Sacrificial Service Nehemiah 5:14-19

5:14 – “Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.” 5:15 – “The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.”

Nehemiah 5: :16 – “I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.” 5:17 – “Moreover, there were at my table, 15o men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.”

Nehemiah 5: :18 – “Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.” 5:19 – “Remember for my good, o my God, all that I have done for this people.”

Sacrificial Service to God means Laying Aside Your Rights for the Interests of Others Verses Nehemiah didn’t take the food allowance, though he had the right Biblical examples of laying aside your rights for the interests of others 1 st Corinthians 9 – Paul did not take money for preaching the gospel Romans 14:20 – right to eat any food, but don’t eat it if it stumbles a fellow believer Philippians 2:6 – Jesus Christ becoming man Don’t be like everyone else

Sacrificial Service to God Involves Pleasing God End of verse 15 – “I did not do so, because of the fear of God” Nehemiah feared God Nehemiah had a correct, Biblical fear of God So he wanted to please God He pleased God by laying aside his right and not taking the food allowance Proverbs 9:10 – “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” Who or what do you fear? That’s who or what you will want to please

Sacrificial Service to God Involves Staying Focused on God’s Work Verse 16 Nehemiah persevered in working on the wall God’s work was more important than anything else to Nehemiah Don’t get sidetracked Stay focused on God and His work

Sacrificial Service to God Means Believers Will Have to Sacrifice Verses Nehemiah prepared these expenditures at his own expense Each day for 12 years Believers may have to sacrifice: MoneyTime Labor/energyFamily Life People are more important than profit

Sacrificial Service to God is Easy When You Know God Remembers Our Labor for Him Verse 19 Nehemiah prays – remember all that I have done for this people Nehemiah prays and ask God to remember 7 times in the book 5:196:14 two times13:14 13:2213:2913:31 1 st Corinthians 5:10 Matthew 25 God doesn’t forget ANYTHING

Sacrificial Service to God: Denying our own rights and looking out for other’s benefit Fearing God Being single-minded towards God’s work Sacrificing in our own lives Comprehending God remembers our service for Him

Jesus Christ: Laid aside His rights for our interests Innocent – but died because of our need of salvation Wanted to please God Not my will, but your will be done Focused on God’s work A way of salvation for sinners Sacrificed His own Life as payment for our sin God remembers Jesus’ sacrifice Every time a sinner comes to faith