A Faithful Servant Worships

Nehemiah 8:1–8 NKJV

Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 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. 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; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 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. 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. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

Lead the Congregation in a Pastoral Prayer

The single most important thing to understand about worship is that the only worship that is acceptable to God is worship that proceeds from a heart that is trusting in God, and in God alone.

R. C. Sproul

If you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship him on one day a week.

A. W. Tozer

Am I playing “Church” or Am I Worshipping in Spirit & in Truth?

Faithful Worship Begins and Ends With God.

Worship is the adoration of a redeemed people, occupied with God himself.

Arthur Walkington Pink

Nehemiah leads the people to center themselves in YHWH.

Nehemiah never exceeds his place and calling.

The People are brought to hear the Word of God.

Psalm 119:1–8 NKJV

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

The Word of God is the Foundation of Worship.

Worship begins in holy ecstasy; it ends in holy obedience—or it isn’t worship.

John F. MacArthur

The people returned from exile, and festivals were not faithfully observed.

Ezra the Priest, and the Levites all do as the LORD has commanded them.

The first order of worship is to subject ourselves to God’s Word, taught by faithful men.

2 Timothy 3:10–17 NKJV

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of God has the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish pure worship.

The People Are Transformed by Godly Worship.

It is God who decided and who has revealed how He is to be worshipped, not man, and they should have observed God’s way instead of turning to their own inventions.

God’s Sovereign Purpose, 68

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Notice the Leaders in unison present before the reading of the Word.

See the people standing at attention, as though receiving commands from their king.

The people present themselves in array according to their calling and station.

The people are led to understanding of God’s Word which cuts deep.

Hebrews 10:19–25 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The people are reintroduced to their main objective: Worship YHWH in Spirit and in Truth.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NKJV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Key Takeaways:

In fact, there is no worship of God that is better than the hearing of a sermon.

The Blessings Of Public Worship, Volume 41, Sermon #2395 - Luke 18:10

Charles Spurgeon

Communion with God begins with the Word and Prayer.

The Local Church is the expression of God’s Redeeming Power.

The Holy Spirit Calls Us to Reverence and a Righteous Life.

God’s Church Celebrates in Light of Life-Long Repentance.

So What?

Repent.Confess. Believe.

Repent & Consecrate Yourself.

Join the Family of God and do not be an Orphan.