Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP190050S
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00:01 The Bible tells us, "In the beginning was the Word,
00:03 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 00:07 It says, "To receive with meekness 00:09 the implanted Word, 00:11 which is able to save your souls. 00:13 And to be diligent 00:15 to present yourself approved to God, 00:17 rightly dividing the Word of truth." 00:20 Join us now for the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:25 Our study today is Ezra and Nehemiah. 00:32 Hello, and welcome to another 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:36 I'm Jill Morikone, 00:37 and we're so glad that you have joined us today 00:39 for our study through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. 00:44 It's hard to believe we're at lesson number 11, 00:46 the quarter is winding down. 00:48 Last week we had, 00:50 you could say a high note as it were 00:52 as we talked about worship 00:54 and the dedication of the city walls, 00:56 that was from Nehemiah Chapter 12. 00:59 Music in worship, 01:00 impurity in worship, joy in worship, 01:03 and Jesus in worship, and leadership in worship. 01:07 This week is a topic just as vitally important, 01:12 it's a serious topic, "Backslidden People." 01:16 I want to encourage you 01:17 to get your own copy of the quarterly 01:19 so you can follow along. 01:21 You can always visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church 01:24 and they would be delighted to give you a quarterly 01:26 and invite you to a class, 01:28 or you can go to ABSG.Adventist.org, 01:33 and you can download your own copy 01:35 and follow along. 01:36 I wanna introduce our panel at this time. 01:38 We've been together 01:40 journeying through Ezra and Nehemiah. 01:41 Pastor Kenny Shelton, 01:43 such a privilege to have you here. 01:45 Glad to be here, thank you. 01:46 Sitting next to you, Sister Shelley Quinn, 01:49 and thank you so much for being here as well. 01:51 No, it's been a joy. 01:53 To your left, Pastor John Lomacang, my pastor 01:56 and thank you Pastor John for your insight. 01:58 This has been a very enlightening lesson. 02:00 Good to be here. 02:01 Thank you, and last but not least, 02:03 Pastor John Dinzey. 02:05 We're so delighted to have you here 02:07 and to have you share your insight 02:09 from the Word of God as well. 02:10 It's always a blessing to open God's Word and study, 02:12 because God has a blessing for each and everyone. 02:15 Amen. Amen. 02:16 Before we go any further 02:17 and we actually open up God's Word, 02:19 we want to go to the Lord in prayer. 02:21 Pastor John Lomacang, would you pray for us? 02:23 Sure. 02:24 Loving Father in Heaven 02:25 as we bow our hearts before You, 02:27 open our ears 02:28 that the Spirit of God may speak to us 02:30 and that, Lord, the glory that is spoken through us 02:34 will be reflected only to You. 02:36 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 02:39 Amen. 02:40 We're in Nehemiah Chapter 13. 02:42 So if you wanna open your Bibles 02:44 to Nehemiah Chapter 13. 02:46 There is a little interim of time as it were 02:49 between Nehemiah 12 and 13. 02:52 Remember, Nehemiah first went from Babylon to Jerusalem 02:56 in 444 BC. 02:58 This was the third return of the exiles. 03:01 He stayed there for 12 years. 03:03 Now, I don't know 03:05 if he initially told Artaxerxes, 03:06 "I'm gonna go for 12 years," but he stayed for 12 years. 03:10 'Cause Nehemiah 13:6 says, 03:13 "But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, 03:15 for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon 03:18 I had returned to the king." 03:20 So he went to Judah in the 20th year of the king, 03:24 he returned to Babylon in the 32nd year of the King, 03:27 so he was there 12 years. 03:30 Then he returned to Babylon 03:32 and during this time, 03:36 the people began to backslide. 03:38 There was this great worship experience 03:40 in Chapter 12 03:41 and we see this incredible, 03:43 what God had done in the people's lives 03:45 and this covenant renewal in Chapter 10, 03:49 and then what we see here taking place. 03:52 Remember the covenant renewal in Nehemiah Chapter 10? 03:55 We discussed that a few lessons ago. 03:57 There were three things in the covenant 03:59 that the people were to keep. 04:00 There was no intermarriage, no worshipping of idols, 04:04 true Sabbath observance 04:07 and there was some temple regulations, 04:09 supporting the temple with tithes 04:11 and offerings and other things. 04:13 But when Nehemiah returned, in Nehemiah Chapter 13, 04:17 they had violated all of these things. 04:20 They had intermarried with the surrounding nations. 04:23 They had ceased to keep the Sabbath properly. 04:27 They had stopped returning tithes 04:29 and offerings 04:30 and were even using the temple rooms, 04:32 Pastor Kenny, for another purpose. 04:36 But the saddest part is that the leaders 04:39 were leading the people away from God. 04:43 Our memory text is Nehemiah 13:22, 04:46 "And I commanded the Levites 04:48 that they should cleanse themselves, 04:51 and that they should go and guard the gates, 04:53 to sanctify the Sabbath day. 04:55 Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, 04:59 and spare me according to the greatness 05:01 of Your mercy." 05:03 On Sunday's lesson, 05:04 we look at tainted temple leadership. 05:08 Spiritual compromise often comes in 05:12 through spiritual leadership. 05:14 I wanna say that one more time. 05:16 Spiritual compromise often comes in 05:19 through spiritual leadership, 05:21 Nehemiah had gone back to Babylon, 05:24 the temple leadership were engaging 05:26 in leading the people in direct opposition 05:29 to the command of God. 05:31 Let's read verses 1-3 or Nehemiah 13:1-3, 05:35 "On that day they read from the Book of Moses 05:37 in the hearing of the people, 05:39 and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite 05:43 should ever come into the assembly of God." 05:46 Now, before we had talked about they shouldn't intermarry. 05:49 This says that heathen are not allowed 05:52 into the temple of God, 05:55 because why? 05:57 "They had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, 05:59 but hired Balaam against them to curse them. 06:02 However, our God turned the curse 06:04 into a blessing. 06:06 So it was, when they heard the Law, 06:07 that they separated all the mixed multitude 06:10 from Israel." 06:11 Now we pick up in verse 4 06:13 and we see what actually had been going on there, 06:17 "Now before this, Eliashib the priest, 06:21 having authority over the storerooms 06:23 of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah." 06:25 So let's have a little review here. 06:27 Who is Eliashib? Does anybody remember? 06:29 Eliashib is the high priest of the nation 06:34 and he was in charge of the temple. 06:36 Eliashib was charged 06:37 with helping to rebuild the wall. 06:39 If you go back to Nehemiah 3:1, 06:41 it says, "Eliashib the high priest 06:44 rose up with his brethren," 06:45 and they began to work, rebuilding the wall. 06:47 "So Eliashib is the high priest, 06:50 he had authority over the storerooms 06:52 in the temple. 06:53 He was allied with Tobiah." 06:55 Does that name ring a bell to anybody? 06:58 Tobiah was the governor of Ammon, right? 07:01 To the east he was the Ammonite leader 07:05 and we saw him connected with Sanballat 07:08 who was the governor of Samaria to the North. 07:11 If you go back to Nehemiah 2:19, 07:14 it says, "When Sanballat the Horonite, 07:16 Tobiah the Ammonite official, 07:18 and Geshem the Arab heard of it, 07:20 they laughed at us and despised us, 07:22 and said, 'What is this thing that you are doing? 