Nehemiah 8-9. He was drawn to Jerusalem to accomplish those tasks certainly. He has focused his efforts there since he arrived

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Nehemiah 8-9. He was drawn to Jerusalem to accomplish those tasks certainly. He has focused his efforts there since he arrived"

Transcription

1 Nehemiah 8-9 Frm the beginning, we ve said that Nehemiah s task was nt t build a wall r secure the city He was drawn t Jerusalem t accmplish thse tasks certainly He has fcused his effrts there since he arrived And at the end f chapter 7, Nehemiah had achieved what he had cme t Jerusalem t d But these tasks were just the backdrp fr the real purpse in Nehemiah s call The Lrd called this man t minister t His peple When Nehemiah came t Israel, the city was still in ruins, the peple were living a meager existence, under attack and lacking purpse The Lrd s freed Israel and returned them t their land fr a purpse But they were failing in that purpse, and s He sent them a leader As we ve said, Nehemiah s missin wasn t t build a wall He was there t build up a peple S with a temple cnstructed, a wall finished and the city inhabited again, it s time fr Nehemiah t return, right? As we ll see tday, the answer is n, because the missin hasn t been accmplished yet All the pieces are in place, yes, but a temple and a wall and even a bustling city are the nt the measures f success in Gd s ecnmy Thse things are at best means t an end, and the end is restratin in wrshipping Gd thrugh a life f bedience t His wrd Lving Gd with all their heart, mind, sul and strength While lving ne anther 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

2 Nehemiah f 22 S with the pieces in place, Nehemiah begins leading the peple int a prper relatinship with the Lrd, Wh has brught them back t the land At the cnclusin f chapter 7, we re tld the peple were settled in the city and it was the seventh mnth f the year The mentin f the seventh mnth is significant The final feasts f the Jewish calendar are cnducted in the seventh mnth f the Jewish calendar The feasts f Trumpets, the feast f Atnement, and the feast f Tabernacles all ccur in the seventh mnth The events f chapters 8-10 will take place during this imprtant mnth f the year In chapter 8, Nehemiah assembles the peple fr a reading f the Trah t the peple and explaining its meaning Then in chapter 9, we ll witness the peple jyusly celebrating what they learn in mment f crprate prayer and wrship And in chapter 10, the peple declare a crprate cmmitment t beying Gd Acrss these chapters we ll see the true missin fr gdly leaders: edifying Gd s peple fr service Neh. 8:1 And all the peple gathered as ne man at the square which was in frnt f the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe t bring the bk f the law f Mses which the LORD had given t Israel. Neh. 8:2 Then Ezra the priest brught the law befre the assembly f men, wmen and all wh culd listen with understanding, n the first day f the seventh mnth. Neh. 8:3 He read frm it befre the square which was in frnt f the Water Gate frm early mrning until midday, in the presence f men and wmen, thse wh culd understand; and all the peple were attentive t the bk f the law. Neh. 8:4 Ezra the scribe std at a wden pdium which they had made fr the purpse. And beside him std Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah n his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam n his left hand. Neh. 8:5 Ezra pened the bk in the sight f all the peple fr he was standing abve all the peple; and when he pened it, all the peple std up Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

3 Nehemiah f 22 Neh. 8:6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great Gd. And all the peple answered, Amen, Amen! while lifting up their hands; then they bwed lw and wrshiped the LORD with their faces t the grund. Neh. 8:7 Als Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hdiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jzabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law t the peple while the peple remained in their place. Neh. 8:8 They read frm the bk, frm the law f Gd, translating t give the sense s that they understd the reading. The Law f Mses required that the peple f Israel hear the reading f the Law nce every seven years Mses stipulated the requirement in Deut 31, near the cnclusin f the Law Deut. 31:10 Then Mses cmmanded them, saying, At the end f every seven years, at the time f the year f remissin f debts, at the Feast f Bths, Deut. 31:11 when all Israel cmes t appear befre the LORD yur Gd at the place which He will chse, yu shall read this law in frnt f all Israel in their hearing. Deut. 31:12 Assemble the peple, the men and the wmen and children and the alien wh is in yur twn, s that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD yur Gd, and be careful t bserve all the wrds f this law. These gatherings were cvenant renewal mments in the natin f Israel Renewal is nt ptinal, but these mment were t be repeated s the peple knew the Law The renewal was nt prescribed fr a specific day in the seventh mnth It simply must take place at the time f year f the remissin f debts and the feast f Bths The remissin f debts refers t the feast f Atnement, which came early in the mnth while the feast f bths came later S the requirements was t read the Law smetime early in the seventh mnth Ezra chses t waste n time, reading the Law n the first day f the mnth This is Ezra s first appearance in the stry f Nehemiah 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

4 Nehemiah f 22 I said at the utset f the bk that Nehemiah and Ezra were cntempraries In fact, it s my belief that Ezra was the scribe wh penned the bk f Nehemiah, thugh he wrte it in Nehemiah s vice And here we see Ezra is still acting as the teaching leader ver the peple even after Nehemiah s arrival Take nte that Nehemiah s arrival didn t mean the end f Ezra s leadership rle It seems clear that the Lrd raises up men with different skills t perfrm different rles in the bdy f Christ Ezra was the gifted teacher, and he led the peple frm a psitin f intellectual strength But when Nehemiah arrived n the scene, Ezra yielded authrity ver the peple, yet he retained teaching respnsibility Men like Nehemiah and Ezra need t understand hw t wrk tgether as the Lrd appints The leader f a cngregatin need nt be the teacher f the flck And the teacher f a flck need nt be the chief administratr f the church In fact, it s rare t find a man wh is the best at bth rles Mre ften, the rles will be split - unless eg gets in the way Lking at the scene, Ezra gathers the peple in frnt f the Water Gate n the first day f the seventh mnth In v.1 it s interesting t see that the peple themselves asked Ezra t bring the bk f the Law ut t read t them The peple were eager t hear the wrd f Gd They were lking frward t the instructin T the chance t grw clser t Gd thrugh His wrd What fllws has becme the basis fr Jewish synaggue service 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

5 Nehemiah f 22 The pattern was prbably established during the exile, when the peple lacked access t a temple It s still the cmmn rder f wrship amng rthdx Jews tday And the pattern is instantly recgnizable fr Christians tday The peple gather fr a service Readings f Gd s wrd takes place The peple stand, a leader ffers praise, peple respnd Finally, the peple receive instructin thrugh an ral explanatin f the wrd and an exhrtatin t live by what they have learned After the gathering, the peple g away t share a fellwship meal This is a cmmn pattern - r shuld be - in the Christian gathering New ideas cme frm time t time, but the basic frmula hasn t changed Where it has changed, it s largely been diminished by a deemphasis n the wrd f Gd In many church it isn t read And even when it is read, it s nt explained prperly Explaining Gd s wrd is n lnger the highlight f many services Let s revisit the frmula in this chapter t see why it was s valued in Israel First, in v.2 Ezra brught the Law befre everyne in the natin wh culd listen with understanding Only children at an early age were excluded frm the gathering and frm the teaching in Gd s wrd If families were separated, it s nly because the yungest are t little t value the instructin Because they are likely t be an interruptin t thers 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

6 Nehemiah f 22 Apart frm these yungest nes, everyne else shuld be gathered t hear the wrd Secndly, he read the Law as required frm early mrning t midday Rughly, Ezra read fr 5 hurs r mre Ezra std and read and the peple std t listen fr this entire time Their standing was a sign f respect and attentiveness Can yu imagine smething like this happening tday? Christians fidget in the pews when they re made t sit fr a sermn lnger than 20 minutes And Heaven frbid children are required t sit still that lng Have children changed that much - r just ur expectatins? Peple say it s unreasnable t expect Christians t listen t a 60 minute sermn r attend a 2 hur church service Yet thse same peple gladly sit thrugh a 3-hur Hllywd blckbuster withut a secnd thught Hw imprtant is the wrd f Gd t us? Next, we find Ezra standing behind a wden pdium Arund him std elders r leaders f the peple f Israel Here s anther instantly recgnizable scene Dn t let anyne tell yu that the traditin f a preacher teaching frm a pulpit frm wrd f Gd is mdern inventin r a dispensable anachrnism Frm the beginning, Gd has chsen t cmmunicate His truth frm the muths f preachers t the hears f His peple 1Cr. 1:21 Fr since in the wisdm f Gd the wrld thrugh its wisdm did nt cme t knw Gd, Gd was well-pleased thrugh the flishness f the message preached t save thse wh believe Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

