Sermon Tone Analysis
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Nehemiah 8:1-18
Introduction
We have seen that no matter what Satan did he could not stop the work of God’s People
In chapter 6 - the walls were completed, in chapter 7 they organize and receive an offering in order to finish the city and to bring security and safety.
Yet, there is more.
Nehemiah did not have a monument mentality.
Nehemiah understood that what goes on inside the walls is more important than the walls themselves.
Less the victorious life be short-lived we must set our lives firmly upon the Word of God.
We must build our entire lives on His Word.
The question before us today is, How can we build our lives on God’s Word?
The answer lies in four words, we must, hunger for God’s Word, hear God’s Word, honor God’s Word, and heed God’s Word.
1A.
We must Hunger for the Word of God (8:1)
In Nehemiah’s day, there was a real hunger for the Word of God.
It had been nearly one hundred years since the Word of God had been proclaimed in Jerusalem.
So the people gathered “as one man” to hear the Word of preached.
They understood what the prophet Amos meant when he wrote…
Amos 8:11 (NASB) 11“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.
I fear we are suffering from the same kind of famine in our day.
We have multiplied churches, many of which claim to be conservative evangelical Bible-believing churches that do not preach the Word.
We do everything else.
We entertain and encourage; we deliver meaningless homilies that seek not to offend.
In many of our churches, we place a greater emphasis on form than content on psychology that Scripture.
Men and women do not need to hear my opinion or some self help feel good false gospel.
We need to hear a word from God from His Word.
There is a famine in our land for the Word of God.
We have the bread of life and people are hungry, let us give it to them.
Jesus tells us…
Matthew 5:6 (NASB) 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Notice that because of their hunger for the Word…
1B.
They Prioritized the Word of God
Psalm 19:9-10 (NASB) 9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
The Psalmist placed the highest priority on God’s Word.
What priority does the reading and study of God’s Word have in your life?
Ø Would you rather have God’s Word than wealth?
Psalm 119:72 (NASB) 72The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Ø Would you rather have God’s Word than sleep?
Psalm 119:147-148 (NASB) 147I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.
148My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.
2B.
They had a Passion for the Word of God
Job 23:10-12 (NASB) 10“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11“My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job was passionate about God’s Word.
Job said that God’s Word was more important than physical food.
Ø Would you rather have God’s Word than food?
Psalm 119:103 (NASB) 103How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
3B.
They took Pleasure in the Word of God
Psalm 119:162 (NASB) 162I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil.
These God have married and no man shall depart, Dust on the Bible and sin in the heart.
Do you take pleasure in the reading and teaching of God’s Word? Do you linger over God’s Word or do you rush in an out of God’s presence.
Are you satisfied with a spiritual snack or do you savor His Word daily and feed continually from his banquet table?
Jesus reminds us…
Matthew 4:4 (NASB) 4“…It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Ø Do you take pleasure in God’s Word?
2A.
We Must Hear the Word of God (8:2-4a)
1B.
Notice their Anticipation!
(8:2)
Everyone came to hear the Word!
They gathered not to be entertained but to hear the Word of God.
They anticipated God speaking to them.
Did you come today anticipating God to speak to you?
It seems that Nehemiah and Ezra did not have to beg these people to come.
They were anxious to hear from God. Did you have to be begged or made to come to God’s house today?
2B.
Notice their Dedication!
(8:3a)
They were not clock watchers, they did not have anything more important or pressing to do with their time than to hear God’s Word.
They gave the day to the Lord.
What would happen if we gave every Sunday to the Lord?
What would we have to change and eliminate?
They gave God their time as an indication of their dedication to Him.
We need to spend more time in the Word.
I am afraid that too often we come to church in a hurry to leave.
What could possibly me more important than hearing from the God of heaven?
3B.
Notice their Participation (8:3b)
They paid attention during church.
They were not passing notes or planning dinner.
They were “attentive” to the Word.
They listened.
They refused to allow the clock or circumstances to control their worship.
They stood and listen for up to five hours.
What is it the holds and controls your attention today.
Is it God’s Word or the world?
Is it God’s Word or worries?
Is it God’s Word or self-centeredness?
They participated by listening and meditating upon God’s truth.
3a.
We must Honor the Word of God (8:4-6)
1B.
When the Word was read they Rose (8:4-5)
“Stood up” = rises to stand
Standing showed their respect of and love for the Lord.
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