Restoring our Spiritual Foundations Study 7 NEHEMIAH 9

Restoring our Spiritual Foundations Study 7 NEHEMIAH 9 + 10

Restoring our Spiritual Foundations The Process to follow when making a Commitment to build for/with GOD

Structure of Ancient Near Eastern Treaties between Sovereigns and Vassals • • • Preamble introducing the Sovereign. 9: 5 -6 Historical prologue describing previous relations between parties. 9: 7 -37 Clause describing how the document was to be preserved and when it should be read. 9: 38 A list of who witnesses the treaty. 10: 1 -28 A Curse and Blessing formula. 10: 29 A list of the details of the covenant made between the parties. 10: 30 -39

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to RECOGNIZE for whom we are building. 9: 5 -6 God is Covenant – 9: 5 "Stand up and praise the LORD your God. " God is Eternal – 9: 5 “who is from everlasting to everlasting. " God is Creator – 9: 6 “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. HOW BIG IS THE GOD YOU ARE BUILDING FOR? ?

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to REMEMBER how He has built into us. 9: 7 -37 • • Called us – v 7 -8 a Keeps his promises – v 8 b Saves us – v 9 -14 Provides for us – v 15 Forgives us – v 16 -21 Blesses us – v 22 -25 Reprimands us – v 26 -31 Cares for us – v 32 -37 IF ISRAEL ENTERED INTO COVENANT WITH GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID FOR THEM, HOW MUST MORE SHOULD NOT WE FOR WHOM CHRIST HAS DIED? ?

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to RECORD our commitment. 9: 38 - "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. "…. . A promise not made in public is easily broken. Jesus calls us to confess him before men!!!

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to RATIFY our commitment with others. 10: 1 -28 Neh 10: 1 Those who sealed it were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. Zedekiah, ……. . HOW ACCOUNTABLE ARE WE IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE? ? v 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. v 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2: 42 -44

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to REALIZE the significance of when we make commitments. 10: 29 “all these now join their brothers the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the LORD our Lord. ” HOW COMMITTED ARE WE TO OUR COMMITMENTS? ? ?

v 1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. v 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. v 3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. v 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. v 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfil it. v 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake. " Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? v 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. Ecclesiastes 5: 1 -7

WHEN MAKING A COMMITMENT TO BUILD: We need to RESOLVE the extent of our commitment. 10: 30 -39 DO NOT MAKE PROMISES ABOUT THINGS YOU WILL NOT DO!!!!!

God said Matt 10: 32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Matt 10: 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.