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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
NEHEMIAH 11-12
A DEDICATION TO GOD
LESSON #17
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 29:2
READ NEH 11:1-2
THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT OF COMMITMENT TO PATTERN THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD.THE NATION OF ISRAEL COULD NOT BE STRONG UNLESS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM WAS STRONG. BUT THECITY COULD NOT BE STRONG UNLESS FAMILY LIFE AND WORSHIP WAS PROTECTED. THE CONTRACT THEYSIGNED COVERED 3 MAJOR AREAS OF LIFE:
HOME 10:30
SOCIETY 10:31
PLACE OF WORSHIP 10:32-39
THEY TITHED 1/10 OF THE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. SOME VOLUNTEEREDWILLINGLY, BUT OTHERS WERE DRAFTED TO MOVE TO JERUSALEM. THE CITY WOULD NOT REMAIN SECUREUNLESS ENOUGH PEOPLE LIVED THERE AND CAUSED IT TO GROW. THEY HAD TO BE PEOPLE WHO WEREWILLING TO WORK. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE CHURCH.
WE MUST GIVE OURSELVES TO GOD.
WE NEED A CONSISTENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE TO MAKE A STRONG CHURCH AND CAUSE IT TO GROW.
WE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE THE NECESSITY OF ONE PERSON’S PHYSICAL PRESENCE.
THE RESULTS OF THE WATER GATE BIBLE CONFERENCE:
THE SPECIFIC PRACTICES THEY PROMISED TO STOP DOING:
MIXED MARRIAGES 10:30
VIOLATING THE SABBATH 10:31
VIOLATING THE SEVENTH YEAR FALLOW LAND RULE 10:31
KEEPING PEOPLE IN DEBT FOREVER 10:31
VIOLATING THE TITHES AND OFFERINGS 10:32, 36-39
VIOLATING THE SACRIFICES 10:33-35
**HOW CAN WE APPLY 11:1 TO OUR SPIRITUAL WALK?
GOD ASKS US TO GIVE OF OUR TIME AND TALENTS TO SERVE IN HIS KINGDOM.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GIVE UP COMFORT TO SERVE GOD.
OBEDIENCE IS ALWAYS COSTLY.
OUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP IS REQUIRED
NEHEMIAH 11 LISTS MANY KINDS OF SERVICES THE PEOPLE HAD TO PERFORM FOR A STRONG, GROWINGCITY.
THERE WERE GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS.
THERE WERE 822 SPIRITUAL LEADERS WHO WORKED IN THE TEMPLE.
THERE WERE 242 WERE “LEADERS OF FAMILIES”.
128 MEN WERE BRAVE WARRIORS.
SOME MINISTERED TO PEOPLE’S NEEDS.
SOME WERE SINGERS.
172 WERE GATE KEEPERS.
SERVICE OUT OF DUTY CAUSES QUICK “BURN OUT”.
SERVICE OUT OF A HEART OF LOVE NEVER CAUSES “BURN OUT”.
APPLICATION:
GOD KEEPS JUST ENOUGH TENSION IN OUR LIVES TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD IN THE MATURINGPROCESS, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT HE FAILS TO IMPRESS UPON US HIS SUSTAINING LOVE. INOTHER WORDS, BUILDING THE WALLS WAS NOT ENOUGH, THEY HAD TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO LIVE THEWAY GOD WANTED THEM TO LIVE, AND TO LIVE WHERE GOD WANTED THEM TO LIVE. THEY HAD TO COMMITTO SERVING GOD WITH THEIR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS.
1. ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THE PROGRESSIVE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE REFINING PROCESSTHAT MAKES US LESS SENSITIVE TO OURSELVES — ie. MORE FORBEARING.
2. ANOTHER SIGN OF THE PROGRESSIVE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE REFINING PROCESS MAKESUS MORE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS –ie. MORE LOVING.
NEHEMIAH 12
READ NEHEMIAH 12:27-31,37-40 THE DEDICATION
NEHEMIAH HAD RETURN ED TO BABYLON SOMETIME BETWEEN COMPLETION OF THE WALL AND THEDEDICATION CELEBRATION. AFTER A SHORT TIME HE RETURN ED TO JERUSALEM FOR THE DEDICATION.NEH 13:6
THE DEDICATION HAD JOY, THANKSGIVING, AND WORSHIP SINGERS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS CLIMBED ONTHE WALL AND SURROUNDED THE CITY. THE MUSIC WAS ANTI-PHONAL, FIRST ONE SIDE WOULD SING ANDPLAY, THEN THE OTHER SIDE WOULD SING AND PLAY. THE ISRAELITES WERE USED TO HAVINGWORKERS AND WATCHERS ON THE WALLS OF THE CITY, BUT HAVING WORSHIPERS ON THE WALLS WASUNUSUAL.
IN THIS CHAPTER, SINGING IS MENTIONED 8 TIMES, THANKSGIVING IS MENTIONED 6 TIMES,REJOICING IS MENTIONED 7 TIMES, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ARE MENTIONED 3 TIMES.
THE DEDICATION CALLED FOR:
PURIFICATION
THANKSGIVING
SACRIFICE
GIVING
THE PURPOSE FOR MARCHING ON THE WALLS:
1. IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION TO THE SURROUNDING ENEMIES THAT THE WALLS WERE REBUILT ANDSTRONG.
2. IT WAS A FINAL DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S VICTORY.
3. IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF CLAIMING THAT VICTORY FOR THEMSELVES.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, TO WALK ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY MEANT TO CLAIM IT AS YOUR OWN. (GEN13:17) (JOS 1:3)
WE MUST GIVE GOD OUR PRAISE AND WORSHIP!
READ NEH 12:43-47
THE PEOPLE PROMISED TO SUPPORT THE TEMPLE AND THE PRIESTS WITH THEIR TITHES AND OFFERINGS.THEY GAVE FREELY.
HOWEVER, BEFORE THEY COULD GIVE THEIR GIFTS, THEY FIRST HAD TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO GOD.
WE MUST GIVE GOD OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS!
APPLICATION:
PRAISE AND WORSHIP IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PASSIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
1. WORSHIP REQUIRES A DEDICATION OF YOUR WHOLE BEING TO GOD. (ROM 12:1-2)
2. WORSHIP REQUIRES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SINGING PRAISE TO GOD.
3. WORSHIP REQUIRES GIVING OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS WILLINGLY TO GOD.
DISCUSSION:
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN WORSHIP SERVICE?
HOMEWORK FOR NEHEMIAH 13
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF NEH 11 & 12
DO YOU REALLY WORSHIP GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE BEING ACTIVELY SINGING PRAISES TO HIM ANDGIVING TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO HIM?
IF YOUR ANSWER IS “NO”, HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF WORSHIP TO GOD?
PREPARATION FOR NEH 13:
READ NEH 13:1-31
IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE PEOPLE HAD DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT AND THINGS WERE GOING WELL.HOWEVER, SOON THEY LEFT THEIR STRONG DEDICATION TO GOD. LIST THE FAILURES OF THEPEOPLE.
WHAT WAS THE BASIC UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THEIR FALLING AWAY FROM GOD?
MEMORY VERSE: REVELATION 3:3