7 Nehemiah f 22 Next, the peple are drawn t a heart f wrship thrugh the reading f the wrd The peple bw t the grund, cry Amen and wrship The peple give an bject lessn in wrshipping in spirit and truth The truth f Gd s wrd is a pwerful tl t bring the heart clser t Gd In fact, there is n greater tl Finally, the elders f Israel fllw the reading f the wrd with an explanatin The five hur reading f the text gives way t sermns cncerning the meaning f what was written I wish I culd hear what these leaders said What insight did Gd give them abut the stries f Genesis, the experience in Egypt and the time f wandering? I wnder if any f the stries in the Law gave the exiles a sense f déjà vu having just left their wn perid f captivity, wandering and nw security in the land? This is the mment we want fr every child f Gd, whether the ne being restred r the ne wh never strayed We want t be drawn by ur leaders int a mment f sincere fellwship and wrship We want men wh lead by and thrugh the wrd f Gd We need men t call us t sacrifice and t exercise discipline s we can have the patience t hear Gd s wrd We need t be mved by the wrd t humble urselves befre Gd And we need men t give us instructin and explanatin frm the wrd s we can understand and fllw what we ve been given Gd is faithful t give us these things, and He always will 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

8 Nehemiah f 22 The prblem has never been Gd s willingness t supply It s ur willingness t seek fr them Because Nehemiah and Ezra have cme and dne their part, the peple have been blessed And when we d ur part in bedience, we make it easier fr ther believers t d theirs The entire day was s mving fr the peple, they were weeping in respnse t their sermns and readings The tears were prbably tears f thankfulness and regret Thanks fr Gd s faithfulness Regret fr the way they and their ancestrs had tested the lrd s patience s ften Mst f all, they are mved by the presence f the Lrd s spirit But Nehemiah respnds with a call t jy Neh. 8:9 Then Nehemiah, wh was the gvernr, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites wh taught the peple said t all the peple, This day is hly t the LORD yur Gd; d nt murn r weep. Fr all the peple were weeping when they heard the wrds f the law. Neh. 8:10 Then he said t them, G, eat f the fat, drink f the sweet, and send prtins t him wh has nthing prepared; fr this day is hly t ur Lrd. D nt be grieved, fr the jy f the LORD is yur strength. Neh. 8:11 S the Levites calmed all the peple, saying, Be still, fr the day is hly; d nt be grieved. Neh. 8:12 All the peple went away t eat, t drink, t send prtins and t celebrate a great festival, because they understd the wrds which had been made knwn t them. Nehemiah tells the peple that this day is a hly day fr the Lrd, t hnr His faithfulness S therefre, he tells the peple t feast, celebrate and knw the jy f the Lrd In fact, Nehemiah says their jy in the Lrd has been their strength in the days f their trials 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

9 Nehemiah f 22 S the peple respnd with a fellwship meal t celebrate the end f the day in jy The wrds Nehemiah speaks in v.10 are especially imprtant t understanding the significance f this passage He says the jy f the Lrd is Israel s strength The phrase jy f the Lrd is a reference t Christ, Wh is the jy f the Father This phrase is a descriptin f Christ It s als ur clue t see this entire scene as a picture f anther mment in a future restratin f Israel Anther time when Israel will encunter the jy f the Lrd bringing strength t Israel A time when Israel persevered thrugh trial A time when murning turns t jy culminating a perid f restratin On that future day, Israel will experience great distress because f attacks brught by the natins f the wrld that surrund Jerusalem The attack cmes at the hands f the antichrist at the end f Tribulatin Zech. 12:3 It will cme abut in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stne fr all the peples; all wh lift it will be severely injured. And all the natins f the earth will be gathered against it. Zech. 12:4 In that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every hrse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch ver the huse f Judah, while I strike every hrse f the peples with blindness. Zech. 12:5 Then the clans f Judah will say in their hearts, A strng supprt fr us are the inhabitants f Jerusalem thrugh the LORD f hsts, their Gd. Zech. 12:8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants f Jerusalem, and the ne wh is feeble amng them in that day will be like David, and the huse f David will be like Gd, like the angel f the LORD befre them. Zech. 12:9 And in that day I will set abut t destry all the natins that cme against Jerusalem. The peple f Israel were under attack, fearful and driven t desperatin With the Lrd s strength, the peple will defend the city 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

10 Nehemiah f 22 They succeed in defending the city against terrible dds Just as Nehemiah s Israel defended the walls frm attacks with the strength f the Lrd Once again, their ability t defend the city cmes frm the Lrd Then in that day, the peple will be mved by the wrd f Gd delivered by the Spirit Zech. 12:10 I will pur ut n the huse f David and n the inhabitants f Jerusalem, the Spirit f grace and f supplicatin, s that they will lk n Me whm they have pierced; and they will murn fr Him, as ne murns fr an nly sn, and they will weep bitterly ver Him like the bitter weeping ver a firstbrn. The peple f Israel living in Jerusalem will cme t understand that Jesus was the Messiah The peple lk int the wrd f Gd by the Spirit and cme t a recgnitin that they disbeyed the Wrd, that is Christ Their ancestrs crucified their Lrd And they all murn the revelatin And this recgnitin will lead them int a murning fr the sins f their fathers and their wn sins in rejecting Jesus Just as the Israel in Nehemiah s day was mved t tears at the recgnitin f their wn sin under the cvenant This future Israel will be humbled by what they learn in the wrd, t the pint f weeping and tears But just as Nehemiah called the peple t cease weeping and find jy in the Lrd, s will the future Israel trade tears fr jy Zech. 14:2 Fr I will gather all the natins against Jerusalem t battle, and the city will be captured, the huses plundered, the wmen ravished and half f the city exiled, but the rest f the peple will nt be cut ff frm the city. Zech. 14:3 Then the LORD will g frth and fight against thse natins, as when He fights n a day f battle Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

11 Nehemiah f 22 Zech. 14:4 In that day His feet will stand n the Munt f Olives, which is in frnt f Jerusalem n the east; and the Munt f Olives will be split in its middle frm east t west by a very large valley, s that half f the muntain will mve tward the nrth and the ther half tward the suth. Zech. 14:8 And in that day living waters will flw ut f Jerusalem, half f them tward the eastern sea and the ther half tward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. Zech. 14:9 And the LORD will be king ver all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the nly ne, and His name the nly ne. The Lrd s return fr Israel will bring great jy t the natin They are rescued frm the antichrist and brught t faith in Him The Lrd establishes His kingdm n earth and the peple f Israel are at the center f it This stry is explained in greater detail as part f the VBVMI Revelatin study And just as we see in Nehemiah 8, the cncluding act in this mment f restratin is a celebratin feast, the feast f bths Zech. 14:16 Then it will cme abut that any wh are left f all the natins that went against Jerusalem will g up frm year t year t wrship the King, the LORD f hsts, and t celebrate the Feast f Bths. The feast memrialized Israel s wanderings in the desert upn reaching the prmised the land It was t be celebrated by thse wh had received their permanent hme t remind them that they had t wandering in a temprary place first That feast symblized the wandering f the desert prir t crssing the Jrdan And it represents the Jews life n earth prir t entering the Kingdm The final celebratin f the feast will happen when the natin enters the Messianic Kingdm But here in Nehemiah s day is a mment when Israel experiences a lessr versin f that celebratin 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

12 Nehemiah f 22 They natin has returned frm a new exile and is enjying a new life in their land And s they are ready t celebrate the feast anew Neh. 8:13 Then n the secnd day the heads f fathers husehlds f all the peple, the priests and the Levites were gathered t Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight int the wrds f the law. Neh. 8:14 They fund written in the law hw the LORD had cmmanded thrugh Mses that the sns f Israel shuld live in bths during the feast f the seventh mnth. Neh. 8:15 S they prclaimed and circulated a prclamatin in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, G ut t the hills, and bring live branches and wild live branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches f ther leafy trees, t make bths, as it is written. Neh. 8:16 S the peple went ut and brught them and made bths fr themselves, each n his rf, and in their curts and in the curts f the huse f Gd, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate f Ephraim. Neh. 8:17 The entire assembly f thse wh had returned frm the captivity made bths and lived in them. The sns f Israel had indeed nt dne s frm the days f Jshua the sn f Nun t that day. And there was great rejicing. Fllwing the lng day f hearing the wrd taught at the Water Gate, the heads f the husehlds are intrigued t learn mre abut the wrd Specifically, they remembered hearing smething the day earlier abut a feast in the seventh mnth f the year They returned t Ezra t ask questins and t knw mre abut the wrds f the Law With his help, they fund in the Law the wrd f the Lrd cmmanding that the sns f Israel shuld celebrate the feast f bths Having cnfirmed what they heard, they knw what t d They g ut int the peple and circulate a prclamatin t everyne that the day fr the feast is cming quickly and they must get ready They are cmmanded t cllect the branches and leaves that are used t make the bths they ccupy A bth was essentially a tent made f natural materials 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

