(Nehemiah "Built to Last" Series)
Pastor John Lindell
"The Work of the Word"
Nehemiah 8:1-12 (ESV)
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and 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 or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
- Being exposed to the Word prepares us for the callings of the Lord.
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
- In the heart of a believer there should be a desire to be in the Word of God.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
- It doesn't do any good to study the Word without living the Word.
- Study the Word, Live the Word, Do and Share the Word.
After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.
- What we have in the heart of a leader, we will have in the people.
- Reading the Word is what gives us the desire to live the will of God.
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; t shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- The Word shows us how to live.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
- 3 Things about Ezra (that we can learn from):
- He studied God's Word.
- He lived out God's Word.
- He taught God's Word.
- God's Word will transform.
"Attentive to the Book"
- Are you attentive to what you read and hear?
- There's something valuable about having the Bible (and not the online version).
- The Bible is straight from the heart of God to us. It's God's love letter to us.
- There should be reverence and respect for the Bible. We shouldn't abandon it.
- "Amen" = So be it.
- Lifting hands is welcoming the Lord.
- Do not limit your worship of the Lord by your own comforts.
- Who cares what others think.
- Be 100% in devotion of the Lord.
- Brokenness is a good thing, but we aren't meant to stay in our broken state.
- Joy is suppose to be our response to forgiveness.
- Don't let the devil keep you in the brokenness of sin.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
- Have you moved from the brokenness of sin to the joy of forgiveness? Or are you letting the enemy keep you in the bondage?
- We are strongest when we have the joy of the Lord.
- Have you made the conversion from conviction to joy?
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