Summary/Notes:

Pastor Matthew Kelley delves once again into the book of Nehemiah, focusing on the theme of maintaining purity and the dangers of forming ungodly alliances. He emphasizes Nehemiah's efforts to reform the people and restore their commitment to God. Specifically, he discusses the incident where Nehemiah discovers that Eliashib the priest had allowed Tobiah, an Ammonite official and adversary, to occupy a room in the temple. Nehemiah is outraged and takes immediate action to cleanse the temple, throwing out Tobiah’s belongings and purifying the space.

Pastor Kelley uses this story to illustrate the importance of spiritual vigilance and the necessity of removing influences that corrupt our relationship with God. He draws parallels between Nehemiah's time and the present day, urging the congregation to be aware of the subtle ways in which compromise can infiltrate their lives and weaken their faith. The message is clear: alliances that contradict God's commands must be broken to maintain spiritual integrity.

The sermon continues with practical advice on how to identify and address such compromises in our lives. Pastor Kelley encourages regular self-examination and a steadfast commitment to biblical principles.

He concludes by reminding the congregation of the power of repentance and the grace that God offers to those who seek to realign their lives with His will.