Birmingham City Church
Nehemiah 9: The Power of Alignment
A very warm welcome to BCC! If you are hoping to find a church in Birmingham, look no further! We invite you to join us online for live worship, uplifting prayer and fresh messages. Today, we have one single service live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, at 10:30am, with Pastor Mark as he continues our current series called 'Rebuild', which explores the book of Nehemiah. If you'd like to access our sermon notes and passages for this week, simply scroll down.
Locations & Times
Birmingham City Church
Parade, Birmingham B1 3QQ, UK
Sunday 10:30 AM
Nehemiah 9: The Power of Alignment
The Jack in the Box principle
We all have choices and favourites – some people will never drive a certain car or shop at a certain shop or wear a certain shoe.
We all have agreements and alignments and most of them are just choices and expressions of who we are.
But then there are some really important settled agreements and alignments in our lives that will be the key to our spiritual health.
We all have choices and favourites – some people will never drive a certain car or shop at a certain shop or wear a certain shoe.
We all have agreements and alignments and most of them are just choices and expressions of who we are.
But then there are some really important settled agreements and alignments in our lives that will be the key to our spiritual health.
Your agreement is one of the most valuable things you have. As you give your agreement to someone you give them a key to the door into your life.
If you don’t settle what your alignment and agreements are there will be a ‘spiritual Jack in the Box’ principle and things that trouble you will keep popping up.
In Joshua 11:22 we see that they never cleared out the Anakites from:
Gath – Goliath came from here (1 Samuel 17:4).
Ashdod – The ark was taken to here (1 Samuel 5:1).
Gaza – was a continual stronghold and it was where Samson was killed (Judges 16).
Gath – Goliath came from here (1 Samuel 17:4).
Ashdod – The ark was taken to here (1 Samuel 5:1).
Gaza – was a continual stronghold and it was where Samson was killed (Judges 16).
Here is the principle - if you don’t settle some things and deal with them and align yourself to the right things, then you will have reoccurring issues that will come back to haunt you! Things pop back up!
For rebuilding, Nehemiah wanted to get them to agree on some key principles for the health and survival of their society.
These key agreements are also vital for our spiritual maturity.
These key agreements are also vital for our spiritual maturity.
Key alignments for mature rebuilding.
It is a repeated theme of the book of Nehemiah but he is keen that they align with the Word of God – in a lived out way.
It is a repeated theme of the book of Nehemiah but he is keen that they align with the Word of God – in a lived out way.
We would go as far as to say the neglect of the Word of God had been the root of all their issues.
We tend to argue on superficial things concerning the Bible – which translation is the best etc. but it does not matter what you use so long as you use it.
In fact it was not just a commitment for them to read the Word, its was a life decision to live differently because of the Word. They did not just have different habits, they were separated to a whole different way of thinking about life.
In fact it was not just a commitment for them to read the Word, its was a life decision to live differently because of the Word. They did not just have different habits, they were separated to a whole different way of thinking about life.
How this Word alignment plays out in the first instance is that you have to get into the habit of replacing the invisible and historic lies in your mind with truth.
Lie: I’m a victim and nothing good ever happens to me.
Truth: Romans 8:31, 37
Lie: I’m a victim and nothing good ever happens to me.
Truth: Romans 8:31, 37
God tells me I am not a victim but a victor in Christ!
Who you form relationships with is also a vital alignment.
This passage is obviously about taking care in marriage – and just because someone is a Christian does not guarantee them being a good husband or wife. Marriage is about shared purpose, value and direction. It is about truly cherishing each other’s heart – don’t settle for anything less.
But it is also true of other relationships - you can be friendly and indeed love all but you don’t have to buy into all their values.
But it is also true of other relationships - you can be friendly and indeed love all but you don’t have to buy into all their values.
The third alignment is settling in our hearts that our lives have a stewardship direction - this includes a healthy mind-set towards the provision and upkeep of the church and its ministry.
We must move past the immature view that our church only needs to operate on the bare minimum.
Whilst it is true that the church should not over spend or waste money, we need to ensure it is supplied through generosity for ministry. The wood was to burn on the altar – this was so that spiritual sacrifices and connection to God could happen.
Your generosity enables ministry – all types of ministry to all types of people. That’s what the wood on the altar enabled.
Whilst it is true that the church should not over spend or waste money, we need to ensure it is supplied through generosity for ministry. The wood was to burn on the altar – this was so that spiritual sacrifices and connection to God could happen.
Your generosity enables ministry – all types of ministry to all types of people. That’s what the wood on the altar enabled.
Finally they aligned themselves to the principle of the first and firstfruits thinking. They re-established tithing as a part of the re-building of society.
This caused a blessing and protection over their finances.
It caused the right foundations under their foundations.
Israel was to be an economic trading nation – this gave them the right mind-set.
Tithing shapes our values and mind-set so that we can face the economic shock of our nation.
Through tithing our use of money and outlook is made whole.
Tithing shapes our values and mind-set so that we can face the economic shock of our nation.
Through tithing our use of money and outlook is made whole.
It removes the ‘what does not count’ or ‘what I don’t have to include’ mentality.
The first fruit from the trees – the first of my productivity.
Every firstborn – the first of my wealth.
The first of the ground meal – the first of my sustenance and ordinary life.
The first wine and oil – the first of my pleasure and luxuries.
Every firstborn – the first of my wealth.
The first of the ground meal – the first of my sustenance and ordinary life.
The first wine and oil – the first of my pleasure and luxuries.
Bring to the Levites to sustain the ministry locally and also help nationally.
Tithing does help the social aspect of our input to community but it also enables worship and more spiritual elements of church.
Your alignment and agreements are vital for your health.
If you never settle these issues there is a skew in your direction – you plant a seed that will grow.
If you never settle these issues there is a skew in your direction – you plant a seed that will grow.
Settle:
Discipleship – lived out Word.
Relationships – that will share your values, direction and purpose.
Stewardship – Ministry support and firstfruits.
When you settle you can move to deeper maturity, because maturity brings a balance, lack of striving and non-fighting.
Discipleship – lived out Word.
Relationships – that will share your values, direction and purpose.
Stewardship – Ministry support and firstfruits.
When you settle you can move to deeper maturity, because maturity brings a balance, lack of striving and non-fighting.
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http://bit.ly/BCC-CoffeeOnline prayer meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm
Join us on Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm for our online prayer meeting which will be livestreamed via our Facebook and YouTube channels. Please email your prayer requests to admin@bcc.life.