The Fruit of True Repentance [6]

 
 
This is the last in the series on a look at the fruit of true repentance.  We discussed the steps the Israelites took in Nehemiah chapters 8-10 as they repented for their wrong doing.  We covered the first 3 in the previous post and now, we’ll cover the last step.  We can use their account of how they repented; the action that they took as evidence of their repentance. 

One of the things they did was hear the word of God, as should we, and commit it to our hearts and then apply it to our lives. 
 
v    a Commitment to God’s Word [knowing & submitting]
And the rest of the people, separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;  Nehemiah 10:28
 
v    a commitment to Fearing God [Reverence/respect] and
They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;  Nehemiah 10:29

Not only did they know and undersand God’s word, they committed following God’s Word and to demonstrate how serious they were, they also put themselves under a curse if they failed to follow it.

v    a Commitment to Holiness:  Another focus of the believers’ life and evidence of true repentance is the practice of holiness. Discipline is a major aspect of our sanctification, as we confront temptation and opportunities to sin.  Where do we see this commitment in Israel? Look at what they committed to:  The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand… We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.   Nehemiah 10:30-31
 
We’re going to continue adding to those fruits today.  Still looking at the children of Israel in the account found in Nehemiah; chapters 8-10, the last one is:

        √         A Commitment to the House of God
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; Nehemiah 10:32   

As fruit [evidence] of their repentance, the people of God committed to support the ministry of the temple in four different ways.
            ·     The temple tax:  (Nehemiah 10:32–33). The annual census of the people twenty years of age and older was accompanied by the collecting of a half-shekel tax to be used to support the ministry of the house of God (Ex. 30:11–16).

Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us of our need to support the work of the Lord with our finances.  Just as Israel committed to support the work of God, we must consistently strive to make this commitment as well.
            ·     The first fruits:  (Neh. 10:35–37a). The Israelites were taught to give God the first and the best.
Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us of our need to give our best to God. Israel committed to give God their first fruits. The first fruits were considered the best and a picture of the future harvest. In what ways can we give God our best?  “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”  Proverbs 3:9

            ·       The tithes:   (Nehemiah 10:37b-39). The word tithe means “a tenth.” The Jews were to bring a tenth of their produce to the Lord each year for the support of the Levites (Lev. 27:30–34). The Levites then gave a “tithe of the tithe” to the priests (Num. 18:25–32).

            ·       The wood offering:  (Nehemiah 10:34). Since the fire on the brazen altar was to be kept burning constantly (Lev. 6:12–13), it required a steady supply of wood; which was considered a precious commodity.
Israel’s commitment to the house of God reminds us that we should labor to build up God’s church; the physical building dedicated for our worship to Him.  But, there’s another application we can take from this God doesn’t live in temples built with hands, but He indwells the people of God—the living temple.  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Similarly, Apostle Paul teaches that we’re the temple of God both corporately Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  1 Corinthians 3:16

and individually What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Cor.  6:19

Therefore, one of the ways we build God’s house is by being committed to the church and being unspotted by the world and serving His people there.
God uniquely gives each believer a spiritual gift for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  1 Cor. 12:7

Just as each person brought wood, first fruits, etc., to build up the house of God, we must use our gifts and our time to build up God’s church & his people as well. This is a true fruit of repentance: serving the house of God.  John said this: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who doesn’t love remains in death”  1 John 3:14

Love always results in service. If anybody doesn’t serve the church—Christ’s body—he has not passed from life to death. They lac.k the evidence of true repentance. As we look at the covenant Israel renewed with God in the book of Nehemiah, we can learn a lot about our spiritual commitments and how we should continually practice them.

©        We should not hesitate to make or renew biblical commitments to God. It doesn’t matter if we failed in the past; with the grace and mercy of God, we can start over at any time through our repentance.  Personal Reflection:  What commitments is God calling you to make or renew with him today? 

©        We should practice sharing our commitments with others in order to have accountability.

Eighty-four leaders signed the covenant; the leaders were not only committing themselves but committing to help Israel keep their commitments. They were the nation’s representatives, and the contract was an accountability system for Israel. We need accountability, just as they did; to help us remain steadfast in our commitment to God and His word. 

©        We should practice writing down our commitments.The Israelites wrote down their commitments to God and had the leaders signed and sealed it (Nehemiah 9:38-10:1). There is something powerful about both verbalizing our commitments and writing them down.  Writing them down helps us clarify them and make sure they are attainable. This is another form of accountability for us. This helps increase our faith as we watch God’s faithfulness in helping us fulfill these commitments.  

Israel followed up their repentance in chapter 9 with a renewal of the Mosaic covenant. They made many commitments to God, and, in many ways, these should be our commitments today in that:

ü    We must be committed and submitted to the Word of God.
ü    We must be committed to the fear of the Lord.

Israel put themselves under the curse of the Mosaic law it they broke the covenant. They essentially committed to recognizing and allowing it to motivate them to faithfulness.

ü    We must be committed to holiness. Israel separated from the neighboring nations and their ways of life.

ü    People of God must be committed to building the house of God.

The house of God is not exclusive of the building but it’s also our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19) and the people of God (1 Peter 2:5). We should be committed to serving and seeing God’s kingdom come in our own lives and the lives of others as well as the maintenance and upkeep of the building.

 Sermonette