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Nehemiah 8: 10 – 12
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. The normal response of the true Christian heart to The Word of God is celebration. Celebration is the result of meditating and understanding The Word in our hearts. The fun part is when a person who is not yet redeemed sees the Word actually working in our life, they are drawn to us and we have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them so God can save them. Nehemiah teaches us how to make that happen. First we see
- A CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY! In verse 10 the people were told to stop mourning and weeping. That sounds strange because in verse 9 we learn they were broken hearted because of their sin. Question: when was the last time you were brokenhearted over your own sin. When was the last time you wept over your sin? Notice the celebration is community wide. One of the most intimidating principles of NT Christianity is sharing with others. One reason is that sharing is countercultural or in opposition to the “me first” attitude that pervades our society today. True spiritual revival expresses itself by turning our heart first upward to God, then outward to the members of the local body, then to the unsaved around us. When Christians truly hunger and thirst for the Word, God brings understanding and that brings celebration. Remember, understanding doesn’t come from a casual glance at Scripture, but from concentrated effort in quiet time alone with God and His Word. Second there was a
- CALL FOR CALMNESS! The contrast between verses 9 and 10 to this verse is interesting. When people realized their sin, they wept. However, the people were told to focus on worship before the Lord. Why? Because God came to them in that sorrowful situation to deliver them from it! Read David’s Psalms (20-70) and see how he constantly asked God for help in his time of sorrow, and how God caused David to understand that God would see him through his trials. God will do the same for you. Notice
- A CELEBRATION OF CLARITY! Simply, they were to celebrate the fact they understood the Word. They were to remember and celebrate God’s provision for Israel through the wilderness (Feast of Tabernacles), and His deliverance from captivity now! The joy of the Lord becomes our strength when we fear the Lord. That causes us to obey God and allows Him to accomplish those good works He’s planned for us. One writer sums this passage up this way:
- God wanted the people to be more aware of His strength than their weakness.
- 2. God wanted them to be more instilled with the joy of His presence than just linger in a sense of shame.
- 3. God wanted them to know what a wonderful thing it is to gain insight into God’s Word so they can obey rather than just sob over how they had disobeyed. I think he hit the nail on the head!
If we can help you with this or any spiritual situation or question, call us at (574) 643-9419.
