WEBVTT

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 Turn to the Old Testament book of Nehemiah chapter 8.

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 I bless my heart to hear everybody singing in that way.

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! If that's all that God had for me this morning, I would be content.

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 And I hope and pray He has much more for us.

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 Nehemiah chapter 8.

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 We're going to read the chapter together, beginning in verse 1.

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 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the water gate.

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 And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.

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 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women,

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 and all who could understand what they heard.

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 And on the first day of the seven month.

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 And he read from it facing the square before the water gate from early morning until midday,

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 in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand.

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 And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

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 And Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose.

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 And beside him stood, we'll say six men to his right without reading all those names,

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 and seven men to his left.

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 Verse 5.

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 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people.

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 And as he opened it, all the people stood.

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 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.

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 And all the people answered, Amen, Amen.

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 Lifting up their hands.

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 And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

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 Also, thirteen other men that were Levites helped the people to understand the law while the people remained in their places.

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 This is verse 8 now.

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 They read from the book from the law of God clearly, and they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading.

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 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people,

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 said to all the people,

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 This day is holy to the Lord your God.

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 Do not mourn or weep.

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 For all the people wept as they heard the words of the law.

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 Then he said to them,

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 Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine,

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 and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready.

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 For this day is holy to our Lord.

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 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

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 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying,

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 Be quiet, for this day is holy.

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 Do not be grieved.

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 And all the people went their way to eat and drink,

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 and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing,

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 because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

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 On the second day, the heads of fathers' houses of all the people,

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 with the priests and the Levites,

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 came together to Ezra the scribe,

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 in order to study the words of the law.

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 And they found it written in the law,

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 that the Lord had commanded by Moses,

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 that the people of Israel should dwell in booths,

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 or tabernacles, during the feast of the seven months.

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 And that they should proclaim it,

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 and publish it in all their towns, and in Jerusalem.

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 Go out to the hills, and bring branches of olive,

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 wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees,

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 to make booths, as it is written.

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 So the people went out, and brought them,

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 and made booths for themselves, each on his roof.

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 And in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God,

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 and in the square at the water gate,

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 and in the square at the gate of Ephraim.

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 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity,

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 made booths, and lived in the booths.

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 For from the days of Jeshua, the son of Nun,

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 to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

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 And there was very great rejoicing.

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 And day by day, from the first to the last day,

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 he read from the book of God.

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 They kept the feast seven days,

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 and on the eighth day, there was a solemn assembly,

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 according to the rule.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father God, we praise you again for Christ,

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 and we thank you that he was the word of God,

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 a physical manifestation,

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 a thing that we could tangibly touch,

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 and see of who you are.

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 And we thank you also that your word is the same.

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 The very words, that it was both written by men,

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 but inspired by you.

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 So we could say,

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 who wrote the book of Nehemiah?

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 Probably Ezra.

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 With a bit of Nehemiah's input.

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 But we could also say,

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 who wrote the book of Nehemiah?

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 God wrote the book of Nehemiah.

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 So I pray, Father, this day that by your spirit,

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 you will speak to us from your word.

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 That we will approach it with expectation,

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 in trembling,

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 because we get to meet with our God.

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 We pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 So to catch some of you up,

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 which by the way, it's very good to see.

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 Many of your faces I haven't seen in a while.

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 It's always hard sometimes to preach,

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 and catch people's faces I haven't seen in a long time,

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 because I really want to stop and go,

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 oh hey!

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 I'm going to try not to do that this morning.

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 But to catch you up,

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 the book of Nehemiah, where we've been,

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 we've seen that God has brought news to Nehemiah,

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 who was wintering in Susa,

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 as cupbearer to the king,

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 Artaxerxes, the king of Persia.

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 And he brings news of the state of God's people.

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 And God's people are in a bit of a shambles

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 back in Jerusalem.

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 The wall has yet to be rebuilt.

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 They've been back from exile now for some 90 years.

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 And they're still in a poor state.

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 And the issue for Nehemiah is not that the city is not rebuilt,

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 but that the condition of the people

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 are not in good repair.

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 And in this day, the way that God was glorified,

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 the way that people saw who God was,

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 was by how his people were doing.

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 The same is true today of the church.

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 This is the way people gaze upon the glory of God,

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 see the redemptive work of Christ,

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 is in the state of his people.

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 Not in the building of cities and grand walls to protect ourselves,

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 not in massive amounts of trade,

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 but we have a new set of standards,

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 a new way by which we live.

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 And that's this holy calling that we've been called to.

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 To be holy and to bring about holiness in the life of others.

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 So, Nehemiah's heart is moved by this report.

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 God moves in him and grieves him

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 and moves him to prayer in chapter 1.

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 We see Nehemiah sovereignly placed in this unique position

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 as cupbearer to the king.

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 Certainly, to be able to bring influence,

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 to be a trusted friend of the king

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 as the one who tasted his wine.

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 We've seen him request of the king,

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 and the king, for no good apparent reason

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 other than God's work in his heart,

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 gave permission to Nehemiah

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 to go back and rebuild the wall,

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 which was to go against an edict

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 that he had issued some years earlier

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 to stop the building of the wall.

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 Not only that, but King Artaxerxes gives a blank check.

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 He gives him his own credit

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 to go and get the materials he needs

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 for the building of the wall.

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 It's recorded here in Nehemiah chapter 1, verse 8.

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 Nehemiah's words,

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 For the good hand of God was upon me.

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 We see this work, this sovereign work.

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 So, Nehemiah's now returned.

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 He's surveyed the wall.

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 He's rallied the Israelites to rebuild.

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 They've rebuilt the wall.

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 52 days this work was completed.

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 And yet the work to be done in Israel

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 has yet to really begin in its entirety.

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 And here we see the beginning of that.

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 The bringing about of revival amongst the people.

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 Now, let's say to you,

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 we see it recorded here in chapter 8.

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 Kind of what seems to be the official beginning of that.

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 And many commentators would say

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 that we had a physical work taking place

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 up until this point.

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 And now here is when the spiritual work begins.

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 But I say to you that spiritual work

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 has been going on already.

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 We see that God has been working

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 and moving amongst the people.

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 The fact that they even rose up to build

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 was a mighty work of God.

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 The evidences of what God was doing in their heart

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 is in the building.

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 And now we see it ramp up

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 to a whole new level.

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 This revival that comes about.

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 But before we move on,

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 we have a bit of a problem.

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 I think a problem of definition.

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 definition.

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 Because when I say the word revival,

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 lots of different things may spring up in your mind.

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 I hope to show you over the next few weeks

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 what ought to be springing up in your mind

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 when we see this.

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 The word revival or to revive

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 appears throughout the scriptures.

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 It is used on occasion to speak of those

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 who have been sick or even dead

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 and were brought back to life.

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 But more often it is used to speak

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 of the bringing about

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 of a new burning,

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 a new desire for God

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 in the hearts of men.

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 We see revivals happen throughout the scriptures

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 no less than ten times

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 in corporate ways.

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 This being one of them.

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 Revival in the scriptures

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 has affected whole nations.

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 People groups.

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 We see that to be true

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 throughout history today,

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 throughout the history of the church.

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 our own country experienced a revival

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 known as the Great Awakening

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 led by men like George Whitefield

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 and Jonathan Edwards.

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 This is the revival

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 that we are talking about.

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 A couple of quick quotes for me.

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 One from Andrew Murray says,

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 A true revival

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 means nothing less than a revolution.

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 Casting out the spirit of worldliness,

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 making God's love triumph

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 in the heart.

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 J.I. Packer said,

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 Revival is God's quickening visitation

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 of His people,

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 touching their hearts

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 and deepening His work of grace

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 in their lives.

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 This is something we should long for.

