Nehemiah
8:1-18
The Priority
of the Word
We
noted last time that chapters 1-6 of Nehemiah -the focus is on reconstruction.
A) The focus is on the
rebuilding of the walls – Building and Battling !
B) But the emphasis shifts
in chapter 7, as the focal point becomes reinstruction
of the People:
1) This is the focus in the
rest of the book.
C) We move from rebuilding
the city, to rebuilding the people.
1) Ch.7-8
give us Key ingredients to any healthy Church
D) focus last time Keys to
getting started – Needs
1) Godly
Leadership
2) Active
Followers – Those with a Pioneer Spirit.
3) Those
with a heart to Give!
AS
we come to Ch.8 we see the first thing that they do! – They turn to God’s word
A)
IN any true move of God – in every Revival that has every taken place in the
History of the Church –
B)
There has been a PRIORITY placed on the WORD OF GOD
C) Contrast - Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. “The most decadent periods in the
history of the church have always been those periods when the priority of preaching
the word had declined.”
J. Edwin Orr defined revival as: “The Spirit of God working through the Word of God, in the
lives of the people of God.”
A) This chapter is a great example of this!
B) In this Chapter we want
to notice 6 characteristics of a church that is giving Priority to God’s
word.
Rd v.1-4
1)
There is a desire to hear God’s Word.
A)
The people were HUNGRY for the Word.
B)
They asked Ezra to get the Word and to read to them.
1)
Gathered as ONE MAN – for that reason
C)
God’s word is the great unifier – puts us all on the same plain – same playing
field
1)
Sinners in need of a Savior !
The
Sign of a healthy Church – Hunger for the Word
A) There is a growing trend
today in many Christian Churches – no more midweek services
B) No more Sunday night
services – because people were just not showing up for Bible study.
1)
I PTL – that as a Church you have kept your appetite for the Word .
C) #1 Fear – Many of you are
so well Fed – been around for 15 yrs –
1) Start to think – don’t
need bible study
French author Victor Hugo said over a century ago, “England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England
made Shakespeare but the Bible made England.”
D)
Supporting that view, historians tell us that Elizabethan England was indeed a
country of one book, and that book was the Bible.
E)
Now England is Known more for Shakespeare than the Bible –
1)
Unfortunately America is following in her footsteps
It
is important as a Church that we continue to cultivate a hunger for God’s word!
A) Thanksgiving this week –
Stuff ourselves – roll away from the table – Never eat again!
B) That is what happens when
you over eat Physically –
1) Spiritually
the opposite is true – The more of God’s word you eat – the more hungry
you get
C) You lose your appetite
for God’s word – when you start to neglect studying it.
1) Books rather than Bible –
D) TV
rather than Bible Study –
1) Average American spends 121
minutes of each day watching TV – 24 minutes reading –
2) Total reading – including
Bible time
You
want your appetite for the word to grow – Stay in it – Committed to Bible
study!
A)
It is Also worth noting - That the leaders chose the Water Gate for the site of
the assembly is interesting.
B)
In the Bible, water for washing is a picture of the Word of God (John 15:3;
Eph. 5:26),
1)
while water for drinking is a picture of the Spirit of God (John 7:37–39).
C)
SO When we apply the water of the Word to our lives, then the Spirit can work
and bring the help we need.
D) It is refreshing to the
soul when you receive the Word and allow the Spirit to teach you.
So the first
thing we note here is that there was a Hunger for the Word
#2
There was an importance placed on Understanding the Word.
A) Notice who gathered
together v.2
So
Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all
who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.
B) The implication is that
that those who could NOT understand were NOT there.
1) V.3 makes this even more
clear !
3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of
the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those
who could understand;
BB) So In v.2 We see a
Biblical support here for Children’s ministry
C) It is important for us to see that our kids
who DON’T understand what we are saying NEED to be in a place where they can understand on there own level.
D)
Your 5 yr old is not going to be able to sit for 45 minutes and listen attentively
to me teach the word.
1)
Not Bored listening to me!
E) But in the Children’s ministry – communicate
at his age level and they are going to minister in a way that is very fun
So there was an importance placed on Understanding
the Word
A) God’s Word must be
understood before it can enter the heart and release its life-changing power.
B)
Note that six times in this chapter you can find “understanding” mentioned (vv.
2–3, 7–8, 12–13).
C)
In V.7-8 We are told that Special men
were appointed, who helped the people
to understand the Law. RD v.7-8
The
word distinctly in verse 8 means
that the Law was explained to the people in a language they could understand.
A)
The Word was translated and expounded in such a way that the people were able
to apply it to their own lives.
B) They gave the
sense – They explained the Word
1) Understanding
needs to be the first goal of any preacher or teacher.
If you leave knowing five helpful hints to a better life, but do
not have a greater understanding of God’s Word, I have failed.
If
you leave having been amused by humor, entertained by anecdotes, or captivated
by dramatic stories, but do not have a greater understanding of God’s Word, I
have failed.
If you leave motivated to action, or praying a prayer, but it is
not based on a greater understanding of God’s Word, I have failed.
If
you leave admiring me, but do not have a greater understanding of God’s Word, I
have failed - and will be accountable before God for my failure!
C) So we see #2 There was a
great importance placed on understanding the word.
#3
The people had a proper respect for the Word. V.5-6
.5
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing
above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.6 And Ezra
blessed the LORD, the great God.
Then
all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands.
And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the
ground.
A) When Ezra opened
the Book the people stood up.
B)
They understood that Ezra was opening the Word of God.
1)
Their respect for the Word of God moved them.