07:24 Will you rebel against the king?'" 07:26 So another words, the high priest 07:29 charged with spiritually leading the people 07:34 is forming an alliance 07:37 with an avowed enemy of God. 07:39 Tobiah the Ammonite, he is allying himself with him. 07:44 He was also allied with Sanballat, 07:47 we see that later in 13:28, 07:51 we find out that Eliashib's grandson 07:54 marries Sanballat's daughter. 07:56 There was intermarriage 07:58 not just with the common people, 08:00 but with the highest places of leadership. 08:04 Nehemiah 13:28, 08:06 "One of the sons of Joiada, 08:07 the son of Eliashib the high priest, 08:09 was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, 08:13 therefore I drove him from me." 08:16 The highest ranking officials 08:17 in Judah and Jerusalem were related 08:21 and had formed an alliance 08:23 against Nehemiah's leadership. 08:26 Let's read the rest of our verses here. 08:28 Verses 4-9, Nehemiah 13:4-9, 08:32 we already read, 08:34 "Eliashib the priest, 08:35 having authority over the storerooms 08:36 of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. 08:39 And he, that means Eliashib 08:41 had prepared for Tobiah a large room, 08:44 where previously they had stored 08:45 the grain offerings, the frankincense, 08:47 the articles, the tithes of grain, 08:48 the new wine and oil, 08:49 which were commanded to be given to the Levites 08:51 and singers and gatekeepers, 08:53 and the offerings for the priests." 08:55 He brought Tobiah 08:56 and gave him a room in the temple 08:59 for him and his family to stay. 09:02 The pagans were not even allowed 09:04 to enter into that 09:06 and yet he gave him a room in the house 09:10 and then the Levites 09:11 and the priests weren't even able 09:12 to get their tithes and offerings, 09:14 because the room was full with the Ammonite. 09:18 During all this, Nehemiah says he wasn't even there 09:20 because he had returned to Babylon. 09:22 So then in verse 7, it says, 09:24 "I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil 09:27 that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, 09:29 in preparing a room for him 09:31 in the courts of the house of God. 09:32 It grieved me bitterly, 09:34 and I threw all the household goods 09:36 of Tobiah out of the room. 09:37 And I commanded them to cleanse the rooms, 09:40 and brought back into them 09:41 the articles of the house of God." 09:44 So in our remaining time I wanna look at six lessons 09:48 that I see from this. 09:49 Lesson number one, 09:50 leaders sometimes let evil creep in subtlety 09:54 and it often happens through relationships, 09:58 Eliashib didn't set out to destroy Judah, 10:00 I'm sure of that, 10:02 or the temple or the worship of God. 10:03 But he was desensitized through relationships 10:07 and the marriage with his own kids 10:09 with some of these pagan leaders. 10:12 In the church we need to be careful 10:15 of being corrupted 10:16 or polluted through these subtle means. 10:19 Matthew 7:15, 10:21 "Beware of false prophets, 10:22 'cause they come looking good in sheep's clothing, 10:24 but really they're ravenous wolves." 10:27 Personally, on a personal level 10:29 we need to be careful of our own friendships, 10:31 of our relationships 10:34 and those things in our lives that desensitize us. 10:37 1 Corinthians 15:33 10:40 "Do not be deceived: 10:41 Evil company corrupts good habits." 10:44 Lesson number two, 10:45 leader sometimes need to take 10:47 drastic action and reform. 10:50 When Nehemiah came back, 10:52 he didn't just sit down and talk, what did he say? 10:54 He called the thing that Eliashib had done evil. 10:57 There was no sugar coating done here, 10:59 he called it evil. 11:01 Church leaders are called to stand up 11:03 and speak the truth and call out evil. 11:08 Isaiah 58:1, 11:10 "Cry aloud, spare not, 11:11 lift up your voice like a trumpet, 11:14 tell My people their transgression, 11:15 and the house of Jacob their sins." 11:18 If you saw someone about ready to drink poison, would you say 11:20 "Ah, oh, be careful, maybe you shouldn't." 11:23 No, you would toss that glass of water out of their hand 11:26 because you don't want them to die. 11:29 Personally, we need to not be afraid 11:32 to confront the flesh 11:34 in our own hearts and lives. 11:36 Galatians 5:24, 11:38 "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh 11:41 with its affections and its lust." 11:44 Moving on, lesson three, 11:46 leaders don't just speak, they act. 11:48 Nehemiah didn't just condemn what Eliashib had done, 11:51 he himself physically threw out the items 11:55 from the room in the temple. 11:58 In the church, words aren't always enough, 12:00 sometimes we need actions like Jesus, 12:03 when He threw out the money changers. 12:06 And personally, sometime it takes a drastic action 12:09 in our own hearts and lives. 12:11 Lesson number four, 12:12 sometime it takes a new leader 12:14 to see what's really going on. 12:17 There was much current leadership there, 12:19 Eliashib and many other leaders, 12:21 but it took Nehemiah, 12:23 who hadn't been there to come back 12:25 and to see the compromises that had taken place. 12:29 Sometimes it takes those who have been away 12:32 or haven't been intricately involved 12:34 to actually see what's going on. 12:36 Lesson five, leaders influence 12:38 the moral direction of the people. 12:41 Eliashib and the other leaders 12:43 led the people away from God. 12:45 If you look at the history of the church, 12:47 or the history of the children of Israel, 12:49 people only rose as high as their leader. 12:52 When there was a good leader, 12:54 people broke down those idols and followed God, 12:57 when there was an evil leader they followed Baal. 13:00 Lesson number six, 13:01 leaders must be consistent in their discipline. 13:05 Nehemiah didn't just say okay, 13:07 we're not going to have mixed marriages with everybody. 13:09 He confronted Eliashib and that mixed marriage 13:12 that was going on, 13:13 and his grandson who was with Sanballat. 13:16 So playing favorites 13:19 is not acceptable with God. 13:22 Six lessons that I learned from that, 13:25 the tainted temple leadership 13:26 and, Pastor Kenny, you have Levites in the fields. 13:29 Yeah, I meant, that's a real good title too, 13:31 "Levites in the Field," 13:32 and first of all I ask myself the question, 13:34 why are the Levites, 13:35 who are supposed to be those ordained by God. 13:37 Why are they out in the field doing things, 13:39 when maybe they should be in the office 13:40 as they were preparing. 13:42 So, you know, it's a good thing and you brought that up, 13:44 because God's people had gotten away 13:47 from doing that which is right, 13:49 and you mentioned those, and I jotted those down 13:52 and I just put, the churches where the people grew lukewarm. 13:56 When we grow lukewarm, 13:58 then all kind of things begin to happen. 14:00 We stop tithing, giving tithes and offerings as you mentioned. 14:03 We don't observe the Sabbath the way that we should. 14:07 Here at this time they were intermarrying, 14:09 and the leadership, so all these things had failed. 14:13 Now it doesn't mean, 14:14 I don't know if the pastor has to... 14:16 I don't know if I should get into this or not, 14:17 but the pastor doesn't have 14:19 to watch over the flock every minute with an eye, 14:21 you know, he's got people that will help him, 14:23 but I do know this, when the cat's away, 14:25 the mice will play, 14:27 if I can say it like that. 14:28 I think, everybody gets that. 14:30 What when Nehemiah was away, you know the point here, 14:33 when Nehemiah was away, what happened? 