The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
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to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today
is Ezra and Nehemiah.
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Hello, and welcome to another
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm Jill Morikone,
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and we're so glad that
you have joined us today
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for our study through the
books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
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It's hard to believe
we're at lesson number 11,
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the quarter is winding down.
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Last week we had,
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you could say a
high note as it were
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as we talked about worship
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and the
dedication of the city walls,
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that was from
Nehemiah Chapter 12.
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Music in worship,
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impurity in
worship, joy in worship,
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and Jesus in worship,
and leadership in worship.
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This week is a topic
just as vitally important,
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it's a serious
topic, "Backslidden People."
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I want to encourage you
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to get your own
copy of the quarterly
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so you can follow along.
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You can always visit your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and they would be delighted
to give you a quarterly
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and invite you to a class,
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or you can go to
ABSG.Adventist.org,
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and you can
download your own copy
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and follow along.
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I wanna introduce
our panel at this time.
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We've been together
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journeying
through Ezra and Nehemiah.
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Pastor Kenny Shelton,
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such a privilege
to have you here.
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Glad to be here, thank you.
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Sitting next to you,
Sister Shelley Quinn,
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and thank you so much
for being here as well.
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No, it's been a joy.
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To your left, Pastor
John Lomacang, my pastor
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and thank you Pastor
John for your insight.
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This has been a
very enlightening lesson.
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Good to be here.
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Thank you, and
last but not least,
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Pastor John Dinzey.
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We're so
delighted to have you here
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and to have you
share your insight
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from the Word of God as well.
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It's always a blessing to
open God's Word and study,
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because God has a
blessing for each and everyone.
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Amen. Amen.
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Before we go any further
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and we actually
open up God's Word,
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we want to go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Pastor John Lomacang,
would you pray for us?
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Sure.
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Loving Father in Heaven
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as we bow our hearts before You,
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open our ears
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that the Spirit of
God may speak to us
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and that, Lord, the
glory that is spoken through us
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will be reflected only to You.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Amen.
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We're in Nehemiah Chapter 13.
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So if you wanna open your Bibles
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to Nehemiah Chapter 13.
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There is a little
interim of time as it were
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between Nehemiah 12 and 13.
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Remember, Nehemiah first
went from Babylon to Jerusalem
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in 444 BC.
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This was the third
return of the exiles.
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He stayed there for 12 years.
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Now, I don't know
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if he initially told Artaxerxes,
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"I'm gonna go for 12 years,"
but he stayed for 12 years.
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'Cause Nehemiah 13:6 says,
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"But during all this
I was not in Jerusalem,
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for in the thirty-second year
of Artaxerxes king of Babylon
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I had returned to the king."
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So he went to Judah in
the 20th year of the king,
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he returned to Babylon in
the 32nd year of the King,
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so he was there 12 years.
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Then he returned to Babylon
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and during this time,
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the people began to backslide.
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There was this
great worship experience
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in Chapter 12
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and we see this incredible,
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what God had done
in the people's lives
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and this covenant
renewal in Chapter 10,
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and then what we
see here taking place.
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Remember the covenant
renewal in Nehemiah Chapter 10?
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We discussed that
a few lessons ago.
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There were three
things in the covenant
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that the people were to keep.
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There was no intermarriage,
no worshipping of idols,
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true Sabbath observance
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and there was some
temple regulations,
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supporting the
temple with tithes
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and offerings and other things.
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But when Nehemiah returned,
in Nehemiah Chapter 13,
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they had violated
all of these things.
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They had intermarried
with the surrounding nations.
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They had ceased to
keep the Sabbath properly.
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They had
stopped returning tithes
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and offerings
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and were even
using the temple rooms,
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Pastor Kenny,
for another purpose.
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But the saddest
part is that the leaders
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were leading the
people away from God.
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Our memory text
is Nehemiah 13:22,
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"And I commanded the Levites
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that they should
cleanse themselves,
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and that they should
go and guard the gates,
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to sanctify the Sabbath day.
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Remember me, O my
God, concerning this also,
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and spare me
according to the greatness
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of Your mercy."
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On Sunday's lesson,
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we look at
tainted temple leadership.
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Spiritual
compromise often comes in
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through spiritual leadership.
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I wanna say that one more time.
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Spiritual
compromise often comes in
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through spiritual leadership,
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Nehemiah had
gone back to Babylon,
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the temple
leadership were engaging
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in leading the
people in direct opposition
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to the command of God.
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Let's read verses
1-3 or Nehemiah 13:1-3,
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"On that day they
read from the Book of Moses
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in the hearing of the people,
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and in it was found written
that no Ammonite or Moabite
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should ever come
into the assembly of God."
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Now, before we had talked
about they shouldn't intermarry.
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This says that
heathen are not allowed
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into the temple of God,
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because why?
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"They had not met the children
of Israel with bread and water,
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but hired Balaam
against them to curse them.
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However, our
God turned the curse
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into a blessing.
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So it was, when
they heard the Law,
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that they separated
all the mixed multitude
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from Israel."
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Now we pick up in verse 4
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and we see what actually
had been going on there,
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"Now before this,
Eliashib the priest,
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having authority
over the storerooms
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of the house of our
God, was allied with Tobiah."
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So let's have a
little review here.
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Who is Eliashib?
Does anybody remember?
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Eliashib is the
high priest of the nation
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and he was in
charge of the temple.
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Eliashib was charged
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with helping to
rebuild the wall.
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If you go back to Nehemiah 3:1,
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it says,
"Eliashib the high priest
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rose up with his brethren,"
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and they began to
work, rebuilding the wall.
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"So Eliashib is the high priest,
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he had authority
over the storerooms
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in the temple.
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He was allied with Tobiah."
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Does that name
ring a bell to anybody?
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Tobiah was the
governor of Ammon, right?
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To the east he was
the Ammonite leader
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and we saw him
connected with Sanballat
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who was the governor
of Samaria to the North.
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If you go back to Nehemiah 2:19,
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it says, "When
Sanballat the Horonite,
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Tobiah the Ammonite official,
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and Geshem the Arab heard of it,
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they laughed at
us and despised us,
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and said, 'What is this
thing that you are doing?
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Will you rebel
against the king?'"
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So another
words, the high priest
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charged with
spiritually leading the people
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is forming an alliance
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with an avowed enemy of God.
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Tobiah the Ammonite, he
is allying himself with him.
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He was also
allied with Sanballat,
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we see that later in 13:28,
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we find out that
Eliashib's grandson
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marries Sanballat's daughter.
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There was intermarriage
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not just with the common people,
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but with the highest
places of leadership.
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Nehemiah 13:28,
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"One of the sons of Joiada,
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the son of
Eliashib the high priest,
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was a son-in-law of
Sanballat the Horonite,
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therefore I drove him from me."
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The highest ranking officials
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in Judah and
Jerusalem were related
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and had formed an alliance
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against Nehemiah's leadership.
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Let's read the
rest of our verses here.
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Verses 4-9, Nehemiah 13:4-9,
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we already read,
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"Eliashib the priest,
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having authority
over the storerooms
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of the house of our
God, was allied with Tobiah.
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And he, that means Eliashib
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had prepared for
Tobiah a large room,
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where previously they had stored
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the grain
offerings, the frankincense,
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the articles,
the tithes of grain,
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the new wine and oil,
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which were commanded
to be given to the Levites
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and singers and gatekeepers,
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and the
offerings for the priests."
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He brought Tobiah
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and gave him a
room in the temple
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for him and his family to stay.
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The pagans were not even allowed
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to enter into that
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and yet he gave
him a room in the house
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and then the Levites
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and the priests
weren't even able
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to get their
tithes and offerings,
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because the room was
full with the Ammonite.
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During all this, Nehemiah
says he wasn't even there
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because he had
returned to Babylon.
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So then in verse 7, it says,
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"I came to Jerusalem
and discovered the evil
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that Eliashib
had done for Tobiah,
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in preparing a room for him
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in the courts of
the house of God.
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It grieved me bitterly,
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and I threw all
the household goods
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of Tobiah out of the room.
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And I commanded them
to cleanse the rooms,
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and brought back into them
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the articles of
the house of God."
00:09:41.41\00:09:44.58
So in our remaining time
I wanna look at six lessons
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that I see from this.
00:09:48.22\00:09:49.55
Lesson number one,
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leaders sometimes let
evil creep in subtlety
00:09:50.95\00:09:54.76
and it often happens
through relationships,
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Eliashib didn't set
out to destroy Judah,
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I'm sure of that,
00:10:00.86\00:10:02.20
or the temple or
the worship of God.
00:10:02.23\00:10:03.90
But he was desensitized
through relationships
00:10:03.93\00:10:07.90
and the marriage
with his own kids
00:10:07.94\00:10:09.84
with some of
these pagan leaders.
00:10:09.87\00:10:12.61
In the church we
need to be careful
00:10:12.64\00:10:15.14
of being corrupted
00:10:15.18\00:10:16.51
or polluted
through these subtle means.
00:10:16.54\00:10:19.31
Matthew 7:15,
00:10:19.35\00:10:21.02
"Beware of false prophets,
00:10:21.05\00:10:22.38
'cause they come looking
good in sheep's clothing,
00:10:22.42\00:10:24.42
but really
they're ravenous wolves."
00:10:24.45\00:10:27.22
Personally, on a personal level
00:10:27.26\00:10:29.26
we need to be careful
of our own friendships,
00:10:29.29\00:10:31.73
of our relationships
00:10:31.76\00:10:34.20
and those things in our
lives that desensitize us.
00:10:34.23\00:10:37.93
1 Corinthians 15:33
00:10:37.97\00:10:40.10
"Do not be deceived:
00:10:40.14\00:10:41.64
Evil company
corrupts good habits."
00:10:41.67\00:10:44.41
Lesson number two,
00:10:44.44\00:10:45.77
leader sometimes need to take
00:10:45.81\00:10:47.31
drastic action and reform.
00:10:47.34\00:10:50.58
When Nehemiah came back,
00:10:50.61\00:10:52.11
he didn't just sit down
and talk, what did he say?
00:10:52.15\00:10:54.18
He called the thing
that Eliashib had done evil.
00:10:54.22\00:10:57.19
There was no
sugar coating done here,
00:10:57.22\00:10:59.75
he called it evil.
00:10:59.79\00:11:01.22
Church leaders
are called to stand up
00:11:01.26\00:11:03.63
and speak the
truth and call out evil.
00:11:03.66\00:11:08.43
Isaiah 58:1,
00:11:08.46\00:11:10.07
"Cry aloud, spare not,
00:11:10.10\00:11:11.93
lift up your
voice like a trumpet,
00:11:11.97\00:11:14.04
tell My people
their transgression,
00:11:14.07\00:11:15.84
and the house of
Jacob their sins."
00:11:15.87\00:11:17.97
If you saw someone about ready
to drink poison, would you say
00:11:18.01\00:11:20.58
"Ah, oh, be careful,
maybe you shouldn't."
00:11:20.61\00:11:23.58
No, you would toss that
glass of water out of their hand
00:11:23.61\00:11:26.48
because you
don't want them to die.
00:11:26.51\00:11:29.58
Personally, we
need to not be afraid
00:11:29.62\00:11:32.09
to confront the flesh
00:11:32.12\00:11:34.42
in our own hearts and lives.
00:11:34.46\00:11:36.62
Galatians 5:24,
00:11:36.66\00:11:38.16
"Those who are Christ's
have crucified the flesh
00:11:38.19\00:11:41.06
with its
affections and its lust."
00:11:41.10\00:11:44.83
Moving on, lesson three,
00:11:44.87\00:11:46.20
leaders don't
just speak, they act.
