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Show TRUE RENEWAL Nehemiah 9: 1-5 God is interested is physical renewal. why He created the heaven and the earth and everything that is in it. He made things so that you and I could relate, have something to feel. In this text, Nehemiah has led the people to That's rebuild the broken down walls around Jerusalem. The people had a mind to work and God orchestrated it. There is no record of fussing and fighting, bickering or backbiting, confusion and misunderstanding. Every person got busy, did their part, and soon reported that the gates were hung and walls were finished. What a magnificent example of people not worrying about who got the 1 credit, just working together. Those did their part so that those out front could do theirs. This behind the scenes project must have shown the people the need not just for physical renewal but spiritual renewal as well. Notice that spiritual renewal starts with HUMAN BROKENNESS. (9: 1-2) The people stood before God fasting in sackclothes and earth. Not feasting but fasting. They confessed their sin and admitted their iniquities unto God. David in Psalm 51: 17 sums sacrifices of God are broken and contrite wilt not despise." it up: "The a broken spirit; heart, 0 a God, thou One must humble oneself before God and be tender through repentance and brokenness. The second step in spiritual renewal is 2 DIVINE GOODNESS. see how good God is (9: 6-15) even rebellion. God made and Just in times of our kept His people. He delivered then from their bondage. He guided them every step of the way. He forgave their sin and made provisions for the outpouring of His grace upon them. He was longsuffering and patient with the people's shortcomings. The third step in spiritual renewal is the WORD OF GOD. (9: 3) The people stood up and read the "book of covenant with His the law of the Lord their God" for three day. Then for three more hours, the people engaged in confession and worship of the Lord their God. Most of us are ready to go after hours, one one fourth of a hour. Two hours 3 are too much. What would happen if we stayed three if we spent six hours with the Lord? hours and what more five, or Finally, spiritual renewal four, demands a COMMITMENT TO OBEDIENCE. (Ch. 10) but what It is not just praise we we do after and shout. worship Look at chapter 10-priests and porters and singers and Levites and the rest of the people and their wives and their sons and their daughters. They renewed their covenant relationship and experienced the power of God's forgiveness and restoration. They were filled with the knowledge and understanding of God. They kept the ordinances of God. They brought the tithe unto the Lord. They brought firstfruits to God. They refused to all the names in 4 forsake the house of the Lord. They stood firm in their belief and trust in God. They separated themselves from the pagans and committed to live as God's people. They did everything could for the glory of God. renewal is evident when Real our they words are lifestyles. Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. He went about doing good and preaching good matched news. by our He suffered and died. He was days but early the third day morning, He got up having won victory over death and the grave. He buried for three lives forevermore. 5 |