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 Revival is when God comes close to earth

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 and God's people respond appropriately.

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 Now that's not to say

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 when we're not in a time of revival

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 that God's not at work,

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 that God isn't working amongst His church.

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 But it seems,

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 if we look at history,

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 that God visits in special ways

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 at particular times the church.

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 And I think,

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 this is just Nathan's opinion,

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 but I think that the American church

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 is poised for a revival right now.

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 As we see it on the continual decline,

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 both in number and in fervency,

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 I believe it's time

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 for a new close swinging of God

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 to bring about repentance

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 and a return to Him.

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 In fact,

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 for the past four or five years,

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 it's been one of my major prayers

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 to pray that revival would come

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 and that God would use our church

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 to help catalyze such a thing.

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 So this is what we mean by revival.

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 A revival is not something

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 that can be put on a calendar.

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 All of this sounds good,

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 and some of you

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 with the wrong understanding of revival

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 might say,

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 well good,

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 get the church calendar out.

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 We can make a sign.

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 That is not revival.

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 I went to a conference

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 and the little introduction

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 to the pamphlet of the conference

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 stated that we were about to have

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 a good old-fashioned Holy Spirit revival.

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 Great.

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 I'm glad you have the power

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 to bring such a thing about.

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 But we don't.

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 We have no ability of our own

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 to bring about revival.

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 Revival is the sovereign work

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 of the Spirit of God.

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 So hear that.

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 Revival is the sovereign work

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 of the Spirit of God.

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 However,

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 I want to show you four evidences

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 of God-sent revival.

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 I want to show you four things

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 from chapter 8,

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 chapter 9,

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 and chapter 10

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 in the coming weeks

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 that are evidences

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 of God-sent revival.

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 And certainly,

00:11:45.979 --> 00:11:48.299
 if this is what the people of God do

00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:49.559
 when God comes close,

00:11:49.819 --> 00:11:51.179
 visits them in a special way,

00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:52.379
 ignites their hearts,

00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:54.699
 ought we also endeavor

00:11:54.699 --> 00:11:55.919
 to live in this way?

00:11:55.979 --> 00:11:56.819
 We should, right?

00:11:56.839 --> 00:11:59.019
 We should want to do these things.

00:11:59.099 --> 00:12:00.419
 Let me give you all four of them

00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:01.659
 and then we're going to address

00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:03.159
 the first two today.

00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:05.879
 If revival is God-sent,

00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:09.039
 God's people will be praying.

00:12:09.359 --> 00:12:10.039
 That's number one.

00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:12.479
 If revival is God-sent,

00:12:12.479 --> 00:12:14.599
 God's people will reestablish

00:12:14.599 --> 00:12:15.679
 the Word of God

00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:17.319
 as the ultimate authority

00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:18.679
 in their lives.

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:20.879
 Number three,

00:12:21.239 --> 00:12:22.579
 if revival is God-sent,

00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:24.939
 God's people will recognize

00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:26.779
 their defiance of God

00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:28.779
 and view His chastisement

00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:29.659
 as just.

00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.259
 And number four,

00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:33.759
 if revival is God-sent,

00:12:33.979 --> 00:12:35.839
 God's people will turn

00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:36.859
 from their defiance

00:12:36.859 --> 00:12:38.120
 to obedience.

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.719
 These are things

00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:42.240
 that we are all commanded

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.219
 to press into anyway, right?

00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.980
 But hear me carefully, right?

00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.840
 This is not a set of presuppositions

00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:50.399
 that if we do these things,

00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.920
 then revival will come.

00:12:52.800 --> 00:12:53.899
 These are just the evidences

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:56.100
 of the God-sent revival.

00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:59.740
 So let's look at the first two together.

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:02.519
 Just kind of a precursor, number one.

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:03.800
 If revival is God-sent,

00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:07.200
 God's people will be praying.

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.960
 We see evidence here

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.200
 of Nehemiah's prayers.

00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.300
 I'll tell you, in fact,

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:14.759
 when I set out to preach

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:15.800
 through the book of Nehemiah,

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.680
 I thought it was very timely

00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.560
 for our church

00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:18.780
 in a kind of a growing

00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:20.060
 transitioning stage

00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:21.140
 to talk about the work

00:13:21.140 --> 00:13:21.820
 and the effort

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:23.120
 that needed to go into things.

00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:24.560
 I honestly,

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.020
 as many times as I had read

00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:26.820
 through Nehemiah,

00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.460
 we had done a study together,

00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.520
 the men did,

00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:30.640
 a couple of years ago

00:13:30.640 --> 00:13:31.600
 through the book of Nehemiah,

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.800
 I never saw

00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:35.200
 how prevalent prayer was

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.000
 throughout the book.

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.899
 That God starts

00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:41.460
 by moving Nehemiah to pray

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.980
 on behalf of his people.

00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:45.480
 So we have Nehemiah's prayers.

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.179
 I believe there are

00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.240
 ten recorded prayers

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.679
 in the fourteen chapters.

00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:49.639
 Nehemiah's prayers,

00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:50.440
 chapter one,

00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.539
 verse five through eleven,

00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.320
 chapter two,

00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:52.940
 verse four,

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.120
 chapter six,

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.259
 verse nine,

00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:57.679
 and again in verse fourteen.

00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:00.620
 We see the Israelites' prayers,

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.620
 chapter four,

00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:02.279
 verse nine,

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.860
 and then here in our text,

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.019
 chapter eight,

00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.279
 verse six,

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.460
 we see a prayer led by Ezra,

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.080
 and I have to tell you honestly

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.139
 as I studied all this

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.419
 the past couple of weeks,

00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:13.899
 I wish we had more details.

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.700
 I wish I had a record

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:17.860
 of the prayer that is prayed.

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:18.879
 It simply just says,

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.659
 and Ezra,

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.000
 bless the Lord,

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.399
 the great God.

00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:24.399
 And here's the response

00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.899
 of the people

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.700
 as they joined in.

00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:27.480
 And all the people answered.

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.639
 Thirty to fifty thousand people,

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.340
 scholars say,

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.580
 were the Israelites' numbers

00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.500
 at this time.

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:34.200
 And all the people answered,

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.019
 Amen,

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.200
 Amen,

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.639
 or let it be,

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.940
 so may it be.

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.820
 And they say it twice

00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.580
 to give emphasis

00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.759
 to that type of thing.

00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.879
 And so here even

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.279
 at the very beginning,

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.779
 when the book of the law

00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.539
 is open to be read,

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.000
 it begins in prayer.

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.799
 Jesus prayed.

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.200
 Well,

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.299
 I'll take an example from him,

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:54.879
 shouldn't we?

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.480
 Just look at one example

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.240
 of Jesus' prayer.

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.980
 Luke 6,

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.500
 12.

00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.759
 In these days,

00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.600
 he being Jesus,

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.519
 went out to the mountain

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.399
 to pray.

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:04.220
 And all night,

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.539
 he continued in prayer

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.860
 to God.

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.639
 When was the last time

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.500
 you devoted yourself

00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.980
 to prayer in that way?

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.360
 Paul instructed

00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:13.319
 the Philippian church

00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:13.899
 to pray.

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.699
 Philippians chapter 4,

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.299
 last half of 5 and 6,

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.980
 The Lord is at hand.

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.299
 Do not be anxious

00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:20.799
 about anything,

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.519
 but in everything,

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:23.340
 by prayer and supplication,

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.059
 with thanksgiving,

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.100
 let your requests

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.899
 be made known

00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:27.259
 to God.

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:30.080
 We do not have

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.819
 because we do not ask.

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.100
 A.T. Pearson,

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.740
 a wonderful pastor

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.679
 and biographer,

00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:39.080
 wrote my favorite biography

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:40.220
 of George Mueller,

00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:41.439
 which my father handed to me

00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.580
 at an early age.

