which is a little over 7% of the entire population. I’m sure when Nehemiah and the leaders planned to cast lots they expected at least a minimum 10% of the people to be in the city.

Another startling figure was that the number of Levites (284) was few in comparison to the number of priests (1192). Priests were selected from the tribe of Levi. Shouldn’t the number be the opposite?

Josephus, a Jewish historian noted “But Nehemiah, seeing that the city had a small population, urged the priests and Levites to leave the countryside and move to the city and remain there for he had prepared houses for them at his own expense”.

What could be the reason even after the leaders moved in, after casting lots and people volunteering to live in Jerusalem, after Nehemiah even prepared houses for them at his own expense that the numbers of inhabitants were less than expected?

Could it be that the life in exile was more appealing than the menial tasks of temple service? Isn’t it true that sometimes we think that service to the Lord is boring or tedious task in comparison to the excitement and entertainment of the world?

Haven’t we noticed a trend where you’ll find thousands of passionate people who would turn up for a worship concert but only a handful of people who would go and share their faith? There are other times when we end up making the Sunday Gathering to be a mega event. We’re there at any cost but neglect the importance of meeting with other believers during the week for encouragement and accountability. And I’m not saying that it’s easy or simple but very often we conveniently excuse ourselves from things that aren’t attractive to us. We excuse ourselves from things that are hard and messy. Like discipleship. Walking with another believer is messy because you’re dealing with your own sin and the sin of the other person. And you might end up hearing about the same struggle every single day in some seasons. It’s too much so you consider avoiding it. Another example is how some people are unwilling to move to a new place and start a GC or plant a church due to the fear of losing their identity or prominence in a new setup? Suddenly their role looks very different. Instead of maybe preaching every Sunday, they might need to arrange the chairs. That fear is the reason behind their refusal. What we need to address is our attitude toward serving the Lord.

Let’s ask ourselves this question: what is something about serving the Lord that appears to be menial to you at this point? Usually these things would make you uncomfortable and so you would generally find an excuse to opt out of these settings.

Let’s stop and think: was it an attractive choice for Jesus to die for us on the cross? No, yet He did it. Hebrews 12:2 says : 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.

Phil 2:5-11: Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In God’s Sovereignty, this thing that seemed so unattractive (the cross) turned into something so beautiful! On the cross, God turned the most heinous crime & the most excruciating experience into something wonderful by restoring broken and rebellious sinners to Himself. On his body he nailed every bit of condemnation caused by your sins. Completely paid off and so there’s no wrath to be afraid of if you’ve trusted in His work. Just as Jesus looked at the joy set before him, let’s look at the joy set before us and pursue all those things that we may have thought as unattractive but it is beautiful in God’s plans.

My prayer is that our response to serving God would be the same like that of Isaiah:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8)

After Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God, understood his own sinfulness and cleansed by the mercy of God, his response was “Here am I. Send me!” A willingness to serve God in the midst of unpopularity because we know it’s pleasing in the eyes of God. A willingness to serve God even when it’s unattractive because we realize how God will use it beautifully in His great plans to accomplish His purposes.

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/gods-redemptive-work.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Our text for this morning is Nehemiah 10:1-39.

In our study on the book of Nehemiah thus far we saw how God worked in the hearts of his people as he gathered them and re-established his worship back.

The broken walls of Jerusalem is now re-built, people are safe and are now enjoying God’s goodness upon their lives. The first thing they do is go back to the Law of God, repent of their past sins and in the last sermon we saw how they re-count the blessings of God from creation onward.

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[bctt tweet=”Giving ourselves towards God’s continuous work of redemption” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

Recounting the blessings of God leads them to sincere confession of their sins and a serious commitment to the things of God. While re-counting the blessings one of the thing they understood was that it was their arrogance that kept them away from enjoying God’s favor throughout history.

The definition of ‘arrogance’ is having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities. It is somewhat like the attitude our seniors in the workplace throws at us when our ideas or suggestions are better than them.

In a spiritual sense it our words, attitude and expressions that shows up when we think of ourselves more supreme or important than others, even God, when we make our needs and necessities more important than God and his kingdom.

The Israelite’s would time and again find themselves in that position. When God gave them manna from heaven they wanted the cucumber of Egypt. When God gave them prophets, they demanded for a king.

Sadly this is exactly how we respond even today. When God miraculously gives us a job we don’t deserve we grumble and demand for more salaries. When God gives a small shelter for our family out of nowhere we demand that he gives is 2 BHK flat instead.

Our arrogance shows up in many ways and if we are not careful in dealing with it we will never enjoy God’s blessing and favor.

We also heard the definitions of mercy and grace. Mercy is ‘God withholding the punishment we deserve’, Grace is ‘God giving us blessings that we don’t deserve’.

Our arrogance doesn’t always shows up when we demand more things and material blessings. Our arrogance can also show up when we refuse to accept God’s unmerited grace and mercy when our life entangled in sin.

It’s when we look at our current sinfulness and say I don’t think God can forgive me of this sin. When we refuse to go back to God in repentance and ask for forgiveness to the point where doubt our salvation.

