Reverence For God's Word

In today's church we get sermons that are 23-60 minutes long and people complain and murmur about the length. I was in one congregation that actually yelled out jokes at the preacher because he would go longer than the senior pastor did. And people laughed. The pastor laughed. Read this passage from Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 8:1-3
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Nehemiah didn't even preach. He read God's Word for about 5 hours straight. No one complained. No one left. No one sat down. No one got bored or fell asleep. This how much they revered God's Word. Look at what this did to their hearts.

Nehemiah 8:5-6
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

When is the last time you saw this happen in church?

Look at how the day ends.

Nehemiah 8:9-12
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

This is what church ought to look like. we ought to come in and be overwhelmed by the power of God's Word and it ought to penetrate our hearts causing us to weep and worship. Then we should rise up and go celebrate the day in view of the greatness of our God and the power of His Word and then share what we have in honor of what we have been given.

Studies In Matthew - Confronting Hypocrisy

My morning time with God this morning found me in Matthew, chapter 23. This is the section in which we find Jesus confronting the Scribes and the Pharisees with their hypocrisy. That the very leaders of the Jewish people would be such hypocrites, was very important to Jesus, so much so that He spoke out against them and pronounced seven woes against them.

It is tempting to see this section in only its immediate context and to shake our heads at these horrible men. But do we really think that the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to record this narrative simply, so we could applaud Jesus for putting these bad men in their places?

1 Corinthians 10:6 reminds us why we have these stories. It says that “these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”

The Word of God is not just a story about the history of the Jews; it is God’s Word written so that those who are Born Again will know what God expects us to be like as we grow in our faith. There is a spiritual lesson for us here as well. Actually, there are many. This morning I want to share a story from the Holman New Testament Commentary, written by Stu Weber.

I pray this speaks to your heart as it did mine. As Christians, we are to be watching over each other. We are to be encouraging each other as we seek to run the race Paul reminds us to be running. That race is the race to holiness. Sometimes we need to encourage each other by speaking the truth in love. Love without truth and truth without love is not pleasing to God. Sometimes it means that we must simply say what needs to be said.

Please read this story. Please read Matthew 23 and search your own heart. The world needs to see Christ. But Jesus is no longer walking this earth in His physical body. He left us His Holy Spirit so that in us, the world could see Jesus. The religious leaders though they were leading the people down the path to God. They were not. They were hypocrites. Our witness to the world is not received by the words we speak; it is received by the life we live. This is why James said that faith without works is dead. This why he told us to be DOERS of the Word not just hearers. This why sometimes we Christians need to gently, in love, confront each other with the truth of God’s Word.

Now, as Paul Harvey would say, The rest of the story…

Hypocrisy Confronted

It happened during my high school days at a state leadership camp. It was unforgettable. For the first time in my memory, I had stood up—in public—to confront hypocrisy.

Several hundred high school student-body officers were being trained for their senior tenure. About a dozen of us were housed in one cabin just about right for a couple of guys to doze off, a couple to read, and the rest of us to engage in developing a healthy "group dynamic." In other words, we told stories and hooted at their craziness into the wee hours.

One stretch involved an hour or more of "can-you-top-this" jokes and stories. I found myself unable to participate so I lay quiet in the darkness, hoping the others would think I had fallen asleep. One voice in particular, from the top bunk on the west wall, seemed to dominate the off-color conversation.

When the conversation shifted to things that mattered, the guys began to discuss "religion," real spiritual issues, and eventually their own hearts. It was amazing. Christ and the Christian faith became the center of discussion.

But the majesty of that healthy dialogue was broken when the same voice from the top bunk on the west wall chimed in. Unable to remain silent and wanting to be included with the "in" crowd, he declared: "Oh, yeah, I am a Christian too!"

His loud "about face" disturbed me. To go from off-color jokes to spiritual bliss in one easy breath was more than I could handle. Suddenly I heard my own voice breaking the silence: "Well, if I claimed to be a Christian and had just finished spouting off a bunch of off-color stories, I sure would not be advertising my faith."

My heart was pounding! I had done it! What was going to happen now? As it turned out, not much. The cabin went dead silent. I was sure the other guys could hear my heart pounding. But I do not recall anyone saying another word that night. Nor the next day. My impetuous, angry comment had just ended it all. Camp broke up. We returned to our homes. And that was the end of that; or so I thought. Years went by—through college, then the military and Vietnam, followed by seminary. I never thought another thing about the incident.