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:43.659
 He said,

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.899
 From the day of Pentecost,

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.539
 there has not been

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:47.159
 one great spiritual waking

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.179
 in any land

00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.439
 which has not begun

00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.220
 in a union

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.480
 of prayer.

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.899
 He also wrote,

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.740
 Wherever the church

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.460
 is aroused

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.820
 and the world's wickedness

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.320
 arrested,

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.420
 somebody has been praying.

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.940
 Charles Haddon Spurgeon

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:01.759
 said,

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.940
 Whether we like it or not,

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:04.500
 asking is the rule

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.460
 of the kingdom.

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.420
 If you may have everything

00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:08.759
 by asking in His name,

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.600
 and nothing without asking,

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.960
 I beg you to see

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.560
 how absolutely vital

00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.980
 prayer is.

00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.920
 Jonathan Edwards,

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.860
 one of the great pastors

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.220
 of the Great Awakening,

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:23.420
 who was a man

00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:25.139
 who wasn't very entertaining

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.940
 in his delivery.

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:27.160
 We talked a bit about that

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.060
 last week,

00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.899
 and I may address it

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.940
 more today.

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.279
 His preaching

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.800
 was steeped

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.740
 in prayer.

00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:36.560
 Content-driven

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.519
 and steeped

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.060
 in prayer.

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.440
 In fact,

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.340
 often he stood

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.120
 at the very back

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.160
 of their meeting places

00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:43.019
 and read very dryly

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.340
 a manuscript.

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.860
 But it was said

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.840
 that people would cling

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.540
 to the pillars

00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:48.320
 and the backs

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:48.800
 of the pews

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.240
 in the church

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.040
 in fear

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.699
 that the floor

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.459
 would open up

00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:52.319
 and they'd be swallowed

00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:53.219
 into hell

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.939
 because of the great

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.599
 high view

00:16:54.599 --> 00:16:55.779
 they had of God's

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.539
 holiness.

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.500
 He wrote,

00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:20.839
 Matthew Henry,

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.660
 the great commentator,

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:21.920
 said,

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.800
 when God intends

00:17:22.800 --> 00:17:23.440
 great mercy

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.160
 for his people,

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.259
 the first thing

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.820
 he does

00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:26.640
 is set them

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.060
 a praying.

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.880
 You probably can

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.600
 remember that one,

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.060
 I hope.

00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.320
 When God intends

00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:30.960
 great mercy

00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:31.680
 for his people,

00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:32.759
 the first thing

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.340
 he does

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.680
 is set them

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.920
 a praying.

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.220
 Prayer is vital

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.500
 for our Christian living.

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.680
 Certainly,

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.500
 if we want to see

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.500
 revival come

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.000
 on this land.

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.200
 So if revival

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.120
 is God sent,

00:17:46.300 --> 00:17:47.279
 God's people

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.840
 will be

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.940
 praying.

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:51.940
 If revival

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.420
 is God sent,

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:52.920
 God's people

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.140
 will reestablish

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.220
 the word of God

00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.440
 as the ultimate

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.160
 authority

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.799
 in their lives.

00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:02.360
 Beloved,

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.320
 we neglect

00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.720
 the very

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.539
 word

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.360
 of God

00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.279
 to us.

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.279
 We have

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.759
 it in abundance.

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.720
 And maybe the fact

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.340
 that we have it

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:12.779
 in abundance

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.460
 is one of our

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:13.960
 problems.

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.420
 that we have

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:15.920
 so many

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.840
 different versions

00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:17.660
 of it.

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.120
 So many

00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:18.960
 different study

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.319
 Bibles.

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.039
 So many

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.400
 different bindings

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.460
 even on our

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.259
 Bibles themselves.

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:23.759
 You may have

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.220
 your favorite

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.759
 that you carry

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:24.980
 around,

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.440
 but you probably

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.220
 have a shelf

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.059
 of them

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.980
 at home.

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.340
 In places

00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:29.860
 in the world

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.740
 where the Bible

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.340
 is scarce,

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:31.819
 where the word

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.200
 of God

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.480
 there aren't

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.079
 copies that

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.600
 exist,

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.180
 I am told

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.880
 that people

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.660
 are desperate

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.500
 to hear it.

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.900
 We'll walk

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.100
 for days.

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.799
 We'll ride

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.579
 bicycles.

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.159
 will sit

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.019
 for hours

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.879
 and hours

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.720
 and hours

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.240
 to hear the

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.980
 preaching of it.

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.199
 We'll weep

00:18:48.199 --> 00:18:48.859
 and rejoice

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.519
 that they get

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.339
 to hear

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.699
 words from

00:18:51.699 --> 00:18:52.279
 the Almighty

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:52.899
 God.

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.220
 And yet

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.980
 many of us

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.639
 struggle to

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.460
 sit and open

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.599
 it once a day

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.720
 and read

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.059
 from it

00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.799
 for 15

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.279
 minutes.

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:03.359
 We neglect

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.659
 this precious

00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:05.559
 gift

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.819
 that was given

00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.359
 to us.

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.579
 Paul wrote

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.379
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:09.960
 2.13

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.519
 And we also

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.039
 thank God

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.439
 constantly for this.

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.399
 that when you

00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.119
 received the

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:14.740
 word of God

00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.279
 which you

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:15.720
 heard from

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.019
 us,

00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:16.980
 you accepted

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.299
 it,

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:17.960
 not as the

00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.539
 word of men,

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.339
 but as what

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.000
 it really

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.659
 is,

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.439
 the word

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:22.559
 of God,

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.339
 which is at

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.259
 work in you,

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:24.939
 believers.

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.220
 Paul's

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.119
 thanksgiving

00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.439
 was overflowing

00:19:29.439 --> 00:19:30.220
 in his writing

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.919
 that they

00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.799
 accepted that

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.659
 this was in

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.939
 fact the

00:19:33.939 --> 00:19:34.599
 word of God.

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.720
 Hebrews 4.12

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.179
 I hope you're

00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:37.899
 familiar with,

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.240
 says,

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.699
 for the word

00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:39.059
 of God

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.699
 is living

00:19:39.699 --> 00:19:40.639
 and active.

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.680
 It's sharper

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.060
 than any

00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:42.560
 two-edged

00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:42.900
 sword,

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.940
 piercing to

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.400
 the division

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.060
 of soul

00:19:45.060 --> 00:19:46.160
 and of spirit,

00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:46.900
 of joints

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.820
 and of marrow,

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.520
 and discerning

00:19:48.520 --> 00:19:49.160
 the thoughts

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.340
 and intentions

00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:51.880
 of the heart.

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.460
 The word

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.140
 of God

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:54.680
 is the

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.460
 spirit's

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.020
 instrument.

00:19:56.540 --> 00:19:57.040
 It is the

00:19:57.040 --> 00:19:57.720
 tool that

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.600
 he uses

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.060
 to bring

00:19:59.060 --> 00:19:59.640
 correction

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.780
 and direction

00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:01.759
 in our

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.320
 lives.

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.520
 The spirit

00:20:03.520 --> 00:20:03.900
 of God

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.620
 begins working

00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:05.180
 in the hearts

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.600
 of men

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.640
 by first

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.400
 drawing

00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:08.360
 his sword

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.339
 from its

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.799
 scabbard.

00:20:10.219 --> 00:20:10.899
 That is

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.740
 the word

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.539
 of God.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.240
 It is the

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.259
 supreme rule

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.159
 and authority

00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.839
 for our

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.379
 lives.

