1. Growing in Sanctification and Holiness in Secular World
Nehemiah 13:1-14

2. Growing in sanctification and holiness by:
Hearing and obeying God’s Word
Separating from worldly influences
Keeping the church pure and holy
Giving to the Lord’s work

3. Nehemiah 13:1-14
13:1 – “On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,”
13:2 – “for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them – yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.”
13:3 – “As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.”

4. Nehemiah 13:1-14
13:4 – “Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,”
13:5 – “prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.”
13:6 – “While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time asked leave of the king”

5. Nehemiah 13:1-14
13:7 – “and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.”
13:8 – “And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.”
13:9 – “Then I gave orders , and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.”

6. Nehemiah 13:1-14
13:10 – “I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers , who did the work, had fled each to his field.”
13:11 – “so I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” and I gathered them together and set them in their stations.”
13:12 – Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.”

7. Nehemiah 13:1-14
13:13 – “And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemaih the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to the brothers.”
13:14 – “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God and for his service.”

8. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness by Hearing and Obeying God’s Word
Verse 1, verse 3
Nehemiah, after 12 years as governor in Jerusalem, returned to Persia.
Verse 6 – after some time, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem
Verse 3 – as soon as the people heard the law, they….
TOOK ACTION

9. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness by Hearing and Obeying God’s Word
4 times in Nehemiah God’s Word had an effect on the people
8:1-6, 8:13-17, 9:3, 13:3
Each time God’s Word did two things:
Identify a problem area – sin, ungodly influence, something not pleasing to God.
Led to people taking corrective action – conviction of sin and repentance
God’s Word (the Law) is like a mirror
Shows us God’s holiness
Shows us our sinfulness
Let God’s Word work in your life

10. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness by Separating from Worldly Influences
Verses 1-3
Ammonites and Moabites had entered God’s assembly
Deuteronomy 23:3-6 forbid this
Moabites didn’t give Israelites bread and water – Numbers 22-24
Examples of OT foreigners included in Israel
Rahab
Ruth – a Moabite
Believers could be included
Is there an Ammonite or Moabite in your Christian life?

11. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness when the Church Stays Pure and Holy.
Verses 4-9
Tobiah was living in the house of God
He was an Ammonite
He had opposed Nehemiah’s work on rebuilding the walls and Jerusalem
His influence was spreading to other chambers (rooms, people) in God’s house
Verse 8 – Nehemiah becomes angry and throws Tobiah and his furniture out

12. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness When the Church Stays Pure and Holy
Oswald Chambers – “Today the world has taken so many things out of the church, and the church has taken so many things out of the world, it is difficult to know where you are.”
Vance Hafner – “Today the world has so infiltrated the church, that we are more beset by traitors within than foes without. Satan is not fighting churches – he is joining them!!!
Sometimes preaching is not enough

13. Believers Grow in Sanctification and Holiness by Giving to God’s Work
Verses 10-14
The people stopped giving, so those who worked in the house of God had to stop serving and work in fields
Believers give to the Lord
Time, labor, money, energy, using spiritual gifts
When believes don’t support God’s work, God’s work is hindered
When believers support God’s work, God’s work grows and increases

14. Conclusion Grow in sanctification and holiness:
Read, hear, follow God’s Word
Separate from those influences that draw us away from God
Keep the church pure and free from worldly influences
Giving to the Lord’s Work