"Taking out the Trash"!.................................(Nehemiah 13:1-8)

What is THIS? (trash can).  As a child I wanted to grow-up and be like my parents...they told me that my most important chore in beginning that maturing journey would be to TAKE OUT THE TRASH!  I was reminded everyday, "The trash is pilling up"!  Then, off I'd go to empty the trash can...then put in another bag.... and over my growing up years I learned that PEOPLE NEVER STOP GENERATING GARBAGE!!! -(We'd carry in 4 bags groceries; carry out 6 bags of trash!)-(Chicago's "Mt. Garbage"!)
(Hebrews 12:1-"...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.")
A "trashcan" is the most useful piece of equipment in your house!  I don't know why it is called "file 13", but it must be an important file because it is rarely empty!  The wise use of a wastebasket is not only the key to a clean house, but also the clue to successful Christian living!  Too many lives are heaped up with rubbish that should have been discarded and placed in the trashcan long ago.... (i.e.-Old anxieties, stupid grudges, smoldering resentments); but instead we plant and water them everyday to make sure they don't die on us!!!  There is only one place for petty irritations, festering feuds, and burning hatefulness....that place is in trash can!- (TOPIC-v.8)

In this story we see GARBAGE building up in God's house!!!  Sanballat and Tobiah were key figures in the discouraging of Israel from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  So, it's unusual to read of one of their enemies being allowed to setup living quarters within the temple!  It didn't happen overnight...actually, the priest of the Temple was Tobiah's friend, and HELPED HIM SET UP SHOP!!!  *(v.1)-indicates that they were reading the law of Moses when they were reminded that Tobiah (being an Ammonite) had no business living in God's house!

(1)-TOBIAH WAS "TRASH" BECAUSE HOLINESS SICKENED HIM
(Neh. 2:10-When...Tobiah the Ammonite heard of it, it grieved (him) exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.")
(2 Tim. 3:5-"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away.")

(2)-TOBIAH WAS "TRASH" BECAUSE HINDERING SATISFIED HIM
(Neh. 2:19-"When...Tobiah heard of it (wall's progress), (he) laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, what is THIS THING YOU DO?")  *The world doesn't understand that church isn't just a "THING THAT YOU DO".... it is an expression of what and who you are!  In verse 8, Nehemiah removed everything that made it convenient for Tobiah to enjoy himself at God’s house!  Who said if you are living in SIN that your visit at church is suppose to be FUN!!!-You need some in convenience!!!  Tobiah had to sleep on the floor if he came back!!!
*Do you have in your life things that hinder not only yourself, but also the work of others?  Do you find yourself entertained by the struggle and suffering of others? -(Glad you are ahead physically & financially? -Pharisee & Publican Story)

(3)-TOBIAH WAS "TRASH" BECAUSE HYPOCRISY SATURATED HIM
(Neh.4:3-"Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.")
*The NERVE of Tobiah to say such things one day.... and a few weeks later move into the spiritual infrastructure of the very Jews he criticized!!!  He literally could sleep at night in God's house after he had cussed and hated everything God was doing for his people!  In chapter 6, Tobiah had hired a religious figure to invite Nehemiah to the Temple to worship so he could be killed!....THE NERVE OF HIM TO COME TO THE TEMPLE AS THOUGH NOTHING WAS WRONG!!!
Yet, many of us do the same thing every Sunday.....play the hypocrite all week....never going to change.....never going to be different.....NEHEMIAH  said, "THERE'S TRASH TO TAKE OUT!!!

(Isaiah 1:16-"Wash YOU, make YOU clean; put away the evil of YOUR doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.")
(Gen. 35:2-"Put away the strange gods that are among you, and BE CLEAN...")
(Col. 3:8-"PUT OFF ALL THESE; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.")
(Eph. 4:22-"PUT OFF concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and PUT ON the new man...")