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.500
 Many people

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.099
 give lip

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.419
 service

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.339
 to the

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:19.899
 sufficiency

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.979
 and efficacy

00:20:20.979 --> 00:20:21.459
 of the

00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:21.779
 Bible,

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.299
 but yet

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.379
 do not

00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.639
 read it.

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.359
 In their

00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.199
 very actions

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.939
 they deny

00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:28.719
 what they

00:20:28.719 --> 00:20:29.579
 say with

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.219
 their lips.

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.399
 Many

00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:32.799
 people,

00:20:33.459 --> 00:20:33.859
 as they

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.319
 look for

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.799
 direction

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.179
 in this

00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:35.559
 world,

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:36.459
 will take

00:20:36.459 --> 00:20:37.419
 small bits

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.039
 of biblical

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.420
 wisdom

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.220
 and add

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.580
 to it

00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:39.759
 a bit

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.440
 of pop

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.039
 psychology

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.860
 to arrive

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.180
 at their

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.900
 decisions.

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.120
 Some will

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.519
 take small

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:44.880
 bits of

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.180
 biblical

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.820
 instruction

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:46.779
 and add

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.140
 to it

00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.420
 some

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:47.940
 business

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.800
 methodology.

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.920
 Some will

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.400
 take small

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:51.880
 bits of

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.160
 biblical

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.680
 guidance

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.240
 and add

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.460
 to it

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.140
 the opinions

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.320
 of a

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:55.680
 friend.

00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.480
 Beloved,

00:20:57.560 --> 00:20:57.960
 the Bible

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.740
 is to be

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.759
 the guide

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.860
 and rule

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.940
 of our

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.320
 lives.

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.460
 We need

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.720
 to re-establish

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.200
 it as the

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.640
 ultimate

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.120
 authority.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.440
 Proverbs

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.880
 8,

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:10.440
 32-34,

00:21:10.800 --> 00:21:11.140
 the Lord

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.779
 speaks here

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.060
 and says,

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.440
 And now,

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.120
 O sons,

00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.080
 listen to

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.400
 me.

00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:15.500
 Blessed are

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.840
 those who

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.420
 keep my

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:16.920
 ways.

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:17.560
 Hear

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.200
 instruction

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.680
 and be

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.060
 wise,

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.500
 and do

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:19.800
 not

00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:20.160
 neglect

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.480
 it.

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.240
 Blessed

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.560
 is the

00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:21.900
 one who

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.259
 listens

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.700
 to me,

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.340
 watching

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:23.940
 daily at

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.460
 my gates,

00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.259
 waiting

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.300
 beside my

00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:26.900
 doors.

00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:28.220
 In Luke

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.519
 11,

00:21:28.580 --> 00:21:28.980
 28,

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.480
 Jesus

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:29.800
 says,

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.120
 Blessed

00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:30.480
 are those

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.039
 who hear

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.800
 the word

00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.360
 of God

00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.740
 and keep

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.039
 it.

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:35.460
 God's

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.339
 God's

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:38.740
 people

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.599
 will

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.039
 recognize

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.500
 this.

00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:40.720
 They

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:40.920
 will

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.440
 treat

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.599
 the

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:41.720
 word

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:41.859
 of

00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.139
 God

00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:42.559
 as

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:42.680
 the

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:42.980
 ultimate

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.779
 authority.

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.099
 And there

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.399
 will be

00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:44.759
 no

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.980
 revival

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.319
 amongst

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.599
 people

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:46.940
 who do

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.139
 not

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.680
 love

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.420
 and read

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.019
 and hear

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.779
 and proclaim

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.079
 the words

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:52.099
 of the

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.279
 living

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.720
 God.

00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.059
 We see

00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.299
 that to

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.559
 be the

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:54.859
 case.

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.079
 This

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.559
 work

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:55.819
 that's

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.259
 happening

00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:56.859
 by the

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.220
 Spirit

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.159
 is moving

00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:58.639
 in the

00:21:58.639 --> 00:21:59.059
 Israelites,

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.440
 this

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.099
 mass

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.680
 number

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.119
 of

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.519
 people

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:01.980
 to

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.799
 reestablish

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:02.980
 it

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.359
 in

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:03.559
 this

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.839
 way.

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.099
 And I

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.720
 want to

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.200
 show you

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.539
 from the

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:05.859
 text

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.339
 today

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.059
 four

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.660
 observations

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.579
 in this

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.000
 regard.

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.559
 Firstly,

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.220
 take a

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.519
 look at

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:12.720
 their

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.660
 eagerness.

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.720
 Take a

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:15.900
 look at

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.079
 their

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.799
 eagerness

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.700
 to see

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.639
 from the

00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.000
 word

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.700
 of God.

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.480
 The law

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.940
 we're told

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.160
 here,

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.920
 the books

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.940
 of Moses,

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:23.680
 Genesis,

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.220
 Exodus,

00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:24.779
 Leviticus,

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.259
 Numbers,

00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.160
 Deuteronomy.

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.119
 That's what's

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.879
 being read

00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.519
 at this

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.920
 time.

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:30.940
 Notice

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.220
 at the

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.500
 beginning

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.000
 of chapter

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.440
 8,

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.000
 all of

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.200
 the

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.220
 alls,

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.059
 I've

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.440
 got them

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.599
 underlined

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:39.880
 here.

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.180
 Verse

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.640
 1,

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.200
 all the

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.599
 people

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.740
 gathered.

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:44.900
 Verse

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.240
 2,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.000
 both men

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.339
 and women

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.559
 and all

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:47.920
 who could

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.400
 understand,

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.240
 which I

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.640
 take to

00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:49.900
 mean

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.480
 children,

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.559
 he's adding

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.119
 this detail

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:52.539
 for us,

00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:52.980
 that even

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.420
 the children

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:53.900
 were there,

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.519
 those who

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.480
 could hear

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:55.740
 what was

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.200
 being said

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.720
 and understand,

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.500
 and I

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:57.779
 would take

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.059
 that a

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.539
 step further

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:58.940
 to say,

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.680
 if all

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.119
 the people

00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.680
 were there,

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.140
 he doesn't

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.680
 make a caveat

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.180
 for nursery

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.620
 workers.

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.720
 So it probably

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.240
 means that the

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.660
 infants were

00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.299
 there as well

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.039
 because all

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.400
 the people

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:08.860
 were there

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.740
 being able

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.240
 to hear the

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.660
 instruction.

00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:11.019
 They weren't

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.600
 stuck off

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.660
 in some

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.160
 room or

00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:13.560
 a building

00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:14.539
 someplace else

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.340
 at a different

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.480
 gate in the

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.740
 city,

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.400
 but they were

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.220
 all gathered

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.740
 together so

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.140
 that all

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:19.880
 could hear

00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.960
 the instruction.

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.600
 Look at

00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:23.160
 verse 3,

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.320
 all the

00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.660
 people

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.259
 were

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.040
 attentive,

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.880
 eager to

00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.660
 hear what

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.080
 God may

00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.560
 say.

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.380
 Verse 5,

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.120
 all the

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.480
 people,

00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.320
 for he

00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:32.759
 was above

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.400
 all the

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:33.759
 people.

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.680
 The prayer,

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.420
 all the

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.800
 people

00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:37.700
 answered.

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.080
 It goes

00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:38.880
 on in

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.540
 this way.

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.300
 The people

00:23:41.300 --> 00:23:42.220
 of God

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.960
 were eager

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.620
 to hear

00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:44.860
 the words

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.860
 of God.

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.259
 Note 2

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.620
 in verse

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.080
 1,

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.340
 that it's

00:23:49.340 --> 00:23:49.800
 not that

00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:50.800
 Nehemiah

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.619
 and Ezra

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.359
 got together

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:52.799
 and made

00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.379
 a plan

00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.639
 to have

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.440
 a big

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.940
 rally.

