1. “Everybody Didn’t Live Happily Ever After!”
Nehemiah 13

2. …The reality is that life seldom works that way
…The reality is that life seldom works that way. The following ad will help illustrate what is meant. It was in The Business Farmers’ News of Scottsbluff, Nebraska…

3. …He had backslidden and was in desperate need of reviving… “Fill me Lord! Fill Me!” Finally, a lady that knew the man well was heard to have said…

4. What had Israel done to pour cold water on the flames of this revival we read about in chapter 12?!

5. to learn what to do when revival wears off
Purpose:
to learn what to do when revival wears off

6. I They Rationalized Their Relationships (13:4-9)
A. Background to Eliashib

7. ELIASHIB
Was a worldly, ambitious High Priest, but his intentions were kept in check as long as Nehemiah was in town…

8. Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite were now “family and friends” with Eliashib… The High Priest of God was “sleeping with the enemy”… (Just as out of place as this fruit is with these donuts and muffins)

9. I They Rationalized Their Relationships (13:4-9)
A. Background to Eliashib
B. Nehemiah Returns

10. Point is clear – evil is the result when “cracks in the wall” (rationalizations) are tolerated!

11. II They Compromised Their Contributions (13:10-14)
A. Money the Wrong Direction

12. Sure sign of a fizzled revival = people find other things do with the money they vow to give to God and His work…

13. II They Compromised Their Contributions (13:10-14)
A. Money the Wrong Direction
B. Heart Issue Not a Financial Issue

14. Nehemiah knew that money is an index of one’s priorities… i. e
Nehemiah knew that money is an index of one’s priorities… i.e. money (treasures) is a heart matter…

15. Show us what an individual is doing with “their money” and we’ll show you where their heart is!

16. III They Secularized Their Priorities (13:15-28)
A. The Sabbath Was Secularized (13:19-22)

17. Nehemiah said he didn’t even want the temptation around the perimeter of the city. Merchants were told to get out…

18. III They Secularized Their Priorities (13:15-28)
A. The Sabbath Was Secularized (13:19-22)
B. Marriage Was Secularized (13:23-24)

19. Marriage is holy but man has done a splendid job of secularizing it…

20. Israel didn’t go into captivity the first time because they didn’t have a big enough wall. They went into captivity because…

21. Conclusion/Summary:
1. Pray that God would empower us to watch for weak places in our walls…
2. Pray that God would empower us to make repairs even when it is hard…
3. Pray that God would empower us to move through His opened doors…

22. Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”