WEBVTT 00:00:03.987 --> 00:00:10.480 We are in a series entitled the Passion Project and it's a study of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:12.666 How many have been enjoying going through Nehemiah? 00:00:12.666 --> 00:00:14.009 Isn't it wonderful? 00:00:14.009 --> 00:00:14.871 It really is. 00:00:14.871 --> 00:00:19.632 This message is called Oppression and Generosity. 00:00:19.632 --> 00:00:21.687 Oppression and Generosity. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:24.309 We're going to talk today about money. 00:00:24.309 --> 00:00:28.181 Part of our message will deal with money. 00:00:28.181 --> 00:00:32.070 How many know the Bible has a lot to say about money and how to steward it? 00:00:32.070 --> 00:00:40.973 And so this chapter demonstrates how stewarding our money improperly can hinder God's restoration program. 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:55.014 So Nehemiah, by the way, was mentioned last week by Mark was one of two vessels God used to rebuild the temple of God after it had been destroyed in 587 BC by the Babylonians. 00:00:55.014 --> 00:01:07.126 The other one was Ezra the scribe, and together Ezra and Nehemiah were the two represented two components needed for true spiritual recovery work. 00:01:07.126 --> 00:01:12.700 First came on the scene Ezra, and he restored the word of God to the people of God. 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:26.040 You know it says of Ezra in chapter seven of Ezra, verse 10, for Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:28.221 All true spiritual recovery work. 00:01:28.221 --> 00:01:33.284 There must be a return to the authority of Scripture. 00:01:33.284 --> 00:01:44.609 The authority of Scripture is definitely needed and in all true spiritual recovery work the Bible is front and center. 00:01:44.609 --> 00:01:48.552 This is followed by Nehemiah and Nehemiah in Hebrew. 00:01:48.552 --> 00:01:50.992 Anybody know what Nehemiah in Hebrew is? 00:01:50.992 --> 00:01:54.655 It means God's comforts, god comforts. 00:01:54.655 --> 00:02:09.144 It's based on the Hebrew word necham, meaning to comfort meaning, and his name represents the true work of the spirit. 00:02:09.144 --> 00:02:17.064 In any genuine work of God, word and spirit are necessary elements working together, because in the Hebrew Bible, ezra and Nehemiah are one book, not two, but one. 00:02:17.064 --> 00:02:26.491 So together they represent, you know, the necessary elements that God does when he's doing a work of restoration. 00:02:26.491 --> 00:02:29.366 This morning I want to read chapter 5. 00:02:29.366 --> 00:02:30.831 We're going to be in chapter 5. 00:02:30.831 --> 00:02:37.563 So the words will be on the screen If you want to look there, or in your Bibles will be in Nehemiah 5. 00:02:37.563 --> 00:02:40.461 I'm reading from the English Standard Version Now. 00:02:40.502 --> 00:02:56.512 There arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers, for there were those who said with our sons and our daughters, we are many, so let us get grain that we may keep alive, eat and keep alive. 00:02:56.512 --> 00:03:04.834 There were also those who said we are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses to get grain because of the famine. 00:03:04.834 --> 00:03:09.491 And there were those who said we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields, our vineyards and our houses to get grain because of the famine. 00:03:09.491 --> 00:03:11.718 And there were those who said we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. 00:03:11.718 --> 00:03:16.149 Now, our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. 00:03:16.149 --> 00:03:23.506 Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been slaved, but it is. 00:03:23.545 --> 00:03:26.829 I was very angry when I heard this outcry and these words. 00:03:26.829 --> 00:03:39.568 I took counsel with myself and I was brought charges against the nobles and the officials. 00:03:39.568 --> 00:03:40.631 I said to them. 00:03:40.631 --> 00:03:43.835 I said to them you are exacting interest, each from his brother. 00:03:43.835 --> 00:03:54.780 And I held a great assembly against them and said to them we, as far as we are able, have brought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations. 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:59.050 But you even sell to your brothers that they may be sold to us. 00:03:59.050 --> 00:04:02.469 They were silent and could not find a word to say. 00:04:02.469 --> 00:04:06.409 So I said the thing you are doing is not good. 00:04:06.409 --> 00:04:12.552 Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations and our enemies. 00:04:12.552 --> 00:04:18.490 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. 