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Neh. 8:6-9
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. We have studied that revival happens when people hunger for God’s Word. That hunger leads us to desire a deeper under- standing for God’s Word. One writer says, “our longing for God’s Word directly relates to our worship of God.” Ask yourself: “When was the last time I was so moved by the Word of God it stirred the very depths of my heart?” Our passage today reveals at least three evidences these people experienced revival in their hearts.
- EZRA WAS MOVED TO PRAYER! To get the full meaning of verse six as it is written in Hebrew, we would have to write it in English saying “Ezra knelt to his knees and prayed intensely praising God for the blessings He had given His people.” The same word used for “praise, or bless” is used in Daniel when he prayed three times each day praising God. It’s also used when David prayed asking for forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba. The point is that just reading the Word so moved Ezra that he fell to his knees praising and blessing God as a source of blessing to the people. Notice that it was God’s Law Ezra read. God’s Law is how God interacts with His covenant people. Ezra began to realize the extent to which God had shared His blessings with His people. Ezra realized that God had extended to the people His own blessings (thanks, salute, well wishes) because they had repented of their sins. Our salvation today puts us into a covenant relationship with God. Now, stop and think about what you’ve just read! Does it move you to humble prayer before Creator God?
- THE PEOPLE WERE MOVED TO WORSHIP! In the last part of verse six we see the kind of humility that must fill our sanctuaries if we want to see true worship and revival. These people bowed their heads to the ground because the reading of God’s Law brought them face-to-face with their sin. Their hearts were broken because they saw the result of their sins in the trashed city around them. Today we’ve become so used to living in the garbage of the world, we no longer recognize it as garbage. We are hundreds, even thousands, of times more blessed than these people, yet we often focus on how we think God’s shortchanged us because we have problems. No wonder our worship has turned to entertainment!
- THE PEOPLE WERE MOVED TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING (of The Word)! In verses seven and eight we see why revival happened among the Israelites. They became true students of The Word! Notice in verse seven the people were taught “while standing there.” They wanted to hear, learn, and understand. We often think a quick glance at a devotional is all we need to get buy. As good as devotionals are, they aren’t The Word, but should drive us deeper into study to learn the deeper truths of God’s Magnificent Word! When was the last time you were so moved by reading the Word, tears came to your eyes, or you responsively fell to your knees in prayer and worship? Ask God to help you meet Him the way these people did, and see what He does.
If we can help you with this or any other spiritual matter, call us at (574) 643-9419.