Fifteen years later I was walking on the sidewalk of a seminary campus when a voice from across the lawn called a loud hello. The guy asked if I had been at a particular high school leadership camp and involved in a certain conversation. I realized that was the person from that top bunk on the west wall. He proceeded to rehearse the exchange that night and described the discomfort of the silence that followed. "Yes, that was me," I admitted.

Then, in a wonderful moment of confession and a genuine statement of gratitude, he thanked me for my comments in that cabin on that night long ago. He told me that the shock of having his hypocrisy pointed out had begun his turnaround. Those uncomfortable moments in that cabin fifteen years ago had played a significant role in his commitment to Christ. He was now on a seminary campus, studying for vocational Christian ministry. It was a wonderful conclusion to a long-forgotten story.

There comes a time when we need to confront hypocrisy. In the flow of Matthew's Gospel, that time had arrived. Jesus was going to confront the hypocrisy of Israel's religious leaders. In a loud voice, blunt and truthful, the Lord of heaven confronted the hypocritical religious leaders.

Confronting hypocrisy may turn the hypocrite around. But even when it does not, it serves to protect others who might become victims of the hypocrisy.

Story taken from the Holman New Testament Commentary - Matthew. Written by Stuart K. Weber

 

 

God's Word Cannot Be Imprisoned

2 Timothy 2:8-9
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

The Word of God is not imprisoned. Our work as disciples of Jesus is to go where He sends us. Here in America, we aren't yet often imprisoned for speaking God's Word, though that day is probably coming. But we are often shut down by co-workers, neighbors, and many other sources of scoffers. They try to silence those who speak God's Word.

Take note this morning; God's Word is not imprisoned. Our job is to endure whatever comes in response to us speaking out His Word. God's Word is the truth. The world needs to hear the truth, even when they don't like the message.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

People do not want to hear God's Word, for it cuts and it pierces our very soul and our spirit. It judges the thoughts and it judges the intent of our hearts. People do not want to hear that. So, why must we share it?

Hebrews 4:13
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Because even though they deny His very existence, or they twist His Word to allow them to continue in wanton debauchery, God sees them, and He will pass judgment on them. Go has told us to go into the world with His Word and share the truth so that they shall not perish but might have eternal life.

They will try and lock up God's Word. They can lock us up for speaking it; But they can never imprison His Word.

Paul went on to say this and to be our example.

2 Timothy 2:10-13
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

We must endure all things and continue to stand for God's Word.

God's Word cannot be imprisoned.

Following the Path of the Prophets

A few thoughts on the story of Jeremiah, who, like Isaiah, recognizes the sovereignty of God in our birth and in our life.

Jeremiah 1:4-5
Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Life is from God. Abortion is the ultimate act of rebellion against God.

Our lives are meant to be used to bring glory to God. Far too many Christians stay on the sidelines of ministry because they don't feel adequate to do what God has set them aside to do. Jeremiah did not feel up to the calling God gave him. And he wasn't. Nor are you, but when God calls us to something, He provides the power and then protects us as we serve Him.

John 15:16
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."

We have been given the Word of God and the power of God is in His Word. It created, and it sustains every single thing we know of.

Psalm 33:6,9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

God's Word is what we need. And fellow Christian, if you think it is only your pastor who can be God's instrument, you are wrong. The power is not in him; it is in God's Word.

Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

God's Word is effective. It will accomplish what God desires it accomplish. So, share God's Word. Speak it out. Share it on social media. Pray it. Live it out.

We are all called to be God's servants. If you are a Christian, He chose you before the foundation of the earth, to do so. He appointed you to bear fruit.

Get busy.

How to Get God to Look Upon You

Isaiah 66:2 "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Are you humble? Careful when you answer that. To confess yourself as humble, is to not be.

Are you contrite of Spirit? Does your own sin drive to you despair?

Do you tremble at His word? Or do you simply hear it and let it pass you by? Do you even read it? Do you stand in awe when it is preached on Sunday? When you read it does it cut into your own heart and cause you to see the depths of your own depravity in light of its revelation of God's Holiness?

If we want God to look upon us, then we must go humbly before Him, broken and in tears over our sins, and then tremble before Him as we listen to His Word. But to listen to God's Word is more than simply hearing it; it is letting it do the work on and in our hearts that shows we have been raised to new life.

This is when God looks down upon us and sees the heart that truly wants Jesus.

His Word is not just something to feel good about. it is the very bread we need to live upon.

Church, let us return to a reverence for God and His Word. Then God will look upon us.