00:11:46.23\00:11:48.80
Nehemiah didn't just
condemn what Eliashib had done,
00:11:48.84\00:11:51.74
he himself
physically threw out the items
00:11:51.77\00:11:55.04
from the room in the temple.
00:11:55.08\00:11:58.01
In the church, words
aren't always enough,
00:11:58.05\00:12:00.52
sometimes we need
actions like Jesus,
00:12:00.55\00:12:03.59
when He threw out
the money changers.
00:12:03.62\00:12:06.19
And personally, sometime
it takes a drastic action
00:12:06.22\00:12:09.32
in our own hearts and lives.
00:12:09.36\00:12:10.99
Lesson number four,
00:12:11.03\00:12:12.36
sometime it takes a new leader
00:12:12.39\00:12:14.06
to see what's really going on.
00:12:14.10\00:12:17.73
There was much
current leadership there,
00:12:17.77\00:12:19.93
Eliashib and many other leaders,
00:12:19.97\00:12:21.84
but it took Nehemiah,
00:12:21.87\00:12:23.20
who hadn't been
there to come back
00:12:23.24\00:12:25.04
and to see the compromises
that had taken place.
00:12:25.07\00:12:29.81
Sometimes it takes
those who have been away
00:12:29.84\00:12:32.28
or haven't been
intricately involved
00:12:32.31\00:12:34.35
to actually see what's going on.
00:12:34.38\00:12:36.32
Lesson five, leaders influence
00:12:36.35\00:12:38.49
the moral
direction of the people.
00:12:38.52\00:12:41.29
Eliashib and the other leaders
00:12:41.32\00:12:43.19
led the people away from God.
00:12:43.22\00:12:45.96
If you look at the
history of the church,
00:12:45.99\00:12:47.46
or the history of
the children of Israel,
00:12:47.50\00:12:49.70
people only rose as
high as their leader.
00:12:49.73\00:12:52.83
When there was a good leader,
00:12:52.87\00:12:54.20
people broke down
those idols and followed God,
00:12:54.24\00:12:56.97
when there was an evil
leader they followed Baal.
00:12:57.01\00:13:00.48
Lesson number six,
00:13:00.51\00:13:01.84
leaders must be
consistent in their discipline.
00:13:01.88\00:13:05.61
Nehemiah didn't just say okay,
00:13:05.65\00:13:07.15
we're not going to have
mixed marriages with everybody.
00:13:07.18\00:13:09.55
He confronted Eliashib
and that mixed marriage
00:13:09.58\00:13:12.45
that was going on,
00:13:12.49\00:13:13.82
and his grandson
who was with Sanballat.
00:13:13.86\00:13:16.52
So playing favorites
00:13:16.56\00:13:19.23
is not acceptable with God.
00:13:19.26\00:13:22.83
Six lessons that
I learned from that,
00:13:22.86\00:13:25.00
the tainted temple leadership
00:13:25.03\00:13:26.74
and, Pastor Kenny, you
have Levites in the fields.
00:13:26.77\00:13:29.44
Yeah, I meant, that's
a real good title too,
00:13:29.47\00:13:31.47
"Levites in the Field,"
00:13:31.51\00:13:32.84
and first of all I
ask myself the question,
00:13:32.87\00:13:34.34
why are the Levites,
00:13:34.38\00:13:35.78
who are supposed to
be those ordained by God.
00:13:35.81\00:13:37.78
Why are they out in
the field doing things,
00:13:37.81\00:13:39.25
when maybe they
should be in the office
00:13:39.28\00:13:40.62
as they were preparing.
00:13:40.65\00:13:41.98
So, you know, it's a good
thing and you brought that up,
00:13:42.02\00:13:44.79
because God's
people had gotten away
00:13:44.82\00:13:47.82
from doing that which is right,
00:13:47.86\00:13:49.89
and you mentioned
those, and I jotted those down
00:13:49.92\00:13:52.19
and I just put, the churches
where the people grew lukewarm.
00:13:52.23\00:13:56.77
When we grow lukewarm,
00:13:56.80\00:13:58.13
then all kind of
things begin to happen.
00:13:58.17\00:14:00.10
We stop tithing, giving tithes
and offerings as you mentioned.
00:14:00.14\00:14:03.91
We don't observe the
Sabbath the way that we should.
00:14:03.94\00:14:07.18
Here at this time
they were intermarrying,
00:14:07.21\00:14:09.91
and the leadership, so
all these things had failed.
00:14:09.94\00:14:13.35
Now it doesn't mean,
00:14:13.38\00:14:14.72
I don't know if
the pastor has to...
00:14:14.75\00:14:16.48
I don't know if I
should get into this or not,
00:14:16.52\00:14:17.85
but the pastor doesn't have
00:14:17.89\00:14:19.22
to watch over the flock
every minute with an eye,
00:14:19.25\00:14:21.36
you know, he's got
people that will help him,
00:14:21.39\00:14:23.66
but I do know this,
when the cat's away,
00:14:23.69\00:14:25.73
the mice will play,
00:14:25.76\00:14:27.53
if I can say it like that.
00:14:27.56\00:14:28.90
I think, everybody gets that.
00:14:28.93\00:14:30.40
What when Nehemiah was
away, you know the point here,
00:14:30.43\00:14:33.67
when Nehemiah was
away, what happened?
00:14:33.70\00:14:36.27
All these things began
to tumble in around them
00:14:36.30\00:14:38.91
and God was not pleased.
00:14:38.94\00:14:40.64
That doesn't mean we
can't be other places
00:14:40.68\00:14:42.14
doing other work
and so on and so forth,
00:14:42.18\00:14:43.81
because you establish
church and move on so on.
00:14:43.85\00:14:46.11
But I think maybe we
need to be very careful
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.18
that we keep a watchful eye
00:14:48.22\00:14:49.55
because we want the
Church of God to survive
00:14:49.58\00:14:52.12
and be what it should be.
00:14:52.15\00:14:53.99
Levites in the field.
00:14:54.02\00:14:55.36
Now remember,
we're talking about
00:14:55.39\00:14:56.73
some special Levites here,
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.09
even some of them were singers,
00:14:58.13\00:14:59.46
some of them
played the instruments
00:14:59.49\00:15:01.56
and music so on and so forth.
00:15:01.60\00:15:03.16
But many of them had to go home.
00:15:03.20\00:15:05.03
Many of them
weren't employed anymore
00:15:05.07\00:15:06.77
because there was no finances
because the people quit giving
00:15:06.80\00:15:10.41
because they looked and said,
00:15:10.44\00:15:12.47
"The funds are being misspent
00:15:12.51\00:15:13.84
or we don't
like the leadership,"
00:15:13.88\00:15:15.88
and they quit paying tithe.
00:15:15.91\00:15:17.51
So that raises
a lot of questions
00:15:17.55\00:15:18.88
for everybody here.
00:15:18.91\00:15:20.25
Oh, my you don't
wanna talk about that.
00:15:20.28\00:15:21.62
Well, yeah, I do
00:15:21.65\00:15:22.98
because I think it's essentially
00:15:23.02\00:15:24.35
because we had that today.
00:15:24.39\00:15:26.92
Those things are happening today
00:15:26.96\00:15:28.29
because I hear it over and over,
00:15:28.32\00:15:29.86
doesn't make around,
I'm not trying to go one way
00:15:29.89\00:15:31.43
or trying to go the other
here convince anybody other than
00:15:31.46\00:15:34.50
people will tell me that.
00:15:34.53\00:15:36.13
You probably,
everybody you've been so playing
00:15:36.16\00:15:37.83
and to say,
"Well, I don't because
00:15:37.87\00:15:39.80
and this is why I don't."
00:15:39.83\00:15:41.17
And so there's a reason usually
00:15:41.20\00:15:43.34
and here there was definitely
some reasons to Levites here.
00:15:43.37\00:15:46.24
Anyway, the wall was finished
00:15:46.27\00:15:48.58
so we talked about
in our last lesson here
00:15:48.61\00:15:51.21
the tabernacle and the Levi.
00:15:51.25\00:15:53.15
Now remember, why Levites?
00:15:53.18\00:15:54.52
I asked myself the question.
00:15:54.55\00:15:55.88
Why Levi? Why the Levi group?
00:15:55.92\00:15:57.25
This is very important
little time that I have
00:15:57.29\00:15:59.19
that I really wanna cover
00:15:59.22\00:16:00.56
what they're doing anything else
00:16:00.59\00:16:01.92
and the Levites in the field.
00:16:01.96\00:16:03.29
We establish why
they're in the field,
00:16:03.32\00:16:04.89
they didn't need to
be in that aspect of it.
00:16:04.93\00:16:07.36
You know wouldn't hurt
to go out in the field,
00:16:07.40\00:16:08.73
doesn't hurt any
pastors to get out
00:16:08.76\00:16:10.10
and do a little bit
of work with your hands
00:16:10.13\00:16:11.47
and not so much with
your brain all the time.
00:16:11.50\00:16:12.87
It kind of helps you
a little bit, you know.
00:16:12.90\00:16:14.67
Okay, let's go on
to something else.
00:16:14.70\00:16:17.11
Look at this.
00:16:17.14\00:16:18.71
We looked at Levites
say, why the Levites?
00:16:18.74\00:16:20.88
You remember
there, Exodus Chapter 32.
00:16:20.91\00:16:23.65
Like to spend just
a little time there.
00:16:23.68\00:16:25.55
Have you ever asked you a
question to the tribe Levi,
00:16:25.58\00:16:27.35
why Levi?
00:16:27.38\00:16:28.72
Why did God
choose the Tribe of Levi?
00:16:28.75\00:16:30.39
Well, it
becomes very clear to us
00:16:30.42\00:16:31.75
in Exodus Chapter 32.
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.42
What was the verses
there? Exodus 32:26-29.
00:16:34.46\00:16:39.39
Sister, Jill, would you read
those verses for me, please?
00:16:39.43\00:16:41.36
Sure.
00:16:41.40\00:16:42.86
Exodus 32:26,
00:16:42.90\00:16:44.57
"Then Moses stood in
the entrance of the camp,
00:16:44.60\00:16:46.70
and said, 'Whoever
is on the Lord's side
00:16:46.74\00:16:48.50
come to me!'
00:16:48.54\00:16:49.87
And all the sons of Levi
00:16:49.90\00:16:51.24
gather
themselves together to Him.
00:16:51.27\00:16:53.48
And He said to them,
00:16:53.51\00:16:54.84
'Thus says the
Lord God of Israel,
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.68
"Let every man put
his sword on his side,
00:16:56.71\00:16:58.88
and go in and out
from entrance to entrance
00:16:58.91\00:17:01.28
throughout the camp,
00:17:01.32\00:17:02.65
and let every
man kill his brother,
00:17:02.68\00:17:05.65
every man his companion,
00:17:05.69\00:17:07.26
and every man his neighbor.'"
00:17:07.29\00:17:09.52
So the sons of Levi did
according to the word of Moses.
00:17:09.56\00:17:13.13
And about three thousand
men of the people fell that day.
00:17:13.16\00:17:16.06
Then Moses said,
00:17:16.10\00:17:17.43
'Consecrate
yourselves today to the Lord
00:17:17.47\00:17:19.67
that He may bestow on
you a blessing this day,
00:17:19.70\00:17:22.94
for every man
has opposed his son
00:17:22.97\00:17:25.21
and his brother.'"
00:17:25.24\00:17:27.78
You know, those to me are
just powerful verses there,
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.98
and you can draw an
awful lot from that,
00:17:31.01\00:17:32.65
but the question
was beginning was,
00:17:32.68\00:17:34.52
you know, why the Levites?
00:17:34.55\00:17:36.28
Because in the midst of apostasy
00:17:36.32\00:17:38.22
with the golden calf.