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.599
 They wanted

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.180
 a conference

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.619
 to take

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:57.940
 place,

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.180
 so they

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.619
 put together

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.159
 this massive

00:23:59.159 --> 00:23:59.659
 conference

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.460
 that they

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.000
 built the

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.559
 stage that

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:01.779
 he was

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:01.980
 going to

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.659
 stand upon

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.019
 so that

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.379
 everybody

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:03.960
 could hear

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.579
 the reading

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:04.839
 of the

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.019
 law.

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.599
 But the

00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.099
 people

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.299
 did it.

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.680
 Verse 1,

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:08.899
 and they

00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.619
 told Ezra

00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.180
 the scribe

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.639
 to bring

00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:10.960
 the book

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.119
 of the

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.359
 law of

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.539
 Moses

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.859
 the Lord

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.019
 had

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.319
 commanded

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.779
 Israel.

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.220
 They told

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.659
 him to

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.119
 bring it.

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.680
 They said

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.000
 we have

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.759
 this event

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.139
 that's going

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:17.579
 to happen

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:17.879
 at the

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.339
 water gate

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.619
 and we

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.220
 want you

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.940
 to come

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.740
 and bring

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.539
 the copy

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.140
 of God's

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.559
 word that

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.059
 you have

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.799
 and read

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.519
 it to

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.880
 us.

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.240
 They built

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.779
 a platform.

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.100
 There was

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.600
 some planning

00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:27.920
 that went

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.319
 into this

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.539
 thing.

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:28.819
 It wasn't

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.440
 a spontaneous

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:29.920
 gathering

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.259
 of all

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.559
 the people

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.000
 of Israel.

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.299
 Word had

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.980
 gone out.

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.299
 There had

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.039
 been a

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:35.339
 seeking,

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.819
 a gathering.

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.160
 Can you

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.759
 just imagine

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.600
 from Ezra's

00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.059
 perspective

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.579
 what a

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:38.980
 wonderful

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.400
 thing

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:39.960
 this would

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.299
 have been?

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:40.660
 Because

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.100
 remember

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.960
 that Ezra

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.299
 has been

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.779
 back in

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.120
 the land

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.519
 now for

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.400
 14 years

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.279
 faithfully

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.759
 carrying out

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.079
 the duty

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.539
 of a priest.

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.140
 He had

00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:47.720
 been teaching

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.039
 the word

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.500
 of God

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.519
 for 14

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.539
 years.

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.440
 This is an

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.799
 encouragement

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.279
 to me.

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:53.700
 I'm going

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.220
 to continue

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.039
 to plot

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.720
 on and

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.400
 teach the

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.660
 word of

00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.259
 God to

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.500
 people in

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.920
 the hopes

00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.259
 that something

00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.740
 like this

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.299
 happens one

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.519
 day.

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.480
 What an

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.119
 amazing thing.

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.579
 He receives

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.099
 an invitation.

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.119
 Please come

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.079
 read the

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.440
 word of the

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.059
 law to us.

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:06.759
 All of us.

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.259
 We're all

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.599
 going to be

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:07.859
 there.

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.420
 We built

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.119
 you a big

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:09.640
 stage that

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:09.799
 you can

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.240
 stand way

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.480
 up on

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.759
 because we

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.680
 want everybody

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.079
 to hear

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.779
 the words

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.519
 of God.

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.279
 We know

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.579
 you've been

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.400
 plotting on

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:15.980
 and teaching

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.640
 these things

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.859
 and pushing

00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.400
 forward.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:18.900
 And in

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.299
 fact,

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.460
 that they

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.039
 even knew

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.400
 that they

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:21.920
 ought to

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.299
 gather

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.539
 was a

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:23.900
 work of

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.200
 Ezra.

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.059
 Notice that

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.440
 it was a

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.140
 very particular

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.579
 day.

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.000
 We get the

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.599
 record here.

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:28.920
 It's not

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.799
 just for our

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.380
 dating,

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.880
 but it's the

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.779
 first day

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.660
 of the

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.940
 seventh month.

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.460
 And the

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:35.720
 Israelites

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.220
 knew,

00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.099
 I would argue,

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.720
 because of

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.359
 Ezra's teaching

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:38.819
 to them,

00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.220
 that there

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.460
 was a

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.059
 prescribed

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.799
 feast that

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.059
 was to

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.859
 happen on

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.319
 this day.

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:43.900
 It's called

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.900
 the Feast

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.619
 of Trumpets,

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.059
 or if you

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.799
 prefer in

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.159
 Hebrew,

00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.619
 Rosh Hashanah.

00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.500
 You guys

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.879
 heard that

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.519
 term before,

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.000
 I'm sure.

00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:51.899
 The Feast

00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.599
 of Trumpets.

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.539
 And it

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:53.739
 was a

00:25:53.739 --> 00:25:54.039
 day that

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.519
 the Israelites

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.039
 were meant

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.299
 to rejoice.

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:56.599
 They were

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:56.839
 supposed to

00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.339
 play trumpets

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.399
 all over

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.099
 Israel.

00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.439
 It was

00:25:59.439 --> 00:25:59.679
 meant to

00:25:59.679 --> 00:26:00.119
 be going

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.419
 on.

00:26:00.479 --> 00:26:00.599
 It was

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:00.799
 supposed to

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:00.979
 be a

00:26:00.979 --> 00:26:01.379
 big thing

00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:02.119
 because

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.059
 nine days

00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.299
 later was

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.559
 the Day

00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.159
 of Atonement.

00:26:05.959 --> 00:26:06.619
 The day

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:06.919
 when the

00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.539
 high priest

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.899
 would take

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.519
 sacrifice

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:08.879
 into the

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.219
 Holy of

00:26:09.219 --> 00:26:09.519
 Holies

00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.500
 and make

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.159
 sacrifice

00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:11.639
 for the

00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.099
 people of

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.459
 Israel.

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.680
 this

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.640
 symbol,

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.640
 this action

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.259
 that took

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.640
 place,

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.360
 which told

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.000
 us of

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.539
 the coming

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.220
 great

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.960
 sacrifice.

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.000
 That is,

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.819
 Jesus Christ,

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.400
 the Lamb of

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.680
 God,

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.279
 the one that

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.759
 could fully

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.360
 and finally

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.160
 take away

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.900
 the sins

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.440
 of his

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:26.759
 people.

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.440
 This was

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:27.880
 the day

00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:28.380
 that they

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.819
 were coming

00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.360
 together

00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:30.259
 to celebrate,

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.840
 built a

00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.460
 stage for it,

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.740
 and said,

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.660
 come and

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.740
 read the

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.019
 Word of

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.920
 God to

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.340
 us.

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.420
 Notice

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.799
 in verse

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.220
 three,

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.220
 the time

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.880
 frame that

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.460
 this happened

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.860
 in.

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.559
 First,

00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:42.839
 that it

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.099
 happened

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.179
 from early

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:44.699
 morning.

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.119
 We start

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.579
 meeting at

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.179
 1030,

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.659
 and sometimes

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.159
 that is a

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:49.919
 real struggle.

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:50.899
 They had

00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.519
 the whole

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.879
 family up

00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.319
 and ready

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:53.659
 to go.

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:53.939
 We don't

00:26:53.939 --> 00:26:54.500
 know exactly

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.359
 what early

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.699
 morning means,

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.279
 but we do

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.139
 know that

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.699
 this event

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.279
 took place

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.879
 from early

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.939
 morning until

00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:01.619
 midday,

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.419
 which meant

00:27:02.419 --> 00:27:03.679
 literally noon.

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.599
 So five

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.639
 to seven

00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:07.519
 hours this

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.099
 took place.

