After We Say "Amen”

SERMON OUTLINE:

(A). The Document of Promise.

• (1). A document of dedication

• (2). A document they agreed to

• (3). A document of importance

(B). The Promise in The Document.

• (1). Generally (vs 28-29).

• (2). Specifically (vs 30-39).

• (a). domestic - mixed marriages (vs 30)

• (b). commercial - Sabbath trading (vs 31)

• (c). agricultural - seventh-year laws (vs 31)

• (d). social - cancellation of debts (vs 31)

• (e). religious - support of God’s house (vs 32)

• (f). economic - regular contributions (vs 38).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Listen to a person pray in Chinese or Japanese or Swahili or Maninka,

• Or German or French or Russian or Arabic,

• And very likely there is at least one word you will understand: “Amen”

• It may be pronounced slightly differently but it is always discernible.

• Because in most languages of the world the word “Amen”

• Has been adopted into their languages - transliterated rather than translated.

• The word, “Amen” simply means, `So be it!' or 'So it is!'

• Or 'Steadfast!' Meaning we are determined to stick by the words just spoken!

• TRANSITION: The theme of our last talk (chapter 9) was confession,

• The people repented and confessed their sins in order to get right with God.

Ill:

• As an aside: when I go on mission to Moldova,

• The believers there never ask, “When did you become a Christian?”

• Instead they ask, “When did you repent?”

• Repentance is a key factor is salvation, it reminds us why we need to be saved!

• But repentance is never a ‘one-off’ we all need times of reflection and repentance.

In Nehemiah chapter 9, the people showed their repentance was more than just words,

• They backed up their words with actions,

• e.g. They put on sackcloth and ashes and they fasted.

• And the chapter concluded with the people making an agreement with God.

• They were determined that this was a new start, a new way of living.

• (Chapter 9 verse 38):

“‘In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.’”

• And that is where the word, “Amen” comes into the story.

• Although the word “Amen” is not literally recorded in the chapter.

• The meaning of it is very clear that these people were 'Steadfast!'

• Meaning they were determined to stick by the words just spoken!

(A). The Document of Promise.

Ill:

• In Thornton Wilder’s play The Skin of Our Teeth (Harper Collins Perennial Classics).

• The character Mrs. Antrobus says to her husband,

“I didn’t marry you because you were perfect.

I married you because you gave me a promise.”

She takes off her ring and looks at it.

“That promise made up for your faults and the promise I gave you made up for mine.

Two imperfect people got married, and it was the promise that made the marriage.”

• TRANSITION: Very insightful words,

• In this chapter (#10) the imperfect people make a promise to a perfect God.

• When it comes to a promise, we can be sure of this,

• If God makes it, then he will keep it!

• Sadly, when we make a promise, too often we end up saying,

• “Sorry but promises are meant to be broken”

• Quote: Danish Proverb: “Eggs and oaths are easily broken”

• Quote: Norman Vincent Peale

• “Promises are like crying babies in a theatre, they should be carried out at once.”

• In this chapter the people waste no time acting on their promise,

• They put ink to paper as a reminder of their commitment to keep their promises.

(1). A document of Dedication.

• Chapter 9 verse 38 describes it as,

• “a binding agreement, putting it in writing”

• It was an official contract between the people and the Lord,

• Written to re-establish new priorities built on God’s laws.

• Note: That is the big idea in this chapter, don’t miss it!

• The people make a commitment to God, putting him first in ALL areas of their lives.

Scan down to verse 29 of chapter 10 and you get 2 more words describing the document:

• “Bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses”

• “Curse” and “Oath”

• Curse might seem a strange word, it carries the idea that if you break the oath,

• You get all the negatives of a curse, a punishment, a penalty.

• It again illustrates the point that these people,

• We aware of the seriousness of making a promise, a vow to God.