00:04:18.490 --> 00:04:21.702 Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 00:04:21.702 --> 00:04:33.562 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards and their houses and the percentage of money, grain, wine and oil that you have been exacting from them. 00:04:33.562 --> 00:04:38.233 Then they said we will restore these and require nothing from them. 00:04:38.233 --> 00:04:40.041 We will do as you say. 00:04:40.041 --> 00:04:44.189 And I called the priest and made them swear to do as they had promised. 00:04:44.189 --> 00:04:54.166 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said so may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep the promise. 00:04:54.166 --> 00:04:56.827 So may he be shaken out and emptied. 00:04:56.827 --> 00:05:00.651 And all the assembly said Amen and praised the Lord. 00:05:00.651 --> 00:05:20.052 And the people did as they promised Verse 14. 00:05:20.072 --> 00:05:29.057 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration 40 shekels of silver. 00:05:29.057 --> 00:05:36.771 Even their servants lorded it over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. 00:05:36.771 --> 00:05:44.108 I also perceived in the work on the wall and we acquired no land and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 00:05:44.108 --> 00:05:56.466 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 00:05:56.466 --> 00:06:06.110 Now, what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and, every 10 days, all kinds of wine in abundance. 00:06:06.110 --> 00:06:14.242 Yet for all this, I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 00:06:14.242 --> 00:06:19.814 Remember for my good, oh my God, all that I have done for this people. 00:06:19.814 --> 00:06:24.086 Thank you, father, for this portion of scripture. 00:06:24.086 --> 00:06:29.302 Lord, we ask you to open it up to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name. 00:06:29.302 --> 00:06:32.492 And everyone said amen and amen. 00:06:32.492 --> 00:06:38.711 Let me take a minute and review where we've been in our journey through Nehemiah. 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:44.932 When the book opens, we see that the Jewish people are rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. 00:06:44.932 --> 00:06:53.211 The temple had been built, but the wall had been destroyed, and this book is about the rebuilding of the wall of around Jerusalem. 00:06:53.211 --> 00:06:58.971 We need to ask why is building a wall around the city of Jerusalem so important? 00:06:58.971 --> 00:07:07.970 Why, first of all, a wall speaks of protection from their enemies, and this is the key to understanding its importance. 00:07:07.970 --> 00:07:16.108 In ancient times, a city's walls were all they had to protect themselves, and so building this wall was very critical. 00:07:16.108 --> 00:07:19.350 But they represent more than protection. 00:07:19.350 --> 00:07:21.889 They represent distinction as well. 00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:26.411 Everything inside the walls is designated the holy city. 00:07:26.411 --> 00:07:35.084 So when the walls are broken down, it speaks of the failure of the people of God to be distinct from the world. 00:07:35.084 --> 00:07:44.952 We have to ask the question what good is a wall around the city of Jerusalem if the people of God are not living in a distinct manner from those around them? 00:07:44.952 --> 00:07:54.214 Israel was called to be a light to the nations, but how could they fulfill that calling if, internally, they were no different than the nations? 00:07:54.214 --> 00:08:00.339 So that is why rebuilding the wall is so important in this book of Nehemiah. 00:08:00.721 --> 00:08:06.372 When the book opens up, we see that Nehemiah is living in Persia and he's the cupbearer to the king. 00:08:06.372 --> 00:08:12.471 He's the guy that would drink the wine for the king and prevent him from being poisoned. 00:08:12.471 --> 00:08:13.653 Great job, huh. 00:08:13.653 --> 00:08:21.139 While in Persia, nehemiah received word that the Israelites in Jerusalem were in great difficulty. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.985 We've seen this already as we've marched through the early chapters of Nehemiah. 00:08:24.985 --> 00:08:30.911 The city is in disrepute due to the fact that the wall was burned down and destroyed. 00:08:31.331 --> 00:08:37.171 Immediately, nehemiah is called to action, and what's the first thing he does? 00:08:37.171 --> 00:08:41.629 The first thing he does is pray, which is always the first thing we should do when we're called to action. 