Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
I have a friend who loves to study the Bible.
Though no formal schooling in scriptures and what not he knows his Bible thoroughly and can hang with theologians and scholars
He made the commitment long ago to spend his leisure time to meticulous study.
The city has been rebuilt and is well defended and organized as we saw last week.
Often times allowing the Spirit to lead him in the pursuit of many bunny trails and nuggets of truth gleaned from a deeper study than most would engage.
How do the people become the called out people again - God’s chosen people Holy and set apart?
I enjoy our discussions here and there about - scriptures and biblical examples - he challenges me in the way I see ministry and shows me God’s truth from different angles and perspectives
The answer is revival
He studies you see out of sheer love - not duty or obligation
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The word is his food and life
“Revival is renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God.
It is giving up one’s will to God in deep humility”
I wish all were like my friend
God has continuously shown up in history to shake communities, cities and even nations to revival
The trouble is many who believe in Jesus have fallen into an all too familiar pattern
The zeal from first experiencing Jesus and understanding the Word of God - we studied profusely, took copious amounts of notes - marking up our bibles
Ninevah - Jonah the prophet preached the coming judgment of God
The more time passes what was a joy can become a chore
What was once a joy is grudging
Judah - King Hezekiah runners with letters proclaiming the promise of returning to God
what once felt like life feels like death
As the neglect of God’s word continues to go on we experience a drying out - we become complacent to the word of God
Protestant Reformation - many in this endeavor to return people to the word of God by giving them the word of God
Great Awakening - GB and USA
2nd Great Awakening - USA
Jesus Movement - USA
We feel it our lives are dry -
challenges our complacency with the Word of God
God - is necessary for revival - without Him it would be impossible
Spiritual deterioration occurs when the Word of God is neglected
But praise be to God He has made some promises - that returning to Him would bring about revival
So it would stand to reason
One of the reasons for Spiritual Deterioration - from which revival is needed - is a neglect of God’s word, His law
When the people return to God’s word - revival follows
What does it look like to return to God’s word?
2 Chronicles 30:6-9
The longer you neglect the word of God the more malnourished your soul becomes
This chapter before us is an example for us
Revival is necessary - revival comes from
Israel’s Spiritual restoration begins here - and they start by returning to the word of God
Revival is a resurgence to faith - and we know this about faith
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Romans 10:17
Hearing Brings Revival!
The words that dominate this passage
People 13 times
Book or Law 8 times
Understanding 6 times
Jesus spoke a parable - the parable of the Sower emphasis is on understanding the Word of God
This text before us is descriptive and not prescriptive - still what we see is worthy of our careful study
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Nehemiah 8:1-3
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Nehemiah 8:4-
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Nehemiah 8:7-
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People Gathered to Hear the Word
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Nehemiah 8:1-2
All the people gathered together as one man
A congregation gathered together
As one man - with the same intent - in one accord or purpose
It would be impossible to share the word of God if the people gathered for reasons other than hearing the word of God
They gathered there with the intent of Ezra bringing the Law - they didnt decide that they would bring the Law or their ideas
They were gathered to listen under Ezra
Ezra had returned to Jerusalem 14 years before Nehemiah - his purpose and desire was to teach the Jews God’s Law
It is said and believed that Ezra is the one who preserved the word of God while in exile
He was a priest and a scribe so this makes sense
They gathered in the open square in front of the Water Gate
It doesnt matter where they are gathered but that they are gathered
It is significant though that this reading of the law and the worship service were not centered in the temple and not controlled by the priesthood
From this time on in Judaism the Torah was more important than the temple
Likewise for Christians - the living power of the Bible should be more important than any church building
They didnt need to be in a building or not in a building - I think we clearly see a people desperate to hear the word and gathered in that one purpose that nothing else mattered to them in that
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Church is not a place or a building - church is a people gathered as one body
Through Scripture the Holy Spirit brings
Interesting to see that the people were gathered to heard the Word at the Water Gate
Water is symbolic of the Word of God
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Ephesians 5:26
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Through Scripture the Holy Spirit brings people to revival and renewal
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Someone to Bring the Word
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Nehemiah 8:2-
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Nehemiah 8:5-6
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Nehemiah 8:7-8
Ezra was the one responsible for bringing the Book of the Law of Moses
The Law of Moses is the first 5 books of the Bible
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
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