That’s Arrogance!

When I was a teenager I was an arrogant boy, one day my father was quite upset with me for not taking my studies seriously and in anger he said I’m worthless and just want to live on his money. I was quite upset that day and later in anger I went and told my parents I don’t want their money of possessions and my Mom felt very bad when I said that.

The point for my parents rebuking or correcting me was not to say that they don’t love or that they don’t want me to inherit their wealth and blessings.

We have to remember that our Christian journey is not going to be an easy one, we will face challenges, hurdles and find ourselves in a place of discontentment and discouragement. We will even fall into sin and make mistakes that hurt God and others, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us anymore, or that he is not capable to forgive us when we go to him in humility.

Psalms 116:5 says “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion”

1 John 1-9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

We should never let our arrogance keep us away from God’s blessings.

In chapter 9 the people of God confesses their sins and makes a commitment to follow the ordinances of God.

They make a firm covenant in writing on a sealed document.

Chapter 10 begins with the names of all the Levites, princes and priests who signs the document of the covenant beginning from Nehemiah himself.

Verse 29 says “They join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God and to observe the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes”

What they meant by that was God if we fail to observe your commands henceforth let your curse be upon us. Of course this kind of prayer or request doesn’t sound appropriate to us who are in the new covenant, but what I want you to notice is the seriousness of their commitment to God.

Later in the rest of the chapters we see how the people give themselves towards God’s continous redemptive work in their lives.

The first area of decision they make is “we will be faithful to God when it comes to our marital relationships”

Verse 30 – “We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.”

The second area of decision is “we will be faithful to God when it comes to doing business”

Verse 31 – “And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.”

The third area of decision they make is “we will be faithful to God when it comes to supporting God’s work”

Verse 32-39

All these areas of decision were made in the Old testament context and we do have an New testament interpretation to each of them. But in today’s sermon instead of going into the detailed new testament interpretation I want to talk about the importance of giving ourselves towards God’s continuous redemptive work in our lives.

In the story of Nehemiah the people of God didn’t just repent and confess their sins at once but continued to give themselves to God work in their lives, making changes in their beliefs, lifestyle etc.

They changed their views about marriage, they changed the way they did business, they understood the importance of giving towards the Kingdom work.

Some key questions we should asking ourselves at this juncture is

Q: How are we doing in the aspect of giving ourselves to God’s redemptive work ?
Q: Are we seriously making changes in our daily lifestyle as the God convicts us?

• The way we think about relationships
• The way we think about success
• The way we spend our money
• The way we bring up our children
• The way we serve in the church
• The way we think about music and entertainment
• The way we approach our professional life
• The way we approach friendship
• The way we look at the poor and needy

Are we changing in these areas as the Gospel is impacting our lives, are we living for his glory?

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I like the translation in New Living Translation, it says

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

We often hear Christians crib and complain about their circumstances & situation. When we sit down and talk to these very people we will realize that even after believing in the gospel, giving their lives to Christ, going to Church every Sunday their core beliefs and the way they think about life hasn’t changed.

That is why even today in India you will hear born again Christians still talking about dowry, achieving success at any cost, doing business just as the heathens do. They have not allowed the gospel to impact their lives, they have failed to give themselves towards God’s continuous redemptive work.

As it says in Romans 12:2 A true Christian will always be at rest in the good, pleasing and perfect will of God whether in lack or in abundance, in riches or in poverty, in good health and bad health, in times of joy and in times of pain.

Why? – Because they do not conform to the pattern of the world, but let God transform them into a new person by changing the way they think.

What we have received from God on the day we believed in Jesus and surrendered our lives to him is a precious gift.

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

2 Cor 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”

Eph 1:3 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

John 10:10 Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Our failure to give ourselves to God’s continuous redemptive work keeps us from enjoying all these benefits of the Gospel that came with the package.

It’s like the story of the man who was gifted a free ticket to travel in a ship, but throughout the journey he stayed inside his room and never came out to have lunch or dinner because he didn’t have money. On the last day of the journey when the captain noticed the man and asked him why he did join others for food he said he didn’t join them because he didn’t had money. The captain looks at him shockingly and tells him that the ticket that was gifted to him was inclusive of food.

When we fail to give ourselves to God work in our lives we are just like that man who never enjoyed the delicious meals that were served on the ship because he was unaware of the benefits that came with the ticket.

So, How do we give ourselves towards Gods redemptive work.

To help you remember the points I’ve put it into 3 C’s, hope that helps

• By showing COMMITMENT.

2 Pet 1:5 says “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge”

In Acts 2:42 when the people heard the gospel and accepted the truth we immediately see them continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

We have to show commitment to God in devotion, in reading of his word, showing accountability to one another, in serving him wholeheartedly etc.

To be committed is not easy; it requires a lot of effort, lot of energy.

We will have to go against our natural tendency to sleep for longer hours, refrain ourselves from all forms of entertainment that steal our time from God. For some of you it could mean that you go to sleep early so you can wake up early and spend time in prayer and reading and meditating on scriptures.