C)
They knew they would not be hearing a mere man speak his own ideas;
1)
But that they would be hearing the very Word of God
Also
note The people remained standing while the Law was read and explained
A)
(v. 3), Ezra started his reading and teaching early in the morning and
continued through midday
B)
which means the congregation stood and listened for five or six hours; and this
continued for a week
I
DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE COMPLAINTS
ABOUT BEING LONG WINDED!
NOTICE:
The blend of excitement and reverence.
A)
They bowed their faces to the ground & worshipped.
B)
There was holy silence as well as loud amens.
C)
Sometimes the most intense times are NOT when things are loudest. { Camp Prayer !!!
#4 They had a proper response to God’s Word. V.9
9
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who taught the people said to all the people,” This day is holy to the LORD
your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard
the words of the Law.
A) The RESULT of the
preaching of the Law is SORROW. They Wept at hearing it !
1)
It convicts us as GUILTY of sin.
B)The Law can NEVER save us.
It can only condemn us.
C) Romans 3:19 – We are told
that by the law comes the knowledge of sin.
1) Speeding sign – reveals –
going to fast !!!
D)
Key is to correct it before you get caught
1)
That was the purpose of the law – Tutor – a school master – teach us and
instruct us
2)
How to live how to walk – attitudes & actions
Problem
was we couldn’t keep it – So the law also revealed our need of a Savior
Galatians 3:24
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might
be justified by faith.
A) So the word was doing
it’s intended work here – they wept – because the law revealed their sin
2
Timothy 3:16 tells us two things the Word of God is profitable for: reproof and
correction.
B)
Sometimes it hurts to be reproved and corrected!
1)
That is why they were weeping
C)
But what happens next is Beautiful ! Rd v.10-12
The
JUSTICE of the Law brings SORROW, but the JOY of the Lord brings STRENGTH.
A)
The people felt sad, because they were aware of their own sin;
B)
but they could walk in joy, because God was doing a great work.
The
Joy of the Lord is your Strength { Consider this Phrase
A) Notice this : It doesn’t
say the Joy in the Lord – although there is Joy in the Lord
1) It says the Joy of the
Lord –
B) God is rejoicing over you !!!
C)
The Lord looks at you with joy.
1)
Your strength revolves around the Fact that God is Joying over You!
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord
your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
D)
We KNOW that the Lord is MIGHTY.
1)
But did you know that He rejoices over YOU with joy.... That He joys over YOU
with singing?
E)
I do NOT understand why, but He looks at everyone of us that have received
Jesus as Savior and He rejoices over us.
That
is THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH- God’s Joy Over You
A)
I am strong when I realize that the Lord LOVES me, when I realize that He has
WASHED me in the blood of His Son and that He LOVES me.
B) HOW Can The Lord Find Joy
In Me And You?
Matthew
13:44
"Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and
hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
C)
In another parable Jesus defines the field as the world. God looked at the
world and saw a treasure in it that He wanted.
D)
That treasure is you and me. And He gave everything to buy the world in order
to have you as His own.
1)
He gave Jesus.
E)
That is why we read of Jesus in:
Hebrews 12:2 who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
SO
The Lord rejoices over US in the light of what the cross has accomplished.
A)
The Cross Created a Bride !!!!
B)
God sees us..... As His bride that brings Him great joy.
Isaiah 62:5 And as the bridegroom rejoices over the
bride, So shall your God
rejoice over you.
God’s
Joy Over Me Gives Me Strength
A)The
fact that God looks at you and me with such love, and because He takes such joy
in us, makes us strong
1 John 4:18 but perfect love cast out all fear
Romans 8:31,37
What shall we
then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? ) V.37 We are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us!
A)
Obligation and appreciation are certainly
strong motives for serving the Lord, but celebration is even stronger.
B)
When we obey the Lord and serve Him because we rejoice in Him, then our service
will be a delight and not a drudgery.
The
old Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote, “Holy
joy will be oil to the wheels of our obedience.”
C)
To the believer without joy, the will of God is punishment; but to the believer
happy in the Lord, the will of God is nourishment (John 4:34).
D)
Composer Franz Josef Hayden, wrote “When I think upon my God “my heart is so full that the
notes dance and leap from my pen and since God has given me a cheerful
heart, I will serve Him with a cheerful
spirit.”
#1
So they had a Desire to hear the Word
#2 They had a Desire to
understand the Word
#3 They had a
proper Respect for the Word
#4 They Responded Rightly to the Word
#5
They Rejoiced in the truth of the Word
#6 They obeyed the Word!
V.13-18
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
As they read the
word further they discovered that at this particular time they were to
Celebrate the feast of Tabernacles
A) The feast of Tabernacles
– commemorated the 40 years that the Children of Israel traveled in the
wilderness
B) It was a feast where they
remembered – that they were pilgrims – here
1)
Even though – their city was now safe – even though their homes were being
rebuilt
C) They were to take seven
days to camp out – in booths – tents – reminder – of that time
So
It was a time for looking back
A)
But the feast was also a time for looking around at the harvest blessings
from the hand of God.
B)
The Lord had given them a good land, and they were never to forget the Giver as
they enjoyed the gifts
C)
The Feast of Tabernacles was also an occasion for looking ahead to the
glorious kingdom God promised His people Israel
D)
It was a week-long festival of joyful praise and thanksgiving, focusing on the
goodness of the Lord.
Good for us to remember –
Pilgrims
Heb 11:13-16
These all died
in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth.
Any true study of God’s word
will constantly remind us – This world is not our Home
Pilgrims
& Sojourners
14 For those
who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.15 And truly if
they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would
have had opportunity to return.16 But now they desire a better, that is, a
heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He
has prepared a city for them.
NKJV
Dwelling
in Booths – This world is not our Home -
1 Peter 2:11-12
Beloved,
I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul,
NKJV