Sermon Cloud

Intro:  Economic landscape of Winter Haven (CG, Shells, ABC, foreclosures) & God’s plan.

Big Idea:  The fear of God casts out greed for the good of the city.

Context:  In 444 BC, Nehemiah was sent to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls as its governor.  He met with opposition from other local rulers.  As the work continues, problems arise within the covenant community.

I. Fearing God hates injustice in the city (v 1-6).

-         2 issues pervade this chapter: the fear of God (Ps. 34:8ff) & greed’s effect on us.

-         An outcry arises within the city threatening the work.  It exacerbated existing problems.

-         1^st, a famine/shortage of food.  Prices rise & people starve.  Ill. Gas=>food

-         2^nd, mortgaged their homes & fields to eat.

-         3^rd, heavily taxed ($25-30 million/year; 270 tons gold coins in Susa) & borrowed more.

-         4^th, sold their kids into slavery.  Ill. Seabiscuit- kids hired out during the Depression

-         Keller: God-fearing rich & poor.  Selfish rich & poor.  Democrats & Republicans

-         Greed drives injustice; seeks wealth at another’s expense. 

-         Greed is idolatry (Col.3:5)- it loves wealth more than Jesus.  Bondage to greed!

-         Nehemiah takes time to listen => angry.  App. Jesus: sad/mad;  us: mad/sad

Transition:  Injustice in the church & city ought to make us mad- if we fear God.  What’s next?

II. Fearing God pursues justice in the city (v 7-13).  No knee-jerk reaction.

-          “Consults himself”- applies Scripture to the situation! (Lev. 25:35ff & Deut. 15:7ff)

-         Ignorant sinners & willful sinners.  Sadly many don’t know their Bibles & sin.

-         He gathers the assembly for church discipline (covenant lawsuit).  Didn’t hide it!

-         They lacked the fear of God which casts out our greed.  Ill. Thomas Chalmers

-         Our worldliness dishonors to God’s name!  It becomes a stumbling block.  Ill. Lakeland

-         They repent by returning those lands, home etc.  Nehemiah leads by example.

-         They swore on oath (public accountability).  Fear of God grows by focusing on grace!

-         Covenant breaking meant being shaken out- emptied- by God.  Jesus shaken for us!

-         Jesus came to free us from our bondage (work for us & in us) (Luke 4).  Community!

-         Jesus works thru us to set others free from their bondage via gospel (finances/addicts).

Transition:  Seeking justice for the oppressed is an important part of God’s plan for the city.

III. Fearing God exhibits generosity in the city (v 14-19).

-         Governors had the right to tax the people to support them.  On top of Persian taxes.

-         Nehemiah feared God & refused to lord it over them.  Instead he was generous.

-         Greed => we cling to our wealth.  Ill. Forbes’ list of wealthiest people, “I want!”

-         Nehemiah also fed his staff, the influential & foreign visitors.  App. hospitality

-         Provided enough food & wine for about 600 people.  A generous intrusion of the Supper.

-         Jesus impoverished Himself to make us “rich” (2 Cor. 8).  His work for us. ↑ love

-         He works in us to make us generous, just as He is generous.  Are you more or less now?

-         He works thru us to meet the needs of the church & the city.  App. CPC, Mission, IJM

Conclusion:  Ill. Boston  God’s plan for the city includes justice and generosity.  Greed stands in the way of both.  When we exploit others or cling to our wealth, we give God a bad name.  But the fear of God- loving God more than money- frees us from greed so we will seek the welfare of our brothers & sisters in Christ, as well as those who do not yet know Jesus.  Jesus enriches us that we might impoverish ourselves for the benefit of others. 

³¹ He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  Prov. 14 (NIV)

¹⁷ He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.  Prov. 19 (NIV)

¹³ If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.  Prov. 21 (NIV)

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Cor. 8 (NIV)