00:27:08.979 --> 00:27:09.779
 I try

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.479
 really hard

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:10.740
 to keep

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:10.900
 these

00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.120
 sermons

00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.620
 at 45

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.039
 minutes

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.579
 for you

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:12.860
 guys.

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.880
 We may

00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.620
 need to

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:16.980
 devote

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.519
 ourselves

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:17.860
 in a

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.180
 higher

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.740
 degree

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.519
 to

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.819
 God's

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.079
 Word.

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.819
 We may

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.200
 be a

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.620
 little bit

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.339
 numb to

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:23.579
 it,

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.160
 and not

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.980
 desire it,

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.240
 and not

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.860
 be eager

00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:27.279
 enough to

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.660
 come and

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.680
 hear its

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.039
 teaching.

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.319
 And then

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.759
 notice in

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.500
 verse 13

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.079
 that this

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.740
 didn't end

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.160
 here.

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.599
 It wasn't

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.160
 just this

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.440
 day,

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.039
 just this

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.400
 five to

00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.839
 seven hours,

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.399
 but on

00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.119
 the second

00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:39.539
 day,

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.179
 something else

00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:41.720
 happens.

00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:42.480
 And this

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.819
 time,

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.319
 all the

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.959
 heads of

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.439
 the father's

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:44.759
 houses,

00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.159
 they come

00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:45.599
 together,

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:46.119
 and they

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.740
 said,

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.159
 I'm postulating

00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:48.720
 to Ezra,

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.359
 we can't keep

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.859
 getting everybody

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.480
 together every

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.859
 single day.

00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:51.319
 It's just not

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.859
 going to work.

00:27:52.199 --> 00:27:52.959
 There's no way

00:27:52.959 --> 00:27:53.379
 that you can

00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:54.259
 read in this

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.199
 way all of

00:27:55.199 --> 00:27:55.659
 these days.

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.199
 So we're

00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:56.480
 going to come

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.199
 together and

00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:57.819
 let you crash

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.619
 course us on

00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.000
 the law,

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.859
 and we'll

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.539
 take it back

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.299
 to our

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:01.639
 houses.

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.079
 So notice

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.879
 that there

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.400
 in verse

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.240
 13,

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.340
 and we

00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:05.640
 see that

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.200
 they discover

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.960
 some things

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.760
 along the

00:28:07.760 --> 00:28:08.040
 way.

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:08.720
 There was

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.640
 a great

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.820
 eagerness

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.880
 amongst the

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.900
 people to

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.720
 hear and

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.280
 to learn,

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.080
 to love,

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.880
 to proclaim

00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:17.080
 the word

00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:17.480
 of God.

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.560
 Notice

00:28:19.560 --> 00:28:19.980
 secondly,

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.160
 their reverence.

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.420
 Verse

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.920
 five,

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.380
 Nehemiah

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.400
 ascends the

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:26.880
 stage,

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.700
 he opens

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.340
 up the

00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:30.740
 book that

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.020
 he has

00:28:31.020 --> 00:28:31.520
 with him,

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.420
 and all

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:33.900
 the people

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.579
 stood.

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.240
 That's the

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.519
 record.

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.440
 As he

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.940
 opened it,

00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:37.900
 all the

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.240
 people

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.420
 stood.

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.480
 Now,

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:40.779
 I'm not

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.359
 suggesting that

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:41.799
 that's something

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.139
 that we

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.099
 ought to do,

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.400
 that we

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.039
 have to

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.680
 stand for

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.099
 the reading

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.920
 of God's

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.180
 word.

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.799
 Many people

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.400
 do practice

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.779
 it in this

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.019
 way.

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.279
 Many

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.879
 denominations,

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.359
 that is a

00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.819
 normative

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.220
 thing.

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.539
 When the

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:51.759
 word of

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.039
 God is

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.779
 read,

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.700
 everybody

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.579
 stands.

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:54.940
 It's the

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.519
 practice

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.039
 done that

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.299
 way.

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.500
 What I

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.119
 care about

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.759
 is the

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.379
 heart of

00:28:59.379 --> 00:28:59.539
 what's

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.119
 going on

00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.559
 when the

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:00.960
 word of

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.299
 God

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.200
 is being

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.079
 read.

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.779
 I don't

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.379
 really expect

00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:05.680
 you to

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.159
 tune in to

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.720
 every single

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.119
 thing that

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.579
 I say.

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.859
 The words

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.139
 that come

00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:09.539
 out of my

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.000
 mouth are

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.539
 the words

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.419
 of Nathan.

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.500
 My hope

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:12.720
 is,

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:12.940
 and my

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.460
 great desire

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.919
 throughout the

00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:14.519
 week is

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:14.859
 that I'm

00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:15.419
 simply

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.200
 explaining to

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.559
 you the

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:16.980
 same way

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.519
 men did

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:17.899
 here,

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.680
 the words

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.519
 of God.

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.419
 But how

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:22.879
 many of you

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:23.879
 just zone

00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:25.339
 out when

00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:25.700
 the word

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.200
 of God

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.099
 is being

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:27.419
 read?

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:29.720
 I labor

00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.539
 to read

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.380
 well in

00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:31.900
 the hopes

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.300
 that you'll

00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:33.240
 hear the

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.000
 things that

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.460
 are happening

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.180
 in the

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.480
 word of

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.820
 God.

00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.140
 How many

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.539
 of you do

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.120
 other

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.900
 activities

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:41.180
 during a

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.440
 sermon?

00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.140
 Fill in

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.539
 all the

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:43.840
 little

00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:44.480
 O's

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.820
 in the

00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.200
 text.

00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:46.960
 You see

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.240
 somebody's

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.440
 Bible

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.640
 that's

00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.060
 like that?

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.539
 Some

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.440
 people doodle,

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:50.820
 it helps

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.259
 them listen.

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:51.820
 My wife's

00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.039
 one of

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.180
 those.

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.380
 You ever

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:52.640
 see my

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.200
 wife doodling?

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:53.660
 She's paying

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.000
 attention.

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.400
 That's a

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.840
 good thing.

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.779
 How many

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.000
 of you

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.220
 get

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.080
 extremely

00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:00.100
 distracted

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:00.500
 and you

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.180
 have no

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.100
 reverence

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:02.460
 for the

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:02.840
 very

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.800
 words

00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:05.140
 of God?

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.660
 Notice

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:06.920
 that the

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.180
 reverence

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:07.800
 goes beyond

00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.279
 just the

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.640
 standing

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:08.960
 and the

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.279
 listening.

00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:09.840
 We don't

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.220
 know if

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.800
 they stood

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.200
 up for

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.640
 this entire

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.100
 period of

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:13.360
 time.

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.220
 I would

00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.279
 guess not.

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:15.540
 That would

00:30:15.540 --> 00:30:15.980
 be a

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.440
 challenging

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:16.920
 thing to

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.200
 do.

00:30:18.540 --> 00:30:18.980
 However,

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.400
 what's

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.120
 probably

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.560
 happening

00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:20.880
 here,

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.240
 and again,

00:30:21.300 --> 00:30:21.560
 I wish

00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:21.800
 I had

00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.279
 all the

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.779
 details,

00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:23.279
 but you

00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:23.640
 notice that

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.120
 he had

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.840
 six men

00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.120
 on his

00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:25.900
 left and

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.700
 six on

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.180
 his right.

00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.259
 I can't

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.860
 imagine what

00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.340
 it's like

00:30:29.340 --> 00:30:30.140
 to try to

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.759
 read to

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.120
 a group

00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:31.759
 of 30,000

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.680
 to 50,000

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.340
 people.

00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:34.440
 What kind

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:34.940
 of energy

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.340
 it must

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:36.100
 take to

00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.900
 read out

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.500
 loud with

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.300
 no PA

00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:38.980
 system and

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.460
 simply just

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:39.820
 trying to

00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:40.840
 project yourself

00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.860
 as best you

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.920
 can over a

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.280
 group like

00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:43.420
 that.

