April 6, 2014

The Word of God

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-12, Acts 2:37-42
Service Type:

Intro

  • Britain was on the verge of a revolution in 1700 - 1740
    • The nation was on the verge of destruction
    • God raised up two men to preach
    • This period was known as the Evangelical Awakening in the 18th Century
  • There was no moral decline in the Book of Nehemiah but the people were not acting as they should
    • Revival breaks out
    • At least 30'000 people come to hear the word of God
    • They listened attentively
    • They wept when they heard the word of God
    • Nehemiah and Ezra tell the people not to mourn but to rejoice

Our desire for the word of God

  • Is the word of God precious to you?
    • What is your reading and appetite for the word of God like?
    • Do you want to go to church?
  • The word of God had a healing effect on the nobles
  • The people gathered as "one man" together
    • They were totally united in their desire
    • All expectant and wanting to hear God to speak
  • We have so much access to the word of God today
    • Have we become complacent?
  • The Spirit works through the word of God during revival
  • Not all were there - those who couldn't understand were absent
    • How do we feel about young people in the church?
    • There was a belief that young people could understand the word of God
  • During revival people have so a hunger for the word of God
    • God is working even though there is not such a hunger today

Declaring and explaining the word of God

  • The wooden platform had be built high up so the preacher could be seen and heard
    • It is so important that the word of God is heard
    • Jesus would often go up on a mountain to preach
    • The pulpit is the centre of the building
  • The people were listening to all the points of the word of God
  • The helpers read distinctly (v8)
  • The helpers "gave the sense" (v8)
    • They explained the word of God
    • Do we explain the word of God in a way people can understand?
    • The role of sharing the word of God is to all members of the church
    • Elders are tasked to share the word of God

Our response to God's word

  • The people were attentive (v3)
    • What is your attention like?
    • We need to be careful not to fill our minds with other things and not give attention to the word of God
  • The people affirm the word of God (v6)
    • Ezra prayed before speaking and the people replied "Amen, Amen"
    • They the bowed their heads and worshipped The Lord
  • Posture shows a lot
    • Kneeling shows humility - at times we need to kneel and worship The Lord
    • We must not exhibit ourselves to look spiritual
    • But it is the heart that matters
  • An emphasis on understanding (v2, 3, 8, 12)
    • Preaching is first to the mind and not to the emotions
    • This should then cause the emotion - not the other way around
  • The people wept (v9)
    • The Spirit of God had convicted them
    • They were weeping over their sin
    • Perhaps they were also weeping over things neglected (e.g. Feast of Tabernacles and the Passover Feast)
    • The role of a pastor is to convict those of their sin and to encourage the children of God
    • We are to be masters of our emotions
  • These people only had the law but rejoiced much
  • We have the whole Bible and know of Christ's sacrifice on the cross
  • We must desire the word of God

Leave a Reply