13 Nehemiah f 22 Fr this feast, the Jews essentially abandned their hmes fr a week t camp ut in these temprary structures The bths reminded them f living in the desert wandering withut a hme Everywhere they culd fit these structures, the peple made the bths and ccupied them And ntice, it s a time f great jy fr the peple The feast is jyful because it is celebrated by peple wh have finally received their permanent hmes They remember the Lrd s faithfulness t deliver them thrugh a perid f wandering and trial This was true in the time f Exdus, as the peple knew the jy f Canaan It s true again fr Israel that returned frm exile and ccupied the city in jy under Nehemiah And it will be true fr the future Israel that enters the Messianic Kingdm in jy under the leadership f Christ Neh. 8:18 He read frm the bk f the law f Gd daily, frm the first day t the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and n the eighth day there was a slemn assembly accrding t the rdinance. The celebratin f the feast included Ezra reading frm the bk f the Law daily t the peple They culdn t get enugh f Gd s wrd The lve f Gd s peple is an eternal truth When Heaven and Earth has passed away, the wrd f the Lrd will remain The feast lasted the required seven days, and n the eighth day, the natin hlds anther slemn assembly It seems that the celebratin f this feast brught peple t a realizatin that the wrd f Gd was t direct their lives in an even deeper way 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

14 Nehemiah f 22 They had heard a single reading f the wrd f Gd, and they had discvered the feast f bths That discvery cmpletely changed their lives fr seven days And it lead them t ask mre fundamental questins abut the pwer f Gd s law t change their lives If ne reading culd prduce s much enlightenment, culd later the curse f their week s dramatically, then what mre must they d? Clearly, they needed t redirect their entire lives accrding t what was written in the wrd They had been living their entire lives withut the guidance f the wrd f Gd And it had been generatins since the peple had the freedm and pprtunity t live by the wrd And even lnger since they had even tried S nw n the first day after the feast, they are ready t recmmit in prayer and repentance t living accrding t Gd s wrd Neh. 9:1 Nw n the twenty-furth day f this mnth the sns f Israel assembled with fasting, in sackclth and with dirt upn them. Neh. 9:2 The descendants f Israel separated themselves frm all freigners, and std and cnfessed their sins and the iniquities f their fathers. Neh. 9:3 While they std in their place, they read frm the bk f the law f the LORD their Gd fr a furth f the day; and fr anther furth they cnfessed and wrshiped the LORD their Gd. Neh. 9:4 Nw n the Levites platfrm std Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried with a lud vice t the LORD their Gd. Fllwing the feast, a great spiritual revival takes hld in Israel The wrd revival gets thrwn arund t ften in the church A revival can t be manufactured and it can t be timed t suit ur desires It s a wrk f the Spirit that cmes nly when the Lrd desires And it s evidently happening in Israel here 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

15 Nehemiah f 22 In this case, we can understand why it s happening nw The Lrd has been leading Israel t this mment ver the past 100 years and even earlier This is the wrk f restratin reaching it s climactic end The peple seeking the Lrd with all their hearts in humility In this mment, they are als picturing that mment f Jewish repentance that precipitates the Lrd s return fr Israel The Jews in this day heard Ezra read Leviticus 26 and in particular this prmise Lev. 26:40 If they cnfess their iniquity and the iniquity f their frefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they cmmitted against Me, and als in their acting with hstility against Me Lev. 26:41 I als was acting with hstility against them, t bring them int the land f their enemies r if their uncircumcised heart becmes humbled s that they then make amends fr their iniquity, Lev. 26:42 then I will remember My cvenant with Jacb, and I will remember als My cvenant with Isaac, and My cvenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land. The Lrd prmised t Israel that in a future day, when the whle natin turns t Him with their hearts humbled When they cnfess their sins and the sins f their frefathers, then the Lrd will remember His cvenant with Abraham The cvenant that prmised t send a seed t bless Israel The seed f Christ At this mment the peple are respnding in faith t the prmises they heard in Leviticus 26 And in respnse, the Lrd will send Israel Her Seed The first cming f Christ cmes a few hundred years fllwing this cnfessin Nt as a result f the cnfessin, but as a result f Gd s prmise t hnr His wrd t Israel 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

16 Nehemiah f 22 Only when the final generatin cnfesses Christ will the Kingdm be made available Then the prayer f repentance and wrship ensues, beginning with a beautiful retelling f what they have learned in Gd s wrd Neh. 9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hdiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, Arise, bless the LORD yur Gd frever and ever! O may Yur glrius name be blessed And exalted abve all blessing and praise! Neh. 9:6 ı Yu alne are the LORD. Yu have made the heavens, The heaven f heavens with all their hst, The earth and all that is n it, The seas and all that is in them. Yu give life t all f them And the heavenly hst bws dwn befre Yu. Neh. 9:7 ı Yu are the LORD Gd, Wh chse Abram And brught him ut frm Ur f the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham. Neh. 9:8 ı Yu fund his heart faithful befre Yu, And made a cvenant with him T give him the land f the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amrite, ı Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite T give it t his descendants. And Yu have fulfilled Yur prmise, Fr Yu are righteus. Neh. 9:9 ı Yu saw the afflictin f ur fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea. Neh. 9:10 ı Then Yu perfrmed signs and wnders against Pharah, Against all his servants and all the peple f his land; Fr Yu knew that they acted arrgantly tward them, And made a name fr Yurself as it is this day. Neh. 9:11 ı Yu divided the sea befre them, S they passed thrugh the midst f the sea n dry grund; And their pursuers Yu hurled int the depths, Like a stne int raging waters Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

17 Nehemiah f 22 Neh. 9:12 ı And with a pillar f clud Yu led them by day, And with a pillar f fire by night T light fr them the way In which they were t g. Neh. 9:13 ı Then Yu came dwn n Munt Sinai, And spke with them frm heaven; Yu gave them just rdinances and true laws, Gd statutes and cmmandments. Neh. 9:14 ı S Yu made knwn t them Yur hly sabbath, And laid dwn fr them cmmandments, statutes and law, Thrugh Yur servant Mses. Neh. 9:15 ı Yu prvided bread frm heaven fr them fr their hunger, Yu brught frth water frm a rck fr them fr their thirst, And Yu tld them t enter in rder t pssess The land which Yu swre t give them. Neh. 9:16 ı But they, ur fathers, acted arrgantly; They became stubbrn and wuld nt listen t Yur cmmandments. Neh. 9:17 ı They refused t listen, And did nt remember Yur wndrus deeds which Yu had perfrmed amng them; S they became stubbrn and appinted a leader t return t their slavery in Egypt. But Yu are a Gd f frgiveness, Gracius and cmpassinate, Slw t anger and abunding in lvingkindness; And Yu did nt frsake them. Neh. 9:18 ı Even when they made fr themselves A calf f mlten metal ı And said, This is yur Gd ı Wh brught yu up frm Egypt, And cmmitted great blasphemies, Neh. 9:19 Yu, in Yur great cmpassin, Did nt frsake them in the wilderness; The pillar f clud did nt leave them by day, T guide them n their way, Nr the pillar f fire by night, t light fr them the way in which they were t g. Neh. 9:20 ı Yu gave Yur gd Spirit t instruct them, Yur manna Yu did nt withhld frm their muth, And Yu gave them water fr their thirst Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

18 Nehemiah f 22 Neh. 9:21 ı Indeed, frty years Yu prvided fr them in the wilderness and they were nt in want; Their clthes did nt wear ut, nr did their feet swell. Neh. 9:22 ı Yu als gave them kingdms and peples, And alltted them t them as a bundary. They tk pssessin f the land f Sihn the king f Heshbn And the land f Og the king f Bashan. Neh. 9:23 ı Yu made their sns numerus as the stars f heaven, And Yu brught them int the land Which Yu had tld their fathers t enter and pssess. Neh. 9:24 ı S their sns entered and pssessed the land. And Yu subdued befre them the inhabitants f the land, the Canaanites, And Yu gave them int their hand, with their kings and the peples f the land, T d with them as they desired. Neh. 9:25 ı They captured frtified cities and a fertile land. They tk pssessin f huses full f every gd thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, live grves, Fruit trees in abundance. S they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Yur great gdness. Neh. 9:26 ı But they became disbedient and rebelled against Yu, And cast Yur law behind their backs And killed Yur prphets wh had admnished them S that they might return t Yu, And they cmmitted great blasphemies. Neh. 9:27 ı Therefre Yu delivered them int the hand f their ppressrs wh ppressed them, But when they cried t Yu in the time f their distress, Yu heard frm heaven, and accrding t Yur great cmpassin Yu gave them deliverers wh delivered them frm the hand f their ppressrs. Neh. 9:28 ı But as sn as they had rest, they did evil again befre Yu; Therefre Yu abandned them t the hand f their enemies, s that they ruled ver them. When they cried again t Yu, Yu heard frm heaven, And many times Yu rescued them accrding t Yur cmpassin, 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