00:17:38.25\00:17:39.79
Moses come and made a call
00:17:39.82\00:17:41.66
which God ordained him to do
00:17:41.69\00:17:44.33
when we in the
midst of apostasy,
00:17:44.36\00:17:46.19
God requires
men and women of God
00:17:46.23\00:17:49.16
cry out loud, shout,
00:17:49.20\00:17:51.63
get the attention of the people
00:17:51.67\00:17:53.37
and then simply say,
"Who's ever on God's side,
00:17:53.40\00:17:55.90
let's go over here.
00:17:55.94\00:17:57.27
If you're not on that
side, you're on the enemy side."
00:17:57.31\00:17:59.74
And so, all of
Israel apostatized,
00:17:59.77\00:18:03.24
did they not at the golden calf?
00:18:03.28\00:18:04.65
All.
00:18:04.68\00:18:06.01
But the only ones who came back
and repented were the Levites.
00:18:06.05\00:18:10.52
So therefore
that's why God said,
00:18:10.55\00:18:12.05
"Okay, we're gonna
choose the Levites,
00:18:12.09\00:18:13.42
set them apart for
sacred and holy word."
00:18:13.46\00:18:16.79
I had an issue with and
not that I differ with it
00:18:16.83\00:18:19.79
but I thought, "Oh,
my, what they were to do
00:18:19.83\00:18:22.46
right here."
00:18:22.50\00:18:23.83
There was a price to pay.
00:18:23.87\00:18:25.20
People say, "Well,
there's had the golden calf
00:18:25.23\00:18:26.70
and all other
and Moses came down
00:18:26.74\00:18:28.10
broke the can of mice,
00:18:28.14\00:18:29.47
he got 3,000
people died that day
00:18:29.50\00:18:33.04
because of
apostasy and rebellion.
00:18:33.07\00:18:36.08
And notice what
Moses said to do,
00:18:36.11\00:18:37.85
"Now why would
these people be killed?"
00:18:37.88\00:18:42.25
He told him, he
said, "Take your sword,
00:18:42.28\00:18:43.75
and he's talking to me.
00:18:43.79\00:18:45.12
I've seen the Levites here."
00:18:45.15\00:18:46.49
I'm saying those
who come on his side
00:18:46.52\00:18:48.62
were the priests, the preachers,
00:18:48.66\00:18:49.99
the pastors, if I
can just say that,
00:18:50.03\00:18:51.76
he said, "Get your sword
00:18:51.79\00:18:53.13
and I want you to go in
the midst of this bunch."
00:18:53.16\00:18:57.67
And I want you to
kill everyone in here.
00:18:57.70\00:18:59.93
I don't...
00:18:59.97\00:19:01.30
Almost they're
not, if it's your wife
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.14
'cause it said companion,
00:19:03.17\00:19:04.51
I think you read if
it's your companion,
00:19:04.54\00:19:06.21
if it's your
friend, your best friend,
00:19:06.24\00:19:07.81
whoever it is,
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.18
don't let family
ties get in your way.
00:19:09.21\00:19:10.65
Don't let family
ties stop the ministry.
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.81
Don't let family ties stop
you from doing what you do,
00:19:12.85\00:19:15.48
or to say
00:19:15.52\00:19:16.85
because God is in this thing.
00:19:16.89\00:19:18.55
And so they went forward
and they slew 3,000 people.
00:19:18.59\00:19:22.16
Now who, what 3000?
00:19:22.19\00:19:24.83
The 3,000 that
continue to persist in doing
00:19:24.86\00:19:29.03
what they were doing
when Moses came down.
00:19:29.06\00:19:31.23
That's right.
00:19:31.27\00:19:32.60
They continued on in that
00:19:32.63\00:19:34.17
may I say that sin
and that rebellion.
00:19:34.20\00:19:36.10
So it wasn't like, well,
if you stopped, you're gonna,
00:19:36.14\00:19:38.64
they continued on
00:19:38.67\00:19:40.01
and so he made sure
that they were slain.
00:19:40.04\00:19:42.01
And he said, "So we let
know by the grace of God."
00:19:42.04\00:19:45.91
This is difficult
we let no earthly tie.
00:19:45.95\00:19:47.65
We cannot let any earthly tie.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.72
"Allow us anything to stand
00:19:49.75\00:19:51.72
between us and our duty to God."
00:19:51.75\00:19:54.72
We can read that
in Matthew Chapter 8,
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.52
and also in Matthew Chapter 10.
00:19:56.56\00:19:58.76
You know, this,
00:19:58.79\00:20:00.13
this action also
was very important.
00:20:00.16\00:20:02.26
I think in parody.
00:20:02.30\00:20:03.63
I won't even get
to the other of this,
00:20:03.67\00:20:05.00
it's all right
00:20:05.03\00:20:06.37
at least in my opinion,
00:20:06.40\00:20:07.74
because when we
look at this action,
00:20:07.77\00:20:09.67
what did it do?
Why did God do it?
00:20:09.70\00:20:11.47
We're looking, man,
there's people dying,
00:20:11.51\00:20:13.04
there's family
separated, things are happening
00:20:13.07\00:20:15.08
and what is God dealing with?
00:20:15.11\00:20:16.88
What was He trying
to show other nations?
00:20:16.91\00:20:19.95
Was He not trying to
show the other nations
00:20:19.98\00:20:22.55
that He
disproved of idol worship
00:20:22.58\00:20:26.86
and lifestyle
that they were doing?
00:20:26.89\00:20:29.49
True.
00:20:29.52\00:20:30.86
'Cause we don't have
to go into detail with it
00:20:30.89\00:20:32.23
because everyone here
we have studied enough
00:20:32.26\00:20:34.63
to know exactly
what was going on
00:20:34.66\00:20:36.80
when Moses came down,
00:20:36.83\00:20:38.60
you know, we know
that his face was veiled
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.77
because he'd been in
the presence of a Holy God,
00:20:40.80\00:20:43.17
and he was bright.
00:20:43.20\00:20:44.54
But as a Christian,
00:20:44.57\00:20:45.91
if we came in on
something like that
00:20:45.94\00:20:47.28
that was going on,
00:20:47.31\00:20:48.64
I think we would
look for a tow sack.
00:20:48.68\00:20:50.01
We'd look for something
to throw over our eyes.
00:20:50.05\00:20:52.58
We could not stay in
that kind of presence,
00:20:52.61\00:20:55.18
something had to be
done, and something was done.
00:20:55.22\00:20:58.49
And I thank God for that.
00:20:58.52\00:21:01.19
God remove those, and
He'll remove those today
00:21:01.22\00:21:04.59
who will continue
to do those things
00:21:04.63\00:21:06.56
that He said that we should do.
00:21:06.59\00:21:08.16
If you continue in
that, and you knowingly know
00:21:08.20\00:21:11.60
God will remove you in time
00:21:11.63\00:21:13.97
because He
didn't remove you today
00:21:14.00\00:21:16.30
because He didn't remove
you in three or five years,
00:21:16.34\00:21:19.27
you think you're
pulling one over on God,
00:21:19.31\00:21:21.14
you better think again.
00:21:21.18\00:21:23.04
God is a God
00:21:23.08\00:21:24.41
that we've talked
about on this panel
00:21:24.45\00:21:25.78
that I so appreciate
the love and the mercy,
00:21:25.81\00:21:28.05
the power of God
and His willingness
00:21:28.08\00:21:29.92
just to forebear
was dirt like me.
00:21:29.95\00:21:33.46
His mercy is great,
it's just so wonderful.
00:21:33.49\00:21:36.56
And so He doesn't, you
know, retributive be right now.
00:21:36.59\00:21:41.13
He doesn't really come against
maybe something judgments.
00:21:41.16\00:21:43.87
But in time,
00:21:43.90\00:21:45.43
you know here in it
and we saw it take place
00:21:45.47\00:21:47.10
right here right now
you did wrong who where by
00:21:47.14\00:21:50.04
God let's time go
00:21:50.07\00:21:51.41
but eventually
it's going to come back.
00:21:51.44\00:21:53.58
Eventually God's going to
try to get your attention, why?
00:21:53.61\00:21:56.71
Simply because He loves you
00:21:56.75\00:21:58.08
and because He
certainly loves me.
00:21:58.11\00:21:59.55
We just have a
little time left right here.
00:21:59.58\00:22:01.38
But I thought
again, it was very easy.
00:22:01.42\00:22:04.09
You know this
something we should think about
00:22:04.12\00:22:07.16
in this lesson.
00:22:07.19\00:22:08.52
Does God really
mean what He says.
00:22:08.56\00:22:10.83
If people are backsliding,
should there be a call?
00:22:10.86\00:22:14.20
If there's a
backsliding should there be
00:22:14.23\00:22:16.16
and we leave the
church for certain things
00:22:16.20\00:22:17.93
and things are open
should there be a separation?
00:22:17.97\00:22:20.37
Should there be a division?
00:22:20.40\00:22:21.74
Lot of time we let the
person stay inside the church.
00:22:21.77\00:22:24.84
It causes more division,
more havoc in the church
00:22:24.87\00:22:27.21
and if you just dealt with it
00:22:27.24\00:22:28.94
because our counsel is we
need to put that sin over that
00:22:28.98\00:22:31.35
if open now on the outside
00:22:31.38\00:22:33.45
until it's settled,
and then bring it back in.
00:22:33.48\00:22:36.45
Now is that what
people wanna talk about?
00:22:36.48\00:22:38.05
Oh, no.
00:22:38.09\00:22:39.42
Is that what God
talked about in this lesson?
00:22:39.45\00:22:40.79
You better believe it
because it costs lives.
00:22:40.82\00:22:42.92
Not just them, but
it costs for eternity.
00:22:42.96\00:22:46.43
And we have,
00:22:46.46\00:22:47.80
definitely God's
giving you responsibility.
00:22:47.83\00:22:49.40
They overlook the
oversight of His heritage
00:22:49.43\00:22:52.63
that because we love
00:22:52.67\00:22:54.00
not because we're better,
we're all saved by grace,
00:22:54.04\00:22:56.10
we're all sinners,
we're not worth a dime
00:22:56.14\00:22:58.67
but because of Jesus
Christ, ain't that right?
00:22:58.71\00:23:01.18
We're worth all of heaven.
00:23:01.21\00:23:02.74
That's exciting to me.
00:23:02.78\00:23:04.11
But He also requires His people
00:23:04.15\00:23:06.05
to stand and shout,
00:23:06.08\00:23:07.42
He requires and He says,
00:23:07.45\00:23:08.78
"Get on the walls," right?
00:23:08.82\00:23:10.22
"Of Babylon and shout,
00:23:10.25\00:23:12.55
give a message."
00:23:12.59\00:23:14.49
A message of the hour
is to come out of her,
00:23:14.52\00:23:17.26
My people, don't be
partakers of her sins.
00:23:17.29\00:23:20.33
Why Jesus is coming?
00:23:20.36\00:23:21.70
He's coming after a clear,
00:23:21.73\00:23:23.26
you know, clean hands
and clean heart people.
00:23:23.30\00:23:26.37
That would be like Jesus
and the only way we can do that
00:23:26.40\00:23:28.64
is dedicate our
hearts and our lives to Him
00:23:28.67\00:23:30.94
each and every day and pray,
00:23:30.97\00:23:32.71
O God, whatever it
takes to make it to heaven,
00:23:32.74\00:23:35.01
let it happen.
00:23:35.04\00:23:37.11
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny.
00:23:37.15\00:23:39.35
Our God is a Holy God.
00:23:39.38\00:23:41.55
Our God is a
redemptive God. Amen.
00:23:41.58\00:23:44.42
And our God is
abounding in mercy and truth.
00:23:44.45\00:23:47.39
We're gonna take a short
break, we'll be right back.