14:36 All these things began to tumble in around them 14:38 and God was not pleased. 14:40 That doesn't mean we can't be other places 14:42 doing other work and so on and so forth, 14:43 because you establish church and move on so on. 14:46 But I think maybe we need to be very careful 14:48 that we keep a watchful eye 14:49 because we want the Church of God to survive 14:52 and be what it should be. 14:54 Levites in the field. 14:55 Now remember, we're talking about 14:56 some special Levites here, 14:58 even some of them were singers, 14:59 some of them played the instruments 15:01 and music so on and so forth. 15:03 But many of them had to go home. 15:05 Many of them weren't employed anymore 15:06 because there was no finances because the people quit giving 15:10 because they looked and said, 15:12 "The funds are being misspent 15:13 or we don't like the leadership," 15:15 and they quit paying tithe. 15:17 So that raises a lot of questions 15:18 for everybody here. 15:20 Oh, my you don't wanna talk about that. 15:21 Well, yeah, I do 15:23 because I think it's essentially 15:24 because we had that today. 15:26 Those things are happening today 15:28 because I hear it over and over, 15:29 doesn't make around, I'm not trying to go one way 15:31 or trying to go the other here convince anybody other than 15:34 people will tell me that. 15:36 You probably, everybody you've been so playing 15:37 and to say, "Well, I don't because 15:39 and this is why I don't." 15:41 And so there's a reason usually 15:43 and here there was definitely some reasons to Levites here. 15:46 Anyway, the wall was finished 15:48 so we talked about in our last lesson here 15:51 the tabernacle and the Levi. 15:53 Now remember, why Levites? 15:54 I asked myself the question. 15:55 Why Levi? Why the Levi group? 15:57 This is very important little time that I have 15:59 that I really wanna cover 16:00 what they're doing anything else 16:01 and the Levites in the field. 16:03 We establish why they're in the field, 16:04 they didn't need to be in that aspect of it. 16:07 You know wouldn't hurt to go out in the field, 16:08 doesn't hurt any pastors to get out 16:10 and do a little bit of work with your hands 16:11 and not so much with your brain all the time. 16:12 It kind of helps you a little bit, you know. 16:14 Okay, let's go on to something else. 16:17 Look at this. 16:18 We looked at Levites say, why the Levites? 16:20 You remember there, Exodus Chapter 32. 16:23 Like to spend just a little time there. 16:25 Have you ever asked you a question to the tribe Levi, 16:27 why Levi? 16:28 Why did God choose the Tribe of Levi? 16:30 Well, it becomes very clear to us 16:31 in Exodus Chapter 32. 16:34 What was the verses there? Exodus 32:26-29. 16:39 Sister, Jill, would you read those verses for me, please? 16:41 Sure. 16:42 Exodus 32:26, 16:44 "Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, 16:46 and said, 'Whoever is on the Lord's side 16:48 come to me!' 16:49 And all the sons of Levi 16:51 gather themselves together to Him. 16:53 And He said to them, 16:54 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 16:56 "Let every man put his sword on his side, 16:58 and go in and out from entrance to entrance 17:01 throughout the camp, 17:02 and let every man kill his brother, 17:05 every man his companion, 17:07 and every man his neighbor.'" 17:09 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. 17:13 And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 17:16 Then Moses said, 17:17 'Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord 17:19 that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, 17:22 for every man has opposed his son 17:25 and his brother.'" 17:27 You know, those to me are just powerful verses there, 17:31 and you can draw an awful lot from that, 17:32 but the question was beginning was, 17:34 you know, why the Levites? 17:36 Because in the midst of apostasy 17:38 with the golden calf. 17:39 Moses come and made a call 17:41 which God ordained him to do 17:44 when we in the midst of apostasy, 17:46 God requires men and women of God 17:49 cry out loud, shout, 17:51 get the attention of the people 17:53 and then simply say, "Who's ever on God's side, 17:55 let's go over here. 17:57 If you're not on that side, you're on the enemy side." 17:59 And so, all of Israel apostatized, 18:03 did they not at the golden calf? 18:04 All. 18:06 But the only ones who came back and repented were the Levites. 18:10 So therefore that's why God said, 18:12 "Okay, we're gonna choose the Levites, 18:13 set them apart for sacred and holy word." 18:16 I had an issue with and not that I differ with it 18:19 but I thought, "Oh, my, what they were to do 18:22 right here." 18:23 There was a price to pay. 18:25 People say, "Well, there's had the golden calf 18:26 and all other and Moses came down 18:28 broke the can of mice, 18:29 he got 3,000 people died that day 18:33 because of apostasy and rebellion. 18:36 And notice what Moses said to do, 18:37 "Now why would these people be killed?" 18:42 He told him, he said, "Take your sword, 18:43 and he's talking to me. 18:45 I've seen the Levites here." 18:46 I'm saying those who come on his side 18:48 were the priests, the preachers, 18:50 the pastors, if I can just say that, 18:51 he said, "Get your sword 18:53 and I want you to go in the midst of this bunch." 18:57 And I want you to kill everyone in here. 18:59 I don't... 19:01 Almost they're not, if it's your wife 19:03 'cause it said companion, 19:04 I think you read if it's your companion, 19:06 if it's your friend, your best friend, 19:07 whoever it is, 19:09 don't let family ties get in your way. 19:10 Don't let family ties stop the ministry. 19:12 Don't let family ties stop you from doing what you do, 19:15 or to say 19:16 because God is in this thing. 19:18 And so they went forward and they slew 3,000 people. 19:22 Now who, what 3000? 19:24 The 3,000 that continue to persist in doing 19:29 what they were doing when Moses came down. 19:31 That's right. 19:32 They continued on in that 19:34 may I say that sin and that rebellion. 19:36 So it wasn't like, well, if you stopped, you're gonna, 19:38 they continued on 19:40 and so he made sure that they were slain. 19:42 And he said, "So we let know by the grace of God." 19:45 This is difficult we let no earthly tie. 19:47 We cannot let any earthly tie. 19:49 "Allow us anything to stand 19:51 between us and our duty to God." 19:54 We can read that in Matthew Chapter 8, 19:56 and also in Matthew Chapter 10. 19:58 You know, this, 20:00 this action also was very important. 20:02 I think in parody. 20:03 I won't even get to the other of this, 20:05 it's all right 20:06 at least in my opinion, 20:07 because when we look at this action, 20:09 what did it do? Why did God do it? 20:11 We're looking, man, there's people dying, 20:13 there's family separated, things are happening 20:15 and what is God dealing with? 20:16 What was He trying to show other nations? 20:19 Was He not trying to show the other nations 20:22 that He disproved of idol worship 20:26 and lifestyle that they were doing? 20:29 True. 20:30 'Cause we don't have to go into detail with it 20:32 because everyone here we have studied enough 20:34 to know exactly what was going on 20:36 when Moses came down, 20:38 you know, we know that his face was veiled 20:40 because he'd been in the presence of a Holy God, 20:43 and he was bright. 