19 Nehemiah f 22 Neh. 9:29 And admnished them in rder t turn them back t Yur law. Yet they acted arrgantly and did nt listen t Yur cmmandments but sinned against Yur rdinances, By which if a man bserves them he shall live. And they turned a stubbrn shulder and stiffened their neck, and wuld nt listen. Neh. 9:30 ı Hwever, Yu bre with them fr many years, And admnished them by Yur Spirit thrugh Yur prphets, Yet they wuld nt give ear. Therefre Yu gave them int the hand f the peples f the lands. Neh. 9:31 ı Nevertheless, in Yur great cmpassin Yu did nt make an end f them r frsake them, Fr Yu are a gracius and cmpassinate Gd. This retelling cmpetes with Stephen s testimny in Acts fr the mst thrugh yet cncise retelling f Israel s histry leading up t Christ Many f the phrases included in this retelling can be fund in the Psalms r elsewhere It s clear that the peple have learned smething in the days f listening t the Law And what they ve heard has influenced their thinking Nt nly have they cme t understand their wn histry in a new way They have als cme t appreciate Gd mre And that s the purpse f learning scripture in the end We learn abut Gd We see His lng suffering character in the face f ur sin We als see His willingness t act eventually t discipline His children And we see His faithfulness t restre Having seen His faithfulness, the peple make an appeal fr mercy in light f their cntinued slavery under Persia 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

20 Nehemiah f 22 Neh. 9:32 ı Nw therefre, ur Gd, the great, the mighty, and the awesme Gd, wh keeps cvenant and lvingkindness, D nt let all the hardship seem insignificant befre Yu, Which has cme upn us, ur kings, ur princes, ur priests, ur prphets, ur fathers and n all Yur peple, Frm the days f the kings f Assyria t this day. Neh. 9:33 ı Hwever, Yu are just in all that has cme upn us; Fr Yu have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. Neh. 9:34 ı Fr ur kings, ur leaders, ur priests and ur fathers have nt kept Yur law Or paid attentin t Yur cmmandments and Yur admnitins with which Yu have admnished them. Neh. 9:35 ı But they, in their wn kingdm, With Yur great gdness which Yu gave them, With the brad and rich land which Yu set befre them, Did nt serve Yu r turn frm their evil deeds. Neh. 9:36 ı Behld, we are slaves tday, And as t the land which Yu gave t ur fathers t eat f its fruit and its bunty, Behld, we are slaves in it. Neh. 9:37 ı Its abundant prduce is fr the kings Whm Yu have set ver us because f ur sins; They als rule ver ur bdies And ver ur cattle as they please, S we are in great distress. Neh. 9:38 ı Nw because f all this We are making an agreement in writing; ı And n the sealed dcument are the names f ur leaders, ur Levites and ur priests. Their prayer ends in a cnfessin f sin and a request fr mercy The peple ask the Lrd t recgnize and remember that the peple still suffer in significant ways Life in Jerusalem still nt an easy existence They have the wrry f attack by the surrunding peple They are nt ruling ver their wn land They are under the rule f Persians 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

21 Nehemiah f 22 And accrding t the prphecy f Daniel, it wn t end there In the near future, Persian ppressin will give way t Greek ppressin And Greek ppressin will give way t Rman rule And Rman rule has evlved ver the millennia and cntinues tday in a mdern frm Still, Israel is in ppressin unable t live in peace and ruling ver her prmised land The peple in Ezra and Nehemiah s day appear t recgnize the seriusness f their situatin They appeal fr Gd s mercy But they als acknwledge that they are where they are because f sins that require Gd s respnse Just as the Lrd prmised in Leviticus and Daniel, the peple f Israel will see an extended perid f curses Until ne day the Lrd returns t fulfill His prmises f blessing In the meantime, the peple f Israel are mved by a sber appreciatin f their past mistakes t vw never t repeat them In the next chapter, the peple recmmit t living accrding t Gd s wrd T never repeating the mistakes f their frefathers They mstly keep their wrd Never again des a generatin f Israel participate in pagan wrship r idlatry f the srt practiced prir t the captivity On the ther hand, they cmmit an even mre serius errr They reject the Messiah S the judgment cntinues until the the mment f Zechariah 12 Nevertheless, we see their intentins expressed in Nehemiah Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

22 Nehemiah f Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

Who Were the Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12

Who Were the Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12 Wh Were the Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12 One Christmas, mm decided that she was n lnger ging t remind her children t write their thank-yu ntes fr the gifts they receive. As a result, their grandmther never

More information

Genesis 12A (2011) Last week we turned the corner into part two of Genesis. Part one of Genesis was a trilogy of sorts

Genesis 12A (2011) Last week we turned the corner into part two of Genesis. Part one of Genesis was a trilogy of sorts Genesis 12A (2011) Last week we turned the crner int part tw f Genesis Part ne f Genesis was a trilgy f srts A three-part stry f the never-ending, all-cnsuming destructive pwer f sin It began with the

More information

Genesis 1D (2011) The sixth day began with animals and ended with man. Notice a difference in how man is created?

Genesis 1D (2011) The sixth day began with animals and ended with man. Notice a difference in how man is created? Genesis 1D (2011) Gen. 1:26 Then Gd said, Let Us make man in Our image, accrding t Our likeness; and let them rule ver the fish f the sea and ver the birds f the sky and ver the cattle and ver all the

More information

Genesis 17A (2011) Today, for the fourth time, God will appear to Abram. But today, God is ready to bring Abram the full revelation of His covenant

Genesis 17A (2011) Today, for the fourth time, God will appear to Abram. But today, God is ready to bring Abram the full revelation of His covenant Genesis 17A (2011) Tday, fr the furth time, Gd will appear t Abram And the ccasin fr the visitatin is similar t the previus three visits: Gd s cvenant with Abram But tday, Gd is ready t bring Abram the

More information

Genesis 22B (2011) Did God really expect him to take such an unthinkable step? How will it feel to watch his son die?

Genesis 22B (2011) Did God really expect him to take such an unthinkable step? How will it feel to watch his son die? Genesis 22B (2011) As Abraham stands at the tp f Mt. Mriah preparing t sacrifice his nly sn, he must have been warring with his wn fears and dubts Did Gd really expect him t take such an unthinkable step?

More information

Genesis (2011) 47A. And this section will bring his story to a close. This is the story of Jacob in Egypt. He has decided they should live in Goshen

Genesis (2011) 47A. And this section will bring his story to a close. This is the story of Jacob in Egypt. He has decided they should live in Goshen Genesis (2011) 47A The stry f Jacb tldt enters the final sectin tday And this sectin will bring his stry t a clse This is the stry f Jacb in Egypt He and his family will ride ut the rest f the famine in

More information

Genesis 18B (2011) First was the issue of Sarah. More specifically, the issue is Sarah s faith or lack thereof

Genesis 18B (2011) First was the issue of Sarah. More specifically, the issue is Sarah s faith or lack thereof Genesis 18B (2011) As we began this chapter last week, I made mentin f tw utstanding issues in Abraham s relatinship that Gd must reslve befre the prmised child is brn First was the issue f Sarah Mre specifically,

More information

Hebrews 2A (2014) People tend to judge the value of a message - at least in part - by the reputation or importance of the messenger

Hebrews 2A (2014) People tend to judge the value of a message - at least in part - by the reputation or importance of the messenger Hebrews 2A (2014) Peple tend t judge the value f a message - at least in part - by the reputatin r imprtance f the messenger We prefer that imprtant news cmes frm imprtant and reputable surces If yu hear

More information

Baptism for Children at Summit Drive Church

Baptism for Children at Summit Drive Church Baptism fr Children at Summit Drive Church Baptism fr Children at Summit Drive Church Therefre g and make disciples f all natins, baptizing them in the name f the Father and f the Sn and f the Hly Spirit,

More information

Week 2: Reading the Bible w/understanding

Week 2: Reading the Bible w/understanding Week 2: Reading the Bible w/understanding Opening Questins: When was the last time yur Bible reading changed yur life? Hw many wuld say that reading and studying the Bible has made a significant difference

More information

Genesis 22A (2011) The testing will expose Abraham s true heart

Genesis 22A (2011) The testing will expose Abraham s true heart Genesis 22A (2011) The Bible calls Abraham the father f faith Abraham is the man Paul uses as his example when he taught the way t salvatin was always by faith in Gd s prmises Abraham has seen Gd appear

More information

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Prt 4

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Prt 4 This mrning I want t finish ff the series n prayer BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Last week we cvered the fllwing 1. Yur attitude twards prayer determines its effectiveness 2. Make prayers f faith.