00:08:41.629 --> 00:08:54.125 The first thing he does is pray, and all through the book Nehemiah is presented as a man of prayer and we can learn much from his prayer life. 00:08:54.125 --> 00:08:57.293 Those who want to be effective in terms of spiritual work know the central place that prayer holds. 00:08:57.293 --> 00:09:03.889 And Nehemiah specifically prays that God would open a door for him to return to Jerusalem. 00:09:03.889 --> 00:09:15.091 And the next chapter, chapter 2, the Persian king Artaxerxes grants him his request and even funds it and sends him back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. 00:09:15.091 --> 00:09:20.993 And the first thing Nehemiah does when he returns to the city is he inspects the walls. 00:09:20.993 --> 00:09:25.769 Nehemiah builds his team and in chapter 3, the rebuilding begins. 00:09:25.769 --> 00:09:40.412 But as is often the case in any true work of spiritual value, there is always opposition, and Scott's going to be talking about that opposition, which really comes to the front in chapter 6 next week. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:51.947 Now we come this morning to chapter 5, and we see in this chapter that God is not so much building a wall as he is building a faithful people. 00:09:51.947 --> 00:09:56.855 Nehemiah and his team face many challenges. 00:09:56.855 --> 00:10:01.409 Those challenges don't just come from the outside, but they come from the inside. 00:10:01.409 --> 00:10:10.885 We Christians like to think much about the corrupt nature of our culture and why it's corrupt and it is corrupt, but what about what's in us? 00:10:10.885 --> 00:10:14.368 That's what Nehemiah is talking about. 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:40.585 This chapter begins with a great outcry against their Jewish countrymen, and it's very important that we realize the word outcry, which appears here in Nehemiah 5, only appears one other place in the Bible, in the book of Exodus, when it talks about the children of Israel being in bondage to Egypt and their cry reached up to the God of Abraham, isaac and Jacob, and God heard their cry and delivered them. 00:10:40.585 --> 00:10:46.434 That word outcry in Exodus is the same word used here in Nehemiah 5. 00:10:46.434 --> 00:10:54.182 In this account, the people were being oppressed, not against Egypt, though, but against their own Jewish brothers. 00:10:54.182 --> 00:10:59.302 There are three different complaints against their brothers in the opening verses. 00:10:59.302 --> 00:11:01.508 Very important that we recognize that. 00:11:01.567 --> 00:11:08.052 First, in verse 2, the people said there's a famine going on, and we are many, and there isn't enough grain. 00:11:08.052 --> 00:11:17.009 These were large families whose husbands and families are the primary breadwinners and are attending to the wall for no pay. 00:11:17.009 --> 00:11:24.509 This meant that they had no time for the usual work to buy eat, to earn money, to buy food. 00:11:24.509 --> 00:11:29.307 The first group's problem was life-threatening, they were literally starving. 00:11:29.307 --> 00:11:33.210 And then the second group appears in verse 3. 00:11:33.210 --> 00:11:48.700 We see that there are people who are mortgaging their fields, their vineyards, their houses to get grain, and this meant, sadly, that the second group was on a trajectory to insolvency, and this was the problem. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:55.028 And then the third group some of them were forcing their sons and daughters to be slaves. 00:11:56.811 --> 00:12:11.480 This might be a reference, by the way, to Exodus 21, where if a Jew fell into debt to another Jew, he could pay his debt by becoming a slave for six years and then, after six years, they were free to leave. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.554 They paid their debt. 00:12:12.554 --> 00:12:25.571 By the way, there was a provision made in that commandment that if, after six years, you say I love my master, where can I go and find a master better than this? 00:12:25.571 --> 00:12:35.196 They would literally cut your ear, and your ear being cut was a sign that you were a bond slave and you were indebted to serve that master forever. 00:12:35.196 --> 00:12:39.421 You're not serving anymore out of duty, you're serving out of love. 00:12:39.421 --> 00:12:47.573 And this is what was happening in verses four and five. 00:12:47.573 --> 00:12:59.561 And the Israelites said one author said many had to borrow money from their Jewish brothers to pay the Persia king's tax on their assets. 00:12:59.561 --> 00:13:04.653 However, on top of this loan, the wealthy Jewish brothers were charging interest. 