20:44 But as a Christian, 20:45 if we came in on something like that 20:47 that was going on, 20:48 I think we would look for a tow sack. 20:50 We'd look for something to throw over our eyes. 20:52 We could not stay in that kind of presence, 20:55 something had to be done, and something was done. 20:58 And I thank God for that. 21:01 God remove those, and He'll remove those today 21:04 who will continue to do those things 21:06 that He said that we should do. 21:08 If you continue in that, and you knowingly know 21:11 God will remove you in time 21:14 because He didn't remove you today 21:16 because He didn't remove you in three or five years, 21:19 you think you're pulling one over on God, 21:21 you better think again. 21:23 God is a God 21:24 that we've talked about on this panel 21:25 that I so appreciate the love and the mercy, 21:28 the power of God and His willingness 21:29 just to forebear was dirt like me. 21:33 His mercy is great, it's just so wonderful. 21:36 And so He doesn't, you know, retributive be right now. 21:41 He doesn't really come against maybe something judgments. 21:43 But in time, 21:45 you know here in it and we saw it take place 21:47 right here right now you did wrong who where by 21:50 God let's time go 21:51 but eventually it's going to come back. 21:53 Eventually God's going to try to get your attention, why? 21:56 Simply because He loves you 21:58 and because He certainly loves me. 21:59 We just have a little time left right here. 22:01 But I thought again, it was very easy. 22:04 You know this something we should think about 22:07 in this lesson. 22:08 Does God really mean what He says. 22:10 If people are backsliding, should there be a call? 22:14 If there's a backsliding should there be 22:16 and we leave the church for certain things 22:17 and things are open should there be a separation? 22:20 Should there be a division? 22:21 Lot of time we let the person stay inside the church. 22:24 It causes more division, more havoc in the church 22:27 and if you just dealt with it 22:28 because our counsel is we need to put that sin over that 22:31 if open now on the outside 22:33 until it's settled, and then bring it back in. 22:36 Now is that what people wanna talk about? 22:38 Oh, no. 22:39 Is that what God talked about in this lesson? 22:40 You better believe it because it costs lives. 22:42 Not just them, but it costs for eternity. 22:46 And we have, 22:47 definitely God's giving you responsibility. 22:49 They overlook the oversight of His heritage 22:52 that because we love 22:54 not because we're better, we're all saved by grace, 22:56 we're all sinners, we're not worth a dime 22:58 but because of Jesus Christ, ain't that right? 23:01 We're worth all of heaven. 23:02 That's exciting to me. 23:04 But He also requires His people 23:06 to stand and shout, 23:07 He requires and He says, 23:08 "Get on the walls," right? 23:10 "Of Babylon and shout, 23:12 give a message." 23:14 A message of the hour is to come out of her, 23:17 My people, don't be partakers of her sins. 23:20 Why Jesus is coming? 23:21 He's coming after a clear, 23:23 you know, clean hands and clean heart people. 23:26 That would be like Jesus and the only way we can do that 23:28 is dedicate our hearts and our lives to Him 23:30 each and every day and pray, 23:32 O God, whatever it takes to make it to heaven, 23:35 let it happen. 23:37 Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny. 23:39 Our God is a Holy God. 23:41 Our God is a redemptive God. Amen. 23:44 And our God is abounding in mercy and truth. 23:47 We're gonna take a short break, we'll be right back. 23:55 Ever wish you could watch 23:56 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 23:58 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:01 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:06 A clean design makes it easy 24:09 to find the program you're looking for. 24:11 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:14 so you can follow along. 24:16 Sharing is easy. 24:17 Just click share 24:19 and choose your favorite social media. 24:21 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 24:27 Welcome back to our study, 24:28 we'll continue with Tuesday's lesson, 24:30 "Tithes and Offerings" with Shelley Quinn. 24:32 And first, I just wanna make a comment 24:34 'cause it occurred to me as you were talking 24:36 is that much like with Ananias and Sapphira 24:42 at the beginning of the church. 24:44 The reason God took quick action against them 24:48 was because He didn't wanna pollute everyone 24:50 and He wanted them to see. 24:52 And you think about this 'cause it sounds... 24:56 It sounds so hard, but God did in depth. 25:00 I mean, we know that Moses afterwards, 25:02 there's 3,000 25:04 out of the millions that were there. 25:05 And afterwards, Moses goes before him 25:07 and says, "Well, blot me out of the book." 25:09 And God says, "No, I'll blot out whoever sins 25:12 from my Book of Life." 25:13 But He did redeem the rest of the people. 25:17 Okay, I have Tithes and Offerings. 25:20 And we, as you said, God set it apart the Tribe of Levi 25:24 to do the temple services. 25:27 And because they were set apart for this, 25:30 they didn't receive land as an inheritance, 25:34 but God had set up the tithes 25:37 and offerings as a system 25:40 to support the Levites. 25:42 And when the people failed to tithe, 25:45 unfortunately, the reason these Levites 25:48 had to go out in the field. 25:50 They had to go do day labor 25:52 to try to support their families. 25:55 So what Nehemiah did when he come, when he returns, 26:00 he's reforming the temple services. 26:03 And that included 26:04 the implementation of tithes and offerings 26:08 to support God system of worship. 26:11 It says in verse, Nehemiah 13:12, 26:14 "Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain 26:18 and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse." 26:22 Let's talk about the tithe. 26:24 What is the tithe? 26:26 Leviticus 27:30 tells us the tithe is holy, 26:30 it belongs to the Lord. 26:32 It says, "All the tithe of the land, 26:33 whether of the seed or of the land 26:36 or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. 26:40 It is holy to the Lord." 26:42 You know, there's a special time 26:44 or a special portion of our time 26:46 that God considers holy. 26:48 And that's one seventh of our time. 26:51 He set apart the seventh day. 26:54 He sanctified that day and blessed it 26:56 because He said, it is assigned to us 26:59 that He is the one who sanctifies us. 27:02 But there's a special portion of our income 27:05 that God calls holy, and that is one-tenth. 27:09 That's what tithe means is one-tenth 27:11 and, you know, it is interesting. 27:14 We know that the Bible says God is the giver of every good 27:18 and perfect gift. 27:19 He's the one who gives us the ability to earn an income, 27:23 to have an increase. 27:25 But so the Bible also says 27:28 everything belongs to God, right? 27:30 We don't pay tithe. 27:33 We return tithe 27:36 and it isn't built on. 27:39 It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor. 27:42 It's one-tenth. 27:43 Let me read Malachi 3:8-11 27:46 because this shows us the seriousness of it. 27:50 God says, He's speaking to the Jews. 27:53 He said, "'Will a man rob God? 27:56 Yet you have robbed Me! 27:58 But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' 28:00 In tithes and offerings. 28:02 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, 28:05 even this whole nation. 28:07 Bring all the tithes to the storehouse," why? 28:10 'Cause He wants his temple worship to continue. 