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.080
 I'm sure

00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:44.720
 that it was

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.259
 exhausting.

00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:46.920
 I love

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.360
 my Sunday

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:48.240
 afternoon naps.

00:30:48.320 --> 00:30:49.080
 I am tired

00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:49.860
 after I get

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.200
 up and do

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.460
 this.

00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:51.160
 I want to

00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:52.160
 go rest.

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.660
 And here

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.200
 they are for

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.700
 an entire

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.759
 morning doing

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.059
 this.

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.759
 And so I

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.420
 think what's

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.799
 happening,

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.400
 my best

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:58.819
 guess,

00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.539
 is that they're

00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.360
 taking turns

00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:01.180
 doing this.

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.180
 That there's a

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:03.180
 process by which

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.880
 the word of

00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.779
 God is being

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.180
 read.

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.259
 And Ezra is not

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.140
 the only one

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.799
 reading, but he

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.640
 steps aside and

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.240
 somebody else

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.539
 reads.

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.240
 And in fact,

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.680
 you saw that

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.319
 there were 13

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.120
 other Levites.

00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.660
 And we see that

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.640
 they have this

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.620
 process they go

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.180
 about that they

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:17.039
 read from the

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.960
 book, from the

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.460
 law of God

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.220
 clearly, and they

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.840
 gave the sense

00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:20.259
 that the people

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.420
 understood the

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:21.700
 reading.

00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:22.220
 That's verse

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.860
 8.

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.300
 And so what's

00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:24.000
 more than likely

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.779
 happening is there's

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.700
 a process happening

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.600
 that one of these

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.360
 men on the stage

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.480
 gets up, reads

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.000
 from the word of

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.800
 God, takes a

00:31:29.800 --> 00:31:30.160
 break.

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.860
 So maybe everybody

00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:33.360
 stood, heard from

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:33.800
 the reading,

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.140
 everybody sat down,

00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:36.200
 and then these 13

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.240
 Levites would go

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:37.820
 amongst the

00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:39.420
 people and help

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.360
 them more clearly

00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.080
 understand.

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:43.000
 Just expound

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.400
 upon.

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.900
 That's what

00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.960
 preaching really

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.680
 should be.

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.940
 That's the issue

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.860
 at hand when we

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.880
 talk about what is

00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.840
 expositional

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.179
 preaching.

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.919
 It's simply that,

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.699
 just telling people

00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:52.379
 what the word of

00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:53.299
 God says, right?

00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:54.220
 Not piecing it

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.779
 together to

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.539
 reinforce what we

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.379
 want to say, but

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.119
 simply looking at a

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.720
 text and saying,

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.819
 this is what the

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.639
 word of God has to

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.659
 say for you.

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.779
 This is what we're

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:03.139
 supposed to be doing

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:03.959
 with the word of

00:32:03.959 --> 00:32:04.139
 God.

00:32:04.199 --> 00:32:05.339
 This is what God

00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.919
 means with what God

00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.899
 said, and that's the

00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:09.079
 process that's taking

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.119
 place here.

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.439
 But notice that beyond

00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.419
 the standing, right,

00:32:12.459 --> 00:32:13.339
 however that was, if

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:13.839
 they stood the whole

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.599
 time or stood and

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:15.720
 sat, whatever may

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.659
 have happened, they

00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:18.139
 worship in other ways

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.919
 as well.

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.299
 And it would seem

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:20.559
 that it would have

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.379
 been foreign to

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.299
 them and probably

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.419
 foreign to anybody

00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:24.039
 who's experiencing

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.720
 revival that they

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.220
 would hold back

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:26.759
 anything from God.

00:32:27.679 --> 00:32:28.919
 And I am guilty

00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:30.279
 amongst you of this.

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:30.919
 Right?

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.619
 When I am moved

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:34.019
 inside, I tend to

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.879
 keep my arms down.

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.339
 Right?

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:36.759
 We're a pretty boring

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.399
 group of people.

00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:38.279
 And I don't mean that

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.240
 as an offense to you

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:39.799
 at all.

00:32:40.179 --> 00:32:40.339
 Right?

00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:40.939
 It may be just

00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:41.859
 perfectly fine that

00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:42.480
 we're that way.

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.459
 But notice the people

00:32:43.459 --> 00:32:44.899
 here, they lifted up

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:46.439
 their hands, they bowed

00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:47.480
 their heads, and they

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.559
 worshiped with their

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:50.099
 faces to the ground.

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.460
 Right?

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:52.200
 Which was a position

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:54.460
 that gave reverence to,

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.659
 that communicates that

00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:57.720
 we are not worthy to be

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.899
 in the presence of the

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.399
 Holy God.

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:01.619
 They gave all of

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.779
 themselves in their

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.679
 reverence to the Word

00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:06.279
 of God being read.

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:09.599
 Notice also their

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.440
 responsiveness.

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.519
 So their eagerness,

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:14.119
 their reverence, and

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.899
 their responsiveness.

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.060
 Notice.

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.640
 Look now further on,

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.920
 down to verse 9.

00:33:21.800 --> 00:33:22.940
 The second part there

00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.340
 says,

00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.140
 For all the people

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:26.640
 wept as they heard

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:29.060
 the words of the law.

00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.540
 All the people

00:33:31.540 --> 00:33:32.660
 wept.

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.720
 It wasn't a little

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.740
 group, first couple

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.680
 of rows, that really

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.400
 were being affected

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.080
 by this.

00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:37.780
 You know, the

00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:40.000
 50,000th man in the

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.640
 very back wasn't

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.600
 twiddling his thumbs

00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:44.280
 waiting to get a meal.

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:44.639
 Right?

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.099
 All the people were

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.460
 being affected by this

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.899
 reading of the Word.

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:50.279
 And as Ezra and

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.700
 possibly other men

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:53.460
 read, they were

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.779
 seeing and beholding

00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.940
 the holiness of God.

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.839
 And they were seeing

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:58.680
 how very, very, very

00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.259
 short they fell of

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.920
 this objective.

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.019
 They're seeing their

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:03.139
 own condition.

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.319
 The way that they

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.220
 had offended God.

00:34:05.379 --> 00:34:06.240
 As the Word of God

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.259
 was being read, an

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:09.159
 ever-widening chasm

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.199
 was opening up.

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:10.960
 As if they're standing

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.659
 or you're still on a

00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.360
 bank that's giving

00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.440
 way and it starts to

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.179
 crumble and you take a

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.879
 couple steps back and

00:34:14.879 --> 00:34:15.599
 it just keeps crumbling,

00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:16.699
 it just kept crumbling

00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.879
 and crumbling and

00:34:17.879 --> 00:34:18.139
 crumbling.

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.219
 The expanse between

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:20.139
 them and God got

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.639
 bigger and bigger and

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.759
 bigger and they

00:34:22.759 --> 00:34:23.739
 wept.

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:27.219
 They responded to the

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:27.839
 Word of God.

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.359
 They saw it as a

00:34:30.359 --> 00:34:31.019
 communication.

00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:32.079
 God was speaking to

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.859
 them and they

00:34:32.859 --> 00:34:33.739
 responded.

00:34:33.919 --> 00:34:35.079
 There should be an

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.480
 appropriate response to

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:38.079
 the teaching of the

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.419
 Word.

00:34:39.419 --> 00:34:40.599
 Now notice what's said

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.000
 to them.

00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.819
 What the instruction

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.640
 that's given to them

00:34:42.640 --> 00:34:43.840
 as they're weeping,

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.140
 right?