More information

Isaiah 40A. Chapters present a very different pattern when compared to the first 39 books of the Bible

Isaiah 40A. Chapters present a very different pattern when compared to the first 39 books of the Bible Isaiah 40A Tday we begin Secnd Isaiah Chapters 40-66 present a very different pattern when cmpared t the first 39 bks f the Bible Secnd Isaiah is written abut events in the future frm Isaiah s day But

More information

Small group questions

Small group questions Small grup questins Exdus 33:12-34:14 - Our cmpassinate and gracius Gd Leaders if the questins make n sense r yu dn t knw the answer please cntact the preacher! 1. As yu were grwing up, what did yu think

More information

Easter Welcome to the most joyful day of our Christian calendar, the day we remember our Lord s triumph over the grave

Easter Welcome to the most joyful day of our Christian calendar, the day we remember our Lord s triumph over the grave Easter 2016 Welcme t the mst jyful day f ur Christian calendar, the day we remember ur Lrd s triumph ver the grave Christians mark this day in many ways and many traditins Sme families hld egg hunts Others

More information

Choose Joy Because Happiness Isn t Enough

Choose Joy Because Happiness Isn t Enough Chse Jy Because Happiness Isn t Enugh Day 18: Lk at Yur Busyness Many f us live lives cnstantly n the g with every hur f ur day planned ut. Often, with little pprtunity fr a change in plans r directin.

More information

Genesis 3D (2011) We saw last week that God never curses woman. And those punishments are severe

Genesis 3D (2011) We saw last week that God never curses woman. And those punishments are severe Genesis 3D (2011) Gd has respnded t the sin f the Garden by punishing Satan and then giving wman grace even in the midst f her suffering the cnsequences f sin The cming fallen wrld, this cuple f their

More information

Hebrews 10A (2014) Over the New Year s holiday, a lot of families like to go to the movies. The New Covenant provided a sacrifice to cover all sin

Hebrews 10A (2014) Over the New Year s holiday, a lot of families like to go to the movies. The New Covenant provided a sacrifice to cover all sin Hebrews 10A (2014) Over the New Year s hliday, a lt f families like t g t the mvies And when yu g t the mvies, yu are sure t see cming attractins f future mvies Smetimes the thse trailers give away t much

More information

1Corinthians 15B. Our entry into chapter 15 of this letter gave us a clear-eyed view of the gospel. The story has never changed:

1Corinthians 15B. Our entry into chapter 15 of this letter gave us a clear-eyed view of the gospel. The story has never changed: 1Crinthians 15B Our entry int chapter 15 f this letter gave us a clear-eyed view f the gspel Paul tld the church this was the message he received frm the Lrd and delivered t them The stry has never changed:

More information

TAKING LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL

TAKING LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL 5/10/14 Ps Brian Heath TAKING LEADERSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL We need a specific type f church t really make a difference in ur wrld. NEHEMIAH 2:11-20: S I came t Jerusalem and was there three days. Then

More information

1Corinthians 12C. As we believe, we are equipped by the Spirit. And He unites the body of Christ. There are a variety of ministries

1Corinthians 12C. As we believe, we are equipped by the Spirit. And He unites the body of Christ. There are a variety of ministries 1Crinthians 12C Thrugh the first ten verses f chapter 12, Paul has begun patiently teaching the church abut the nature and purpse f spiritual gifts We ve learned that spiritual gifts are a cnsequence f

More information

Hebrews 4A (2014) When she looked up from her reading the socialite noticed Robinson was crying.

Hebrews 4A (2014) When she looked up from her reading the socialite noticed Robinson was crying. Hebrews 4A (2014) Rbert Rbinsn was an English clergyman wh lived in the 18th century. Nt nly was he a gifted pastr and preacher he was als a highly gifted pet and hymn writer. Hwever, after many years

More information

Hebrews 11D (2014) And how we NOT linger over this magnificent collection examples of faith in action

Hebrews 11D (2014) And how we NOT linger over this magnificent collection examples of faith in action Hebrews 11D (2014) The Luvre museum in Paris cntains ver 380,000 bjects and displays 35,000 wrks f art. It is said that if ne was t walk thrugh the Luvre and spend nly 4 secnds gazing at each bject, it

More information

Genesis 15B (2011) We don t have to study the Bible for long before we re confronted with teaching on covenants

Genesis 15B (2011) We don t have to study the Bible for long before we re confronted with teaching on covenants Genesis 15B (2011) We dn t have t study the Bible fr lng befre we re cnfrnted with teaching n cvenants The Bible makes frequent mentin f cvenants A cvenant is a Bible wrd fr a slemn agreement between tw

More information

With Christ in the School of Prayer Andrew Murray [revised by Harold J. Chadwick copyright by bridge-logos publishers]

With Christ in the School of Prayer Andrew Murray [revised by Harold J. Chadwick copyright by bridge-logos publishers] Sunday Mrning Prayer Class January 11, 2015 With Christ in the Schl f Prayer Andrew Murray [revised by Harld J. Chadwick cpyright by bridge-lgs publishers] LESSON 1 THE ONLY TEACHER One day Jesus was praying

More information

EXALT JESUS. Sermon in a sentence: More than anything else, or anyone else, we need to exalt Jesus!

EXALT JESUS. Sermon in a sentence: More than anything else, or anyone else, we need to exalt Jesus! EXALT JESUS 1 EXALT JESUS July 6, 2014 Sermn in a sentence: Mre than anything else, r anyne else, we need t exalt Jesus! Scriptures: (NKJV) Jhn 3:14; Jhn 12:27-33; (Num 21:4-9); Phil 2:5-11; 2 Cr. 5:14-19;

More information

Ephesians 1F. Today we finally finish Paul s 270 word sentence in Ephesians 1. We ve been studying this passage according to the outline Paul provides

Ephesians 1F. Today we finally finish Paul s 270 word sentence in Ephesians 1. We ve been studying this passage according to the outline Paul provides Ephesians 1F Tday we finally finish Paul s 270 wrd sentence in Ephesians 1 Frm vs.3-14 Paul has been explaining the ways in which the believer is spiritually blessed as a result f Gd s grace This sectin

More information

Judges 16C. Sure, there are heroes and villains to be found in the world. But the heroes are never without sin

Judges 16C. Sure, there are heroes and villains to be found in the world. But the heroes are never without sin Judges 16C The stry f Samsn is prf that in real life gd guys and bad guys simply dn t exist Sure, there are heres and villains t be fund in the wrld But the heres are never withut sin And the even the

More information

Hebrews 11A (2014) As a Bible teacher, there are a few special chapters in the Bible that I find myself returning to time and time again

Hebrews 11A (2014) As a Bible teacher, there are a few special chapters in the Bible that I find myself returning to time and time again Hebrews 11A (2014) As a Bible teacher, there are a few special chapters in the Bible that I find myself returning t time and time again Chapters in the Law Like Genesis 3 Leviticus 26 Passages in the prphets

More information

Easter Many of us remember this account from the reciting a confession of faith common to many churches

Easter Many of us remember this account from the reciting a confession of faith common to many churches Easter 2012 The Lrd is Risen! On the week f Passver each year, the Christian church celebrates the ccasin f Christ s passin, death and three days later His resurrectin We take a Sunday t acknwledge the

More information

Genesis (2011) 29A. Jacob has left for Haran, to find Isaac s relatives still living in that land

Genesis (2011) 29A. Jacob has left for Haran, to find Isaac s relatives still living in that land Genesis (2011) 29A Jacb has left fr Haran, t find Isaac s relatives still living in that land He is alne and he is carrying virtually nthing f significance As he left the land, Gd appeared t him prmising

More information

Genesis 26A (2011) We ve been watching several generations growing up under God s hand

Genesis 26A (2011) We ve been watching several generations growing up under God s hand Genesis 26A (2011) We ve been watching several generatins grwing up under Gd s hand Abraham was the first, and nw that he s gne the prmises and blessing f Gd mve n dwn the line We knw the sn f Gd s chsing,

More information

[theology foundations]

[theology foundations] The Events f the End Times 1. The Tribulatin and the Rapture f the Church The Fact f the Tribulatin because thse will be days f distress unequaled frm the beginning, when Gd created the wrld, until nw