28:15 Amen. 28:16 "That there may be food in My house, 28:18 now try Me in this,' 28:20 He says, 'If I will not open for you 28:23 the windows of heaven and pour out for you 28:25 such blessing that there won't be room enough 28:27 to receive it. 28:29 'And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, 28:32 so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, 28:35 nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you 28:37 in the field,' says the Lord of hosts." 28:40 So this is interesting because there are people today 28:44 who believe that tithes and offerings 28:46 are no longer required in the New Testament Church. 28:50 Certainly, 28:52 there were certain sacrificial offerings 28:57 that were abolished at the cross, 29:00 Christ atonement at the cross, 29:02 we know that many things of the Levitical system, 29:06 many of the ceremonies, 29:10 He fulfilled all of that, 29:11 but tithing is not one of them. 29:16 It is not included in that classification. 29:19 So because this was recognized as a duty well 29:23 before the time of Moses, 29:25 we know that Abraham tithes 29:28 one-tenth of all of his war booty 29:31 to Melchizedek, 29:32 and let me read you this 29:34 because there is a casual reference 29:37 in the New Testament 29:38 that shows us 29:41 that tithing was an accepted practice 29:43 in the New Testament. 29:45 And I can say that 29:46 because it is so casually mentioned, 29:48 Hebrews 7:1-2 it says, 29:51 "This Melchizedek, king of Salem, 29:54 priests to the Most High God, who met Abraham returning 29:57 from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 29:59 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, 30:03 first being translated," 30:05 that was talking about the king Salem, 30:08 "'king of righteousness,' 30:10 and then also meaning 'king of peace.' 30:14 See, the New Testament writers 30:18 validated and upheld the practice of tithing. 30:22 Yes. 30:23 This story about Melchizedek is recorded in Genesis 30:26 in the first book of the Bible. 30:28 And Abraham when he met Him, he gave Him one-tenth. 30:33 This is in Genesis 14. 30:35 We also know Jacob, the son of Isaac tithe, 30:39 he was the grandson of Abraham. 30:42 And when Israel was established as a nation 30:46 after the exodus from Egypt, 30:49 God reaffirm tithing 30:51 and it's a divine institution. 30:53 Yes. 30:55 And He explained, 30:56 your prosperity depends upon this. 30:58 He even says, test Me. 31:00 I don't know, is there another place 31:01 where God says, test Me? 31:03 Melchizedek prefigured Jesus Christ. 31:07 Yes. 31:08 Hebrews 5:9-10 says, 31:10 "Having been perfected," speaking of Jesus, 31:13 "He became the author of eternal salvation to all 31:18 who obey Him, 31:21 called by God as High Priest 31:23 'according to the order of Melchizedek." 31:27 So just as Abraham tithe to Melchizedek 31:30 to acknowledge his priesthood. 31:34 And that demonstrated 31:35 that Abraham was very well informed 31:39 on this sacred institution of tithing. 31:42 Likewise, his New Testament believers, 31:44 we tithe to Jesus to support His church. 31:48 He is our High Priest, if you will. 31:51 And as I said, there's somewhat casual reference to tithing, 31:55 the shows to me 31:57 that was already established in the New Testament Church 32:00 'cause he didn't have to go through 32:02 and explain this. 32:03 As the father of all believers, 32:07 Abraham was the one 32:09 who set forth this example for us 32:13 that we're to follow. 32:15 And returning tithe is a very important part 32:19 of our religious worship. 32:22 And this is why, you know, Nehemiah knew this. 32:25 This is why he is bringing the people back but today, 32:28 it supports the work of the church. 32:30 Certainly, there would be no evangelism without it. 32:34 So the New Testament assumes the validity of tithing. 32:38 And no New Testament writer relaxes its obligations. 32:43 In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, 32:47 "Woe to you, 32:49 scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 32:51 For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, 32:54 and have neglected 32:55 the weightier matters of the law, 32:57 justice, mercy and faith." 32:59 Oh, you can say, hey, 33:01 he's saying woe because he tithe. 33:03 Now listen, he said, "These you ought to have done," 33:06 this tithe you ought to have done, 33:09 "without leaving the others undone." 33:12 You know, they were meticulous, the Pharisees in their tithing 33:16 I mean, counting out the seeds even, 33:18 but they violated as we talked about earlier, 33:22 the spirit of the law. 33:25 So Jesus is encouraging them and He's warning them 33:30 that their strict tithing must be accompanied 33:33 by God's weightier matters. 33:36 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 says, 33:39 "Do you not know that those who minister the holy things 33:42 eat of the holy things of the temple, 33:44 and those who serve at the altar 33:47 partake of the offerings at the altar? 33:49 Even so the Lord has commanded that 33:51 those who preach the gospel 33:54 should live from the Gospel." 33:57 So like the Old Testament priest, 33:59 were supported by the tithe 34:01 those today, our preachers and our ministers 34:06 are who preached the New Testament gospel, 34:10 the good news and victory over a battle. 34:14 They are supported by the tithe. 34:17 Let me read this one comment. 34:19 "When God calls for the tithe," 34:21 this comes from the Seventh-day Adventists Believe. 34:24 "When God calls for the tithe, 34:26 He makes no appeal to gratitude or generosity. 34:30 Although gratitude should be a part 34:31 of our expressions to God, 34:33 we tithe because God has commanded it. 34:36 The tithe belongs to the Lord, 34:38 and He requests that we return to Him." 34:41 Amen. 34:43 Thank you, Shelley, that, you know, this lesson, Jill, 34:44 as I think you mentioned even I think before we started, 34:47 this is a lesson of recalibration. 34:50 It's a lesson that saying to us, 34:52 whatever has happened and the writer, 34:54 Nehemiah, Ezra is saying 34:56 whatever direction you were going in the past, 34:58 it's time to get back on track. 35:00 And all these areas in worship, 35:04 in how we honor the day of worship, 35:06 which is what I'm gonna talk about right now. 35:08 But I began with Mark Chapter 2 because mine is entitled 35:11 "Treading the Wine Presses on the Sabbath." 35:16 I'm gonna begin with a very clear statement 35:18 because the Sabbath has not been seen today 35:20 in Christendom as something that is obligatory any longer. 35:23 It's the only commandment 35:25 that starts with the word remember, 35:26 it is one of the chief commandments 35:29 that people are told to forget. 35:31 God says remember, man says forget, 35:33 you know, it always amazed me 35:35 because Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, 35:38 "Remember now the Creator in the days of your youth." 35:41 No preacher would ever argue with that. 35:42 Our young people need to know the Lord. 35:45 Dr. Luke says, "Remember Lot's wife." 35:47 Nobody would argue with that. 35:49 When the Lord says go forward, don't go backward. 35:51 Dr. Luke is exalted. 35:54 Solomon is exalted. 35:56 God is ignored. 35:58 He say ignore what God said, but don't forget Solomon. 36:01 Don't forget Dr. Luke, 36:03 tell me that there's not something demonic behind that. 36:05 That's true. 36:07 The only commandment that the Lord said remember 36:09 not that He said forget of the others. 36:11 But He says remember, 36:13 and this is the one that is being told to forget. 