When we are committed to God we will make every effort to get closer to him, We will sneak out time from our busy schedule during work to meditate on God’s word, read spiritual articles.

Once George Whitefield was asked by someone after his sermon “How many people do you think got saved during your sermon”, he looked backed and said we will come to know only after 5 years.

It is our commitment that will reveal our seriousness and affirms our belief in the Gospel.

• By being COURAGEOUS.

It requires courage to do what the Word of God tells us to do. In Joshua 1:8-9 take a look at the sequence in which God instructs him. In verse 8 he says “ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”  And immediately in verse 9 he says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for theLord your God will be with you wherever you go”

When the whole world is going in one direction we have to choose the other and we need courage to do that.

I don’t think it was easy for the Israelite’s to stop giving their daughters in marriage in the men in the land or take daughters from their men. I’m sure they were been mocked and made fun of. When they stopped doing business during Sabbath I’m sure they lost businesses etc.

I remember the day I had to tell my father that I am not leaving my family behind and going to gulf to work like he did because that is not what God is asking me to do. A Christian friend of mine refuses to do business with clients who sell products that are ungodly.

We have to be courageous to follow God and his word, that shows that we are giving ourselves to Gods redemptive work in us.

• By maintaining CONTINUITY.

This is one area where the Israelites miserably failed again and again. They failed to continue pursuing God and walking in obedience with Him even after making an oath never to sin again.

Later in Isaiah 1:10-17 God is again angry with his people.

We should never let our arrogance come in our way from going back to God no matter how many times we mess up because of our sinfulness. Never give up on pursuing God – maintain continuity and you will see how the Gospel transforms you in due course into the likeness of Christ.

Heb 12:1-3 says

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Remember Christ and his sacrifice just so that we don’t grow weary and lose heart.

 

 

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Recounting-the-faithfulness-of-God.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

The context of this text is that it is the eighth day of solemn assembly after the Feast of Booths. The Israelite’s prepare themselves for this solemn assembly by fasting, wearing sackcloth, having dust on their heads and separating themselves from foreigners. Why did they do this?

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[bctt tweet=”Recounting the faithfulness of God. (Nehemiah 9:6-38)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

They were setting apart themselves for God. The people of God were commanded to not intermarry with foreign nations in the OT. They disobeyed God and intermarried with foreign nations which led to spiritual decline. They began worshiping foreign gods and idols as a result of intermixing with other nations. Therefore this act of separating themselves from them meant that they were separating themselves from anything or anyone that might contaminate their worship and loyalty to God.

I believe today’s passage talks about recounting the faithfulness of God. And whenever that’s truly done it leads to:

1. Sincere Confession
2. Serious Commitment

Sincere Confession

V6-38 is a prayer of sincere confession to God. And it happens when they hear and review God’s grace and power right through redemptive history.

• In Creation

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. (v6)

God created everything brought everything to existence. Nothing existed without him. He made the heavens, the starts, the earth and sea and everything in it. He sustains everything. (Heb 11:3, Col 1:17) We see God’s power at work when we consider how He created everything out of nothing and continues to sustain everything.

• In Abraham

“You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous. (v7-8)

In God’s sovereignty he chose and purposed to call Abraham out of his land and family to make a covenant with him and to give him the Promised Land. In wasn’t because Abraham did something, it’s was out of God’s sovereign will and mercy.

• In Egypt

You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea.[b] 10 You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. (v10-11)

God’s justice and compassion is viewed here as he responds to the Israelites cry for help. They were being oppressed and mistreated. God sees their suffering and responds by performing miraculous signs and wonders against Pharoah and the Egyptians.

• In Exodus

You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters.(v11)

God acted by protecting the Israelites while they were on the brink of the Red Sea with the army of the Egyptians chasing after them. God divided the sea and allowed the Israelites to pass on dry ground and hurled the pursuers into the sea.

• In the desert

By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take. (v12)

But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies. 19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. (v16-21)

We see God being their guide by personally directing them to the Promised Land. He not only directed them but also provided for them throughout the 40 years by supernaturally giving them bread from heaven and water from a rock. We also see God’s grace when he endured their rebellion and sustained them for 40 years despite their disobedient and arrogant response. Here’s a definition that helped me understand the difference between Grace and merciful. Often the two words are mixed but biblically it actually is different.

Mercy: God withholding the punishment that we deserve

Grace: God giving us blessings that we don’t deserve

• At Mt. Sinai

You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. (v13-14)

God wanted to relate with the people personally, hence he spoke to them and communicated laws and regulations that are just and right. But why did he do that? He wanted the Israelites to understand what it meant for them to relate to a Holy and Awesome God!

• In their possession of Canaan

“You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon[c] king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24 Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. (v22-25)

We see God’s favour and goodness being displayed through God’s promise and encouragement to go and possess the Land. God displaced kings and were given all nations and gave them over to Israel. Not just that they were given all kinds of good things to enjoy without having to work for it. And sometimes we forget that. Everything that we have has been graciously given to us by God. All our accomplishments, our possessions, our education, money everything belongs to God and he’s given it to us. And it’s critical that we know and acknowledge it in our hearts.