00:13:04.653 --> 00:13:09.010 Property might be taken in a pledge pending a repayment of a loan. 00:13:09.010 --> 00:13:15.493 However, taking interest from a fellow Israelite who borrowed out of poverty and need was a major no-no. 00:13:15.493 --> 00:13:23.065 Some were so behind in paying their debt that they were selling their sons and daughters into debt slavery. 00:13:23.065 --> 00:13:34.144 While this practice was legal, it nonetheless hit them financially strapped families quite hard and simply added insult to injury. 00:13:34.950 --> 00:13:37.538 Now how does Nehemiah respond when he hears this? 00:13:37.538 --> 00:13:40.855 He says I was very angry. 00:13:40.855 --> 00:13:42.581 There's a lot we can learn from this. 00:13:42.581 --> 00:13:44.265 Listen, he says I was very angry. 00:13:44.265 --> 00:13:45.188 There's a lot we can learn from this. 00:13:45.188 --> 00:13:49.514 Listen, he says I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 00:13:49.514 --> 00:13:52.663 I took counsel with myself and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. 00:13:52.663 --> 00:13:55.991 What if we handled our anger this way? 00:13:55.991 --> 00:14:00.802 We would expect him to say I was very angry when I heard this and I freaked out. 00:14:00.802 --> 00:14:03.653 But that's not what he says. 00:14:03.653 --> 00:14:05.236 He doesn't handle that way. 00:14:05.236 --> 00:14:11.600 Instead, he says I was angry when I heard their outcry and I took counsel with myself. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.470 I love that phrase I took counsel with myself. 00:14:14.470 --> 00:14:17.975 It indicates he collected his thoughts and prayed. 00:14:17.975 --> 00:14:22.384 Now, nehemiah was justifiably angry when he heard these words. 00:14:23.429 --> 00:14:25.696 The situation called for an angry response. 00:14:25.696 --> 00:14:35.192 Sometimes, when I say that Christians are shocked because they've embraced the idea that anger is never justified, but you'll not find that in scripture. 00:14:35.192 --> 00:14:36.173 It actually says. 00:14:36.173 --> 00:14:41.224 Paul says in Ephesians be angry but sin not. 00:14:41.224 --> 00:14:50.543 So anger is called for at times and this is one of those times when it's justifiable because of the situation called for an angry response. 00:14:50.543 --> 00:14:57.003 There are times when angry responses are totally justified, especially in the New Testament. 00:14:57.003 --> 00:15:04.076 How many remember when Jesus went into the temple and he stood up and said please don't do that. 00:15:04.076 --> 00:15:04.980 That's not nice. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:15.062 No, he made a whip, a cord, a whip out of cords of rope and drove them out. 00:15:15.062 --> 00:15:19.456 And you see in that story the wrath of the lamb, see in that story the wrath of the Lamb. 00:15:19.456 --> 00:15:31.373 And in fact in Revelation, chapter 6, john says he hears the Lamb say fall on us. 00:15:31.373 --> 00:15:37.153 People say fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand. 00:15:37.153 --> 00:15:41.663 So the New Testament allows for anger as long as it's righteous. 00:15:41.663 --> 00:15:44.275 Anger and be angry, but sin not. 00:15:44.275 --> 00:15:45.581 So he says. 00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:49.854 I took counsel with myself and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. 00:15:50.215 --> 00:15:53.350 I said to them you are exacting interest, each from his brother. 00:15:53.350 --> 00:16:02.493 And I held a great assembly against them and said to them we, as far as we are able, have brought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations. 00:16:02.493 --> 00:16:06.346 But you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us. 00:16:06.346 --> 00:16:14.168 They were not dealing with their brothers properly according to the commandment found in Leviticus 25. 00:16:14.168 --> 00:16:15.390 Listen to the commandment. 00:16:15.390 --> 00:16:26.015 If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he was a stranger and a sojourner and he shall live with you. 00:16:26.015 --> 00:16:35.301 Take no interest from him, but fear your God that your brother may live beside you. 00:16:35.301 --> 00:16:40.062 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him food for profit. 00:16:40.062 --> 00:16:47.563 I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. 00:16:47.563 --> 00:16:49.979 That last verse is significant. 00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:53.599 It says why do you lend your money at no interest? 00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:56.359 Because you fear God. 00:16:56.359 --> 00:17:00.220 The law of God is supposed to govern the people of God. 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:02.230 They were not to loan money and interest. 