36:16 So this part of the lesson, 36:18 Nehemiah 13:15-22 36:21 are calibrating the veracity, 36:25 the validity, 36:28 the longevity, 36:30 the perpetuity of the law, 36:33 showing that no matter how long time last, 36:36 the character of God doesn't change, 36:38 and His purpose for the seven day week 36:41 has not changed. 36:44 My wife recently talked to a creationist, 36:46 and it's amazing, she said, 36:48 "Well, he wanted to debate an atheist." 36:51 She asked a simple question. 36:53 How could you be a creationist and miss the Sabbath? 36:56 And he was at a loss for words, 36:58 he couldn't even find a statement. 36:59 He wanted to debate an atheist. 37:01 He couldn't even answer her question. 37:04 An atheist could say to Christians, 37:06 so you believe in creation? 37:08 Yes. 37:09 Why don't you keep the Sabbath? 37:11 The atheist just one hands down. 37:13 So unless we stand firmly on all the principles, 37:17 and the specifics of truth, 37:19 we cannot stand firm on any of them. 37:21 Amen. 37:22 Because as the Bible says in James 2:10-12, 37:26 "If you fault one, you're guilty of all." 37:29 But let's look at Mark 2:27-28. 37:31 Let me dive into this very carefully. 37:33 And establish the New covenant attitude 37:36 and the new covenant position of the Sabbath 37:39 in the eyes of Jesus, 37:40 who better to use as an example, 37:43 Mark 2:27-28. 37:45 "And He said to them, 37:46 'The Sabbath was made for M-A-N," 37:49 what does that spell? Man. 37:50 Not J-E-W. 37:52 "'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 37:57 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'" 38:01 Jesus is not the son of the Jews in this passage, 38:05 He's the Son of Man, 38:06 He came to seek all humanity 38:08 that all of us have fallen short, 38:11 the Sabbath was an application. 38:12 The only purpose of the Sabbath at the end of creation week 38:15 was a sign of a memorial. 38:18 And Ezekiel 20:12, 20 38:20 "Hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign 38:22 between Me and you, 38:23 that you will know that I am the Lord 38:25 that sanctifies you." 38:26 Hallow My Sabbaths 38:27 and there a sign between Me and you 38:29 that you may know that I am the Lord your God. 38:32 Ezekiel 20:12, 20. 38:34 It's a sign. 38:36 And you know what I said this in one of my past sermons, 38:39 entitled, "The Sign." 38:40 I said, "If we woke up in America 38:42 and all of a sudden, every traffic sign, 38:43 every traffic light, every yellow line, 38:45 every white line, every guard rail was removed, 38:49 every railroad crossing, every high-voltage sign, 38:52 every exit sign was immediately, 38:55 completely gone." 38:57 People would say, 38:58 "What is that freedom or pandemonia? 39:00 It's pandemonia. 39:01 Because every corrupt heart 39:03 would take advantage of the lack of prohibition. 39:06 Now lack of prohibition 39:08 doesn't mean a God of prohibition. 39:10 But the God of order 39:12 is what the purpose of the Sabbath is all about. 39:14 Let's look at Nehemiah Chapter 13 39:16 and find out why these things were done. 39:18 What was the issue 39:20 that Nehemiah was addressing here? 39:21 Let's look at it. 39:23 Nehemiah 13:15. 39:24 "In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses 39:27 on the Sabbath, 39:29 and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, 39:31 grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, 39:34 which they brought into Jerusalem 39:36 on the Sabbath day. 39:38 And I warned them about the day 39:40 on which they were selling provisions." 39:44 If the Lord would walk the earth today, 39:46 He would be warning clergy leaders, 39:48 congregations denominations 39:50 about how they violate the Sabbath, 39:52 with impunity. 39:54 You know, the word impunity means, 39:55 with a lack of care, 39:56 and I don't really care what you say. 39:58 Impunity is worse than just violation. 40:01 Violation and ignorance can be excused, 40:03 but violation with impunity 40:05 will only set itself up for judgment. 40:07 Verse 16, 40:09 "Men of Tyre dwelt there also, 40:11 who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, 40:15 and sold them on the Sabbath 40:16 to the children of Judah, in Jerusalem." 40:19 You know, they couldn't wait for the sun to go down. 40:21 They couldn't wait for the Sabbath 40:23 and so they could sell 40:24 and that's what's brought out in the very next verses. 40:27 Verse 17, 40:28 "Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, 40:30 and said to them, 40:31 'What evil thing this that you do, 40:33 by which you profane the Sabbath day? 40:36 Did not your fathers do thus, 40:38 and did not our God bring all this disaster on us 40:41 and on this city?" 40:43 Jerusalem was destroyed for violation of the Sabbath. 40:45 But they wouldn't close the gates 40:47 and that was a whole thing that Jeremiah addressed. 40:49 "Yet you bring added wrath on Israel 40:52 by profaning the Sabbath. 40:54 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, 40:57 as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, 41:00 that I commanded the gates to be shut, 41:02 and charged that they must not be opened 41:05 till after the Sabbath." 41:06 I have to make a point here. 41:09 There's a danger not to guard the edges of the Sabbath. 41:14 Every commandment has edges to it. 41:17 The edge of adultery is don't lust, 41:20 the edge of thou shall not steal 41:22 is don't even want, don't covet. 41:26 Every commandment has edges. 41:28 And when we cross the edges, 41:30 we step on the commandment itself. 41:33 So, my brothers and sisters, 41:34 when the Sabbath 41:36 and this I spoke to a family member 41:37 not too long ago, 41:38 where they said they were at somebody Adventist home 41:40 and there's someone even set yet. 41:42 And so somebody said, "Let's play Uno." 41:45 Well, they said, "Well, you got like 20 minutes left." 41:49 And I'm amazed one of my favorite stores 41:51 in New York, 41:52 B&H Photo. 41:53 B&H Photo is a Jewish-owned business. 41:56 They close hours before the Sabbath, 41:58 you can't even go on their store online and order 42:01 until the Sabbath is over. 42:03 Now the sad reality is as a Jewish business, 42:05 they reject Christ the person, 42:07 but they have not forgotten 42:09 the validity of the Sabbath. 42:11 But let me make a very important point. 42:13 The Sabbath without Christ is not salvation. 42:15 That's right. Both have to be together. 42:17 But the point that was being made here 42:19 is the Lord wanted to be clear 42:21 that what I blessed in the beginning, 42:23 has not been abrogated nor diluted nor pushed aside 42:27 because you prefer to be different. 42:29 Let's go on further. So he said. 42:31 He said, not only He said, 42:32 "I charged them that they must not open 42:35 till after the Sabbath." 42:37 Guard the edges of the Sabbath in attending restaurants, 42:41 and going to malls, and going to public events. 42:45 If you serve the God of creation, 42:47 guard the edges of the Sabbath be an example. 42:50 "Then I posted 42:52 some of my servants at the gates, 42:53 so that no burdens would be brought in 42:56 on the Sabbath day. 42:58 Now the merchants and sellers 42:59 of all kinds of wares 43:01 lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice." 43:03 I like what he said here. 43:05 Verse 21, 43:06 "Then I warned them, and said to them, 43:08 'Why do you spend the night around the wall? 43:11 If you do so again," I'll slap you. 43:15 You know what He said. "I'll lay hands on you!'" 43:18 The Lord said, 43:19 don't make my house a den of thieves. 43:22 And that's what they were seeking to do. 43:23 Jesus addressed the same issue. 