Thursday Communion

Introduction

Outline:

Nehemiah - words of Scripture - God speaking through Scripture and shaping hearts

Luke - Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture -

Us - what does it mean for us?

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 8:1–3 “all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.”

Nehemiah 8:5–6 “Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

Nehemiah 8:8–10 “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

The Israelites weep as they listen to the law being read - perhaps they are experiencing the presence of God, perhaps they are experiencing conviction

It reminds me of when Peter preaches on Pentecost and those that heard were ‘cut to the heart’

God speaks through his word … he convicts, he challenges, he brings light, he brings freedom, he brings joy … the word of God brings God’s presence into a situation.

I have found over the years that when I pray for people, I often get a sense of God at work as I pray Scripture over people or over situations … when we speak God’s word over situations, it’s like we speak God’s desires and his authority over them.

And God’s word brings clarity, I needed help yesterday and I went for a short walk and was reminded of a psalm and it brought me some clarity

In Hebrews it says that ‘the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’

God speaks through his written word.

And also in the written word we see that the kingdom of God is prophesied about …

Luke

Luke 4:14–21 “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””

Jesus teaches in the synagogues

He reads from Isaiah and he reads it about himself - then he says, ‘today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’

Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was prophesied - what does that mean?

I think what we see is that Jesus is the living word - John talks about him being the ‘word made flesh’

Everything that was promised and written down in the written word is going to come into being through the living word

Good news to the poor … spoke to a counsellor the other day (be positive) - things that the gospel speak of - good news for all, not just for some - lifting people out of darkness

Freedom for the prisoners - not necessarily literal (although we could talk about the work that God is doing in prisons) - but those in chains of emotional and mental prisons … Jesus comes to bring us freedom - healing

Recovery of sight for the blind - physical healing - we see God bringing healing … praying for Richard

Setting the oppressed free - spiritual oppression being banished in the name of Jesus

= the year of the Lord’s favour

We have the written word and the living word … the word made flesh.

In scripture we have the kingdom prophesied about, and in Jesus, the word made flesh, it is initiated - the kingdom dawns

Us

We have the written word, and the living Word

We have the kingdom of God prophesied, it has been initiated

And now it is advancing … it is still coming in all of its fullness

We pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We are agents of the kingdom …

Rooted in the written word and trusting in the living word

Knowing the prophecies of the kingdom, seeing the initiation of the kingdom, we long to see it come in even greater measure

Conclusion