00:17:02.230 --> 00:17:02.552 Why? 00:17:02.552 --> 00:17:08.933 Because they were brothers and because the Lord brought you out of slavery, so don't you dare enslave your brother. 00:17:08.933 --> 00:17:14.663 And Nehemiah calls for a great assembly against them. 00:17:15.089 --> 00:17:26.820 It's interesting to note that the previous attempts at opposing rebuilding the wall were not able to do it, but this financial opposition was successful at stopping the work on the wall. 00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:28.403 Isn't that interesting? 00:17:28.403 --> 00:17:41.363 It speaks to the fact that when God's people fail to live distinctly from those around them and oppress their brothers financially, they are unable to be part of God's building program. 00:17:41.363 --> 00:17:46.942 Listen to what Scripture says about financial oppression. 00:17:46.942 --> 00:17:56.280 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. 00:17:56.280 --> 00:17:58.836 Proverbs 22.16. 00:17:58.836 --> 00:18:00.509 How about Proverbs 14.3? 00:18:00.509 --> 00:18:05.241 Whoever opposes a poor man insults his neighbor, his maker. 00:18:05.241 --> 00:18:08.817 Whoever opposes a poor man, insults his maker. 00:18:09.871 --> 00:18:24.625 It's little wonder that when Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, the first thing the Spirit of Jesus did was form a new community characterized by financial liberality. 00:18:24.625 --> 00:18:39.996 Remember what it says as a result of the Pentecost, the pouring out of the Spirit and the repentance of 3,000 people, it says all who believed were together and had all things in common. 00:18:39.996 --> 00:18:41.076 This is incredible. 00:18:41.076 --> 00:19:04.833 This became, by the way, a necessity because many of the Jews who responded to Peter's gospel came from the diaspora, the technical term for the scattering of Jews throughout the whole world, and they couldn't go back. 00:19:04.833 --> 00:19:08.082 They wanted to stay in Jerusalem, to be part of the new community. 00:19:08.082 --> 00:19:15.943 So it became necessary for their needs to be met, because they needed housing and food in order to remain. 00:19:16.531 --> 00:19:20.730 This is the total opposite of what the people were doing in Nehemiah's time. 00:19:20.730 --> 00:19:24.069 This is the total opposite of what the people were doing in Nehemiah's time. 00:19:24.069 --> 00:19:25.952 There, the rich Jews were oppressing the poor. 00:19:25.952 --> 00:19:34.569 You know, when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, it created what has been called a divine socialism. 00:19:34.569 --> 00:19:38.732 A divine socialism. 00:19:38.732 --> 00:19:41.115 This is what resulted from the supply of manna. 00:19:41.296 --> 00:19:47.082 Remember, in the wilderness, it says, when they measured it with an omer whoever gathered much had nothing left. 00:19:47.082 --> 00:19:49.503 Whoever gathered little had no lack. 00:19:49.503 --> 00:19:55.232 And Nehemiah rebukes them, saying the thing you are doing is not good. 00:19:55.232 --> 00:20:00.160 Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations, our enemies? 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:08.078 You know, the only way to get free from financial oppression is to walk in the fear of God. 00:20:08.078 --> 00:20:12.997 Nehemiah calls them to action. 00:20:12.997 --> 00:20:23.923 He says return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards and their houses and the percentage of money, grain, wine and oil that you've been exacting from them. 00:20:24.290 --> 00:20:26.018 And the people responded immediately. 00:20:26.018 --> 00:20:31.461 Wasn't it incredible to see the immediate response. 00:20:31.461 --> 00:20:35.840 How many wish that everybody you talked to and rebuked would respond that way. 00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:37.496 Be nice, wouldn't it? 00:20:37.496 --> 00:20:43.339 Here's what the people said we will restore these and require nothing from them. 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:45.016 We will do as you say. 00:20:45.016 --> 00:20:48.690 And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 00:20:48.690 --> 00:20:59.195 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said so may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this. 00:20:59.195 --> 00:21:02.563 So may he be shaken out and emptied. 00:21:02.563 --> 00:21:05.940 And all the assembly said Amen and praise the Lord. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:08.518 And the people did as they promised. 00:21:08.518 --> 00:21:09.721 What a response. 00:21:09.721 --> 00:21:14.480 Nehemiah calls them back to the fear of the Lord. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:19.299 You know, the fear of God produces obedience hearts. 