00:23:47.42\00:23:49.36
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Welcome back to our study,
00:24:27.16\00:24:28.53
we'll continue
with Tuesday's lesson,
00:24:28.56\00:24:30.60
"Tithes and
Offerings" with Shelley Quinn.
00:24:30.63\00:24:32.50
And first, I just
wanna make a comment
00:24:32.53\00:24:34.07
'cause it occurred to
me as you were talking
00:24:34.10\00:24:36.54
is that much like
with Ananias and Sapphira
00:24:36.57\00:24:42.64
at the beginning of the church.
00:24:42.68\00:24:44.81
The reason God took
quick action against them
00:24:44.85\00:24:48.25
was because He didn't
wanna pollute everyone
00:24:48.28\00:24:50.29
and He wanted them to see.
00:24:50.32\00:24:51.99
And you think about
this 'cause it sounds...
00:24:52.02\00:24:56.46
It sounds so hard,
but God did in depth.
00:24:56.49\00:25:00.46
I mean, we know
that Moses afterwards,
00:25:00.50\00:25:02.66
there's 3,000
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.03
out of the
millions that were there.
00:25:04.07\00:25:05.40
And afterwards,
Moses goes before him
00:25:05.43\00:25:07.44
and says, "Well,
blot me out of the book."
00:25:07.47\00:25:09.20
And God says, "No,
I'll blot out whoever sins
00:25:09.24\00:25:12.11
from my Book of Life."
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.48
But He did redeem
the rest of the people.
00:25:13.51\00:25:17.45
Okay, I have
Tithes and Offerings.
00:25:17.48\00:25:20.78
And we, as you said, God
set it apart the Tribe of Levi
00:25:20.82\00:25:24.82
to do the temple services.
00:25:24.85\00:25:27.96
And because they
were set apart for this,
00:25:27.99\00:25:30.73
they didn't receive
land as an inheritance,
00:25:30.76\00:25:34.80
but God had set up the tithes
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.83
and offerings as a system
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.07
to support the Levites.
00:25:40.10\00:25:42.80
And when the
people failed to tithe,
00:25:42.84\00:25:45.77
unfortunately, the
reason these Levites
00:25:45.81\00:25:48.14
had to go out in the field.
00:25:48.18\00:25:50.05
They had to go do day labor
00:25:50.08\00:25:52.65
to try to
support their families.
00:25:52.68\00:25:55.65
So what Nehemiah did
when he come, when he returns,
00:25:55.68\00:25:59.99
he's reforming
the temple services.
00:26:00.02\00:26:03.16
And that included
00:26:03.19\00:26:04.53
the implementation
of tithes and offerings
00:26:04.56\00:26:08.36
to support God
system of worship.
00:26:08.40\00:26:11.03
It says in
verse, Nehemiah 13:12,
00:26:11.07\00:26:14.70
"Then all Judah
brought the tithe of the grain
00:26:14.74\00:26:18.24
and the new wine and
the oil to the storehouse."
00:26:18.27\00:26:22.74
Let's talk about the tithe.
00:26:22.78\00:26:24.25
What is the tithe?
00:26:24.28\00:26:26.31
Leviticus 27:30
tells us the tithe is holy,
00:26:26.35\00:26:30.32
it belongs to the Lord.
00:26:30.35\00:26:32.05
It says, "All the
tithe of the land,
00:26:32.09\00:26:33.79
whether of the
seed or of the land
00:26:33.82\00:26:36.06
or of the fruit of
the tree, is the Lord's.
00:26:36.09\00:26:40.10
It is holy to the Lord."
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.23
You know, there's a special time
00:26:42.26\00:26:44.63
or a special portion of our time
00:26:44.67\00:26:46.74
that God considers holy.
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.84
And that's one
seventh of our time.
00:26:48.87\00:26:51.21
He set apart the seventh day.
00:26:51.24\00:26:54.21
He sanctified
that day and blessed it
00:26:54.24\00:26:56.91
because He said,
it is assigned to us
00:26:56.95\00:26:59.55
that He is the
one who sanctifies us.
00:26:59.58\00:27:02.72
But there's a
special portion of our income
00:27:02.75\00:27:05.02
that God calls holy,
and that is one-tenth.
00:27:05.05\00:27:09.12
That's what tithe
means is one-tenth
00:27:09.16\00:27:11.96
and, you know,
it is interesting.
00:27:11.99\00:27:14.80
We know that the Bible says
God is the giver of every good
00:27:14.83\00:27:18.57
and perfect gift.
00:27:18.60\00:27:19.93
He's the one who gives us
the ability to earn an income,
00:27:19.97\00:27:23.91
to have an increase.
00:27:23.94\00:27:25.94
But so the Bible also says
00:27:25.97\00:27:28.08
everything
belongs to God, right?
00:27:28.11\00:27:30.78
We don't pay tithe.
00:27:30.81\00:27:33.48
We return tithe
00:27:33.52\00:27:36.25
and it isn't built on.
00:27:36.28\00:27:39.15
It doesn't matter if
you are rich or poor.
00:27:39.19\00:27:42.26
It's one-tenth.
00:27:42.29\00:27:43.63
Let me read Malachi 3:8-11
00:27:43.66\00:27:46.70
because this shows us
the seriousness of it.
00:27:46.73\00:27:50.00
God says, He's
speaking to the Jews.
00:27:50.03\00:27:53.40
He said, "'Will a man rob God?
00:27:53.44\00:27:56.10
Yet you have robbed Me!
00:27:56.14\00:27:58.14
But you say, 'In what
way have we robbed You?'
00:27:58.17\00:28:00.18
In tithes and offerings.
00:28:00.21\00:28:02.94
You are cursed with a
curse, for you have robbed Me,
00:28:02.98\00:28:05.55
even this whole nation.
00:28:05.58\00:28:07.18
Bring all the tithes
to the storehouse," why?
00:28:07.22\00:28:10.65
'Cause He wants his
temple worship to continue.
00:28:10.69\00:28:15.22
Amen.
00:28:15.26\00:28:16.59
"That there may
be food in My house,
00:28:16.62\00:28:18.53
now try Me in this,'
00:28:18.56\00:28:20.16
He says, 'If I
will not open for you
00:28:20.20\00:28:23.00
the windows of
heaven and pour out for you
00:28:23.03\00:28:25.13
such blessing that
there won't be room enough
00:28:25.17\00:28:27.90
to receive it.
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.27
'And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes,
00:28:29.30\00:28:32.27
so that he will not destroy
the fruit of your ground,
00:28:32.31\00:28:35.14
nor shall the vine
fail to bear fruit for you
00:28:35.18\00:28:37.88
in the field,'
says the Lord of hosts."
00:28:37.91\00:28:40.42
So this is interesting
because there are people today
00:28:40.45\00:28:44.72
who believe that
tithes and offerings
00:28:44.75\00:28:46.86
are no longer required
in the New Testament Church.
00:28:46.89\00:28:50.86
Certainly,
00:28:50.89\00:28:52.76
there were certain
sacrificial offerings
00:28:52.79\00:28:57.57
that were
abolished at the cross,
00:28:57.60\00:29:00.74
Christ atonement at the cross,
00:29:00.77\00:29:02.47
we know that many
things of the Levitical system,
00:29:02.50\00:29:06.54
many of the ceremonies,
00:29:06.57\00:29:10.45
He fulfilled all of that,
00:29:10.48\00:29:11.85
but tithing is not one of them.
00:29:11.88\00:29:16.12
It is not included
in that classification.
00:29:16.15\00:29:19.82
So because this was
recognized as a duty well
00:29:19.85\00:29:23.69
before the time of Moses,
00:29:23.73\00:29:25.69
we know that Abraham tithes
00:29:25.73\00:29:28.56
one-tenth of
all of his war booty
00:29:28.60\00:29:31.33
to Melchizedek,
00:29:31.37\00:29:32.70
and let me read you this
00:29:32.73\00:29:34.07
because there is
a casual reference
00:29:34.10\00:29:37.21
in the New Testament
00:29:37.24\00:29:38.71
that shows us
00:29:38.74\00:29:41.18
that tithing was
an accepted practice
00:29:41.21\00:29:43.78
in the New Testament.
00:29:43.81\00:29:45.15
And I can say that
00:29:45.18\00:29:46.51
because it is so
casually mentioned,
00:29:46.55\00:29:48.68
Hebrews 7:1-2 it says,
00:29:48.72\00:29:51.95
"This
Melchizedek, king of Salem,
00:29:51.99\00:29:54.52
priests to the Most High
God, who met Abraham returning
00:29:54.56\00:29:57.13
from the slaughter of
the kings and blessed him,
00:29:57.16\00:29:59.69
to whom also Abraham
gave a tenth part of all,
00:29:59.73\00:30:03.37
first being translated,"
00:30:03.40\00:30:05.03
that was talking
about the king Salem,
00:30:05.07\00:30:08.30
"'king of righteousness,'
00:30:08.34\00:30:10.01
and then also
meaning 'king of peace.'
00:30:10.04\00:30:14.58
See, the New Testament writers
00:30:14.61\00:30:18.31
validated and upheld
the practice of tithing.
00:30:18.35\00:30:22.42
Yes.
00:30:22.45\00:30:23.79
This story about Melchizedek
is recorded in Genesis
00:30:23.82\00:30:26.65
in the first book of the Bible.
00:30:26.69\00:30:28.62
And Abraham when he met
Him, he gave Him one-tenth.
00:30:28.66\00:30:33.16
This is in Genesis 14.
00:30:33.19\00:30:35.20
We also know Jacob,
the son of Isaac tithe,
00:30:35.23\00:30:39.73
he was the grandson of Abraham.
00:30:39.77\00:30:42.10
And when Israel was
established as a nation
00:30:42.14\00:30:46.21
after the exodus from Egypt,
00:30:46.24\00:30:49.01
God reaffirm tithing
00:30:49.04\00:30:51.61
and it's a divine institution.
00:30:51.65\00:30:53.68
Yes.
00:30:53.72\00:30:55.05
And He explained,
00:30:55.08\00:30:56.52
your prosperity
depends upon this.
00:30:56.55\00:30:58.89
He even says, test Me.
00:30:58.92\00:31:00.32
I don't know, is
there another place
00:31:00.36\00:31:01.69
where God says, test Me?
00:31:01.72\00:31:03.86
Melchizedek
prefigured Jesus Christ.
00:31:03.89\00:31:07.43
Yes.
00:31:07.46\00:31:08.80
Hebrews 5:9-10 says,
00:31:08.83\00:31:10.40
"Having been
perfected," speaking of Jesus,
00:31:10.43\00:31:13.57
"He became the author
of eternal salvation to all
00:31:13.60\00:31:18.14
who obey Him,
00:31:18.17\00:31:21.34
called by God as High Priest
00:31:21.38\00:31:23.65
'according to the
order of Melchizedek."
00:31:23.68\00:31:27.15
So just as Abraham
tithe to Melchizedek
00:31:27.18\00:31:30.59
to acknowledge his priesthood.
00:31:30.62\00:31:34.39
And that demonstrated
00:31:34.42\00:31:35.76
that Abraham was
very well informed
00:31:35.79\00:31:39.23
on this sacred
institution of tithing.
00:31:39.26\00:31:42.26
Likewise, his New
Testament believers,
00:31:42.30\00:31:44.80
we tithe to Jesus
to support His church.
00:31:44.83\00:31:48.40
He is our High
Priest, if you will.
00:31:48.44\00:31:51.67
And as I said, there's somewhat
casual reference to tithing,
00:31:51.71\00:31:55.64
the shows to me
00:31:55.68\00:31:57.55
that was already established
in the New Testament Church
00:31:57.58\00:32:00.72
'cause he didn't
have to go through
00:32:00.75\00:32:02.12
and explain this.
