Declaration of Dependence - Nehemiah 10:1-12:47

Tucked inside all the pomp and circumstance are these words and on that day. They offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. The joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. The people had returned to July.

It's more than the reestablishment of acquired's more than bricks and mortar. It was the restoration of July led by Nehemiah experienced true revival things started to change. Stephen mentioned a moment ago, one of the things that happened was they experienced great joy revival is not easy. Sometimes it takes longer than you planned and might even be messier than you ever anticipated, but in the end. True revival is always worth the effort. Today we learn why this is wisdom for the heart were continuing through our series in the book of Nehemiah and now here's Stephen with today's Bible lesson on July 4, 1776 and the city of Philadelphia.

One of the historic documents of our young nation was signed called coloration of independent mark the birth of our nation, under God, the closing words of the document solemnly declared these words with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. The 56 courageous men who signed this document understood that it was more than simple rhetoric that it would indeed cost them and they expected nothing less then total commitment to that declaration. The Declaration of Independence is in reality a Declaration of Independence upon each other and their providential God. I have thought about that as I studied again in chapter 10. In our last two sessions we have watched the nation Israel in revival and began with his hunger for the word of God and a willingness to obey it and they were a people who were literally read Bible for any revival is nothing short of the word of God flowing in and through the life of a revived believer there revival also included true confession and a morning over there sin.

I have defined revival for our study today by simply taking the events of Nehemiah's revival of the people. There is evidence in this book and articulating what happened in their lives and that which is timeless and should be true in our lives when true revival comes, let's get together revival is reading with me a movement of God's Spirit in the believer's life that produces both private confession of sin and public obedience to the Scriptures, the outward behavior of a revived believer will be marked with God's pleasure as their highest priority. That priority will undeniably impact personal relationships financial decisions and lifestyle choices.

In other words, revival is hard work. It involves persistence and humility.

It involves submission to the word, and obedience to what authors said it this way. Revival is a lot like remodeling your kitchen. It takes longer than you planned. It makes a bigger mess than you ever thought possible. And it costs more than you hope.

Revival is when your life is remodeled. It is inconvenient. It is upsetting and life-changing. You cannot determine when it will come. It is the gift of God's spirit to reawaken the slumbering eyes of a believer in need of revival. We cannot announce on the church lawn that were going to have revival in the second and third week of June but we do pray that God will awaken our eyes to the wonders of his character and to the wonders of his law. We pray that God will blow upon the smoldering embers of our heart and reignite them the flame again for himself and for his people, and for his cause.

You pray like David prayed of God revise us again revival, my friends, is not so much about emotion as it is about action. In fact, the emotion of revival was soon followed by the action of revival and that's where we are. Nehemiah chapter 10, it revealed the action of the Jewish people action that prove that revival was authentic and genuine, and I just want to go through this quickly and point out for you for evidences of true revival, and as you go through this with me takes spiritual inventory in your own life.

Compare your spiritual experience with the four things that you find here and see where you are asked God to make the reality of your walk. A conscious thing hard life number one revival is experienced when you rededicate your feet to follow after God's precepts. Let's begin in verse one now on the sealed document where the names of Nehemiah the governor the song of Y. I think it's interesting that he signed first as the civil leader.

He is leading by setting the example then what follows are a list of names. As I mentioned before I could easily pronounce them if we had time but we don't have time to just get done in verse 28. Now the rest of the people, the priests and the Levites the gatekeepers the singers the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the land onto the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles and are taking on themselves occur. Send an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God, our Lord and his ordinances and his statutes. What I find interesting men and women is that they had only recently blown the dust off the book of the law and they heard it read to them. Those first five books of Moses for the first time in their entire lives and after the first hearing, they respond like this.

They sign this declaration as they pursue, is it worse, spiritual freedom, they knew that this was indeed what they were hearing God's word.

It was blinding, it was authoritative over their lives.

It was not an optional guide. It was in fact the will of God. Is there a New Testament counterpoint for this attitude and passion for the word yes and Colossians 3 Paul challenge the believers to allow the word of God to dwell ritually within them with all wisdom, the word dwell could be translated to take residence in.

