RECLAIM THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD!

Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had “gone through it several times.” “Let it go through you once,” replied Smith, “Then you will tell a different story!”

Let me state this clearly, Bible reading is not Bible study. Bible reading can fill your heart, but studying the Bible will fill your soul and grow your character. While you must read the Bible in order to study it. You can read the Bible and choose not to believe or act on it.

Once you allow the bible to Grip you. You will begin to see the world and God in a different light. You will draw near to Jesus and desire Him more.

So I encourage all of you to read your Bible, but not just mouth the words, drink them in, let them go deep into your soul and they will be like honey.

Pray before your read. Ask God to show you deep and wonderful things to great for you. You will be astonished at what comes out of your time with Him.

Ezra experienced God in this way.

57-58 years passed since Cyrus

Ezra 7:6–10 CSB

6 —came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. 9 He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

1. The Word and the Work of God must go hand in hand.

A. Look at the repetition to see what God values. (v.6; 10; 21; 25;)

B. Ezra saw the Hand of God providentially because the Word directed his steps.

i. The Lord’s hand can bless.

ii. He can discipline. (v. 23; Daniel 5:25-26: “25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the message: ‘Mene’ means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.” )

King Artaxerxes came after Cyrus, Xerxes where the Book of Esther takes place. Whether Esther had been his mother or step-mother, we can be confident that she taught him the knowledge of the Lord. But he says, your God, not my God, so we don’t know if he truly knew the Lord or merely respected the Lord.)

2. God desired the Temple Worship and His Commands to be the foundation of life and society.

A. Laws can control outward behavior to an extent.

B. Only when heart becomes changed by the love for God and His word will transformation occur.