00:32:02.15\00:32:03.92
As the father of all believers,
00:32:03.95\00:32:07.02
Abraham was the one
00:32:07.06\00:32:09.82
who set forth
this example for us
00:32:09.86\00:32:13.90
that we're to follow.
00:32:13.93\00:32:15.60
And returning tithe
is a very important part
00:32:15.63\00:32:19.27
of our religious worship.
00:32:19.30\00:32:22.34
And this is why, you
know, Nehemiah knew this.
00:32:22.37\00:32:25.54
This is why he is bringing
the people back but today,
00:32:25.57\00:32:28.78
it supports the
work of the church.
00:32:28.81\00:32:30.61
Certainly, there would
be no evangelism without it.
00:32:30.65\00:32:34.02
So the New Testament
assumes the validity of tithing.
00:32:34.05\00:32:38.82
And no New Testament
writer relaxes its obligations.
00:32:38.85\00:32:43.63
In fact, Jesus
said in Matthew 23:23,
00:32:43.66\00:32:47.33
"Woe to you,
00:32:47.36\00:32:49.23
scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites!
00:32:49.26\00:32:51.23
For you pay tithe of
mint and anise and cumin,
00:32:51.27\00:32:54.20
and have neglected
00:32:54.24\00:32:55.57
the weightier
matters of the law,
00:32:55.60\00:32:57.84
justice, mercy and faith."
00:32:57.87\00:32:59.67
Oh, you can say, hey,
00:32:59.71\00:33:01.04
he's saying woe
because he tithe.
00:33:01.08\00:33:03.01
Now listen, he said,
"These you ought to have done,"
00:33:03.04\00:33:06.92
this tithe you
ought to have done,
00:33:06.95\00:33:09.65
"without leaving
the others undone."
00:33:09.68\00:33:12.85
You know, they were meticulous,
the Pharisees in their tithing
00:33:12.89\00:33:16.02
I mean, counting
out the seeds even,
00:33:16.06\00:33:18.49
but they violated as
we talked about earlier,
00:33:18.53\00:33:22.10
the spirit of the law.
00:33:22.13\00:33:25.03
So Jesus is encouraging
them and He's warning them
00:33:25.07\00:33:30.01
that their strict
tithing must be accompanied
00:33:30.04\00:33:33.81
by God's weightier matters.
00:33:33.84\00:33:36.01
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 says,
00:33:36.04\00:33:39.65
"Do you not know that those
who minister the holy things
00:33:39.68\00:33:42.58
eat of the holy
things of the temple,
00:33:42.62\00:33:44.72
and those who serve at the altar
00:33:44.75\00:33:47.06
partake of the
offerings at the altar?
00:33:47.09\00:33:49.29
Even so the Lord
has commanded that
00:33:49.32\00:33:51.56
those who preach the gospel
00:33:51.59\00:33:54.46
should live from the Gospel."
00:33:54.50\00:33:57.20
So like the Old
Testament priest,
00:33:57.23\00:33:59.53
were supported by the tithe
00:33:59.57\00:34:01.84
those today, our
preachers and our ministers
00:34:01.87\00:34:06.64
are who preached the
New Testament gospel,
00:34:06.68\00:34:10.71
the good news and
victory over a battle.
00:34:10.75\00:34:14.62
They are supported by the tithe.
00:34:14.65\00:34:17.25
Let me read this one comment.
00:34:17.29\00:34:19.39
"When God calls for the tithe,"
00:34:19.42\00:34:21.02
this comes from the
Seventh-day Adventists Believe.
00:34:21.06\00:34:24.59
"When God calls for the tithe,
00:34:24.63\00:34:26.39
He makes no appeal to
gratitude or generosity.
00:34:26.43\00:34:30.03
Although
gratitude should be a part
00:34:30.07\00:34:31.60
of our expressions to God,
00:34:31.63\00:34:32.97
we tithe because
God has commanded it.
00:34:33.00\00:34:35.97
The tithe belongs to the Lord,
00:34:36.00\00:34:38.27
and He requests
that we return to Him."
00:34:38.31\00:34:41.64
Amen.
00:34:41.68\00:34:43.01
Thank you, Shelley, that,
you know, this lesson, Jill,
00:34:43.04\00:34:44.68
as I think you mentioned
even I think before we started,
00:34:44.71\00:34:47.18
this is a lesson
of recalibration.
00:34:47.22\00:34:50.62
It's a lesson that saying to us,
00:34:50.65\00:34:52.35
whatever has
happened and the writer,
00:34:52.39\00:34:54.79
Nehemiah, Ezra is saying
00:34:54.82\00:34:56.66
whatever direction you
were going in the past,
00:34:56.69\00:34:58.93
it's time to get back on track.
00:34:58.96\00:35:00.73
And all these areas in worship,
00:35:00.76\00:35:04.00
in how we honor
the day of worship,
00:35:04.03\00:35:06.47
which is what I'm
gonna talk about right now.
00:35:06.50\00:35:08.34
But I began with Mark Chapter
2 because mine is entitled
00:35:08.37\00:35:10.97
"Treading the Wine
Presses on the Sabbath."
00:35:11.01\00:35:16.31
I'm gonna begin with
a very clear statement
00:35:16.34\00:35:18.15
because the Sabbath
has not been seen today
00:35:18.18\00:35:20.05
in Christendom as something
that is obligatory any longer.
00:35:20.08\00:35:23.69
It's the only commandment
00:35:23.72\00:35:25.05
that starts with
the word remember,
00:35:25.09\00:35:26.86
it is one of the
chief commandments
00:35:26.89\00:35:29.02
that people are told to forget.
00:35:29.06\00:35:31.33
God says
remember, man says forget,
00:35:31.36\00:35:33.80
you know, it always amazed me
00:35:33.83\00:35:35.43
because Ecclesiastes 12:1 says,
00:35:35.46\00:35:38.27
"Remember now the Creator
in the days of your youth."
00:35:38.30\00:35:40.97
No preacher would
ever argue with that.
00:35:41.00\00:35:42.84
Our young people
need to know the Lord.
00:35:42.87\00:35:45.21
Dr. Luke says,
"Remember Lot's wife."
00:35:45.24\00:35:47.81
Nobody would argue with that.
00:35:47.84\00:35:49.18
When the Lord says go
forward, don't go backward.
00:35:49.21\00:35:51.51
Dr. Luke is exalted.
00:35:51.55\00:35:54.72
Solomon is exalted.
00:35:54.75\00:35:56.69
God is ignored.
00:35:56.72\00:35:58.29
He say ignore what God
said, but don't forget Solomon.
00:35:58.32\00:36:01.66
Don't forget Dr. Luke,
00:36:01.69\00:36:03.09
tell me that there's not
something demonic behind that.
00:36:03.12\00:36:05.29
That's true.
00:36:05.33\00:36:07.03
The only commandment
that the Lord said remember
00:36:07.06\00:36:09.16
not that He said
forget of the others.
00:36:09.20\00:36:11.67
But He says remember,
00:36:11.70\00:36:13.67
and this is the one
that is being told to forget.
00:36:13.70\00:36:15.97
So this part of the lesson,
00:36:16.00\00:36:18.24
Nehemiah 13:15-22
00:36:18.27\00:36:21.34
are calibrating the veracity,
00:36:21.38\00:36:25.11
the validity,
00:36:25.15\00:36:28.08
the longevity,
00:36:28.12\00:36:30.72
the perpetuity of the law,
00:36:30.75\00:36:33.32
showing that no
matter how long time last,
00:36:33.36\00:36:36.36
the character of
God doesn't change,
00:36:36.39\00:36:38.56
and His purpose
for the seven day week
00:36:38.59\00:36:41.83
has not changed.
00:36:41.86\00:36:44.03
My wife recently
talked to a creationist,
00:36:44.07\00:36:46.94
and it's amazing, she said,
00:36:46.97\00:36:48.94
"Well, he wanted
to debate an atheist."
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.87
She asked a simple question.
00:36:51.91\00:36:53.84
How could you be a creationist
and miss the Sabbath?
00:36:53.88\00:36:56.58
And he was at a loss for words,
00:36:56.61\00:36:58.15
he couldn't even
find a statement.
00:36:58.18\00:36:59.91
He wanted to debate an atheist.
00:36:59.95\00:37:01.78
He couldn't even
answer her question.
00:37:01.82\00:37:03.99
An atheist could
say to Christians,
00:37:04.02\00:37:06.19
so you believe in creation?
00:37:06.22\00:37:08.09
Yes.
00:37:08.12\00:37:09.46
Why don't you keep the Sabbath?
00:37:09.49\00:37:11.23
The atheist just one hands down.
00:37:11.26\00:37:13.86
So unless we stand
firmly on all the principles,
00:37:13.90\00:37:17.43
and the specifics of truth,
00:37:17.47\00:37:19.30
we cannot stand
firm on any of them.
00:37:19.33\00:37:21.20
Amen.
00:37:21.24\00:37:22.57
Because as the Bible
says in James 2:10-12,
00:37:22.60\00:37:26.04
"If you fault one,
you're guilty of all."
00:37:26.07\00:37:29.14
But let's look at Mark 2:27-28.
00:37:29.18\00:37:31.25
Let me dive into
this very carefully.
00:37:31.28\00:37:32.98
And establish the
New covenant attitude
00:37:33.01\00:37:36.48
and the new covenant
position of the Sabbath
00:37:36.52\00:37:39.05
in the eyes of Jesus,
00:37:39.09\00:37:40.86
who better to use as an example,
00:37:40.89\00:37:43.22
Mark 2:27-28.
00:37:43.26\00:37:45.49
"And He said to them,
00:37:45.53\00:37:46.86
'The Sabbath
was made for M-A-N,"
00:37:46.90\00:37:49.43
what does that spell? Man.
00:37:49.46\00:37:50.83
Not J-E-W.
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.57
"'The Sabbath was made for man,
and not man for the Sabbath.
00:37:52.60\00:37:57.04
Therefore the Son of Man
is also Lord of the Sabbath.'"
00:37:57.07\00:38:01.88
Jesus is not the son of
the Jews in this passage,
00:38:01.91\00:38:05.28
He's the Son of Man,
00:38:05.31\00:38:06.82
He came to seek all humanity
00:38:06.85\00:38:08.88
that all of us
have fallen short,
00:38:08.92\00:38:11.19
the Sabbath was an application.
00:38:11.22\00:38:12.95
The only purpose of the Sabbath
at the end of creation week
00:38:12.99\00:38:15.79
was a sign of a memorial.
00:38:15.82\00:38:18.03
And Ezekiel 20:12, 20
00:38:18.06\00:38:20.10
"Hallow My Sabbaths,
and they will be a sign
00:38:20.13\00:38:22.13
between Me and you,
00:38:22.16\00:38:23.67
that you will
know that I am the Lord
00:38:23.70\00:38:25.03
that sanctifies you."
00:38:25.07\00:38:26.40
Hallow My Sabbaths
00:38:26.43\00:38:27.77
and there a sign
between Me and you
00:38:27.80\00:38:29.34
that you may know that
I am the Lord your God.
00:38:29.37\00:38:32.17
Ezekiel 20:12, 20.
00:38:32.21\00:38:34.81
It's a sign.
00:38:34.84\00:38:36.18
And you know what I said
this in one of my past sermons,
00:38:36.21\00:38:39.08
entitled, "The Sign."
00:38:39.11\00:38:40.68
I said, "If we
woke up in America
00:38:40.72\00:38:42.05
and all of a
sudden, every traffic sign,
00:38:42.08\00:38:43.65
every traffic
light, every yellow line,
00:38:43.69\00:38:45.29
every white line,
every guard rail was removed,
00:38:45.32\00:38:49.09
every railroad crossing,
every high-voltage sign,
00:38:49.12\00:38:52.03
every exit sign was immediately,
00:38:52.06\00:38:55.63
completely gone."