• In the Era of Judges

“But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27 So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. (v26-28)

In the book of Judges it tells us of a very rebellious nation that disregards God and turns away from him time and time again yet we are able to see great compassion in the response of God when he sends them deliverers during their time of oppression.

• Of the prophets

For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. (v30)

Still we see God’s patience and correction at work when he continues to send them prophets to warn them and turn back to Him. But they wouldn’t listen and in their disobedience they were exiled.

• Their present condition

But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.(v31)

God did not destroy them or abandon them even after they rebelled so much but lovingly brought them back into Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls so that they could inhabit the land and re-establish the worship of Yahweh.

In all of this we see on one hand God who is faithful, righteous, compassionate, forgiving, gracious and merciful. On the other hand, it talks about a people being extremely rebellious and sinful. What was the source of their problems?

One thing that repeatedly gets mentioned in this text is the arrogance of the people. We’ve often thought or said these things:

1. Who are you to tell me what to do?
2. Why should I change?
3. I think I know better when it comes to living my life, my desires and decisions, my pleasure and plans.

And we’re actually guilty of saying and thinking these things when it comes to submitting to God’s law. We all fail and are guilty of being arrogant toward God. That’s why we’re no different than the Israelites. All of us have acted arrogantly and rebelliously toward God and deserve His just wrath and punishment. But the message of the cross is One of a great exchange. It’s like the judge giving up His Son to die for a criminal who deserves to die. A great exchange took place on the cross for us. It’s on the basis of Christ’s death that we experience life in a relationship with God. And that’s what God wants us to do in response…not work our way but humbly accept God’s way of saving us through the death of His Son. When we accept His sacrifice we are pardoned and justified just like the criminal who has been set free because His penalty was fully paid by the judge’s Son.

James 4:6: That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble”

Serious Commitment

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.(v38)

The verbs that are used here: making, binding, putting, writing, affixing make it very evident that these people were very serious about their commitment. They were in a culture where breaking a covenant was a big deal. Especially making a covenant with God meant that if they obeyed God and were faithful to Him they would enjoy blessings but if they turned away from Him they would have a curse. Here’s an example to show what covenant making meant in Near Ancient History. (Genesis 15)

How can we apply all of this today? By asking ourselves:

• What is something that God wants you to confess today?
• How does a Christian today show sincerity in one’s confession? Here are a few handles to help you:

1. God’s Word: Allow the Word to be the basis and fruit of your confession. Only the Word can bring about real conviction and confession. Secondly, true confession will result in fidelity to the Word as well.
2. Private/Silent Prayer: This reveals the honesty in repentance.
3. Confess to other believers: This reveals the seriousness of your confession. (James 5:16)

Public confession/Corporate Confession: This is an expression of confession but will only be fruitful if the attitude toward a public confession is genuine and authentic. It can’t be done with the right motivation until the other three points in this list are happening first. Saying confessional prayers as a corporate body is deeply spiritual because the whole congregation identifies themselves as sinners who are in need of a Savior and trust in His provision to help and deliver them.

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/dealing-with-sin-1.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Our text for this morning is form the book of Nehemiah 9:1-5 (Click verse to read).

The walls of Jerusalem is now re-built, people are protected from their enemy nations, no fear of the enemy nation invading and destroying their homes and killing their people.

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But most importantly they have arrived at a place of rest, where God is their Savior and Keeper. God has gathered them together to re-establish His worship.

[bctt tweet=”The Seriousness of Sin and ways to deal with it. (Nehemiah 9:1-5)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

In chapter 8 we saw that the first thing they do is to go back to the Law of God, the Law of God was read out in the open assembly. When the Law was read they wept and mourned out of conviction of their Sins – and conviction lead them to repentance – True Repentance.

The leaders than explain the meaning of the words spoken in the Law and they end up rejoicing in the Lord.
Last Sunday we saw how they celebrates the festival of the Booths, also called as the Festival of the Tabernacle. They celebrate this particular festival as a reminder of what God did for them when He brought them out slavery in Egypt. They remembers the goodness and the blessings of God over their lives and rejoices and praises God for His great work in their lives.

In chapter 9, especially in the verses 1-5 we see a seriousness in their actions while dealing with their Sins.
Just when we think that they are done with the reading of the Law, repenting of their Sins and reminding themselves of God’s goodness in their lives, on the 24th day of the month the Israelite again assemble and this time they are fasting, wearing sackcloth, and put had put dust on their heads.

Wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads were done in the Old testament times as a symbol of mourning and repentance. Someone wanting to show their grief and repented heart would often wear a sackcloth. Sackcloth was a coarse material usually made of black goats hair, making it quite uncomfortable to wear.

They even separate themselves from all foreigners, stand and confess their sins and the guilt of their fathers and end up worshiping God even more.

Why do you think they went back to God again, repenting of their sins?
What do their actions teach us?

