D.A. Carson describes the situation in Nehemiah 13 like this: “Reformation and revival has drifted off into lethargy and spiritual indifference.” They'd already abandoned proper worship, and they were also valuing profit over purity regarding the Sabbath. At its core, this was a problem of priorities for God’s people.

"The concern for the Sabbath is for the people to know God.” – James Hamilton, Jr.

The book of Hebrews is crystal clear - because of Jesus, we don’t approach God the same way anymore. However, it’s right and good for God’s people to set regular time aside to slow down and focus on Him.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it’ll be different tomorrow if you don’t change anything today.

During Nehemiah's absence, God’s people had slide from passionate joy-filled worship to compromise with the world and they were breaking all three points of the chapter 10 covenant.

Compromising biblical beliefs and practices has a major impact on your life and those around you, as seen with Eliashib. Christians need to understand what matters to God and then guard it with appropriate action.

-- Can we be properly used for God’s purposes when we’re full of stuff that shouldn’t be there?

If you have been saved by Jesus, your life has a different purpose than it previously did. Don’t fill it up with things that are dishonoring to the Lord.

During Nehemiah's absence, God’s people had slide from passionate joy-filled worship to compromise with the world and they were breaking all three points of the chapter 10 covenant.

Compromising biblical beliefs and practices has a major impact on your life and those around you, as seen with Eliashib. Christians need to understand what matters to God and then guard it with appropriate action.

-- Can we be properly used for God’s purposes when we’re full of stuff that shouldn’t be there?

If you have been saved by Jesus, your life has a different purpose than it previously did. Don’t fill it up with things that are dishonoring to the Lord.

During Nehemiah's absence, God’s people had slide from passionate joy-filled worship to compromise with the world and they were breaking all three points of the chapter 10 covenant.

Compromising biblical beliefs and practices has a major impact on your life and those around you, as seen with Eliashib. Christians need to understand what matters to God and then guard it with appropriate action.

-- Can we be properly used for God’s purposes when we’re full of stuff that shouldn’t be there?

If you have been saved by Jesus, your life has a different purpose than it previously did. Don’t fill it up with things that are dishonoring to the Lord.

The walls have been constructed, the Word has been read, revival & renewal have come, the followers of Yahweh have been identified, and now it’s time for it all to come together. It’s finally time to dedicate to the Lord what He has brought about. So they set themselves and their city apart for the right worship of God.

--- What would change if we truly committed to centering our lives around the worship of God and not all the other stuff the world tells us is important?

Worship comes out of God’s people because of something that’s happened within God’s people. - True joy is rooted in faith, and our joy can be seen in how we give.

You can give without joy, but you can’t truly have the joy of the Lord and not give.

The walls have been constructed, the Word has been read, revival & renewal have come, the followers of Yahweh have been identified, and now it’s time for it all to come together. It’s finally time to dedicate to the Lord what He has brought about. So they set themselves and their city apart for the right worship of God.

--- What would change if we truly committed to centering our lives around the worship of God and not all the other stuff the world tells us is important?

Worship comes out of God’s people because of something that’s happened within God’s people. - True joy is rooted in faith, and our joy can be seen in how we give.

You can give without joy, but you can’t truly have the joy of the Lord and not give.

The walls have been constructed, the Word has been read, revival & renewal have come, the followers of Yahweh have been identified, and now it’s time for it all to come together. It’s finally time to dedicate to the Lord what He has brought about. So they set themselves and their city apart for the right worship of God.

--- What would change if we truly committed to centering our lives around the worship of God and not all the other stuff the world tells us is important?

Worship comes out of God’s people because of something that’s happened within God’s people. - True joy is rooted in faith, and our joy can be seen in how we give.

You can give without joy, but you can’t truly have the joy of the Lord and not give.

In their covenant, the people have renewed their commitment to honor godly marriage, properly observe the Sabbath, and provide for the temple ministry. But the town was mostly unoccupied, because living in Jerusalem meant that sacrifices would have to be made.

Some were coerced, but a few volunteered to move back into Jerusalem. They were people who were pursuing God’s plan more than their own. They demonstrated Christlikeness even before Jesus showed up in the flesh.

o They sacrificed for the sake of others.

o They gave up safety and comfort so others could have them.

Following Jesus means laying down our lives for the benefit of others, just as He did for us. Christians set aside convenience and comfort for the sake of Scriptural truth and the Gospel.

You gain so much more by giving.

In their covenant, the people have renewed their commitment to honor godly marriage, properly observe the Sabbath, and provide for the temple ministry. But the town was mostly unoccupied, because living in Jerusalem meant that sacrifices would have to be made.

Some were coerced, but a few volunteered to move back into Jerusalem. They were people who were pursuing God’s plan more than their own. They demonstrated Christlikeness even before Jesus showed up in the flesh.

o They sacrificed for the sake of others.

o They gave up safety and comfort so others could have them.

Following Jesus means laying down our lives for the benefit of others, just as He did for us. Christians set aside convenience and comfort for the sake of Scriptural truth and the Gospel.

You gain so much more by giving.

In their covenant, the people have renewed their commitment to honor godly marriage, properly observe the Sabbath, and provide for the temple ministry. But the town was mostly unoccupied, because living in Jerusalem meant that sacrifices would have to be made.

Some were coerced, but a few volunteered to move back into Jerusalem. They were people who were pursuing God’s plan more than their own. They demonstrated Christlikeness even before Jesus showed up in the flesh.

o They sacrificed for the sake of others.

o They gave up safety and comfort so others could have them.

Following Jesus means laying down our lives for the benefit of others, just as He did for us. Christians set aside convenience and comfort for the sake of Scriptural truth and the Gospel.

You gain so much more by giving.