00:38:55.66\00:38:57.03
People would say,
00:38:57.07\00:38:58.40
"What is that
freedom or pandemonia?
00:38:58.43\00:39:00.24
It's pandemonia.
00:39:00.27\00:39:01.67
Because every corrupt heart
00:39:01.70\00:39:03.51
would take advantage of
the lack of prohibition.
00:39:03.54\00:39:06.68
Now lack of prohibition
00:39:06.71\00:39:08.04
doesn't mean a
God of prohibition.
00:39:08.08\00:39:10.01
But the God of order
00:39:10.05\00:39:12.21
is what the purpose of
the Sabbath is all about.
00:39:12.25\00:39:14.62
Let's look at
Nehemiah Chapter 13
00:39:14.65\00:39:16.12
and find out why
these things were done.
00:39:16.15\00:39:18.92
What was the issue
00:39:18.95\00:39:20.29
that Nehemiah
was addressing here?
00:39:20.32\00:39:21.66
Let's look at it.
00:39:21.69\00:39:23.02
Nehemiah 13:15.
00:39:23.06\00:39:24.53
"In those days I saw people
in Judah treading winepresses
00:39:24.56\00:39:27.86
on the Sabbath,
00:39:27.90\00:39:29.23
and bringing in sheaves,
and loading donkeys with wine,
00:39:29.26\00:39:31.60
grapes, figs, and
all kinds of burdens,
00:39:31.63\00:39:34.77
which they
brought into Jerusalem
00:39:34.80\00:39:36.30
on the Sabbath day.
00:39:36.34\00:39:37.97
And I warned them about the day
00:39:38.01\00:39:40.41
on which they were
selling provisions."
00:39:40.44\00:39:44.11
If the Lord would
walk the earth today,
00:39:44.15\00:39:46.15
He would be
warning clergy leaders,
00:39:46.18\00:39:48.52
congregations denominations
00:39:48.55\00:39:50.09
about how they
violate the Sabbath,
00:39:50.12\00:39:52.39
with impunity.
00:39:52.42\00:39:54.02
You know, the
word impunity means,
00:39:54.06\00:39:55.39
with a lack of care,
00:39:55.42\00:39:56.76
and I don't
really care what you say.
00:39:56.79\00:39:58.13
Impunity is worse
than just violation.
00:39:58.16\00:40:01.20
Violation and
ignorance can be excused,
00:40:01.23\00:40:03.57
but violation with impunity
00:40:03.60\00:40:05.10
will only set
itself up for judgment.
00:40:05.13\00:40:07.87
Verse 16,
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.24
"Men of Tyre dwelt there also,
00:40:09.27\00:40:11.57
who brought in fish
and all kinds of goods,
00:40:11.61\00:40:15.11
and sold them on the Sabbath
00:40:15.14\00:40:16.68
to the children of
Judah, in Jerusalem."
00:40:16.71\00:40:19.38
You know, they couldn't
wait for the sun to go down.
00:40:19.41\00:40:21.95
They couldn't
wait for the Sabbath
00:40:21.98\00:40:23.52
and so they could sell
00:40:23.55\00:40:24.89
and that's what's brought
out in the very next verses.
00:40:24.92\00:40:27.09
Verse 17,
00:40:27.12\00:40:28.46
"Then I contended
with the nobles of Judah,
00:40:28.49\00:40:30.33
and said to them,
00:40:30.36\00:40:31.69
'What evil thing
this that you do,
00:40:31.73\00:40:33.66
by which you
profane the Sabbath day?
00:40:33.70\00:40:36.43
Did not your fathers do thus,
00:40:36.46\00:40:38.07
and did not our God
bring all this disaster on us
00:40:38.10\00:40:41.90
and on this city?"
00:40:41.94\00:40:43.74
Jerusalem was destroyed
for violation of the Sabbath.
00:40:43.77\00:40:45.87
But they
wouldn't close the gates
00:40:45.91\00:40:47.24
and that was a whole
thing that Jeremiah addressed.
00:40:47.28\00:40:49.81
"Yet you bring
added wrath on Israel
00:40:49.84\00:40:52.25
by profaning the Sabbath.
00:40:52.28\00:40:54.15
So it was, at the
gates of Jerusalem,
00:40:54.18\00:40:57.02
as it began to be
dark before the Sabbath,
00:40:57.05\00:41:00.26
that I commanded
the gates to be shut,
00:41:00.29\00:41:02.46
and charged that
they must not be opened
00:41:02.49\00:41:05.49
till after the Sabbath."
00:41:05.53\00:41:06.86
I have to make a point here.
00:41:06.90\00:41:09.86
There's a danger not to
guard the edges of the Sabbath.
00:41:09.90\00:41:14.64
Every
commandment has edges to it.
00:41:14.67\00:41:17.37
The edge of
adultery is don't lust,
00:41:17.41\00:41:20.41
the edge of thou shall not steal
00:41:20.44\00:41:22.11
is don't even want, don't covet.
00:41:22.14\00:41:26.48
Every commandment has edges.
00:41:26.51\00:41:28.62
And when we cross the edges,
00:41:28.65\00:41:30.79
we step on the
commandment itself.
00:41:30.82\00:41:33.25
So, my brothers and sisters,
00:41:33.29\00:41:34.79
when the Sabbath
00:41:34.82\00:41:36.16
and this I spoke
to a family member
00:41:36.19\00:41:37.53
not too long ago,
00:41:37.56\00:41:38.89
where they said they were
at somebody Adventist home
00:41:38.93\00:41:40.80
and there's
someone even set yet.
00:41:40.83\00:41:42.83
And so somebody
said, "Let's play Uno."
00:41:42.86\00:41:45.40
Well, they said, "Well,
you got like 20 minutes left."
00:41:45.43\00:41:49.47
And I'm amazed one
of my favorite stores
00:41:49.50\00:41:51.01
in New York,
00:41:51.04\00:41:52.47
B&H Photo.
00:41:52.51\00:41:53.94
B&H Photo is a
Jewish-owned business.
00:41:53.98\00:41:56.31
They close hours
before the Sabbath,
00:41:56.34\00:41:58.78
you can't even go on
their store online and order
00:41:58.81\00:42:01.52
until the Sabbath is over.
00:42:01.55\00:42:03.02
Now the sad reality
is as a Jewish business,
00:42:03.05\00:42:05.42
they reject Christ the person,
00:42:05.45\00:42:07.76
but they have not forgotten
00:42:07.79\00:42:09.39
the validity of the Sabbath.
00:42:09.42\00:42:11.29
But let me make a
very important point.
00:42:11.33\00:42:13.06
The Sabbath without
Christ is not salvation.
00:42:13.09\00:42:15.66
That's right. Both
have to be together.
00:42:15.70\00:42:17.47
But the point that
was being made here
00:42:17.50\00:42:19.20
is the Lord wanted to be clear
00:42:19.23\00:42:21.94
that what I
blessed in the beginning,
00:42:21.97\00:42:23.64
has not been abrogated
nor diluted nor pushed aside
00:42:23.67\00:42:27.11
because you
prefer to be different.
00:42:27.14\00:42:29.24
Let's go on further. So he said.
00:42:29.28\00:42:31.35
He said, not only He said,
00:42:31.38\00:42:32.91
"I charged them
that they must not open
00:42:32.95\00:42:35.25
till after the Sabbath."
00:42:35.28\00:42:37.09
Guard the edges of the Sabbath
in attending restaurants,
00:42:37.12\00:42:41.19
and going to malls,
and going to public events.
00:42:41.22\00:42:45.09
If you serve
the God of creation,
00:42:45.13\00:42:47.46
guard the edges of
the Sabbath be an example.
00:42:47.50\00:42:50.90
"Then I posted
00:42:50.93\00:42:52.27
some of my
servants at the gates,
00:42:52.30\00:42:53.77
so that no burdens
would be brought in
00:42:53.80\00:42:56.40
on the Sabbath day.
00:42:56.44\00:42:58.47
Now the merchants and sellers
00:42:58.51\00:42:59.91
of all kinds of wares
00:42:59.94\00:43:01.28
lodged outside
Jerusalem once or twice."
00:43:01.31\00:43:03.91
I like what he said here.
00:43:03.95\00:43:05.41
Verse 21,
00:43:05.45\00:43:06.78
"Then I warned
them, and said to them,
00:43:06.82\00:43:08.88
'Why do you spend the
night around the wall?
00:43:08.92\00:43:11.72
If you do so
again," I'll slap you.
00:43:11.75\00:43:15.52
You know what He said.
"I'll lay hands on you!'"
00:43:15.56\00:43:18.46
The Lord said,
00:43:18.49\00:43:19.83
don't make my
house a den of thieves.
00:43:19.86\00:43:22.50
And that's what
they were seeking to do.
00:43:22.53\00:43:23.87
Jesus addressed the same issue.
00:43:23.90\00:43:26.00
From that time on
00:43:26.03\00:43:28.07
they came no more
on the Sabbath, why?
00:43:28.10\00:43:30.71
Because they saw the seriousness
00:43:30.74\00:43:34.94
of the warning,
00:43:34.98\00:43:36.34
like a parent would
say, if you do that again,
00:43:36.38\00:43:38.48
I'll lay hands on you.
00:43:38.51\00:43:40.02
Have you heard
that before growing?
00:43:40.05\00:43:42.22
Have you heard that, Kenny?
00:43:42.25\00:43:43.59
I know that. I know your past.
00:43:43.62\00:43:45.89
But look at verse 22.
00:43:45.92\00:43:47.49
"And I commanded the Levites
00:43:47.52\00:43:49.22
that they should
cleanse themselves,
00:43:49.26\00:43:51.99
and that they should
go and guard the gates,
00:43:52.03\00:43:54.66
to sanctify the Sabbath."
00:43:54.70\00:43:56.80
Leaders, preachers,
00:43:56.83\00:43:58.30
we are called
to guard the gates.
00:43:58.33\00:44:01.17
As the leaders,
00:44:01.20\00:44:02.54
as the holy
leaders of the elders,
00:44:02.57\00:44:04.64
the deacons, the
deaconesses, the leaders,
00:44:04.67\00:44:07.04
remember, Jill, no
standards for fellowship,
00:44:07.08\00:44:09.94
standards for membership,
00:44:09.98\00:44:11.45
high standards for leadership,
the leaders are accountable.
00:44:11.48\00:44:14.45
I've often said the
members will never do
00:44:14.48\00:44:17.15
what they don't
see the leaders doing.
00:44:17.19\00:44:19.25
And wherever the
leaders become weak
00:44:19.29\00:44:22.96
and remove
prohibition in their own lives.
00:44:22.99\00:44:26.26
The members will
use them as an example
00:44:26.29\00:44:28.93
to follow in their footsteps.
00:44:28.96\00:44:30.83
That's why he
says here as he ends,
00:44:30.87\00:44:33.70
"Remember me, O my
God, concerning this,
00:44:33.74\00:44:36.30
and spare me
00:44:36.34\00:44:37.67
according to the
greatness of Your mercy!"
00:44:37.71\00:44:40.01
The Lord is merciful.
00:44:40.04\00:44:41.38
He's not willing but the Sabbath
00:44:41.41\00:44:42.81
should not be profaned.
00:44:42.84\00:44:44.41
It's a holy day to a holy God,
00:44:44.45\00:44:47.22
and He'll bless us,
He'll cause us to ride
00:44:47.25\00:44:49.55
on the high places of the earth,
00:44:49.58\00:44:51.45
and feed us with the
heritage if we simply obey.
