Enjoy God, Embrace People, Experience Growth
SUNDAY SERVICES – 8:30am & 10:30am

Reformation

Reformation
 Nehemiah 13

 3 Stages of Sin

 1. Compromising Character

“Eliashib the priest, . . . prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put . . . the tithes . . .which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.” (v4-5)    *See Nehemiah 4:7-8

“. . .the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.” (v23-24)   *See Nehemiah 10:28-30

2. Neglecting Ministry

 “. . . the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.” (v10)      *See Nehemiah 10:35-39

“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins . . .” (Hebrews 10:24-26)

3. Corrupting Worship

“. . . people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bring in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.” (v15-16)   *See Nehemiah 10:31

3 Steps of Reform

1. Read God’s Word

“On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.” (v1)   *See Nehemiah 8:1-3

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. Take it Seriously

And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.”  (v8)   *See Nehemiah 8:9

“Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.” (Exodus 32:19)

 “In the temple (Jesus) found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple . . .” (John 2:14-15)

3. Obey it

“. . .they cleansed the chambers” (v9)

“ . . . brought the tithe” (v12)

“ . . .did not come on the Sabbath” (v21)

“Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in is work and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the first fruits.”(v30)

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1)

“But if you return to (God) and keep (His) commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.” (Nehemiah 1:9)