Ready or Not...
Notes
Transcript
Back into the Exile theme…now moving forward from that period of time
Keep in mind, parallels and principles to guide us as we recover from our time of exile
We will return to our study of 1st Corinthians next week
Finish that about the first of August
This marks the beginning of some new prosperity for Jerusalem, a new time of relative peace
They were hopeful
About 100 years back in their cities/towns...
As we draw our parallels, we can be hopeful
Main Idea: the critical necessity of the Word of God
Main Idea: the critical necessity of the Word of God
Readiness for the Word
Readiness for the Word
They had begun their return from Exile in 538 BC
Temple was rebuilt (after some doings...
Ezra came in 458 to begin teaching the people (43 K of them)
He had been teaching the people for all these years
Nehemiah came in 444/45 to rebuild the wall
Wall now complete—city secure
They were ready...
A Time to Celebrate
A Time to Celebrate
The 1st day of the 7th month
Festival of trumpets
Today’s Rosh Hashanah; Jewish new year; begins 10 days
End with Yom Kippur; day of atonement
Preparation Had Been Made
Preparation Had Been Made
A podium (tower) had been prepared
…against the wall, primitive sound stage?
The spot was picked for a large crowd
Not in the confines of the temple
Reading of the Word
Reading of the Word
People came expectantly
Everyone who could understand; men, women, young people all “of age” to understand
The people stood
The people listened
The Book of the Law…maybe Deuteronomy
Probably men shared the reading/handling of the scroll
Reiteration of the Word
Reiteration of the Word
A group went among them and made the meaning clear
…reminiscent of training police in Guatemala: explained/demonstrated, broke into groups of 30 or so to work it...
Scribes (probably) were men trained in the law/literature/culture
May have involved translation—clarifying the language differences (Aramaic from the Hebrew)
May have been breaking down with illustrations—mini—sermons; giving application
…gave the sense...
…so that the people understood the reading...
Likely the “application portion of the message
Response to the Word
Response to the Word
Ezra Blessed the LORD
Before he read it, actually!
Pronounced good words; words of praise
The great God
People answered AMEN, AMEN
Lifted up their hands
Bowed their heads
Worshiped the Lord...
…but wait; there’s more...
…but wait; there’s more...
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.
Ruminating on the Word…Our Assignment Today!
Ruminating on the Word…Our Assignment Today!
Are we prepared for the reading of the Word, whether public or private?
How do you prepare for private reading?
...For the public reading (church services)
Do we praise Him before we even get into it?
Do we understand the value?
It helps to keep us from sin
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
That may hurt as it penetrates and convicts
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It is multi-functioned
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Teaching is imparting information; training involves coaching/mentoring...
Hands-on learning
Reproof is stopping error—might even be a bit sharp
Correction is showing right from wrong—according to God’s plan
Are we distracted, misdirected, unable to pay attention?
Are we ready for the Word of God?
When we open our Bibles (or phones…) are we expecting anything?
Or is it a matter of duty, habit, playing a role…
Ditch the Distractions!
A pattern of place/time/solitude; no TV radio/phone; computer
Either before the distractions catch up with you, or after you’ve dealt with them
Make the time purposeful
Make your time at church special
Wait until after to talk about ANYTHING other than God and His Word
Read the text for yourself before it’s read aloud
Can we read it clearly and give the sense?
It’s not a series of words throw on a page—it’s coherent communication from God to man—read it that way!
Why Is This Important?
Why Is This Important?
Why is it critically important today?
We have a world that is lost
Hurting people; angry people; misguided people; wondering & easily misled people; lost and Hell-bound people
It is my job to give you the sense of the Scripture—the application of the scripture
It is my job to...
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Part of that building up is bringing people to a saving knowledge of Christ
It is the job of all of us to take the message of the Gospel outward
To those hurting, angry, misguided…hell-bound people
Even those good people sitting next to you in the pew—properly socially distanced, of course—who are also hell-bound
A sizable number of people in Bible-teaching, sound-preaching churches are unsaved!
So, what value are you putting on the Word of God
Do you read it daily? Regularly? Once in a while? At all?
Only the truths in the Word can cut through the chaos in which we live
Only the Word of God has the path to salvation
Only the Word of God gives us the path of sanctification
What is your attitude concerning the Word?
What is your attitude concerning the Word?
Have you allowed it to penetrate, convict of sin?
Have you seen the path to salvation?
Have you surrendered to its authority?
Is it important enough to you to share it with the lost?