00:44:51.49\00:44:54.52
Amen.
00:44:54.56\00:44:57.13
Amen.
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.49
It's marvelous the
way God brings people
00:44:58.53\00:45:02.03
to sound the tone of alarm.
00:45:02.06\00:45:05.33
And here we have Nehemiah,
00:45:05.37\00:45:08.17
warning the people
because he was concerned,
00:45:08.20\00:45:11.31
the people of
Israel had already been
00:45:11.34\00:45:12.94
through 70 years of captivity.
00:45:12.97\00:45:16.24
Why? Because they
had disobeyed God.
00:45:16.28\00:45:19.61
And so I have the
part for Thursday,
00:45:19.65\00:45:22.58
"Did Not Your Fathers Do Thus?"
00:45:22.62\00:45:25.72
Again, looking at verse 18.
00:45:25.75\00:45:28.19
"Did not your fathers do thus,
00:45:28.22\00:45:30.79
and did not our God
bring all this disaster on us
00:45:30.83\00:45:34.30
and on this city?"
00:45:34.33\00:45:35.66
In other words, let's
not go back there again.
00:45:35.70\00:45:38.83
Yeah. Amen.
00:45:38.87\00:45:40.20
Let's prevent God from
having to take action upon us
00:45:40.24\00:45:44.84
for disobedience
to His commandments,
00:45:44.87\00:45:47.94
including this
fourth commandment,
00:45:47.98\00:45:49.74
which was a great
concern for Nehemiah.
00:45:49.78\00:45:53.55
And so He took
action and I blessed to hear
00:45:53.58\00:45:58.39
what Pastor Lomacang
had to say about this.
00:45:58.42\00:46:01.52
I like to read
to you from a quote
00:46:01.56\00:46:03.69
that here in the lesson,
00:46:03.73\00:46:05.06
and that is on
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:46:05.09\00:46:07.20
page 671, 672 in the lesson
00:46:07.23\00:46:10.70
and quoting
00:46:10.73\00:46:13.84
Nehemiah Chapter 13, 18, and 19
00:46:13.87\00:46:16.07
we have these words,
00:46:16.10\00:46:17.61
"Nehemiah
fearlessly rebuked them
00:46:17.64\00:46:20.71
for their neglect of duty.
00:46:20.74\00:46:23.45
'What evil thing
is this that you do,
00:46:23.48\00:46:26.25
and profane the Sabbath day?'
00:46:26.28\00:46:28.72
he sternly
commanded or demanded.
00:46:28.75\00:46:30.65
'Did not your fathers do thus,
00:46:30.69\00:46:32.92
and did not our God
bring all this evil upon us,
00:46:32.95\00:46:35.69
and upon this city?
00:46:35.72\00:46:37.06
Yet ye bring
more wrath upon Israel
00:46:37.09\00:46:39.96
by profaning the Sabbath.'"
00:46:40.00\00:46:41.66
This reminds me of the
time when Jesus healed someone
00:46:41.70\00:46:45.57
and said to him,
00:46:45.60\00:46:48.10
"Go and sin no more,
00:46:48.14\00:46:50.37
lest a worse
thing come upon you."
00:46:50.41\00:46:54.24
So this is also a message for us
00:46:54.28\00:46:57.58
because the things
00:46:57.61\00:46:59.65
that happened to
the people of Israel
00:46:59.68\00:47:01.85
are a message for us.
00:47:01.88\00:47:03.85
And concerning the
Sabbath, Pastor Lomacang,
00:47:03.89\00:47:06.35
mentioned some things
that are happening today.
00:47:06.39\00:47:09.26
Going to malls,
00:47:09.29\00:47:10.63
people that know that shouldn't,
00:47:10.66\00:47:12.09
going to malls,
00:47:12.13\00:47:13.46
going to restaurants
during the Sabbath day,
00:47:13.50\00:47:15.96
what would Nehemiah do today?
00:47:16.00\00:47:18.87
What would Jesus do today
00:47:18.90\00:47:20.44
if He was
walking among us today,
00:47:20.47\00:47:22.70
as He did during
the time of Israel,
00:47:22.74\00:47:24.57
during the time
00:47:24.61\00:47:25.94
when He was in
His earthly sojourn?
00:47:25.97\00:47:27.74
And so continuing here,
00:47:27.78\00:47:31.21
"He gave them command that
00:47:31.25\00:47:34.05
'when the gates of
Jerusalem began to be dark
00:47:34.08\00:47:36.08
before the
Sabbath,' they should be shut,
00:47:36.12\00:47:38.22
and not opened to
the Sabbath was past,
00:47:38.25\00:47:40.69
and having more
confidence in his own servants
00:47:40.72\00:47:42.62
than in those
00:47:42.66\00:47:43.99
that the magistrates of
Jerusalem might appoint,
00:47:44.03\00:47:45.56
he stationed them at the
gates to see that these orders
00:47:45.59\00:47:48.93
or his orders were enforced."
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.27
It's sad that
they had to do this
00:47:51.30\00:47:53.94
because they should know better.
00:47:53.97\00:47:56.71
But measures had to be taken
00:47:56.74\00:47:59.47
to prevent from sin coming in.
00:47:59.51\00:48:03.38
God again, you
know, you ask yourself,
00:48:03.41\00:48:07.42
what is God doing today
00:48:07.45\00:48:08.88
to bring to people's attention
00:48:08.92\00:48:11.55
about the commandments?
00:48:11.59\00:48:12.92
I believe one of the things
that God is doing is 3ABN,
00:48:12.95\00:48:15.92
proclaiming all over the world.
00:48:15.96\00:48:17.76
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:48:17.79\00:48:21.03
You mentioned
the word perpetuity.
00:48:21.06\00:48:22.66
This is something
that continues today.
00:48:22.70\00:48:25.40
And that's why
00:48:25.43\00:48:26.77
remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:48:26.80\00:48:28.14
But wait, somebody says, wait,
00:48:28.17\00:48:29.54
didn't Jesus said do
some things about Sabbath
00:48:29.57\00:48:32.51
wasn't He condemned
for violating the Sabbath?
00:48:32.54\00:48:35.61
That's an incorrect assessment
00:48:35.64\00:48:37.98
or interpretation
of the scriptures.
00:48:38.01\00:48:39.45
Jesus did not
violate the Sabbath.
00:48:39.48\00:48:41.88
As a matter of
fact, concerning Jesus,
00:48:41.92\00:48:45.39
had there been one sin.
00:48:45.42\00:48:47.52
That's right.
00:48:47.56\00:48:48.89
During His time of judge,
00:48:48.92\00:48:51.39
He was judged
before He was crucified.
00:48:51.43\00:48:53.90
They couldn't find a
single thing wrong with Him.
00:48:53.93\00:48:57.83
And if He had
violated the Sabbath,
00:48:57.87\00:49:00.57
which Bible says
00:49:00.60\00:49:02.60
that sin is the
transgression of the law.
00:49:02.64\00:49:04.64
If he had violated the Sabbath
00:49:04.67\00:49:06.01
He would not be a
perfect offering for us,
00:49:06.04\00:49:08.74
and therefore, we
will be in serious trouble.
00:49:08.78\00:49:11.91
I would like to
read one of the occasions
00:49:11.95\00:49:13.48
where Jesus did a
miracle on the Sabbath day.
00:49:13.52\00:49:17.79
Luke 6:6-11.
00:49:17.82\00:49:20.36
I'm gonna read this
quickly, Luke 6:6-11.
00:49:20.39\00:49:23.02
"Now it happened
on another Sabbath,
00:49:23.06\00:49:24.63
also, that He
entered the synagogue
00:49:24.66\00:49:26.59
and taught.
00:49:26.63\00:49:27.96
And a man was there
whose right hand was withered.
00:49:28.00\00:49:30.87
So the scribes and Pharisees
00:49:30.90\00:49:32.87
watched Him closely,
00:49:32.90\00:49:35.04
whether He would
heal on the Sabbath,
00:49:35.07\00:49:36.84
that they might find
an accusation against Him.
00:49:36.87\00:49:40.48
But He knew their thoughts,
00:49:40.51\00:49:42.34
and said to the man
who had the withered hand,
00:49:42.38\00:49:44.38
'Arise and stand here.'
00:49:44.41\00:49:46.68
And he arose and stood.
00:49:46.72\00:49:48.28
Then Jesus said to them,
'I will ask you one thing,
00:49:48.32\00:49:51.75
Is it lawful on the Sabbath
00:49:51.79\00:49:55.02
to do good or to do evil,
00:49:55.06\00:49:56.89
to save life or to destroy?'
00:49:56.93\00:49:59.63
And when He had
looked around at them all,
00:49:59.66\00:50:03.47
He said to the man,
'Stretch out your hand.'
00:50:03.50\00:50:05.73
And he did so,
00:50:05.77\00:50:07.10
and his hand was
restored as whole as the other.
00:50:07.14\00:50:11.14
But they were filled with rage,
and discussed with one another
00:50:11.17\00:50:14.68
what they might do to Jesus."
00:50:14.71\00:50:16.04
Notice Jesus asked Him,
00:50:16.08\00:50:17.41
is it lawful to do
good on the Sabbath day?
00:50:17.45\00:50:20.05
And brothers and sisters,
00:50:20.08\00:50:21.62
is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath day?
00:50:21.65\00:50:24.59
Let's go out and do
good on the Sabbath day,
00:50:24.62\00:50:26.65
instead of going to malls,
let them go into restaurants.
00:50:26.69\00:50:29.52
It is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath day.
00:50:29.56\00:50:32.59
And so the
Sabbath remains true today
00:50:32.63\00:50:36.56
as it was in
the time of the Jews
00:50:36.60\00:50:38.70
and Nehemiah's time,
00:50:38.73\00:50:40.07
as it was in the time of Jesus
00:50:40.10\00:50:41.87
is still too true today.
00:50:41.90\00:50:43.87
You see, Jesus
came to magnify the law
00:50:43.91\00:50:47.84
and make it honorable.
00:50:47.88\00:50:49.21
I see in Isaiah 42:21.
00:50:49.24\00:50:52.08
Concerning this, it says,
00:50:52.11\00:50:53.92
"The Lord is well pleased
for His righteousness' sake,
00:50:53.95\00:50:57.25
He will exalt the law
and make it honorable."
00:50:57.29\00:51:01.66
And concerning Jesus
in Psalms 40:7-8, it says,
00:51:01.69\00:51:05.69
"Sacrifice and offering
00:51:05.73\00:51:07.46
You did not desire,
My ears You have opened.
00:51:07.50\00:51:10.87
Burnt offering and sin offering
00:51:10.90\00:51:12.63
You did not require.
00:51:12.67\00:51:14.50
Then I said, 'Behold, I come,
00:51:14.54\00:51:16.94
in the scroll of the
book it is written of me.
00:51:16.97\00:51:20.24
I delight to do
Your will, O my God,
00:51:20.28\00:51:22.21
and Your law is
within my heart.'"
00:51:22.24\00:51:24.91
The Law of God was
within the heart of Jesus.
00:51:24.95\00:51:27.52
He came to magnify the
law and make it honorable.
00:51:27.55\00:51:30.72
That's why I go
to Matthew 5:17-19
00:51:30.75\00:51:33.69
and point some things there.
00:51:33.72\00:51:35.49
"Do not think that I
came to destroy the law
00:51:35.52\00:51:38.06
or the prophets.
00:51:38.09\00:51:39.43
I did not come to
destroy but to fulfill.
00:51:39.46\00:51:42.06
For assuredly, I say to you,
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.47
till heaven and earth pass away,
00:51:43.50\00:51:45.20
one jot or one
tittle will by no means pass
00:51:45.23\00:51:47.44
from the law
00:51:47.47\00:51:48.80
till all is fulfilled."