43:26 From that time on 43:28 they came no more on the Sabbath, why? 43:30 Because they saw the seriousness 43:34 of the warning, 43:36 like a parent would say, if you do that again, 43:38 I'll lay hands on you. 43:40 Have you heard that before growing? 43:42 Have you heard that, Kenny? 43:43 I know that. I know your past. 43:45 But look at verse 22. 43:47 "And I commanded the Levites 43:49 that they should cleanse themselves, 43:52 and that they should go and guard the gates, 43:54 to sanctify the Sabbath." 43:56 Leaders, preachers, 43:58 we are called to guard the gates. 44:01 As the leaders, 44:02 as the holy leaders of the elders, 44:04 the deacons, the deaconesses, the leaders, 44:07 remember, Jill, no standards for fellowship, 44:09 standards for membership, 44:11 high standards for leadership, the leaders are accountable. 44:14 I've often said the members will never do 44:17 what they don't see the leaders doing. 44:19 And wherever the leaders become weak 44:22 and remove prohibition in their own lives. 44:26 The members will use them as an example 44:28 to follow in their footsteps. 44:30 That's why he says here as he ends, 44:33 "Remember me, O my God, concerning this, 44:36 and spare me 44:37 according to the greatness of Your mercy!" 44:40 The Lord is merciful. 44:41 He's not willing but the Sabbath 44:42 should not be profaned. 44:44 It's a holy day to a holy God, 44:47 and He'll bless us, He'll cause us to ride 44:49 on the high places of the earth, 44:51 and feed us with the heritage if we simply obey. 44:54 Amen. 44:57 Amen. 44:58 It's marvelous the way God brings people 45:02 to sound the tone of alarm. 45:05 And here we have Nehemiah, 45:08 warning the people because he was concerned, 45:11 the people of Israel had already been 45:12 through 70 years of captivity. 45:16 Why? Because they had disobeyed God. 45:19 And so I have the part for Thursday, 45:22 "Did Not Your Fathers Do Thus?" 45:25 Again, looking at verse 18. 45:28 "Did not your fathers do thus, 45:30 and did not our God bring all this disaster on us 45:34 and on this city?" 45:35 In other words, let's not go back there again. 45:38 Yeah. Amen. 45:40 Let's prevent God from having to take action upon us 45:44 for disobedience to His commandments, 45:47 including this fourth commandment, 45:49 which was a great concern for Nehemiah. 45:53 And so He took action and I blessed to hear 45:58 what Pastor Lomacang had to say about this. 46:01 I like to read to you from a quote 46:03 that here in the lesson, 46:05 and that is on Patriarchs and Prophets 46:07 page 671, 672 in the lesson 46:10 and quoting 46:13 Nehemiah Chapter 13, 18, and 19 46:16 we have these words, 46:17 "Nehemiah fearlessly rebuked them 46:20 for their neglect of duty. 46:23 'What evil thing is this that you do, 46:26 and profane the Sabbath day?' 46:28 he sternly commanded or demanded. 46:30 'Did not your fathers do thus, 46:32 and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, 46:35 and upon this city? 46:37 Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel 46:40 by profaning the Sabbath.'" 46:41 This reminds me of the time when Jesus healed someone 46:45 and said to him, 46:48 "Go and sin no more, 46:50 lest a worse thing come upon you." 46:54 So this is also a message for us 46:57 because the things 46:59 that happened to the people of Israel 47:01 are a message for us. 47:03 And concerning the Sabbath, Pastor Lomacang, 47:06 mentioned some things that are happening today. 47:09 Going to malls, 47:10 people that know that shouldn't, 47:12 going to malls, 47:13 going to restaurants during the Sabbath day, 47:16 what would Nehemiah do today? 47:18 What would Jesus do today 47:20 if He was walking among us today, 47:22 as He did during the time of Israel, 47:24 during the time 47:25 when He was in His earthly sojourn? 47:27 And so continuing here, 47:31 "He gave them command that 47:34 'when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark 47:36 before the Sabbath,' they should be shut, 47:38 and not opened to the Sabbath was past, 47:40 and having more confidence in his own servants 47:42 than in those 47:44 that the magistrates of Jerusalem might appoint, 47:45 he stationed them at the gates to see that these orders 47:48 or his orders were enforced." 47:51 It's sad that they had to do this 47:53 because they should know better. 47:56 But measures had to be taken 47:59 to prevent from sin coming in. 48:03 God again, you know, you ask yourself, 48:07 what is God doing today 48:08 to bring to people's attention 48:11 about the commandments? 48:12 I believe one of the things that God is doing is 3ABN, 48:15 proclaiming all over the world. 48:17 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 48:21 You mentioned the word perpetuity. 48:22 This is something that continues today. 48:25 And that's why 48:26 remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 48:28 But wait, somebody says, wait, 48:29 didn't Jesus said do some things about Sabbath 48:32 wasn't He condemned for violating the Sabbath? 48:35 That's an incorrect assessment 48:38 or interpretation of the scriptures. 48:39 Jesus did not violate the Sabbath. 48:41 As a matter of fact, concerning Jesus, 48:45 had there been one sin. 48:47 That's right. 48:48 During His time of judge, 48:51 He was judged before He was crucified. 48:53 They couldn't find a single thing wrong with Him. 48:57 And if He had violated the Sabbath, 49:00 which Bible says 49:02 that sin is the transgression of the law. 49:04 If he had violated the Sabbath 49:06 He would not be a perfect offering for us, 49:08 and therefore, we will be in serious trouble. 49:11 I would like to read one of the occasions 49:13 where Jesus did a miracle on the Sabbath day. 49:17 Luke 6:6-11. 49:20 I'm gonna read this quickly, Luke 6:6-11. 49:23 "Now it happened on another Sabbath, 49:24 also, that He entered the synagogue 49:26 and taught. 49:28 And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 49:30 So the scribes and Pharisees 49:32 watched Him closely, 49:35 whether He would heal on the Sabbath, 49:36 that they might find an accusation against Him. 49:40 But He knew their thoughts, 49:42 and said to the man who had the withered hand, 49:44 'Arise and stand here.' 49:46 And he arose and stood. 49:48 Then Jesus said to them, 'I will ask you one thing, 49:51 Is it lawful on the Sabbath 49:55 to do good or to do evil, 49:56 to save life or to destroy?' 49:59 And when He had looked around at them all, 50:03 He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' 50:05 And he did so, 50:07 and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 50:11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another 50:14 what they might do to Jesus." 50:16 Notice Jesus asked Him, 50:17 is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day? 50:20 And brothers and sisters, 50:21 is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day? 50:24 Let's go out and do good on the Sabbath day, 50:26 instead of going to malls, let them go into restaurants. 50:29 It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. 50:32 And so the Sabbath remains true today 50:36 as it was in the time of the Jews 50:38 and Nehemiah's time, 50:40 as it was in the time of Jesus 50:41 is still too true today. 50:43 You see, Jesus came to magnify the law 50:47 and make it honorable. 50:49 I see in Isaiah 42:21. 50:52 Concerning this, it says, 50:53 "The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake, 50:57 He will exalt the law and make it honorable." 51:01 And concerning Jesus in Psalms 40:7-8, it says, 51:05 "Sacrifice and offering 51:07 You did not desire, My ears You have opened. 