The Sword & The Trowel: Inside-Out Kingdom (Nehemiah 13)

This is a truth the world doesn't understand, and it's one of the big reasons people don't want to even come to church or hear the gospel, because they think I don't have what it takes. Here's the truth. They don't, and neither do you, and neither do I. But here's the good news. Jesus does. This is the major point of the book of Nehemiah, this Old Testament book. The main point is this. We don't just need an outside in resolution. We need an inside out resurrection. [00:06:33] (37 seconds)  #InsideOutResurrection

Like, you don't just need an outside reformer with more accountability. Like, praise God for that. That's good. That's great. That's helpful. But I'm telling you, if that's what you're relying on, it's not gonna be enough. Never has been, never will be. All you're gonna do is be disappointed with them and yourself because what you need is not just an outside in reformer. You need an inside out transformer to give you a new heart, to give you new desires, to give you new affections. Like, we don't just need a reformer. We need a savior. [00:07:16] (36 seconds)  #InsideOutTransformer

In fact, this chapter is probably the most brutal chapter in the entire book because it closes with a very brutal truth. True transformation never comes simply through outside in reform and resolution. Let me say that again. True transformation never comes just through outside in reform and resolution. No matter how hard we try, no matter how disciplined we may be, no matter how zealous we are in those promises that we make, when the heart is sick with sin and even for sin, true change is only possible through inside out resurrection. [00:05:45] (48 seconds)  #TrueChangeFromWithin

Nehemiah's actions are described but not necessarily prescribed. You need to understand this and remember this, especially when you're reading the Old Testament. You get description, but description is not always prescription. That means you don't need to go up to people who are in sin and be like, do that again and not lay hands on you. What? What if I did that? What if that's how I pastored? Listen. My flesh wants to sometimes, but that's not what we're called to in Christ. [00:21:52] (33 seconds)  #DescriptionNotPrescription

To let him change you from the inside out. This is what new life in Christ is all about. This is what being born again. And Jesus is talking about this in John chapter three verse seven, that you must be born again. That's what he's talking about. Guys, this is the gospel. That God became a man, and he lived the life we couldn't live, and he died the death we deserved to die. And he conquered death in the grave, and he paved the way to eternal life. [00:37:07] (21 seconds)  #BornAgainLife

I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. That doesn't mean that you're suddenly gonna be perfect, but it does mean you're suddenly gonna care about things you didn't care about before. You'd be careful. [00:36:01] (28 seconds)  #HeartOfFlesh

Not just for the sake of obedience, but because you love the Lord and you've recognized that he has first loved you. And instead of being like, oh, I'm afraid I'm gonna get caught, you're like, I've broken God's heart. And yet, still, he gives me a new one. Like, the answer here is not just about resolution reform. It's about resurrection, beholding the king, coming to the altar, confessing, yes, repenting, yes, but receiving and believing and believing and receiving the spirit of God and his grace in your life. [00:36:29] (38 seconds)  #ObedienceFromLove

Like, hear me. I'm not knocking a good resolution. I think it's highly important. I think you should make them. I think it's a very important part of this life. Do it. Commit. Don't be afraid to. Make it happen as much as you can. But listen to me. If your heart's still sick with sin, the ultimate answer isn't just do better, be better, suck it up. That's the world's answer. That's that pride shame paradigm. The answer is to come to grips with your broken heart so that you can receive a new one in Christ. [00:08:23] (36 seconds)  #ResolutionsNeedResurrection