“Walk Carefully!”

Well I am so glad that you are here with me today and we want to wish you all a Happy New Year. As we begin this new time and fresh start I want you to know that there are times in our relationship with Christ where we all need a renewal and a refocusing in our commitment to God’s ways.

As we read God’s Word and study it it will bring about confession of sin, repentance, and a renewed worship of God.

The book of Proverbs gives us many wise things to consider about our walk with the Lord and making a commitment to follow God’s ways.

In Proverbs chapter 4 and verses 25-26 the author tells us, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. The word ponder here means to give careful thought and consideration to what you are doing. Over in Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 9 we are told, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” My point here is that although God might change your plans, a wise person it too make plans according to what God’s word shows us and tells us. We are to make the best use of our time because the days are evil. God expects us church to think carefully about our life, our plans, and our time.

I am telling you this because some of you have made new years resolutions or are getting ready to. Many people do this because they are thinking about their lives, careers, relationships with others, achievements, and even possessions. If we don’t give careful thought to what God tells us in His word then we can make plans that are foolish and can potentially lead us down the wrong path.

Sadly there are too many believers who are investing very little time and effort into their spiritual life, and this is a very sad and sobering statement of what many churches look like today. So, how do we get people fired up in our church for the Lord? Well it all comes back to God and His word.

Turn with me today to Titus chapter one. The book of Titus gives us a vision of godly people who are deeply rooted and planted in the Word of God and apply great effort to having a great knowledge of a holy and just God. The whole book of Titus can be summarized in just this one verse. Look at verse 9 with me.

Titus 1:9 ESV

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Although this verse is for those who desire to be an elder/pastor, God has called all people to be learners of His word. If the role of the pastor is to teach the word of God, then the primary responsibility of the members is to learn. Turn back with me to Nehemiah chapter 8 and I want to show you how Ezra and some other priests taught the people to love God’s Word. I want us to go back to the Old Testament and look at this passage so we can see why God’s Word is so important in our lives and how it can help us to walk carefully.

Nehemiah 8:1–8 ESV

1 And all the people gathered as one man 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. 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. 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. 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. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 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 worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Here in Nehemiah chapter 8 we learn several important principles about how important God’s Word is in our lives and how to not only learn from it, but also how to be obedient to it.

1. God commanded His people to read His laws and to live by them.

All the people came together as one man. These people came together on the first day of the seventh month because it was regarded as a day of rest and it was a day that was set aside as holy to the Lord. This day was a day that was a joyous day. Why? Because just like we have all done most recently in celebrating a new year, the first day of the seventh month was the New Year’s Day of the civil calendar. This day was celebrated in Israel as the Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah. These people gathered together in front of the Water gate by the square and not at the temple, because the congregation consisted of men, women, and children who were of age to understand what was being said. The important part is that Ezra was reading to them parts of the book of the law so that they once again could be reminded of who God was and how to live for Him. Remember that these people had been living in exile in a foreign land and now that they had returned this was a great reminder for God’s people to know how they should live.

2. When God’s Word is read there should be a sense of reverence.

The congregation summoned Ezra to read to them the law of God. This happened from sun up or dawn to midday. The people evidently stood for about 5 to 6 hours attentively listening to the exposition of the Scriptures. In order to explain God’s Word effectively to these people a wooden structure was built like a wooden pulpit or platform. As Ezra stepped onto this structure he would have been visible to everyone and could be heard better. What we see here is a sign of reverence to the reading and explaining of God’s Word. These people stood for the entire time until the reading was finished. Church we should have a deep reverence for God’s Word and take serious the times where we meet together for the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. This is not something to take lightly or act if it is not important. God’s Word has eternal consequences at stake. Ezra had to his right six people standing with him and to his left he had seven others standing with him. These men were helpers for Ezra and were there to help translate and interpret God’s Word to the people.

3. The Reading of God’s Word helps us to see how true it really is.

In verse 6 we are shown the response of God’s people. The people respond twice by saying, “Amen, Amen.” The repetition of Amen here shows us how serious God’s people were. Amen is affirmation or agreement with what is being said. We agree with what God says and we join in to praise His holy name. This is why we see that the people lifted up their hands and bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. These people literally were blessing the Lord because they knew that His words were true and that God was who He said He was. Church we are called to worship the Lord and praise His name and we can only do that because we know God to be true and righteous. Those who do not know God don’t understand why we come together each Sunday to worship God.