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:33.301 That's why the assembly said immediately amen, and they praised the Lord, because the fear of God produces obedient hearts, and that kind of repentance always produces true worship. 00:21:33.301 --> 00:21:39.603 That's why all the assembly said amen and they praised the Lord corporately for what God was doing. 00:21:39.603 --> 00:21:48.883 Now Nehemiah, on the other hand, himself modeled what true generosity looks like. 00:21:48.883 --> 00:22:01.564 It said, moreover, from the time I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the 20th year to the 32nd year of Artaxerxes the king 12 years. 00:22:01.944 --> 00:22:05.698 Neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 00:22:05.698 --> 00:22:14.624 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration 40 shekels of silver. 00:22:14.624 --> 00:22:22.584 Even their servants lorded it over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. 00:22:22.584 --> 00:22:28.563 I also persevered in the work on the wall, and even Nehemiah was involved in the work on the wall. 00:22:28.563 --> 00:22:37.505 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations and were around us. 00:22:37.505 --> 00:22:48.799 Now, what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every 10 days, all kinds of wine in abundance. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:57.520 Yet for all this, I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 00:22:57.520 --> 00:23:02.321 Remember, for my good, o my God, all that I have done for this people. 00:23:04.549 --> 00:23:09.619 Nehemiah was appointed governor by the Persian king, artaxerxes. 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:21.301 As governor, he was given a daily food allowance that only the rich could enjoy, but neither Nehemiah or his team took advantage of it. 00:23:21.301 --> 00:23:27.742 The former governors laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them the daily rations. 00:23:27.742 --> 00:23:32.781 Nehemiah says even their servants lorded it over them, the people. 00:23:32.781 --> 00:23:37.761 But that's not how Nehemiah viewed this exercise of authority. 00:23:37.761 --> 00:23:40.855 He said but I did not do so. 00:23:40.855 --> 00:23:43.762 Lorded over the people because of the fear of God. 00:23:43.762 --> 00:23:44.853 This reminds me. 00:23:45.232 --> 00:23:50.874 Six centuries later, the Lord Jesus taught his followers what true leadership consists of. 00:23:50.874 --> 00:23:52.857 Remember what he taught. 00:23:52.857 --> 00:23:55.763 It's found in Matthew 20, 20 through 28. 00:23:55.763 --> 00:23:59.215 Remember James and John, the sons of thunder. 00:23:59.215 --> 00:24:02.083 They get their Jewish mother to appeal to the Lord. 00:24:02.083 --> 00:24:04.653 It's one way to move God's hand. 00:24:04.653 --> 00:24:11.124 If it's not, if you're having trouble moving God's hand, find a Jewish mother to plead with him. 00:24:11.124 --> 00:24:17.362 And the mother of James and John came to him, kneeling before him, and said I have a request. 00:24:17.362 --> 00:24:18.915 The Lord said yes, what is it? 00:24:18.915 --> 00:24:27.797 She said pray that grant that my two sons may sit on your right and left hand in your kingdom. 00:24:27.797 --> 00:24:30.884 And Jesus said you don't know what you're asking. 00:24:30.884 --> 00:24:36.643 Are you willing to drink the cup that I was going to drink? 00:24:36.643 --> 00:24:39.569 And they said yes, we're willing. 00:24:39.569 --> 00:24:45.202 He said you will drink the cup that I drink, and that's of course, meaning that they would suffer. 00:24:45.690 --> 00:24:50.782 James was killed by the sword and John outlived James and the other apostles. 00:24:50.782 --> 00:24:56.599 They tried to kill John, according to church history, by throwing him in a cauldron of burning oil, but he wouldn't die. 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:59.318 So they exiled him to Patmos. 00:24:59.318 --> 00:25:14.461 But he said, when the ten other disciples heard that they had tried to get their mom to control the Lord, they were offended and they were angry with the two. 00:25:14.461 --> 00:25:16.496 But Jesus called them all together. 00:25:16.556 --> 00:25:17.278 Remember what he said. 00:25:17.278 --> 00:25:24.199 He says you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them and their great ones exercised authority over them. 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:42.521 It shall not be so among you, but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be the first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. 