00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.580
 There's this weeping and

00:34:45.580 --> 00:34:46.580
 mourning going on and

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.700
 Nehemiah the governor,

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.720
 Ezra the priest and

00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:50.059
 scribe, and the Levites

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.220
 who taught said to the

00:34:51.220 --> 00:34:52.500
 people, and we see it in

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.640
 three different places,

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.420
 chapter 9, excuse me,

00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:57.019
 verse 9, verse 10, and

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.539
 verse 11.

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.460
 This day is holy to the

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.059
 Lord your God.

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:02.480
 Do not mourn or weep.

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.980
 Verse 10, go your way,

00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.840
 eat the fat and drink

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.580
 sweet wine and send

00:35:05.580 --> 00:35:06.280
 portions to anyone who

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.300
 has nothing for this day

00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:08.400
 is holy to our Lord.

00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:09.820
 And do not be grieved for

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:11.539
 the joy of the Lord is

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.200
 your strength.

00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:14.320
 Verse 11, be quiet for

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.160
 the day is holy.

00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:17.280
 Do not be grieved.

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.600
 The day is holy.

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.840
 The day is set apart.

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:20.800
 Don't grieve.

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.640
 The day is holy.

00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.220
 The day is set apart.

00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:22.760
 Don't grieve.

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.780
 It was probably a great

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:25.860
 surprise to Ezra, to

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.960
 Nehemiah, to the

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.800
 Levites that when they

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.820
 came together on a day,

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.160
 remember the day of

00:35:30.160 --> 00:35:31.340
 trumpets, a day that was

00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.740
 supposed to be a day of

00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:34.180
 great joy, right?

00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:35.460
 That's why it was set

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:35.760
 apart.

00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:37.740
 It was prescribed by God

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:39.320
 to be a day of rejoicing

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.200
 and celebration.

00:35:40.520 --> 00:35:40.780
 Why?

00:35:41.600 --> 00:35:42.300
 Because the day of

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:43.380
 atonement was close at

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:43.740
 hand.

00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:46.920
 So as they heard the law

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:48.300
 being read to them, and

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:49.640
 as that ever widening

00:35:49.640 --> 00:35:50.920
 expanse was open to them,

00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:51.960
 what they're saying to

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:53.740
 them is, don't be sad.

00:35:54.120 --> 00:35:55.940
 Let the joy of the Lord be

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.600
 your strength.

00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:59.040
 The fact that in Him we

00:35:59.040 --> 00:36:00.180
 have the redemption of

00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.700
 our souls.

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:03.920
 Yes, the chasm is wide,

00:36:04.100 --> 00:36:05.660
 but it has been closed by

00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:07.420
 the goodness of our God.

00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:08.519
 That's what they're saying

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.299
 to them, right?

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:12.039
 This is a day set aside for

00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:12.379
 joy.

00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.980
 Now, that's not to say that

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.019
 they're writing off

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.179
 repentance, right?

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:17.779
 They're not saying

00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:19.039
 contrition is not important.

00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.859
 We're actually going to see

00:36:19.859 --> 00:36:22.139
 in chapter 9 a great deal of

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.319
 repentance over their sin.

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:25.960
 But this day was not for

00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.199
 that.

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.940
 This was a day to

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:30.339
 celebrate the person and

00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:31.980
 work of Jesus Christ.

00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:33.860
 They may not have realized

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:35.079
 that was happening on the

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:36.519
 Day of Atonement, but this

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:39.579
 is what that day was for.

00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:44.079
 Fourthly, notice their

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.599
 obedience.

00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:46.719
 This will be a full point,

00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.079
 right?

00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:50.300
 When God sends revival, we

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:51.900
 will obey the Word of God.

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.880
 But let me just point it out

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:53.940
 here as well.

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:56.059
 Note their obedience.

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.599
 In verse 14, as they come

00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:59.000
 back together on the second

00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:01.519
 day and they open the book

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:03.319
 of the law again, they find

00:37:03.319 --> 00:37:04.319
 something and they found it

00:37:04.319 --> 00:37:06.099
 written in the law that the

00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:07.339
 Lord had commanded Moses that

00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:08.339
 the people of Israel should

00:37:08.339 --> 00:37:10.059
 dwell in booths during the

00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:11.779
 feast of the seventh month.

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:13.440
 So this is called the feast of

00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.699
 booths or sakat.

00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:17.739
 It's a time between the feast

00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:19.500
 of the trumpets and the day of

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:20.940
 atonement that the people were

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:22.940
 meant to dwell in booths,

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:25.319
 tabernacles, temporary shelters,

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:26.159
 if you will.

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:28.839
 And it was to remind them of

00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:30.359
 the sustaining work of God

00:37:30.359 --> 00:37:32.480
 after He led them out of

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:32.799
 Israel.

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:34.579
 They were led out into the

00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:35.940
 wilderness where they tarried

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.819
 for 40 years and God cared for

00:37:37.819 --> 00:37:39.819
 them and provided for them in

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.319
 that time.

00:37:40.679 --> 00:37:41.779
 This was something that they

00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:44.480
 were required to do as Old

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:46.299
 Testament Jews.

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.119
 And so what did they do?

00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:51.259
 We see no record of a debate on

00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:52.339
 whether or not it should take

00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:52.779
 place.

00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:57.060
 They just simply did it.

00:37:58.740 --> 00:38:00.840
 One of the single greatest mark

00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:03.640
 of Christian maturity is obedience.

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:08.540
 Not what you know, but what you do

00:38:08.540 --> 00:38:09.900
 with what you know.

00:38:11.100 --> 00:38:12.720
 You understand that the Lord has

00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:14.700
 commanded something and you simply

00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:16.019
 do it.

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:20.420
 Sometimes, with hesitancy, I teach

00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:21.920
 you new things because when I teach

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.840
 you something new, you're held

00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:24.239
 responsible for the thing that you

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:24.440
 know.

00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:25.980
 You now know something to be true

00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:27.360
 and therefore you need to be

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:28.820
 obedient to that truth.

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.380
 But yet, I love you and I want you

00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:31.699
 to be like Christ, so we need to

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:33.659
 keep pressing on together.

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:36.340
 It's a great mark of Christian

00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:39.940
 maturity that we are obedient to the

00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:41.579
 work, the words of God.

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:44.000
 And notice the result of this,

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:44.880
 verse 17.

00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:48.099
 Look at the result of their

00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:48.440
 obedience.

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:50.860
 They're told to go away on this

00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:52.119
 first day, right?

00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:53.380
 To go and to rejoice.

00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:55.380
 Something they're intended to go do.

00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:57.400
 And then the result of their

00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:59.199
 obedience, the record is,

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:03.299
 and there was great rejoicing.

00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:08.220
 The people of God set the Word of

00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:11.019
 God aside as the ultimate authority

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:12.300
 in their lives.

00:39:12.660 --> 00:39:16.780
 There will be great rejoicing.

00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:19.920
 We saw that blessed are those who

00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:21.860
 hear the Word of God and keep it.

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:24.700
 This word, blessed, that Jesus uses

00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:29.140
 doesn't mean abounding in stuff,

00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:29.640
 right?

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:33.159
 It means full of a joy that bubbles

00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:34.639
 up from inside of us.

00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:36.239
 That's not affected by the circumstances

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:38.279
 outside of us, but that is something

00:39:38.279 --> 00:39:40.059
 that abides within us.

00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:42.639
 This is the type of joy that comes.

00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:48.219
 Beloved, are we a joy-filled people?

00:39:48.879 --> 00:39:51.639
 Blessed because we hear the Word of God

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.319
 and we keep it?

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:54.639
 Have we established for ourselves

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:57.259
 the Word of God as the ultimate

00:39:57.259 --> 00:39:59.599
 authority in our lives?

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.980
 Let's pray together.