God’s Word – The Center of our Christian Walk Nehemiah 8:1-8

God’s Word is to be read God’s Word is to be heard God’s Word is to be desired and honored God’s is to be taught God’s Word is to be responded to

Nehemiah 8:1-8 8:1 – “And all the people gathered as one 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.” 8:2 – “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.” 8:3 – “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.”

Nehemiah 8:1-8 8:4 – “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. 8:5 – “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.” 8:6 – “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 worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

Nehemiah 8:1-8 8:7 – “Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozebad, Hanan, Peliah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.” 8:8 – “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the meaning, so that the people understood the reading.”

God’s Word Needs to be Read for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed Verses 1-3 Ezra Returned to Jerusalem 14 years before Nehemiah Returned with a group of Jewish exiles A scribe and a priest 7th month 3 important Feasts Feasts of Trumpets on the first day - Leviticus 23:24 The Feasts of Booths on the The Feasts of Tabernacles on the 21st day

God’s Word Needs to be Read for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed They gathered together as one Unity and one purpose Nehemiah 7:66-67 – “The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants of whom there were 7, 337. and they had 245 singers, male and female.” Does your church read God’s Word? Do you read God’s Word?

God’s Word Needs to be Heard for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed Verse 3 and verse 8 Heard - Listen to with attention and interest Hear and process the information Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” Check your hearing

God’s Word Needs to be Desired and Honored for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed The Jews gathered together showed their desire and honor for God’s Word by: 1 – wanting to hear God’s Word – verse 1 2 – listening for 6 hours – verse 3 3 – being attentive to God’s Word – verse 3 4 – standing for 6 hours – verse 5 5 – making preparations beforehand – verse 4 6 – worshipping God because of His Word – verse 6 What do you desire and honor? What do you pay the most attention to?

God’s Word Needs to be Taught for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed Verses 7-8 Bible teaching – Nehemiah 8:8 – 3 steps Presentation – they read God’s Word Explanation – They gave the meaning of God’s Word Application – so that they people understood Understood – understand in a way so as to use the information

God’s Word Needs to be Responded to for Believers to be Spiritually Renewed The rest of chapter 8 and chapter 9 The people responded by: Weeping Having joy Being obedient Confessing and repenting of sin Being renewed – a newfound passion for God James 1:22 – “But be doers of the Word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Conclusion Put God’s Word at the center of your Christian walk: Read God’s Word Hear God’s Word Desire and honor God’s Word Teach and/or be taught God’s Word Respond to God’s Word God’s Word will change your life