More information

Hebrews 12A (2014) The writer has conclude his tour through the Hall of Faith

Hebrews 12A (2014) The writer has conclude his tour through the Hall of Faith Hebrews 12A (2014) The writer has cnclude his tur thrugh the Hall f Faith We ve examined the lives f many Old Testament saints learning frm their examples what faith lived ut lks like The writer began

More information

Judges 1A. Sometimes He leads in dramatic ways, as a pillar of fire in the desert. The patriarchs were called to lead families and tribes

Judges 1A. Sometimes He leads in dramatic ways, as a pillar of fire in the desert. The patriarchs were called to lead families and tribes Judges 1A The Lrd is Captain f His peple He leads us in a variety f ways and thrugh a myriad f circumstances Smetimes He leads in dramatic ways, as a pillar f fire in the desert Smetimes, He leads thrugh

More information

The final verse from our study in the Gospel of John this morning was John 10:10 in which Jesus said,

The final verse from our study in the Gospel of John this morning was John 10:10 in which Jesus said, Ze: Experiencing The Fullness f Gd In Every Area f Life INTRODUCTION: The final verse frm ur study in the Gspel f Jhn this mrning was Jhn 10:10 in which Jesus said, "The thief des nt cme except t steal,

More information

A Study of Acts Chapter 2

A Study of Acts Chapter 2 A Study f Acts Chapter 2 I. WHY STUDY ACTS? A. We study Acts because it has implicatins fr the present-day church 1. We need a scripturally centered apprach n what Gd's intents and purpses are fr the Church.

More information

Acts 2B. We return tonight to a critical moment in the Book of Acts

Acts 2B. We return tonight to a critical moment in the Book of Acts Acts 2B We return tnight t a critical mment in the Bk f Acts The Spirit has arrived and with Him came unique demnstratins f His pwer amng the crwd Last week we nticed that these manifestatins led t tw

More information

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Prt 3

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Prt 3 This mrning I want t cntinue with the subject matter BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE In the last 2 weeks we cvered the fllwing 1. Yur attitude twards prayer determines its effectiveness 2. Make prayers

More information

Genesis 1B (2011) And God separated light from darkness. God named the light and dark. Light without an apparent source. Where does it come from?

Genesis 1B (2011) And God separated light from darkness. God named the light and dark. Light without an apparent source. Where does it come from? Genesis 1B (2011) Gen. 1:3 Then Gd said, Let there be light ; and there was light. Gen. 1:4 Gd saw that the light was gd; and Gd separated the light frm the darkness. Gen. 1:5 Gd called the light day,

More information

Genesis 7A (2011) As last week ended, we came to the end of God s instructions to Noah

Genesis 7A (2011) As last week ended, we came to the end of God s instructions to Noah Genesis 7A (2011) As last week ended, we came t the end f Gd s instructins t Nah Gen. 6:22 Thus Nah did; accrding t all that Gd had cmmanded him, s he did. What a remarkable testimny t the faith f Nah

More information

Genesis 13 (2011) Finally, the three small voices answered in unison, "Okay, dad, you get the toy."

Genesis 13 (2011) Finally, the three small voices answered in unison, Okay, dad, you get the toy. Genesis 13 (2011) One day a father brught hme a new stuffed animal fr his infant sn. He has received the gift frm a cwrker, but since he had three ther yung children at hme, he was cncerned abut giving

More information

Matthew 9F. We re at the end of chapter 9, at Matthew s final group of three miracles which center on Jesus power to restore

Matthew 9F. We re at the end of chapter 9, at Matthew s final group of three miracles which center on Jesus power to restore As we cme t the end f ur year, it s apprpriate that we als reach the end f Matthew s tw-chapter sectin n the miracles f Jesus in the Galilee We re at the end f chapter 9, at Matthew s final grup f three

More information

Genesis 19D (2011) We ve been in our study of Abraham and Lot and Sodom for sometime now

Genesis 19D (2011) We ve been in our study of Abraham and Lot and Sodom for sometime now Genesis 19D (2011) We ve been in ur study f Abraham and Lt and Sdm fr smetime nw In fact it s been s lng, we may have lst sight f what Gd is actually at wrk ding thrugh these tw chapters First, we knw

More information

Genesis 16B (2011) In that covenant ceremony, the Lord appeared in the form of fire and smoke while Abram was in a deep sleep

Genesis 16B (2011) In that covenant ceremony, the Lord appeared in the form of fire and smoke while Abram was in a deep sleep Genesis 16B (2011) Remember in chapter 15 we witnessed the Lrd take upn Himself a cvenant with Abram In that cvenant ceremny, the Lrd appeared in the frm f fire and smke while Abram was in a deep sleep

More information

Genesis (2011) 41A. Last week we were in the midst of watching Joseph interpreting the dreams of two royal prisoners

Genesis (2011) 41A. Last week we were in the midst of watching Joseph interpreting the dreams of two royal prisoners Genesis (2011) 41A Last week we were in the midst f watching Jseph interpreting the dreams f tw ryal prisners Jseph was accmpanied by the chief cupbearer and chief baker Bth men had been accused f smething

More information

Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam Title: Misuse of God s Blessings

Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam Title: Misuse of God s Blessings 1 Senir Pastr Prince Guneratnam Title: Misuse f Gd s Blessings INTRODUCTION Gd s blessings means what Gd gives us. (Deuternmy 28: 8, 11, 12) The LORD will cmmand the blessing n yu in yur strehuses and

More information

Genesis 5 (2011) Things aren t always as they appear, especially in Scripture. And especially in the genealogy chapters of Genesis

Genesis 5 (2011) Things aren t always as they appear, especially in Scripture. And especially in the genealogy chapters of Genesis Genesis 5 (2011) Tday is Mther s Day... An Amish by and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almst everything they saw, but especially by tw shiny, silver walls that culd mve apart and

More information

Genesis 19B (2011) That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

Genesis 19B (2011) That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly. Genesis 19B (2011) A family had twin bys whse nly resemblance t each ther was their lks. If ne felt it was t ht, the ther thught it was t cld. If ne said the TV was t lud, the ther claimed the vlume needed

More information

Hebrews 11B (2014) We can see their confidence in God s promises reflected in their choices and decisions. We can appreciate their testimony

Hebrews 11B (2014) We can see their confidence in God s promises reflected in their choices and decisions. We can appreciate their testimony Hebrews 11B (2014) Tday we return t the Hall f Faith In the first six verse f this chapter, the writer gave us an intrductin t the nature and purpse and value f faith in the life f a believer Faith is

More information

1Corinthians 12A. We now launch into the next major section of Paul s letter and a new topic. The new topic is spiritual gifts in the body

1Corinthians 12A. We now launch into the next major section of Paul s letter and a new topic. The new topic is spiritual gifts in the body 1Crinthians 12A We nw launch int the next majr sectin f Paul s letter and a new tpic Paul is ready t tackle the next questin he received frm the Crinthian church as delivered by Chle s delegatin The new

More information

Exodus In chapter 32, the nation of Israel broke the terms of the SInai covenant when they worshipped the golden calf

Exodus In chapter 32, the nation of Israel broke the terms of the SInai covenant when they worshipped the golden calf Exdus 33-34 In chapter 32, the natin f Israel brke the terms f the SInai cvenant when they wrshipped the glden calf As a result f that sin, the Lrd declared they wuld all be killed, which was the nrmal

More information

Love - Fulfillment of the Commandments

Love - Fulfillment of the Commandments Lve Lifted Me Recvery Ministries http://www.lveliftedmerecvery.cm Lve - Fulfillment f the Cmmandments Jesus said, "If yu lve Me, keep My cmmandments" (Jhn 14:15). I remember as a new Christian wndering,

More information

Study 27: Revelation 13:11-18

Study 27: Revelation 13:11-18 Study 27: Revelatin 13:11-18 11 Then I saw anther beast, cming ut f the earth. He had tw hrns like a lamb, but he spke like a dragn. The Lrd pened Jhn s eyes t see the reality f evil and its intelligent

More information

LEADERSHIP LIFESTYLE LESSON 2: PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL LIFE AND WORSHIP

LEADERSHIP LIFESTYLE LESSON 2: PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL LIFE AND WORSHIP Essentials fr Spiritual Leadership Study Guide LEADERSHIP LIFESTYLE LESSON 2: PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL LIFE AND WORSHIP INTRODUCTION This lessn is part f a Discipleship Essentials mdule titled. The lessns examine

More information

John 8: Jesus and the adulteress - Author: Evert Jan Hempenius

John 8: Jesus and the adulteress - Author: Evert Jan Hempenius Jhn 8:2-11 - Jesus and the adulteress - Authr: Evert Jan Hempenius 2015 www.christianstudylibrary.rg Fr any questins abut this Scripture passage r the ntes, please cntact us thrugh the Cntact Us tab n

