Sermon Library

Our Doctrine

Kenneth H. Good Books

May 8th, 2005

Pastor George H. Heiland

restoring family values

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.” 3 And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4 Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 “And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6 Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. 7 And I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 “And likewise I, my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. 11 “Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are exacting from them.” 12 Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. 13 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.

A. The Complaint of the People vs.  1-5

The people began to feel the constraints of fortifying the city due to the prospect of warfare.  They were exhausted, pressed to their limit financially and fearful of losing their families to famine or debt due to unscrupulous politicians. Does that sound a little like the USA family after 911? 

1. The Shortage of Food vs.  2

“We, our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.”

These people lived off the land much like our early church history.  In tough times there needed to be means of sharing as was done in the early church.  Acts 2:41-47; 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. 43 And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

This was no communistic plot.  These people were suffering for their faith and volunteered to share for the cause of the Gospel.  This is the biblical pattern to help  fellow believers in Christ who are in distress .  There is no New Testament precedent for local churches helping people other than those who are in Sister Churches or who were fellow believers.  Even at that, the Apostle Paul laid down very careful regulations for assistance to believers.  See first Timothy Chapter five verses 3-12.  

"³Honor widows who are widows indeed; ⁴but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. ⁶But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, ¹²thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge."

 

You can clearly see from the above Scriptures, that the first responsibility is with the family to help and to support their loved ones.  Only after every effort has been made to secure their help in that responsibility , should the church step in to help fellow believers.

Contrary to our welfare system, people are told if they did not work they should not eat.  

2nd Thessalonians 3:10-13

¹⁰For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. ¹³But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

This does not mean that the believers have no responsibility for their neighbors or for their friends.  Christians, whether individually or by banding together to help in time of need have a responsibility to others as human beings.

2. The Constraints of Debt vs.  3

“We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.”

Times were so hard that the people were losing everything that they had worked for due to the extreme interest rates.  This was not only true in Nehemiah stay, but today we face the same kind of high interest rates.  Credit card debt is at an all-time high in our country and interest and fees can reach 39+%.

3. The Bondage of High Taxes vs.  4,5

“We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. “And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Things were so bad that mothers feared for their daughters and fathers for their sons.  Today’s fight for moral values is no less vital.  Thank God for Godly Mothers who are equipping their children with biblical precepts and principles to face life in the 21st century. Thank you all you faithful MOMS and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

 B. The Confrontation by the Leader vs. 6-11

1.  Nehemiah’s Consternation vs.  6

Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words.

2.  Nehemiah’s Consultation vs.  7a

And I consulted with myself . . .

HOW GREAT IS THAT?  I often consult with myself but would never admit it until now I find myself in such noble company. .  No doubt he consulted God, gave it serious thought and laid out his case to the leaders.

3.  Nehemiah’s Confrontation vs.  7b-11

Vs.  7b “ . . . and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.”

a.  His Argument from a Redemptive History vs.  8

“We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” 

They were silent and could not find a word to say.  How could they enslave the very people they were working with having  freed them from the heathen.  They were speechless!

b.  His Argument from a Reverence for God vs.  9

“The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”

Next Nehemiah hit them with their need to obey God and demonstrate to the world that when God works in the hearts of his people things change.  Churches today need a decent fear of God to say nothing of society.  Let's have less entertainment and more exposition of the Word.

c.   His Argument from a Righteous Example vs.  10

“And likewise I, my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury.”

He addresses the burdensome interest rates.  This was no time to line their pockets at the expense of their brothers.

 C.  The Correction of the Problem vs.  11-13

1.  The Request by Nehemiah vs. 11

“Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are exacting from them.” 

Notice how he addresses them. Kindly but firmly, he appeals to their conscience and connection to God and His people.

2.  The Response of the Noblemen vs. 12

“We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.”

He also gets it down on paper to make them accountable.  

3.  The Resolution by Nehemiah vs.  13a

I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; 

There is nothing like a practical lesson to make it stick in their mind.  Who would want to be shaken by Almighty God?

4.  The Reverence of the People vs.  13b

And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the LORD.

How fitting that the entire matter redounds to the glory of God. That is the whole redemptive plan according to the Apostle Paul.  See Ephesians 1:3-12

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things  after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 

How fitting that we should praise Him!  Notice how many times Paul emphasizes what GOD has done and that it is according to His will and for His glory.  How awesome is our God!!!!

5.  The Resolve of the People vs.  13c

“Then the people did according to this promise.”

WOW!  These people were committed and absolutely did the right thing.  Have you committed your life to Him?  Why not trust Him today?  The Bible says  . . .

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:31

 Thanks for reading this message.  DO YOU have need of salvation? God's Word tells us to repent of our sins and come to God accepting the fact that Christ died on the cross, rose from the dead and paid the full penalty for all that come to Him in faith.

Here are some points to consider:

Have you found a church home?  If you are in the area of Port St Lucie, why not visit us?

Have you found new life in Christ? Why not come to Him today? God will receive those who will come to Him.  He has provided the means for you to be saved, baptized and be a part of His New Testament Local Church ministry -- He gave His Son to intercede; all you need to do is cast yourself upon His mercy and grace.  

Jesus said in John 6:37-40

38 “For  I have come down from heaven,  not to do My own will, but  the will of Him who  sent Me. 39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of  all that He has given Me I  lose nothing, but  raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who  beholds the Son and  believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will  raise him up on the last day.”

 It is important to note Luke's comment in Acts 4:12 

 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

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