1. Nehemiah Part 9: An Oath And A Curse

2. Put It In Writing Necessary precaution in doing business today. Not in writing then not legally binding. Matters you are serious about you put into writing. Same with Israel after the captivity.

3. An Agreement In Writing Nehemiah 9:38 -- “Now because of all this we are making an agreement in writing; and on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”

4. An Oath And A Curse Signed by the leaders of Israel. A document expounding an oath and a curse. Effect: We promise to behave in a certain way or we will expect you to destroy us.

5. Nehemiah 10:29 “…are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of G OD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes….”

6. Permeating Nature Of The Oath Nehemiah 10:30-38 No intermarrying with pagan neighbors Remembering to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Reinstating the seven year crop cycle laws. Reinstating temple monetary obligations. Reinstating sacrificial worship. Reinstating laws of first fruits and tithing. “Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.” Vs. 39.

7. Putting God First What difference is shown in my life if God is NOT first? Many say God is first. Does their life exhibit it? Matthew 15:8 – “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.”

8. If God Is Not First… I act no differently than my lost neighbors. I secretly participate in unholy behavior. I routinely skip worship services. I put job, fun and family before God. I give God honor by my words, but not by my behavior.

9. How Do I Put God First? By daring to be different 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them….Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate….”

10. By Being Holy 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 – ” For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God….”

11. How Do I Put God First Today? By not letting things or relationships take the place of God. By giving back to God what is fair and right from what He has given me. By keeping the first day of the week holy. By shunning evil. By seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. By surrendering heart, mind, soul and strength to Him.