4. God’s Word is to be rightly understood.

In verse 7 we see the same number as we saw back in verse 4. these 13 men were Levites who were responsible for interpreting God’s Word to His people in order for them to rightly understand what was being said. Some scholars believe that the Levites had to translate what was being said because the people would not have understood the Hebrew language but most likely this means that Ezra and the Levites were doing everything they could to help the people to provide a right understanding of the Scriptures. Ezra had a great desire to learn and study God’s Word and he also wanted others to know what God’s Word said so that they could live by His principles and not however they wanted to live. This brings us back full circle to Titus chapter 1 and verse 9. There is a great relationship between right understanding and right action to God’s Word. In Titus chapter 1 and verse 1 Paul is writing this to the church because of their knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness. I am talking to us today about this because over the past 16 years of my pastoral ministry here I have heard a lot of people tell me pastor we need less Bible Studies and more action, or more doing. I totally understand what people mean by this. Yes, God’s word calls us to action, to serve, to give, to share our faith with others, so we must not ignore these things, however sound teaching, and understanding, and doctrine are intended to be the foundation for fruitful action. If we do not have a right understanding about God’s word like the fruit of the spirit which talk about love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control then we will never be able to go and serve others and share our faith with others.

So, what exactly is right understanding or sound doctrine? Well here in verse 9 Paul is telling Titus to look for men who are deeply rooted in sound doctrine. Sound teaching, doctrine, and understanding are the roots. When Paul is talking about doctrine here he is referring to the truth God has shown to us about Himself. God is holy, righteous, just, loving, forgiving, and merciful. In other words, doctrine is truth. When we talk about sound doctrine this means you have doctrine or teaching that leads to real life. Doctrine that heals, nurtures, and feeds those of us who are under God’s care. Being rooted in sound doctrine is essential to fulfilling your role as God’s sons and daughters. As believers we should seek to know that sound doctrine will lead to godly living and godly lives.

So, here is the question that you may be wrestling with today. Why do I need to have a right understanding about God’s Word? Why do I need to have sound doctrine? Again let me remind you when I talk about sound doctrine I am talking about knowing God. We are talking about the truths of God and then helping others know about these truths. Here are 4 quick reasons you need a right understanding of God’s Word.

1. We need a right understanding of God’s Word to understand the gospel.

This is one area we cannot afford to get wrong. We must rightly understand the gospel for ourself but also for others that God has put into our lives. The message is really quite simple. God sent us His one and only Son in that of Christ Jesus to save us from our sin. The problem is that we are all born into sin and must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and turn from our sin and live for the Lord. Understanding how the gospel or good news of Jesus saves us is so important, but it also trains us to live for Jesus knowing that the hope we have in Him is so wonderful. There have always been people who have misunderstood the gospel and have tried to destroy the church or come against it with false teaching. This is why we need to have a right understanding of what God has done for us and our need for Him. Remember that the gospel doesn’t just save us, the gospel also changes us, it forms us, and empowers us to live for Jesus each and every day.

2. We need a right understanding of God’s Word to see how both the Old Testament and New Testament fit together.

When we read all of God’s Word we can be understand the whole story line of the Bible. At the very center of God’s Word we come to see God’s plan to save His people by the sacrifice of His Son. Every other story in God’s Word will begin to make sense to us once we understand this. If you do not understand the basic storyline of the Bible than you will misunderstand, misinterpret and most likely be confused by so much of it. This is why I want to challenge you this year to read through the entire Bible and don’t stop. I see so many people stop after several weeks.

Keith Plummer once said, “Remember that the purpose of God’s Word and taking time to read through it is not to keep you on a schedule but to keep you in the Word. If you miss a meal physically speaking, it is of course foolish to give up eating. So, with God’s word if you miss a day, don’t quit feeding on the very words from God.” If you want to hear from God, read His word the Bible. If you want to hear from God out loud, than read His Word out loud.

We need to read all of Scripture so that we can rightly understand and communicate God’s Word to others.

3. We need a right understanding of God’s Word to teach the Word.

There will come a time after we know God’s Word where we will be called upon to teach God’s Word. There will always be ways in which every believer is called to teach the Word. You will teach the Word when you share the gospel with an unbeliever that you work with. You teach the Word with a classmate, a friend, your own children. We teach the Word of God when we get into a discussion about creation, ethics, marriage and sexuality. Men we teach the Word when we lead our families at home. As God is teaching us what His Word says there will come a time where we will have opportunities to teach those around us. We will always need people here at church to teach people God’s Word. This is what doctrine is for.

4. We need a right understanding of God’s Word to guard the truth.

The last area that is so important especially in our day and age is too to be able to know truth and guard the truth. I don’t think I have to waste time convincing you that all of our basic Christian values and truths are under attack. When we look down through history this has always been the case, but I do know that we are living in very difficult days in which the truths we hold too from God’s Word are being constantly questioned. In fact, every day truth is being challenged. Every day lies are being told and we know where this comes from church.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Remember how Satan came after Eve with a lie. If you eat this fruit you will not die. Satan comes after people subtlety, with deception and cleverness. Satan is always undermining the truth. My point here is that it is only when you know sound doctrine and teaching will you be able to recognize Satan’s lies.

Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Ask the Lord to give you a desire and passion for truth. Desire should cause us to be disciplined and we discipline ourselves for godliness. Run to God’s Word this year. Be committed to it and watch it change your life.

(Close in Prayer)

Closing Benediction:

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Closing Prayer: