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Scripture: Nehemiah
9:1-5
1Now on the twenty-fourth
day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth
and with dirt upon them. 2The descendants of Israel
separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their
sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3While they stood in their
place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a
fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and
worshiped the LORD their God. 4Now on the Levites’
platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried
with a loud voice to the LORD their God.
5Then the Levites, Jeshua,
Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said,
“Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever!
A. God’s Word Brought
Conviction of Sin vs. 1
1Now on the twenty-fourth
day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth
and with dirt upon them.
The
festivities had drawn to a close and the Israelites had developed a new
appreciation for the Word of God creating a hunger for righteousness.
As the Levites read from the Law of Moses the people came under
conviction. They reacted by fasting and heaping dirt upon themselves. This
was their way of expressing genuine repentance.
Acts 2:36-39; 36 “Therefore
let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both
Lord and Christ—this
Jesus whom you crucified.”37
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far
off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.”
B.
God’s Word Brought Confession
of Sin vs. 2
2The descendants of Israel
separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their
sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
The
people realized that God had called Israel to be a separated people. They
had taken wives of the heathen tribes who had turned their hearts from
God.
Ezra 10:3
We have trespassed against
our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now
there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3Now therefore let us make
a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of
them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at
the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Nehemiah
9:3 While they stood in their
place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a
fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and
worshiped the LORD their God.
It was
difficult for the people to make things right with God. Obedience is the
best course! God does cleanse
and forgive. 1st John
1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
C.
God’s Word Brought
Exaltation of GOD vs. 3-5
3While they stood in their
place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a
fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and
worshiped the LORD their God. 4Now on the Levites’
platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried
with a loud voice to the LORD their God.5Then the Levites, Jeshua,
Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said,
“Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever!
These
folk spent three hours in the Word of God and 3 in confession and worship!
That’s six hours. We
have trouble with six minutes! God’s
Word is powerful and really does change lives.
Acts
26:13-18 I
saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all
around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 “And when we had all
fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick
against the goads.’ 15 “And I said, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And the
Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 ‘But arise, and
stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint
you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen,
but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 delivering you
from the Jewish
people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their
eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of
Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an
inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Has
God opened your eyes to His precious salvation? Why not trust Him
today?
Thanks
for reading this message. DO YOU have need of salvation? God's Word
tells us to repent of our sins and come to God
accepting the fact that Christ died on the cross, rose from the dead and
paid the full penalty for all that come to Him in faith.
See
John 6:35-40
35Jesus
said to them, “I
am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who
believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But
I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37“All
that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I
will certainly not cast out. 38“For
I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me. 39“This
is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose
nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40“For
this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and
believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up
on the last day.”
For those of us who know the Savior, we must make every
effort to avoid sin, but should we
sin, (and we know we will, right?), let us keep our sins confessed up to date.
Let us pray for those who serve God while we ourselves serve HIM. Let
us lay hold of every occasion
and opportunity to minister as God directs and enables us.
Here are some points to consider:
Have you found a church home? If you are in the
area of Port St Lucie, why not visit us?
Have
you found new life in Christ? Why not come to Him today? God will receive those who will come to
Him. He has provided the
means for you to be saved, baptized and be a part of His New Testament
Local Church ministry -- He gave His Son to intercede; all you need to do
is cast yourself upon His mercy and grace.
Jesus said in John
6:37-40
38
“For I have come down from heaven,
not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me. 39
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all
that He has given Me I lose nothing,
but raise it up on the last day. 40
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds
the Son and believes in Him, may have
eternal life; and I Myself will raise him
up on the last day.”
It
is important to note Luke's comment in Acts
4:12
“And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”
Please contact
us if you sense your need to come to Him. We can help. (To
reach me just
click on "contact us.")
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