More information

Genesis 1C (2011) We return to Day 3 briefly to notice one interesting detail. The trees are told by God to bear fruit after their kind

Genesis 1C (2011) We return to Day 3 briefly to notice one interesting detail. The trees are told by God to bear fruit after their kind Genesis 1C (2011) We return t Day 3 briefly t ntice ne interesting detail The trees are tld by Gd t bear fruit after their kind The trees were cmmanded t reprduce, but in a very specific way They were

More information

Hebrews 12B (2014) Last week we learned that all God s children should expect His discipline. The result was the Hall of Faith

Hebrews 12B (2014) Last week we learned that all God s children should expect His discipline. The result was the Hall of Faith Hebrews 12B (2014) Last week we learned that all Gd s children shuld expect His discipline In the writer s day, he was cncerned abut Jewish Christians wh retreated frm their witness and walk as Christians

More information

INTRODUCTION. 1 John 3:2-3 NKJV 2

INTRODUCTION. 1 John 3:2-3 NKJV 2 1 Title: Living in the Light f Christ s Return (Part 3) Our Behaviur in Anticipatin f Christ s Return Scripture: 1 Thessalnians 5:-24 Speaker: Senir Pastr Prince Guneratnam INTRODUCTION T be living in

More information

Middle/High School Sunday School Lessons by. rfour.org

Middle/High School Sunday School Lessons by. rfour.org Middle/High Schl Sunday Schl Lessns by rfur.rg Year 2: Sessin 3 Jnah and Jesus Class 9: Luke 4:1-15 Jesus In The Wilderness CONCEPTS that will be cvered in the lessn Discuss why smething is tempting Highlight

More information

Genesis 4A (2011) As we begin chapter 4, Adam and Eve begin their life outside the garden as married couple

Genesis 4A (2011) As we begin chapter 4, Adam and Eve begin their life outside the garden as married couple Genesis 4A (2011) As we begin chapter 4, Adam and Eve begin their life utside the garden as married cuple At first, life isn t t bad Adam and Eve had the beginnings f a great marriage He didn't have t

More information

Ephesians 3B. Last week I dissected chapter 3 of Ephesians. To be rooted and grounded in Christ s love

Ephesians 3B. Last week I dissected chapter 3 of Ephesians. To be rooted and grounded in Christ s love Ephesians 3B Last week I dissected chapter 3 f Ephesians We nted hw the chapter was a prayer primarily Paul prayed fr the church t receive spiritual pwer frm the Father Fr the church t grw in cmprehending

More information

Genesis 24C (2011) Today we continue one of the most remarkable chapters in all the Bible. The challenge of finding a bride in a far away land

Genesis 24C (2011) Today we continue one of the most remarkable chapters in all the Bible. The challenge of finding a bride in a far away land Genesis 24C (2011) Tday we cntinue ne f the mst remarkable chapters in all the Bible The stry f hw Isaac btains his wife is a beautiful stry all its wn The challenge f finding a bride in a far away land

More information

The Great Commission. April 26-27, Jesus gave us a special job: to show others how to follow him. Acts 1:1-11; Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission. April 26-27, Jesus gave us a special job: to show others how to follow him. Acts 1:1-11; Matthew 28:16-20 rd 3 5 April 26-27, 2014 Acts 1:1-11; Matthew 28:16-20 Cnnect Time (15 minutes): Five minutes after the service begins, split kids int grups and begin their activity. th The Great Cmmissin Jesus gave us

More information

Missional Living Series Week 1: The Resurrection

Missional Living Series Week 1: The Resurrection Missinal Living Series Week 1: The Resurrectin The Hpe: The Call t the Missin Fr the week f April 12 Hme Grup Leader Instructins: In preparatin fr leading grup discussins and the use f the prvided material,

More information

Relying On The Holy Spirit

Relying On The Holy Spirit Relying On The Hly Spirit Experience the jy-filled walk with Gd under the aninting f the Hly Spirit. Have yu ever seen a child stare in wide-eyed wnder as she listens t a new stry? That's the way many

More information

Genesis 11B (2011) In the first part of Genesis, men are seen to be losing ground. In the second part of Genesis, men are receiving blessing

Genesis 11B (2011) In the first part of Genesis, men are seen to be losing ground. In the second part of Genesis, men are receiving blessing Genesis 11B (2011) Many schlars have bserved that the bk f Genesis can be divided neatly int tw parts The first part f the bk runs frm chapter 1-11 It cvers the rigins f the universe, the earth, mankind

More information

Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2

Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2 BELIEFS Our hpe is t simply be Christians in Christ s church being SHAPED BY SCRIPTURE. Overview: We are called t 1. understand Gd s relatinship t Christ Jesus. 2. be in a relatinship with Gd thrugh Jesus.

More information

Ephesians 1D. For the last two weeks I addressed Paul s comments on God choosing us. And I knew it was (pre)destined to be controversial

Ephesians 1D. For the last two weeks I addressed Paul s comments on God choosing us. And I knew it was (pre)destined to be controversial Ephesians 1D Fr the last tw weeks I addressed Paul s cmments n Gd chsing us And I knew it was (pre)destined t be cntrversial But the fcus n that wrd als caused us t step away frm the big picture f Paul

More information

Jesus will appear many times in the Revelation

Jesus will appear many times in the Revelation ! Revelatin 1:1-7 Intr (rise fr reading prayer) As prmised, tnight we begin ur study f the great bk f Revelatin We ll begin with Jhn s intrductin f the Revelatin t his readers But first, a quick verview

More information

Romans 11 (2017) Israel s past, Israel s present, and now tonight Israel s future

Romans 11 (2017) Israel s past, Israel s present, and now tonight Israel s future Rmans 11 (2017) Israel s past, Israel s present, and nw tnight Israel s future That s where Paul has been leading us ver the curse f the past tw chapters f Rmans Paul wants t recncile the truth f a faithful,

More information

Genesis (2011) 31A. A pastor was addressing his congregation one Sunday with a message of preserving their bodies, the temple of the Lord.

Genesis (2011) 31A. A pastor was addressing his congregation one Sunday with a message of preserving their bodies, the temple of the Lord. Genesis (2011) 31A The stry f Jacb in the bk f Genesis is fundamentally a stry f Gd s svereignty wrking in and thrugh the flawed lives f men Standing at the the head f the line is Jacb himself Gd intended

More information

1Corinthians 14D. There are probably as many ways to conduct a church service as there are churches. Styles vary from denomination to denomination

1Corinthians 14D. There are probably as many ways to conduct a church service as there are churches. Styles vary from denomination to denomination 1Crinthians 14D There are prbably as many ways t cnduct a church service as there are churches Styles vary frm denminatin t denminatin And even within a certain traditin, individual cngregatins will each

More information

Lake Families Bible Memory 2018

Lake Families Bible Memory 2018 Equipping Families with the Wrd f Gd At Lake Bible Church, we believe that parents are the primary evangelists and disciplers f their children (Deut. 6:4-9; Pss. 78; Prv. 1-6; Eph. 6:4). This resurce has

More information

John 12. Over the next ten chapters, John captures extended discourses between Jesus and the disciples

John 12. Over the next ten chapters, John captures extended discourses between Jesus and the disciples Jhn 12 As Jhn recrds Jesus unavidable march tward the crss, he takes great care t recrd many details frm Jesus final week that the ther Gspel writers verlked Over the next ten chapters, Jhn captures extended

More information

Ntes by Pastr Tny McCall The Pentecstals f Lake City Cmmunin Service Luke 22:14-22 (King James Versin) 14 And when the hur was cme, he sat dwn, and the twelve apstles with him. 15 And he said unt them,

More information

Ezekiel 14A. Sometimes that s true. But usually, leaders are greatly influential in shaping the thoughts and behaviors of those under their charge

Ezekiel 14A. Sometimes that s true. But usually, leaders are greatly influential in shaping the thoughts and behaviors of those under their charge Bill Clintn nce remarked that running a cuntry was a lt like running a cemetery yu ve gt a lt f peple under yu and nbdy s listening Leaders will lament t ne anther that they can t mtivate their peple t

More information

What If Your Mother s Day Isn t a Hallmark Movie? The Book of Ruth. Dr. Steve Horn. May 14, 2017

What If Your Mother s Day Isn t a Hallmark Movie? The Book of Ruth. Dr. Steve Horn. May 14, 2017 What If Yur Mther s Day Isn t a Hallmark Mvie? The Bk f Ruth Dr. Steve Hrn May 14, 2017 Text Intrductin: The bk f Judges and 1 Samuel is separated by Ruth, which gives an accunt f a bright spt fr Israel