In other words, you let the word of God moves in your life.

Moving into the home of your heart. Revival occurs in the life of a believer when he or she rolls out the welcome mat for the word let the word of Christ lives in you richly good word you could translated extravagantly. In other words, the word knows no boundaries in your life.

You haven't sensed it in what he's saying you don't say the word come into my life, but then stay over in that corner over there. Whatever you do don't come out don't come out of that closet or that corner until I called for you. Whatever you do don't come out into the family room don't come out into the television room don't come out into the bedroom you stay over there in the corner of my life. Paul is saying no in effect. If you want to be a revived believer, you allow the word to have full reign to have extravagant reign in your life it can go anywhere wants they can invade any compartment, any department of your walk in your existence. Let the word of Christ dwell ritually in you, the people in Nehemiah's they were saying nothing short they were in effect saying we will allow the word of God to determine our lifestyle go back to verse 29.

Again, the latter part. They declared we will walk in God's law. We will keep and observe all the commandments of God, our Lord and his ordinances and his statutes. In other words, the word will determine our walk. Have you ever had a time in your life is a believer when you have sat down and you have said in your heart to God.

God, whatever your word says I will do it. Whatever I discover in your word that is for my life. I will obey thy will follow. That is the sign of a revived believer. That's quite a statement.

That is what the world needs to observe in you. By the way at colonial the word of God is not optional. It is essential and people are hungry to worship. This God revealed in the Bible. They are hungry, not for what man says for what God has already said revival in a church and in the life of a believer is when you rededicate the path of your feet to follow after what God is already's said God you said it and I will obey it. Secondly, revival occurs in the life of the believer who rededicate their family to a lifestyle of biblical purity. Verse 30 and we as they declare further will not give our daughters to the peoples of the landlord take their daughters for our sons quite a statement.

It does mean a lot to us today because our culture is so different than their culture. Obviously our parents today do not pick out the children's spouses. Although the older my children become, the more attractive that ideas the timeless principle that transcends cultures and generations. Is this statement they were in effect saying we will accept the importance of godly relations. The New Testament counter passage by the way, that reveals the same principle is in second Corinthians chapter 6, wanted to turn to that chapter and look in verse 14 do not be bound together with unbelievers.

Translation may read. Do not be unequally yoked down Paul's day, the concept of an unequally yoked was used primarily in relation to marriage it could affect their business practices primarily was used in relation to marriage.

Simply put, he was saying do not be married to a nonbeliever do not choose a nonbeliever as your spouse. Some of you may already be married to unbelievers. Perhaps you came to faith in Christ after your wedding. Or perhaps you discovered the reality of your spouses relationship to Christ was pseudo-spiritual. It was only after marriage. He discovered the truth. Those of you in marriages with an unbelieving spouse. Paul makes it very clear in verse Dragon seven that the believing spouse is not to send away the unbelieving spouse, but to remain there and Paul says you actually act as a sanctifying holy influence over that unbelieving spouse and those children whom you hope to win to faith in Christ. So you stay become a testimony to the grace of God. But for those of you that are choosing as it were, for those of you that are not yet yoked together. Don't be yoked together with an unbeliever is a will I sit in the believer. Mary and unbeliever will call the zone of the passage, turn the question back to the one would argue that point by asking questions like verse 15 what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever or what agreement has the temple of God with idols, for we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.

Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, you could apply the principle of separation here to the business world and become bound in business with unbelievers and frankly there isn't more to tell us where and how to draw the line. We happen to live in a world of unbelievers we do business daily with unbelievers. In fact, even in our world of relationships of ethernet relationships with unbelievers. How did you ever win them to faith. Christ, you dirty salt and light. How can they hear unless they have a preacher or messenger go to them other point is that you need to ask God how and where to draw the line in personal relationships and in business relationships. There is of a financial planner in our church called me a few months ago asking advice about handling the investments of the religious call, he was troubled in knowing that if he help them financially.