00:51:48.84\00:51:50.17
Question,
00:51:50.21\00:51:51.77
is heaven and earth passed away?
00:51:51.81\00:51:53.34
No.
00:51:53.38\00:51:54.71
No, therefore, now
one jot or one tittle
00:51:54.74\00:51:57.71
has pass from the law,
00:51:57.75\00:51:59.08
"Whoever therefore,"
continuing in verse 19.
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.52
"Whoever therefore breaks one."
00:52:02.55\00:52:04.85
Verse 19. Verse 19, thank you.
00:52:04.89\00:52:06.72
"Whoever therefore breaks
00:52:06.76\00:52:08.09
one of the least
of these commandments,
00:52:08.12\00:52:09.46
and teaches men so,
00:52:09.49\00:52:10.83
shall be called least
in the kingdom of heaven,
00:52:10.86\00:52:13.33
but whoever does
and teaches them,
00:52:13.36\00:52:15.23
he shall be called great
in the kingdom of heaven."
00:52:15.26\00:52:17.70
Let's teach them. Let's do them.
00:52:17.73\00:52:20.50
Now let's look at
Jesus magnifying the law.
00:52:20.54\00:52:23.30
Verse 21 of Matthew Chapter 5.
00:52:23.34\00:52:25.94
"You have heard that it
was said of those of old,
00:52:25.97\00:52:28.68
'You shall not murder,
00:52:28.71\00:52:30.05
and whoever murders will
be in danger of the judgment.'
00:52:30.08\00:52:32.85
But I say to you that whoever
is angry with his brother
00:52:32.88\00:52:35.98
without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgment.
00:52:36.02\00:52:38.85
And whoever says to
his brother, 'Raca!'
00:52:38.89\00:52:40.86
shall be in
danger of the council.
00:52:40.89\00:52:43.39
But whoever says, 'You fool!'
00:52:43.43\00:52:44.76
shall be in
danger of hell fire."
00:52:44.79\00:52:46.43
You see, Jesus is
magnifying the law,
00:52:46.46\00:52:48.73
the same thing with the Sabbath.
00:52:48.76\00:52:50.37
Look at another one.
00:52:50.40\00:52:51.73
Verse 27, "You have heard that
it was said to those of old,
00:52:51.77\00:52:54.87
'You shall not
commit adultery.'"
00:52:54.90\00:52:56.91
Jesus goes further, He says,
00:52:56.94\00:52:58.27
"But I say to you
00:52:58.31\00:52:59.64
that whoever looks at
a woman to lust for her
00:52:59.67\00:53:01.78
has already committed
adultery with her in his heart."
00:53:01.81\00:53:05.61
Jesus magnifying the
law, making it honorable.
00:53:05.65\00:53:09.32
And so now one jot
00:53:09.35\00:53:11.25
or one tittle has
pass from the law.
00:53:11.29\00:53:15.56
And so today,
00:53:15.59\00:53:17.76
I want to
encourage us encourage,
00:53:17.79\00:53:21.00
those that are
listening to consider
00:53:21.03\00:53:23.60
what happened here in Nehemiah,
00:53:23.63\00:53:25.73
Jesus today says to you,
00:53:25.77\00:53:28.90
the same thing, you know,
00:53:28.94\00:53:31.14
obey if you love me
keep My commandments.
00:53:31.17\00:53:34.74
It is for your good
00:53:34.78\00:53:36.71
because this
obedience brings bad results.
00:53:36.75\00:53:41.35
Jesus said, "Not one jot,
00:53:41.38\00:53:43.79
not one tittle has
pass from the law."
00:53:43.82\00:53:46.32
Looking at history,
00:53:46.35\00:53:47.79
we see what happened
to the people of Israel
00:53:47.82\00:53:49.46
for disobedience.
00:53:49.49\00:53:51.23
Looking at us,
00:53:51.26\00:53:53.46
if we do like the
Jews did in the old days,
00:53:53.50\00:53:58.57
bad results.
00:53:58.60\00:54:00.37
Unfortunately,
during the time of Jesus,
00:54:00.40\00:54:02.30
the Jews had taken
these things to extreme.
00:54:02.34\00:54:05.41
This is why they're looking
at Jesus watching closely
00:54:05.44\00:54:08.41
to see if He would heal,
00:54:08.44\00:54:09.78
they had lost sight of
the beauty of the Sabbath.
00:54:09.81\00:54:12.58
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:54:12.61\00:54:14.65
It is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath day,
00:54:14.68\00:54:16.95
they made rigorous things,
00:54:16.99\00:54:18.55
oh, if you can carry a
handkerchief in your pocket,
00:54:18.59\00:54:20.86
you are carrying a weight
00:54:20.89\00:54:22.39
and now you are
violating the Sabbath.
00:54:22.42\00:54:25.16
Jesus was trying
to clear the clutter
00:54:25.19\00:54:28.76
that the things they
have put on the Sabbath
00:54:28.80\00:54:30.37
that should have
never been there.
00:54:30.40\00:54:32.30
And He is saying to us today,
00:54:32.33\00:54:34.27
"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
00:54:34.30\00:54:37.17
This has never changed.
00:54:37.21\00:54:39.57
There's no
commandment that says,
00:54:39.61\00:54:40.94
"Oh, from now on
you can forget it."
00:54:40.98\00:54:43.01
Don't worry about it.
00:54:43.04\00:54:44.48
Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy remains
00:54:44.51\00:54:47.32
and I would like to quote,
words of Jesus one more time,
00:54:47.35\00:54:51.25
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:54:51.29\00:54:53.86
It remains true today. Amen.
00:54:53.89\00:54:56.06
Thank you so
much, Pastor Johnny,
00:54:56.09\00:54:57.73
and, Pastor John,
00:54:57.76\00:54:59.09
and, Shelley, and, Pastor Kenny,
00:54:59.13\00:55:01.66
this recalibration
as it were of our hearts
00:55:01.70\00:55:04.47
and our lives.
00:55:04.50\00:55:05.83
It's a God who loves us,
00:55:05.87\00:55:07.87
and who calls the
backslidden people
00:55:07.90\00:55:10.31
back to repentance.
00:55:10.34\00:55:13.01
I wanna to give
each one of you a moment
00:55:13.04\00:55:14.44
to share
something about your day
00:55:14.48\00:55:15.81
or this lesson in particular.
00:55:15.84\00:55:18.01
I think this lesson pulls things
00:55:18.05\00:55:21.18
out of us thoughts.
00:55:21.22\00:55:22.78
Sometime when you're in
the middle of a situation,
00:55:22.82\00:55:25.32
it's hard to see
it for what it is,
00:55:25.35\00:55:27.56
but we're talking
about here recalibration,
00:55:27.59\00:55:30.33
or we're talking
about a reformation
00:55:30.36\00:55:32.39
here we just read about
reformation was taken place.
00:55:32.43\00:55:35.16
This is reformation
God wants us to have
00:55:35.20\00:55:37.70
and that's in our lives.
00:55:37.73\00:55:39.07
And we might look and
say, old things weren't good.
00:55:39.10\00:55:41.10
We need a reformation
we need some changes,
00:55:41.14\00:55:43.14
we need to be turn back to God
00:55:43.17\00:55:44.51
because He's
certainly coming soon.
00:55:44.54\00:55:46.27
And when we do, the
blessings and approval of God
00:55:46.31\00:55:48.84
will be upon His people.
00:55:48.88\00:55:50.21
Amen. Amen.
00:55:50.25\00:55:51.95
Wednesday's lesson
00:55:51.98\00:55:53.31
was on Tithes and Offerings
00:55:53.35\00:55:54.68
and I really didn't
get to the Offering.
00:55:54.72\00:55:56.05
But I just wanted
to read a quick quote
00:55:56.08\00:55:59.32
from this is also from the Book
Seventh-day Adventists Believe.
00:55:59.35\00:56:04.09
But it says, "The tithing system
00:56:04.13\00:56:05.66
is beautiful in its simplicity.
00:56:05.69\00:56:08.66
Its equity is revealed
in its proportional claim
00:56:08.70\00:56:13.27
on the rich and on the poor.
00:56:13.30\00:56:15.34
In proportion
as God has given us
00:56:15.37\00:56:18.71
the use of His property,
00:56:18.74\00:56:20.58
so we are to
return to Him at tithe."
00:56:20.61\00:56:24.18
One-tenth that God said is holy.
00:56:24.21\00:56:27.78
Amen. Amen.
00:56:27.82\00:56:29.28
And what Nehemiah
was seeking to accomplish
00:56:29.32\00:56:32.19
in calibrating the
minds of the people
00:56:32.22\00:56:33.76
back to the Sabbath.
00:56:33.79\00:56:35.36
Let me just a twist right here.
00:56:35.39\00:56:37.76
If we think it's
just about the day
00:56:37.79\00:56:39.46
we have missed the whole point.
00:56:39.49\00:56:40.83
That's right.
00:56:40.86\00:56:42.20
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:56:42.23\00:56:43.93
Exodus 20:10,
00:56:43.97\00:56:45.50
"The Seventh-day is the
Sabbath of the Lord your God."
00:56:45.53\00:56:50.47
The question
is, who is your God,
00:56:50.51\00:56:53.01
if it's not the God of creation,
00:56:53.04\00:56:54.71
pick whatever day you want,
00:56:54.74\00:56:56.08
but if it's the true God,
He's already picked the day.
00:56:56.11\00:56:58.48
Yes, He had. Amen.
00:56:58.51\00:57:00.28
Let me read quickly
from Isaiah 58:13-14,
00:57:00.32\00:57:03.99
"'If you turn away
your foot from the Sabbath,
00:57:04.02\00:57:05.89
from doing your
pleasure on My holy day,
00:57:05.92\00:57:08.02
and called the
Sabbath a delight."
00:57:08.06\00:57:09.52
It is a delight. Amen.
00:57:09.56\00:57:11.96
"The holy day of
the Lord honorable,
00:57:11.99\00:57:13.90
and show honor Him,
00:57:13.93\00:57:15.33
not doing your own ways,
nor finding your own pleasure,
00:57:15.36\00:57:18.13
nor speaking your own words,
00:57:18.17\00:57:19.50
then you shall
delight yourself in the Lord.
00:57:19.53\00:57:22.00
And I will cause you to ride
on the high hills of the earth,
00:57:22.04\00:57:24.87
and feed you with the
heritage of Jacob your father.
00:57:24.91\00:57:27.31
The mouth of the
Lord has spoken.'"
00:57:27.34\00:57:29.01
Amen.
00:57:29.04\00:57:30.38
Thank you all so much for
sharing from your own heart
00:57:30.41\00:57:32.65
and experience
in the Word of God.
00:57:32.68\00:57:34.32
And we're grateful
00:57:34.35\00:57:35.68
that you have joined us as well.
00:57:35.72\00:57:37.05
I wanna close
with this scripture
00:57:37.09\00:57:38.65
Ezekiel 18:30-31.
00:57:38.69\00:57:42.09
"Repent,
00:57:42.12\00:57:43.46
and turn from
your transgressions.
00:57:43.49\00:57:45.83
Cast away from you
all those transgressions
00:57:45.86\00:57:48.03
and get yourself a new
heart and a new spirit.
00:57:48.06\00:57:50.57
For why should you
die, O house of Israel?"
00:57:50.60\00:57:54.00
That's God's call to you
00:57:54.04\00:57:55.67
and it's His call
to me to all of us.
00:57:55.70\00:57:57.67
Join us next week
00:57:57.71\00:57:59.11
as we look at lesson number 12,
00:57:59.14\00:58:01.84
Dealing with Bad Decisions.
00:58:01.88\00:58:04.35