More information

Genesis (2011) 42A. The Old Testament prophets tell an intriguing story about Israel. They told of a day when Israel would behold their Messiah

Genesis (2011) 42A. The Old Testament prophets tell an intriguing story about Israel. They told of a day when Israel would behold their Messiah Genesis (2011) 42A The Old Testament prphets tell an intriguing stry abut Israel They tld f a day when Israel wuld behld their Messiah But the peple fr whm He was sent wuld reject Him They wuld persecute

More information

Isaiah 8. The previous chapter spoke of His future birth. Even as God promises a Savior for a future day

Isaiah 8. The previous chapter spoke of His future birth. Even as God promises a Savior for a future day Isaiah 8 Cntinue the Bk f Immanuel, within Isaiah Chapter 7 began this subsectin featuring prphecy f a cming Messiah in the frm f Immanuel, the Child Wh is with us The previus chapter spke f His future

More information

SEASIDEYOUTH. Volunteer Leaders Training Manual

SEASIDEYOUTH. Volunteer Leaders Training Manual ! SEASIDEYOUTH Vlunteer Leaders Training Manual SeasideYuth Cre Bible Passages On ne f thse days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers f the law were sitting there, wh had cme frm every village f

More information

Genesis 25B (2011) It s been some time since we left Chapter 25, so a short review is in order

Genesis 25B (2011) It s been some time since we left Chapter 25, so a short review is in order Genesis 25B (2011) It s been sme time since we left Chapter 25, s a shrt review is in rder Abraham s stry in the bk f Genesis has cme t an end, as he died and was buried with his wife Sarai Abraham carried

More information

Romans and Racial Reconciliation

Romans and Racial Reconciliation Rmans and Racial Recnciliatin Paul s letter t the Rmans summns Christians t ethnic, cultural, tribal recnciliatin with ne anther by reminding us that all f us must cme t Gd n the same terms, thrugh Jesus

More information

1Corinthians 15D. Up to v.28 Paul has argued three points: The first example is found in v.29. If it isn t true, why are you baptizing for the dead?

1Corinthians 15D. Up to v.28 Paul has argued three points: The first example is found in v.29. If it isn t true, why are you baptizing for the dead? 1Crinthians 15D The reality f Resurrectin is s imprtant t the church, that Paul reserved his lngest and mst detailed defense in the letter t this tpic Up t v.28 Paul has argued three pints: The hpe f resurrectin

More information

The Church of the Servant King Soteriology Series. SO_4_Eternal Security & Frequently Misunderstood Passages Part 5

The Church of the Servant King Soteriology Series. SO_4_Eternal Security & Frequently Misunderstood Passages Part 5 The Church f the Servant King Sterilgy Series SO_4_Eternal Security & Frequently Misunderstd Passages Part 5 We have previusly studied several passages that are used by thse whm I wuld categrize as insecurity

More information

Genesis (2011) 28B. Jacob is leaving home, headed for Haran

Genesis (2011) 28B. Jacob is leaving home, headed for Haran Genesis (2011) 28B Jacb is leaving hme, headed fr Haran It s time fr Jacb t grw up spiritually, since he will becme the father f a natin f Gd s peple If we knew Jacb persnally and we were t list Jacb s

More information

LESSON 4B Saving Faith and Perfect Faith

LESSON 4B Saving Faith and Perfect Faith LESSON 4B Saving Faith and Perfect Faith Smetimes Running Frward is Staying Put When climbing t the tp f Mt Everest yu must stp at varius altitudes t acclimate t the altitude r yu wn t make it t the tp.

More information

Diocese of Youngstown 75 th Anniversary Learnin g: St. Columba Grades 3-6

Diocese of Youngstown 75 th Anniversary Learnin g: St. Columba Grades 3-6 Dicese f Yungstwn 75 th Anniversary Learnin g: St. Clumba Grades 3-6 Objective: T explre hw t live ut ur Gspel call by learning abut the life f St. Clumba. I. Engage the life experience In yur wn wrds:

More information

Genesis (2011) 50. We reach the end of the book of Genesis. And not a moment too soon. It s my favorite book of scripture

Genesis (2011) 50. We reach the end of the book of Genesis. And not a moment too soon. It s my favorite book of scripture Genesis (2011) 50 After 2 years, 5 mnths, and 30 days... 109 lessns... And ver 71 hurs f teaching... We reach the end f the bk f Genesis And nt a mment t sn This is the furth time I ve taught thrugh the

More information

Foundations Dreams/Visions/Listening to God

Foundations Dreams/Visions/Listening to God I. Dreams and Visins Fundatins Dreams/Visins/Listening t Gd Identity - I am a friend f Gd. Numbers 12:6 If there is a prphet amng yu, I the Lrd make myself knwn t him in a visin; I speak with him in a

More information

1Corinthians 10A (2013)

1Corinthians 10A (2013) 1Crinthians 10A (2013) At the end f chapter 9, Paul was discussing his tw reasns fr chsing t restrain his liberty at times One reasn was t demnstrate lve fr ther Christians by nt becming a burden fr them

More information

What was your take-away from Wednesday night s lesson- a new idea or concept, or a meaningful thought for you regarding prejudice?

What was your take-away from Wednesday night s lesson- a new idea or concept, or a meaningful thought for you regarding prejudice? LIFEWORK fr Lessn 9 The Ryal Law f Lve (James 2:8-13) There s a scene in the mvie A Few Gd Men where Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a military defense attrney played by Tm Cruise, is questining Cl. Nathan Jessep,

More information

In the Gospels, Jesus tells of the end of the age, will be the final Judgement.

In the Gospels, Jesus tells of the end of the age, will be the final Judgement. Speaker: Title: Prince Guneratnam The Judgment Seat f Christ INTRODUCTION The Judgement Seat f Christ will be the next event nce the Rapture takes place. Only believers will be at this Judgement t receive

More information

Recall from Lesson 30 that we laid out the following three views of preservation: View 1 Denial of a Doctrine of Preservation

Recall from Lesson 30 that we laid out the following three views of preservation: View 1 Denial of a Doctrine of Preservation 1 Sunday, Nvember 6, 2016 Grace Life Schl f Thelgy Frm This Generatin Fr Ever Lessn 34 Preservatin: Examining the Relevant Passages, Isaiah 30:8 Intrductin Recall frm Lessn 30 that we laid ut the fllwing

More information

James 1C. Chapter 1 of James moves forward into the fourth point on facing trials. Trials, doubts, temptations, lust, inaction, favoritism

James 1C. Chapter 1 of James moves forward into the fourth point on facing trials. Trials, doubts, temptations, lust, inaction, favoritism James 1C Chapter 1 f James mves frward int the furth pint n facing trials The letter f James never fails t strike a chrd with Bible students I ve received a lt f mail already n the bk f James, and it seems

More information

Hebrews 13C (2014) And naturally, the main points center around the five, distinction warnings the writer issued along the way

Hebrews 13C (2014) And naturally, the main points center around the five, distinction warnings the writer issued along the way Hebrews 13C (2014) Our study f Hebrews is at the end We reach the end f the letter with still a few exhrtatins remaining t cnsider But as we cme t this pint, it s apprpriate we take a few mments t review

More information

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE LESSON 3: THE CREATOR

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE LESSON 3: THE CREATOR Essentials fr Spiritual Leadership Study Guide CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE LESSON 3: THE CREATOR INTRODUCTION This lessn is part f a Discipleship Essentials mdule titled Christian Dctrine. This series f lessns

More information

Identity Issues God s Glory and Our Joy Ephesians 1:9

Identity Issues God s Glory and Our Joy Ephesians 1:9 Identity Issues Gd s Glry and Our Jy Ephesians 1:9 We ve been talking identity and hw we frm it The age-ld questin f Wh am I? This questin is imprtant because wh we believe urselves t be will shape and

More information

Clarifying Worship. Psalm 145

Clarifying Worship. Psalm 145 Blake Jennings Grace Bible Church Suthwd Clarifying Wrship Psalm 145 We will wrship Gd fr all eternity because it is His highest pririty fr ur lives. But d we really understand wrship? Discver the true

More information

Genesis 9B (2011) Our focus as we ended last week was the covenant between God and Noah. God took upon Himself one term

Genesis 9B (2011) Our focus as we ended last week was the covenant between God and Noah. God took upon Himself one term Genesis 9B (2011) Our fcus as we ended last week was the cvenant between Gd and Nah The cvenant was a ne-way, suzerainty cvenant Gd decreed t Nah and all Creatin The terms created a new dispensatin r perid

More information