The first thing we learn from them is that are damn serious about dealing with sin, not just their sins but even for the sins of the fathers.

Their actions are a good trigger for us to ask some serious questions about ourselves.

• How serious are we in regards to dealing with the remaining sins in our lives?
  Are we too casual about them?
• Do we feel happy with the fact that God has forgiven our sins for eternity and therefore use that freedom as licence to continue sinning?
• Are we happy by just confessing our sins once twice and then go back again when everything seems normal?
• Has sin become a pattern in our lives and it pricks no more, feels no more?
• What is the state of your heart right now?

Imitating Christ

We all have heroes. We all have people we want to be like. One of the most startling realization I came to as a father is that my sons wants to be like me. They follow me; they watch me; they imitate me. Overtime, I see my strengths reflected in them, and far worse I see my weakness reflected in them. I even see an imitation of my most annoying habits, like repeating the same sentences again & again till I annoy Jane to get my point across.

Meanwhile, I can also think back to my own childhood and remember all the ways I attempted to imitate my own father to please him by just being like him.

In the same way, do you know that when we gave our lives to God that he gave us both the responsibility and the desire to be like Christ – to be more like him than anyone else.

Romans 8:29 says

“For those He for knew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son”

God saved us so we could be confirmed to the likeness of Christ. So we can imitate him and be like him.

We need to be conformed to his image in our thoughts, in our emotions, in our intellect, in our behavior – in Every way.

We should desire to see how he lived and live like him. We should want to see what he valued and value those things.

We should want to see what he hated and hate those things, We should want to see how he responded to life’s events and respond in the same way.

But let’s be honest here. We are long, long away from our goal, we behave badly, we respond badly, we are a sinner. We are marred and marked by sin, and therefore Christlike-ness is far far away from us.

• How can we pursue such life?
• How can we become like Christ?

In the Old Testament the people would go into fasting and mourning, separate themselves from ungodly things and ungodly people, put sackcloth, offer sacrifices to God in the form of grain, animals etc.

But today, we been in the new covenant relationship with God, how can we eradicate sin and imitate Christ?

I can’t tell you to offer such and such sacrifice for the kind of sin you have committed. In case one of you comes and tells me that you stole your neighbors cow and is guilty of sinning against him, I can’t give a solution saying go offer 2 chicken on the alter and your guilt will be washed away.

Because as you know that a perfect sacrifice for all our past, present and future sins have already been offered to God. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten son (as a sacrifice), that whoever believes in HIM will perish but have eternal life”

Jesus died for our sins and a perfect sacrifice and no other sacrifice will ever please God anymore.

And the truth is that today in this new convenient relationship all I can do is to point you to the perfect sacrifice and encourage you to put your trust in him and his finished work by which he has eradicated all our sins and put it to death.

Therefore my first encouragement to you today to help you pursue holiness and imitate Christ is

1. Stop playing dead when you are alive in Christ

John 11 tells the story of Jesus’ good friend Lazarus. As this passage begins, we see a group of people coming to Jesus to tell him that Lazarus is sick and nearly dead. Jesus makes his way to his friends hometown, but by the time he gets there, Lazarus has already died. Everyone is sad and mourning and quietly accusing Jesus “You know, if only you had gotten here a little bit sooner, you could have saved him. After all, you are the miracle man”. But Jesus wasn’t in a hurry because He already knew how this story would end. He had something he needed to show everyone, and a lesson he needed to teach them.

In Lazarus, we see an amazing picture of what happened to us when we became Christian. When Christ saved us, he brought from death to life – spiritual death to spiritual life. Our heart and soul had been dead to God, lifeless and rooting. And suddenly God brought life, just like he brought life to the body of Lazarus.

Jesus called out to Lazarus and with a word brought life to this dead man wrapped in strips of linen like a mummy and Jesus said, “Take off those grave clothes”. People ran and started peeling them off. They took off the clothes that marked him a dead man. It would be absurd to leave him wearing the clothes of a dead man when he was alive.

You see, living people don’t act like dead people, and dead people don’t act like living people.

It was time for this living man to behave like a living man. It was time for this man to stop acting like a dead man or a woman.

Colossians 3:1-11 (Click the verse to read)

When we sin we are literally behaving like a dead man, trying to get in a dead man’s clothes.

Now, is it possible for us to stop playing dead while we are alive?

Yes, of course!

Romans 6:18 says “We have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness”

Before we became a believer sin was our master, we did what our sinful mortal bodies required us to do. But the day we gave our life to Christ we became slaves to righteousness. Sin does not have any hold over us as it did before. We now belong to God and do what the Holy spirit leads us to do.

Moreover in Philippians 4:13 Paul says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”.

It wasn’t possible earlier with all our good works and acts of righteousness because we were slaves to sin. But in Christ it is possible.

Lets the visuals from the example of Lazarus remind us that whenever we sin we are trying to wear a dead man’s clothes.

My second encouragement to you is

2. Give yourself 100% towards sanctification

When God saved us, he immediately justified us. We were declared innocent.

