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Nehemiah Chapter 3 is a chapter that is all too often glossed over.\xa0 It is mostly a list of names, gates, and sections of the wall that were repaired.\xa0 However, it\u2019s hard to overstate the significance that the people of God actually began to do the work that God called them to. We have, for far too long, lacked meaningful engagement in the work of God.\xa0 In this sermon, we unearthed the reason why we often don\u2019t engage in the work that God has called us to.\xa0 In Nehemiah 3:11, there is a man named Malchijah working on the wall who was previously listed in Ezra 10.\xa0 Ezra 10 tells us how men from the nation of Israel were taking foreign wives which had historically been a catalyst leading to the worship of false gods.\xa0 Apparently, the problem was so wide spread it took 3 months to deal with all the marriages.\xa0 What\u2019s worse is a few who were sons of priests were listed by name, and in verse 31 Ezra documents Malchijah as being guilty of this sin.\xa0 \xa0

However, Malchijah repented of this sin and didn\u2019t let what happened in Ezra 10 keep him from who God called him to be in Nehemiah 3.\xa0 Yet, we consistently let our past sin of yesterday keep us from the work that God has called us to today.\xa0 For many of us, the shame of past sin is holding us back. For others, it is the current sin in our life that needs to be repented of that is keeping us from fruitfulness. In Christ, we can move from the shame of past sin into the good work God has called us to.\xa0