He would indirectly be aiding in the spreading of their propaganda. So I turned them down, and by turning them down.

He lost financial gain himself. I admired him and that setting for his courage and his conviction. I wonder how many business owners today are actively seeking how many men and women in the business community are actively seeking to reveal this principle of separation even though you are in among that crowd. You are separate from how you do that, frankly, I happen to believe that one of the reasons revival is been hindered in our generation is because we as believers no longer wrestle grapples struggle with the issues of godly separation, godly distinction.

In fact, we have thrown off as legalism any piety any distinction any conviction that makes us different. We must be a legalist if press could you name at least five things that you or your family do not do or do they just about everybody else around you, does not do, or does and the only answer you could give vast is because I am a Christian talk of a sounding strange when he wants to base the fanatics. Yes, I do God's word says come out from among them and be separate listening to you know in your own life.

I can tell you what you're what that means. Do you know how your life is different from an unbelievers life. You know how to apply godly separation in your personal walk in your relationship, my friend.

I am convinced that if you can find at least five ways in which you are different from an unbeliever, you are probably in need of revival. Chuck Swindoll quoted Keith Miller in his commentary on this topic and he said this, it is never ceased to amaze me that we Christians have developed a kind of selective vision which allows us to be deeply and sincerely involved in worship and church activities and yet almost totally pagan in the day in day out business of our lives and never even realized when Dawe went on to add, we won't care if anyone else in the world lives by the word, we will live by it. It will be our guide, we will shrug our shoulders and yawn and say it doesn't matter what our kids want to mix and mingle with the crowd, our homes will be distinct. Our philosophy of life will not be like that of those who live outside the walls.

This is our promise to you. Oh. Revival is when a believer has his feet affected and his family were personal relationships affected as well. Third revival is when you rededicate your faith to trust in God's providence go back to Nehemiah chapter 10 and look at verse 31. As for the peoples of the land who bring wearers or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell.

We will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day and we will forgo the crops. The seventh year and the exaction of every dead now. They have just signed their names here to this declaration, and stated that they would not do three things that the rest of the world did number one they said we won't do business on the Sabbath. Number two, we will plant crops in the seventh year and number three.

We will forgive any debt owed to us by a fellow Jew. On the seventh year. This was unique to the nation Israel in a specific application that Paul made it clear in Galatians chapter 4, the believers are no longer bound to the Sabbath.

In fact, in the believer's life today. In this era or dispensation of grace. Every day is holy. You can worship God, and we could as a body on Monday or Friday or Sunday. The reason we have chosen the worship on Sunday is that precedent set in the book of acts where the believers began to worship on the first day of the week because or in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the chief Shepherd of the church. These were unique to the nation, but the principle is timeless. Jews were to trust God to provide for them.

Being a farmer and not planting any crops on the seventh year that means that whatever you harvested in the sixth year when at the last you for two years. Can can you imagine wiping every loan off of your books that others owed to you every seventh year, we can you imagine loaning anything to anybody on the sixth year on Christmas of the sixth year December, probably not see this was God's built-in curriculum on faith and every Israelite had to enroll in this course title would have been something like how to trust in God's provision and this particular course could not be audited. It could not be skipped.

It had to be taken by every Jew. It was God's way of reminding them as they sought to be revived, that he ultimately is the provider and you have discovered in your life. Haven't you as well as I have discovered that we are at our spiritual best. We have to completely trust in God for provision along that same line is the last evidence of true revival revival is when you rededicate your finances to acknowledge God's priorities. In chapter 10 and in chapter 12 that were just going to look at very briefly as the ceremony winds up the walls are dedicated. The choirs are singing with great joy back in chapter 10.

Verse 32 you notice how they're going to devote whatever necessary to maintain the house of worship.

We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute nearly 1/3 of the shekel for the service of the house of our God for the showbread for the continual grain offering for the continual burnt offering the Sabbath's the new moon for the appointed times for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel and all the work of the house are God.

Likewise, verse 34 we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God.