Romans 4:5 – “But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness”

But remember God was not finished with us in that moment. There is still the matter of sanctification – of growing holiness.

We read that in Romans 6:22 – “But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification – and the end is eternal life”

How it is that we are Sanctified?

The primary way God sanctifies us is through the truth of his word. In John 17:17 Jesus is praying for his disciples saying “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”.

It is through the word of God that we are sanctified. When the truth of God enlightens our hearts and minds and our response is heartfelt repentance and turning around from sins that’s when sanctification takes place.

And therefore it is important that we immerse ourselves in the word of God day in and day out.

Some practical things you can do is

i) Pick up a daily bible reading plan that suits you and make it a habit to read your bible daily. I use a bible reading plan called “Read Scripture” by Crazy Love which is available in an app.
ii) Read spiritual books that enlighten you with the word of God. I tell you it is such a blessing.
iii) Encourage one another with the word of God as often as possible instead of just talking about the weather and sports.

We also find another clue in Colossians 3:5-10, it says

“Put to death therefore what is earthy in you”
“Put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge after the image of its creator”

In the knowledge after the image of its creator – The knowledge of God revealed in his word and his works.

In practice the putting off of the old self and putting on of the new self happens when we genuinely repent of our sins as the word of God convicts us.

As we already discussed the 6 ingredients of True repentance which is

I] Sight of Sin
II] Sorrow over sin
III] Confessions of sin
IV] Shame of sin
V] Hatred of sin
VI] Turning away from sin

Let today’s passage from Nehemiah 9:1-5 remind and encourage you to seriously deal with your sins, imitate Christ and live in the light of God’s glory at all times.

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/remembering-god-2.mp3″]

[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-10″]This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Our text for today is Nehemiah 8:13-18

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A little bit of background to the text

After the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem takes place, the people repopulate the land. They then assemble together as one man at the square before the Water Gate. They tell Ezra to read the law of the Lord. While Ezra reads the Law, the Levites help the people understand the meaning of the words of the Law. When the people hear the words, they are convicted of their sins and begin weeping. A couple of weeks back we looked at the key ingredients for genuine repentance:

a) Sight of sin
b) Sorrow over sin
c) Confession of sin
d) Shame of sin
e) Hatred of sin
f) Turning from sin

The people are told not to weep but to rejoice because the day is holy to the Lord. In other words, even though the desired intent of teaching from the law was sorrow for sin but the purpose was always a restored and renewed relationship with God. The goal of repentance is always a restored relationship with God. Restore to me the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12) is the prayer that David prays in the confession prayer of Psalm 51.

[bctt tweet=”Remembering God – His Provision, Protection & Blessings. (Nehemiah 8:13-18)” username=”gatheringmumbai”]

That’s why they rejoiced, celebrated and sent portions of food because they understood the words that were spoken to them!

Repentance -> Restored relationship with God -> Rejoicing

And that’s how we arrive at v13. On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.

You see an interesting thing take place out here. The leaders of the people come together alongside the priests and Levites in order to study the words of the Law! When does this happen? The very next day.

Why did they have to do it? Was it forced upon them or was it voluntary? Voluntary.

What does it tell us about their repentance the previous day?

i) It tells us that their repentance was genuine indeed. Matthew 3:8 says “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. In other words there is nothing known as fruitless repentance or unfruitful repentance!

ii) It tells us that their commitment to God was serious. They really wanted to know and obey God’s Word.

I think there’s a powerful point that we can learn from this. Your fruit: the seriousness toward knowing and obeying God’s Word provides the evidence to show whether your repentance is true or not!

Often we confess and repent during camps, revival meetings and church services. The message was powerful, tore open our hearts, we feel convicted and even we grieve over the sin. However, the real test for the repentance is not in the moment but the next day or the next week. If it was merely an emotional regretful feeling, it won’t produce any fruit the following day. You may feel compelled to stick to some list of rules in order avoid feeling guilty but it produces no change. True repentance will display itself in the seriousness and urgency of obedience! Understand what is being said here: obedience is both serious and urgent! You will relentlessly pursue the things of God if the repentance is true. You will want to reflect immediate obedience in your life if your repentance is true. Not delayed.

If we have to ask ourselves this question honestly, do we genuinely repent at the hearing of God’s Word? Is it real? Do we see any difference the day after? The week after? Does it lead us to seriously know and obey God’s Word? True repentance will produce things like: “I want to know God more, I want to obey Him, I want to grow in my understanding of God, I want to study His Word, I want to depend on Him more and more”…and guess what: not just on Sunday but it’ll be your heartbeat throughout the week! I’m not saying that you won’t have rough times during the week and neither am I saying that you’ll feel super excited every day but I’m saying that your spiritual life will certainly get more serious and committed if the repentance is true. What is God asking you to REPENT of today?

And by repent, we mean TRUE REPENTANCE? Producing urgent and serious obedience?

So what did these leaders see and notice written in the Law?

Neh 8:14-16: They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.

So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim.

What is the Festival of Booths? Also known as the Festival of Tabernacles.

