Moral Authority

  • Pastor Dwain Tissell
  • Jul 27, 2008
  • Series: Stoked

MORAL AUTHORITY
"Stoked" - Part 6
July 27th, 2008
Nehemiah 5;1-19
Dwain Tissell


MORAL AUTHORITY =
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOUR BELIEVE.

22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Mark 1:22 (NIV)


9 So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them-the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
12 "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"
At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:9-13 (NIV)

THREE ACTS OF FAITH GOD USES TO PUT YOU ON THE MORAL HIGH GROUND

1. CHARACTER = WHEN YOUR HEART BREAKS WITH WHAT BREAKS GOD'S HEART.

 

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year-twelve years-neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors-those preceding me-placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Nehemiah 5:14-15 (NIV)


2. SACRIFICE = WHEN YOU DON'T TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU COULD.


16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. Nehemiah 5:16-18 (NIV)

3. TIME = WHEN YOU DEVOTE YOURSELF TO DOING THE RIGHT THING REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG IT TAKES.


19 Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people. Nehemiah 5:19 (NIV)

The result of living what you believe (moral authority)=
A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EFFECTIVENESS FROM YOUR LIFE.