A Dedicated People (Nehemiah 12:27-47) - 10/9/22

INTRO

• They were dedicating the walls and the gates

• GIVING IT TO GOD

• They were seeing what God had done (walking around the city)

• They were giving testimony to others what God had done

• IT BELONGS TO GOD AND IS FOR HIS GLORY

• None of our PHYSICAL SPACE BELONGS TO US

• They were a DEDICATED PEOPLE DEDICATING THIER CITY TO GOD

Gave Their Praise– vv. 27-43

They offered meaningful praise

• Thankfully – vv. 24,27,31,38,46

• Joyfully – vv. 27, 43-44

  • Joy of Jerusalem was heard far off – v. 43

  • A lost person should be able to see our joy in the Lord as they watch us worship

• Loudly – vv. 42-43

Everyone was involved

• The professionals – Nehemiah, Ezra, Priests

• Women and Children – v. 43

Praise and the Word go together

• The reading of the Law… God’s Word to them

• In the New Covenant we grow in knowledge of the Word – Col. 1:9-12

• AS WE UNDERSTAND GOD AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM… PRAISE SHOULD NATURALLY FOLLOW

Gave of Themselves – vv. 44-47

TIME, TALENTS, TREASURES

They had told the Lord they would support the WORK OF THE LORD – 10:32-39

In personal holiness and obedience to the Word – vv. 30, 45

• Purification

• Gave themselves to the Lord – 2 Cor. 8:1-7

Gave willingly and joyfully

• Also, part of the New Testament community – 2 Cor. 9:6-5

• Joy because

  • They knew who they were (Child of God)

  • They understood their purpose

    • Temporal vs Eternal