There are two main texts that help us understand what this festival was about. 

Lev 23:33-44:

a) Starts on the 15th day of the seventh month and goes on for a week.
b) 1st and the last day are Sabbaths – days of rest.
c) Take branches from luxuriant trees, palms, willows and other leafy trees and build temporary shelters.
d) Live in it for 7 days!
e) It was meant to be a feast of rejoicing!
f) Lasting command to have this celebration every year for generations to come.

Now we may look at this festival and wonder “what a strange festival! Why did they have to do it year after year?”
And the answer lies in v43: so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

The reasons why God wanted them to celebrate in this manner and live in temporary shelters were:

1) Remembrance of God’s provision and protection

Where were the Israelites before they came to the Promised Land? In the wilderness? Before that? In slavery in Egypt. They were being mistreated and oppressed. The Word says that the cries of the people reached God. And God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and rescued them in a mighty and awesome way. (Ex 2:23-24) The Pharaoh wasn’t willing to let go of the Israelites and God sent plagues and after the 10th plague, Pharaoh yielded. When the people left Egypt Pharaoh thought he made a huge mistake by letting them go. He and his army chased after them until they came to the Red Sea. God performed an astonishing miracle by parting the Red Sea and allowing the people to walk on dry ground. The Egyptians pursued them but by that time the waters came back to their place and drowned all of the enemies and not a single one of them was left. They witnessed first-hand how God rescued them from the clutches of enemy and death.

After that for 40 years they roamed around in the wilderness but God provided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them. He provided them with food and water. Their clothing didn’t wear out and their feet did not swell. He protected them from all their enemies and in fact routed all of them. He patiently endured their rebellion. He punished them but didn’t totally destroy them and brought them to the Promised Land as He promised their fore fathers.

By all of them living in temporary shelters made of branches and leaves they were to remember how God rescued them, provided for them and protected them the whole time. God’s marvelous acts are to be pondered upon, proclaimed, praised and retold! That was one of the purposes of having this festival.

2) Reminder that they are owned by God

V43b: I am the Lord your God!

The intention of this festival was also to remind them that they are now owned by God. They belong to God. This isn’t just God’s right because he created them but He also saved them for Himself. He is their Master. He is their Lord! I know culturally when we think of master/slave relationship it is seen as bad because we’ve seen a lot of expressions of abuse. But in this case, God being our Owner and Master is a good thing. It is the best thing! You see that in the way God takes care of His people. They enjoyed great blessings when they were faithful to God. God took care of their physical and spiritual needs.

3) Recognize that God is the source of all blessings

Deut 16:15: For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

V16b – 17: No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

This feast was to be celebrated after the harvest. And as you can see in these verses…God desired that they would acknowledge God’s goodness and thank Him for that. Also, celebrate and rejoice in the knowledge of God’s goodness. They were blessed abundantly so that they could recognize God as the one who blesses and give Him the thanks that was due. In return they were filled with joy!

This was a pretty cool thing right? Why don’t we have this festival now?
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. (Heb 10:1)
This festival of booths was a shadow of the One who was coming – Jesus. How come?

i) Jesus rescues us from our slavery to Sin.

We were bound and helpless. In fact the Bible tells us that we were dead in our sin and hopelessly heading for Hell. Dead to God. We were powerless to fight sin and also destined to face the penalty of sin. God’s wrath was upon us due to our rebellion. Like the Israelites we cried out for help! Was there anybody who could help us come out of the grave? God loves us so much that He sends His one and only Son into the World: Jesus. He lives the perfect life. He deserved to be honored for His life; rather He chose to be dishonored by dying on a cross. For whom? For you and for me.

God’s fury that was directed on us because of our sins was absorbed by the precious Lamb of God. God’s pure Lamb died because of us. We are responsible. But that was the only way sin and death could be dealt with and we could be alive in our relationship to God. Alive! Through faith in Jesus we experience life! Oh shouldn’t this be remembered?

ii) Jesus now owns us.

You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor 6:19,20)
You are slaves to righteousness (Rom 6:18)

How did he purchase us from our slavery to sin? Ephesians 1:7: we have redemption through His blood.

I think it’s safe to say, your maker and Savior knows what’s best for you. It is in your best interests that He owns you. Anybody else would seek to take advantage of you but not your Creator and Redeemer. But it’s important for us to understand what that means. We belong to Jesus. He owns us! He brought us with a price. Let these words resonate in our ears and hearts. What does this mean for each and every of us? Do you see Christ as truly Lord, Owner and Master of your Life? Or would you say He’s competing for authority?

iii) We now recognize that God is the source of all blessings

Believers should acknowledge the goodness of God through words, attitudes and actions of thanksgiving. It’s interesting how in the Bible: giving thanks to God is viewed as a sacrifice (Heb 13:15) and an imperative: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you( 1 Thess 5:18).

What is your attitude toward God when it comes to acknowledging in your heart who is responsible and the source of the blessings? Or do you believe it is because of your effort? What is your attitude toward praising God among other people?