00:25:42.521 --> 00:25:46.454 Wow, wow. 00:25:46.454 --> 00:25:50.878 Nehemiah mirrored what generosity looks like. 00:25:50.878 --> 00:26:00.096 This is incredibly incredible, especially in the lieu of the financial oppression that was rampant among the people at the time. 00:26:00.510 --> 00:26:05.311 But Nehemiah refused to enrich himself at the expense of the people. 00:26:05.311 --> 00:26:09.971 He said but I did not do so because of the fear of God. 00:26:09.971 --> 00:26:15.083 We need a restoration in God's house today of the fear of the Lord. 00:26:15.083 --> 00:26:28.982 What the scripture says about the fear of the Lord we should study earnestly, and we saw previously that Nehemiah indicted the people for their failure to fear the Lord. 00:26:28.982 --> 00:26:31.357 The thing you are doing, he said, is not good. 00:26:31.357 --> 00:26:37.923 Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of our enemies or nations? 00:26:37.923 --> 00:26:44.282 We learned that the only way to get free from financial oppression is by walking in the fear of the God. 00:26:44.282 --> 00:26:51.181 Here in this passage, we learn that the fear of the Lord makes one to be generous when it comes to handling our money. 00:26:51.181 --> 00:26:59.455 In an article entitled God Fears Respond to Economic Injustice Promptly, luke Bobo says this. 00:27:00.092 --> 00:27:10.441 In a stark contrast to his Jewish brother's greed and perpetuation of economic injustice, nehemiah models generosity, grace and fairness. 00:27:10.441 --> 00:27:22.724 As governor, nehemiah had the prerogative to raise taxes for his food allowance, which was very great one ox, six choice sheep per day, along with birds and much wine. 00:27:22.724 --> 00:27:30.903 Nehemiah's predecessors laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them their daily ration of 40 shekels of silver. 00:27:30.903 --> 00:27:38.637 These former governors used their position for their personal enrichment and for their servants' enrichment. 00:27:38.637 --> 00:27:43.801 Unlike his predecessors, though, nehemiah did not lord it over his people. 00:27:43.801 --> 00:27:55.163 Nehemiah not only refused to lay his heavy financial burden on the people, but he and his servants labored side by side with their fellow Jews on the wall project. 00:27:55.163 --> 00:28:00.701 Nehemiah did not desire to live comfortably while his people were in great need. 00:28:00.701 --> 00:28:10.003 Additionally, nehemiah hosted Jews and delegates from the nations at his table, providing food and drink at his own expense. 00:28:10.869 --> 00:28:12.713 Listen carefully to what this author had said. 00:28:12.713 --> 00:28:21.915 Nehemiah models generosity, grace and fairness, elements we desperately need in the house of God today. 00:28:21.915 --> 00:28:25.743 He's a true example of a godly leader. 00:28:25.743 --> 00:28:28.727 He's a true example of a godly leader. 00:28:28.727 --> 00:28:29.373 Kosti Hinn writes this. 00:28:29.373 --> 00:28:38.002 Much like today, there were leaders throughout the Bible who used their positions of power to abuse and exploit people for their own gain. 00:28:38.002 --> 00:28:44.738 And much like today, there are leaders throughout the Bible who use their position as for good. 00:28:45.289 --> 00:28:55.250 Nehemiah is one of the most prominent examples of spiritual leadership that viewed authority as God-given privilege, a responsibility, really not a mandated right. 00:28:55.250 --> 00:29:04.275 Nehemiah held a job as the king's cupbearer and later as governor, and used his position of influence to carry out God's agenda. 00:29:04.275 --> 00:29:20.901 Warren Wiersbe strikes the heart of leadership challenges when he writes In our day of public scandals in almost every area of life, how refreshing it is to meet a man like Nehemiah, who puts serving the people ahead of gain for himself. 00:29:20.901 --> 00:29:23.397 He is a great example of that. 00:29:23.397 --> 00:29:43.461 So this financial oppression was met by repentance on the people's part, which Nehemiah called for, and Nehemiah's own example of generosity and grace led this move of God. 00:29:43.641 --> 00:29:43.981 Let's pray. 00:29:43.981 --> 00:29:48.296 Led this move of God, let's pray. 00:29:48.296 --> 00:29:55.215 Lord, god, thank you for the godly example you've given us in your servant, nehemiah. 00:29:55.215 --> 00:30:07.634 Lord, may you raise up a new generation of Nehemiahs in our day who use their position of authority as a God-given responsibility, not a mandated right. 00:30:07.634 --> 00:30:14.301 Raise up leaders in our day who use their position of influence to carry out your agenda. 00:30:14.301 --> 00:30:18.791 Use these leaders to deliver your people from oppression in all its forms. 00:30:18.791 --> 00:30:22.996 In Jesus' name, and everyone said amen.