51:10 Burnt offering and sin offering 51:12 You did not require. 51:14 Then I said, 'Behold, I come, 51:16 in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 51:20 I delight to do Your will, O my God, 51:22 and Your law is within my heart.'" 51:24 The Law of God was within the heart of Jesus. 51:27 He came to magnify the law and make it honorable. 51:30 That's why I go to Matthew 5:17-19 51:33 and point some things there. 51:35 "Do not think that I came to destroy the law 51:38 or the prophets. 51:39 I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 51:42 For assuredly, I say to you, 51:43 till heaven and earth pass away, 51:45 one jot or one tittle will by no means pass 51:47 from the law 51:48 till all is fulfilled." 51:50 Question, 51:51 is heaven and earth passed away? 51:53 No. 51:54 No, therefore, now one jot or one tittle 51:57 has pass from the law, 51:59 "Whoever therefore," continuing in verse 19. 52:02 "Whoever therefore breaks one." 52:04 Verse 19. Verse 19, thank you. 52:06 "Whoever therefore breaks 52:08 one of the least of these commandments, 52:09 and teaches men so, 52:10 shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, 52:13 but whoever does and teaches them, 52:15 he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 52:17 Let's teach them. Let's do them. 52:20 Now let's look at Jesus magnifying the law. 52:23 Verse 21 of Matthew Chapter 5. 52:25 "You have heard that it was said of those of old, 52:28 'You shall not murder, 52:30 and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 52:32 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother 52:36 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 52:38 And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' 52:40 shall be in danger of the council. 52:43 But whoever says, 'You fool!' 52:44 shall be in danger of hell fire." 52:46 You see, Jesus is magnifying the law, 52:48 the same thing with the Sabbath. 52:50 Look at another one. 52:51 Verse 27, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 52:54 'You shall not commit adultery.'" 52:56 Jesus goes further, He says, 52:58 "But I say to you 52:59 that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her 53:01 has already committed adultery with her in his heart." 53:05 Jesus magnifying the law, making it honorable. 53:09 And so now one jot 53:11 or one tittle has pass from the law. 53:15 And so today, 53:17 I want to encourage us encourage, 53:21 those that are listening to consider 53:23 what happened here in Nehemiah, 53:25 Jesus today says to you, 53:28 the same thing, you know, 53:31 obey if you love me keep My commandments. 53:34 It is for your good 53:36 because this obedience brings bad results. 53:41 Jesus said, "Not one jot, 53:43 not one tittle has pass from the law." 53:46 Looking at history, 53:47 we see what happened to the people of Israel 53:49 for disobedience. 53:51 Looking at us, 53:53 if we do like the Jews did in the old days, 53:58 bad results. 54:00 Unfortunately, during the time of Jesus, 54:02 the Jews had taken these things to extreme. 54:05 This is why they're looking at Jesus watching closely 54:08 to see if He would heal, 54:09 they had lost sight of the beauty of the Sabbath. 54:12 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 54:14 It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day, 54:16 they made rigorous things, 54:18 oh, if you can carry a handkerchief in your pocket, 54:20 you are carrying a weight 54:22 and now you are violating the Sabbath. 54:25 Jesus was trying to clear the clutter 54:28 that the things they have put on the Sabbath 54:30 that should have never been there. 54:32 And He is saying to us today, 54:34 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 54:37 This has never changed. 54:39 There's no commandment that says, 54:40 "Oh, from now on you can forget it." 54:43 Don't worry about it. 54:44 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy remains 54:47 and I would like to quote, words of Jesus one more time, 54:51 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 54:53 It remains true today. Amen. 54:56 Thank you so much, Pastor Johnny, 54:57 and, Pastor John, 54:59 and, Shelley, and, Pastor Kenny, 55:01 this recalibration as it were of our hearts 55:04 and our lives. 55:05 It's a God who loves us, 55:07 and who calls the backslidden people 55:10 back to repentance. 55:13 I wanna to give each one of you a moment 55:14 to share something about your day 55:15 or this lesson in particular. 55:18 I think this lesson pulls things 55:21 out of us thoughts. 55:22 Sometime when you're in the middle of a situation, 55:25 it's hard to see it for what it is, 55:27 but we're talking about here recalibration, 55:30 or we're talking about a reformation 55:32 here we just read about reformation was taken place. 55:35 This is reformation God wants us to have 55:37 and that's in our lives. 55:39 And we might look and say, old things weren't good. 55:41 We need a reformation we need some changes, 55:43 we need to be turn back to God 55:44 because He's certainly coming soon. 55:46 And when we do, the blessings and approval of God 55:48 will be upon His people. 55:50 Amen. Amen. 55:51 Wednesday's lesson 55:53 was on Tithes and Offerings 55:54 and I really didn't get to the Offering. 55:56 But I just wanted to read a quick quote 55:59 from this is also from the Book Seventh-day Adventists Believe. 56:04 But it says, "The tithing system 56:05 is beautiful in its simplicity. 56:08 Its equity is revealed in its proportional claim 56:13 on the rich and on the poor. 56:15 In proportion as God has given us 56:18 the use of His property, 56:20 so we are to return to Him at tithe." 56:24 One-tenth that God said is holy. 56:27 Amen. Amen. 56:29 And what Nehemiah was seeking to accomplish 56:32 in calibrating the minds of the people 56:33 back to the Sabbath. 56:35 Let me just a twist right here. 56:37 If we think it's just about the day 56:39 we have missed the whole point. 56:40 That's right. 56:42 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 56:43 Exodus 20:10, 56:45 "The Seventh-day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." 56:50 The question is, who is your God, 56:53 if it's not the God of creation, 56:54 pick whatever day you want, 56:56 but if it's the true God, He's already picked the day. 56:58 Yes, He had. Amen. 57:00 Let me read quickly from Isaiah 58:13-14, 57:04 "'If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, 57:05 from doing your pleasure on My holy day, 57:08 and called the Sabbath a delight." 57:09 It is a delight. Amen. 57:11 "The holy day of the Lord honorable, 57:13 and show honor Him, 57:15 not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, 57:18 nor speaking your own words, 57:19 then you shall delight yourself in the Lord. 57:22 And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, 57:24 and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. 57:27 The mouth of the Lord has spoken.'" 57:29 Amen. 57:30 Thank you all so much for sharing from your own heart 57:32 and experience in the Word of God. 57:34 And we're grateful 57:35 that you have joined us as well. 57:37 I wanna close with this scripture 57:38 Ezekiel 18:30-31. 57:42 "Repent, 57:43 and turn from your transgressions. 57:45 Cast away from you all those transgressions 57:48 and get yourself a new heart and a new spirit. 57:50 For why should you die, O house of Israel?" 57:54 That's God's call to you 57:55 and it's His call to me to all of us. 57:57 Join us next week 57:59 as we look at lesson number 12, 58:01 Dealing with Bad Decisions. |
Revised 2019-12-12