According to our father's households at fixed times annually to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law skip to the last part of verse 39 it sort of sums up there declaration as a relates to this particular attitude and action. Thus, we will not neglect the house of our God worship would become of primary importance to the people again.

I agree with Warren. Where's the who wrote on this passage. These words where there is true spiritual revival.

It will reveal itself in the way that we support God's work beginning in our own local church. The march of a revived believer is an open hand.

The mark of a believer in need of revival is a closed fist. Frankly, when I am ever in the position as we deal with texts going through books that deals with the subject of money. I know that it is the most sensitive subject of all, teacher, preacher I'm convinced is one man said that the most sensitive nerve in the human body runs from the heart directly to the back pocket, but I am also equally convinced has one author said that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Let me tell you something that's true about me. And it's true, but you I believe as well. There is something profoundly revealing about my social and what I do with my money back. One author said that the greatest test and revelation of your character is the register in your checkbook. I believe that represent your blood sweat and tears. That's what you have been out there earning and what you do with that reveals more about you than perhaps anything else that Jesus Christ said it all when he said it this way wherever your money is. That's where your heart is, but revival comes in and finances are reordered.

We happen to live in a culture that says can't get get get get somehow God slips back into the picture and our priority is rearranged. There was a revival of our soul.

There is a revival of our finances. There is a revival with in our relationships.

There is a revival in our will. There is a revival of our all to our great and wonderful holy and gracious God, who has lavished upon us his grace, we cannot help give back to their somethings revived believers just can't do three as we wrap it up a revived believer cannot stay selfish.

Second of all, a revived believer can keep silence to talk about the one you love a revived believer can remain sorrowful if you turn over to chapter 12 requires now or are ending the ceremony as they proceed along the wall they mentioned other dignitaries.

They've mentioned the resurgence of that worship and now this great ceremony is taking place and coming to its conclusion. The declaration has been signed. The people of vowed to keep their God in the worship of him their highest priority. I love verse 43 tucked inside. All of the pomp and circumstance are these words and on that day. They offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. Even the women and children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

The joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

The people had returned to July.

It's more than ceremony.

It's more than the reestablishment of acquired's more than bricks and mortar. It was the restoration of July. I think of some Christians were honest with them, they'd realize that they're not really sure they want revival because they become content with the way things are, but we find that when the desires of our hearts are aligned with God's heart.

There is contentment and joy. What a great reminder today. You've been listening to wisdom for the heart.

The Bible teaching ministry of pastor and author Stephen Davey. You can learn more about Stephen when you visit our website which is wisdom online.org that website is filled with resources designed to equip and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Many listeners don't know about our collection of children's books. We've asked Seth to join us today because this month Seth has released while Seth won't you tell us what you've just released instead of me telling sure during this year I felt the Lord just give me the incentive and give me the impulse to adjust paint out my own impressions of his story in his life and so I just put out this book. It's coming out before Christmas: marvel at the mystery because 26 times in the gospel accounts. We have this phrase it said different ways but a phrase and they marveled watching the life of Christ are watching from the time he was born the shepherd start with. And they marveled is easy just to pass by it to feel something in it but just to move past it without really pausing and pondering just the awesome weight of every moment and all that's going on. Marvel at the mystery is a book designed for parents, grandparents, anyone who has children in their life to sit down and read it together as you dive deep into what truly is the marvel of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Marvel at the mystery is our featured resource during the month of November and we'd love to give you information on how you can get a copy. Give us a call today at 86 648 Bible now. If you're already on our mailing list you've received information about marvel at the mystery and you can just use the return card that we sent you. We recently heard from a listener who found our podcast and wrote to say this, I listen to your podcast all the time. I can't tell you how much your teaching and reading materials have helped me develop a better relationship with God. Your ministry is in my prayers to continue to grow and impact people around the world that was from Jane. Here in North Carolina and it's true that the truth of God's word is going around the world. Wisdom for the heart is currently in five languages besides English and it's all made possible by the faithful support we receive from listeners like you. Tomorrow we bring you the final lesson in this series. So join us here on wisdom for the heart