The Feast of Booths was meant to be a reminder of what God did for them but in Neh 8:17-18 we see how the Israelites didn’t celebrate it frequently as God commanded until then. What happened as a result of that? They sinned more and more because they forgot what God did. What can we learn from this? Even though we don’t have the Feast of Tabernacles to remind us of God’s provision and protection, Ownership….what are some ways in which we can intentionally remember and celebrate the acts of God?

i) Memorize Scriptures that communicate the love and goodness of the gospel.
ii) Singing songs and hymns that are flowing with the truths of the gospel.
iii) Frequently sharing your testimony which declares the power of the gospel.
iv) Giving thanks to God privately and publicly which humbles you before God.

This sermon is part of the Expository Preaching Collective on the Book of Nehemiah. Follow the link below to know more about What Expository preaching is and Why is it important to us. (Click here)[/otw_shortcode_info_box]

Our text for today is from Nehemiah 8:1-8.

Let me give you a brief background of the story before jumping into the text.

God’s people lived in disobedience to His Laws and rebels against Him. Instead of worshiping the one true God they started worshiping man-made gods; and God gave them away into the hands of their enemy.

In the year 586 BC Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple of God was burned down by the enemy nation. Men, women and children were taken captives and given to slavery. They were taken away from their land and the walls that protected them were broken down.

But then 70 years later God brings them back to Jerusalem.

Last Sunday we looked at why God gathers His people. He brings them back to re-establish His worship because He zealously desires His worship above everything else and He pursues us lovingly.

He calls a man called Nehemiah and assigns him the task of re-building the walls of Jerusalem so that the people are protected and secure.

Against all the opposition and trouble Nehemiah with God’s help completes the re-building of the wall in 52 days. It couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of God.

We also learnt how the story of Nehemiah is a reflection of God’s redemptive work through His son Jesus Christ.

When God created the first man and women they sinned against Him and rebelled against His authority. In return God gave them away to Sin. And therefore every human being born in this world is born sinful, without a relationship with God who is our heavenly Father.

Because of Sin we deserved death – Romans 6:23

We became salves to Sin – John 8:34

God was unable to relate with us because of our fallen state.

But the good news is that God still loved us and to mend this broken relationship He sent His only begotten son Jesus Christ to died in our place for our Sin.

Romans 5:8 says “God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners Christ died for us”

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world He gave His only son Jesus, to die in our place for our sinfulness”

Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life is what God promises.

Yes, Jesus died in our place. But on the third day he rose again defeating death and is now seated on the right hand of the Father interceding for us.

Jesus is the better Nehemiah who came to re-establish our broken relationship with God for ever.

Nehemiah chapter 8:1-8 gives us another interesting picture on what Jesus accomplished for us.

Verse 1 says “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the water gate”

What I found interesting is the word “one man”

In Ephesians 2:14-16, 22 we see this word mentioned again by Paul.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and mightreconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility….. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

There are two things we learn from the above passage.

1. United in Christ

That Jesus didn’t just save us from sin, slavery and death as individuals but He also unites us together to one another and presents us before the Father as one man, one unit.

He has broken down all the walls that separated us from one another. The walls of religion, caste, language, color etc.

The day we believed in the good news of the Kingdom and surrendered our lives to the one true living God, he broke every diving walls of hostility.

It implies that as a child of God I no longer have to live in isolation. We now have brothers and sisters in the Lord to stand with us through every circumstance in life.

And that is why we are called –

• To love one another – John 13:34-35
• To admonish one another
• To encourage one another
• To help one another
• To be patient with one another
  – Thessalonians 5:14

2. Built together as God’s dwelling place

Ephesians 2:15 – We are built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. God dwells in the unity of His people.

Nehemiah 8:1 says the people came together as one man.

They came together and read out the Law of Moses that the Lord had given. They basically read out from the book of Leviticus where God instructs His people how to worship Him and obey Him.

What is clean & unclean in his sight, what sacrifices were acceptable to Him and which ones were unacceptable, guidelines on following the Sabbath etc.

Last to last Sunday we spoke about the Old testament Law and how it has been fulfilled in Christ and that we are no more are bound to that Law and its practices anymore. The Law is still important as it now points us to Christ and the Gospel.

What we learn from the act of the these people in Nehemiah is

1. They set their hearts on seeking God’s word as a community
2. They gave God’s word the highest prominence in their lives
3. They put effort in understanding God’s heart and his purposes for them

The first things that stands out as an application for us is to set our hearts on Gods words as a community, giving his word the highest prominence ever and to put effort in knowing Him and knowing His purposes for our lives.

Let’s ask ourselves how are doing this aspect, are we committed to the Lord and His word more than anything in this world.

When we come together to see and savour His word He dwells among us and commands His blessings over us. He unites our hearts even more bringing uniformity in our thoughts and actions.

Our seeing and savouring of God’s word then transcends into service. Service to God and service to one another where Love is prevalent, Joy is the norm and Peace is the outcome.

God is doing a beautiful thing among us, lets engage with one heart and one soul bringing Glory to His name.

AMEN!