Wakeman Congregational Church

1. Recap
   1. Jerusalem was in bad shape- destroyed by Babylon, people lost their identity
   2. Nehemiah- a Jew living in Persian royal court- returns to Jerusalem to lead people to rebuild their wall
   3. Spiritual Renewal follows—they re-orient themselves to the Scriptures, confess and repent, then re-commit to follow the Lord with their lives

II.  Problems Arise

1. 1. Even when things get made right, they can get quickly get back off track
   2. Nehemiah- returns to Artaxerxes (vs. 6); Crooked priest Eliashib corrupts things
   3. God not a fan of spiritual smorgasbord
      1. Vs. 1-3- foreign people with their pagan practices threaten to compromise the faith of the Israelites
      2. Vs. 23- intermarrying- leads young people from the faith
      3. The Problem: their pagan practices will water down the authentic faith of the people
      4. * We treat ALL people with dignity and respect…but that doesn’t mean we buy into their belief systems
      5. What spiritual idols are you tinkering with that you need to put a stop to? (fortune telling, horoscopes, tarot cards, etc.)
   4. Not taking care of those in the temple—vs. 10
      1. Are you generous toward those who work in the church? (find stats; give reasons why I came here)
   5. Vs. 15ff—Breaking the Sabbath—not taking time out for God

III.    A Time to Be Gentle; A Time to Be Tough

1. 1. Vs. 25—Nehemiah directly (and physically) confronts the problem
   2. He removes ungodly leadership that is not interested in furthering God’s work
   3. Christians must be first and foremost dispensers of grace; but when there is blatant, unrepentant sin, sometimes tougher action is necessary

We Bear Your Name, by Carrie Marshall, 2002

Great Awesome God, the keeper of the covenant of love, with all who love you and obey your Word. We have sinned, we have done wrong, we’ve turned aside from your commands and laws.

Now Lord our God, who called your people out with a mighty hand, made for yourself a Name that still endures. Lord, hear our prayer, turn from your wrath, Lord, hear and act, please hear and act.

[Chorus] We bear your Name, we bear your Name. Lord, hear and act, for your people bear your Name. For your sake, oh Lord, do not delay. We bear your Name, we bear your name.

Give ear Oh God, and hear our voices calling out for you. Open your eys and see our desperate hearts. Because of mercy, we call on you, not for the righteous things we do.

Chorus