Prayer Meeting 10th Oct 08 – Nehemiah chp 8:1-12 – Pastor Tang
Pastor started off with a call to prayer. When we pray, God answers according to his will. Sometimes, it surpasses our expectation. Quoting Uncle Patrick Ang, originally it was detected that there were two dots suspected to be cancerous portions but they turned out to be non cancerous. Pastor encouraged us that our prayers are not in vain.
He proceeded to show us photos of the Yio Chu Kang (YCK) mission chapel in construction. Thanks to Bro Yan Zhang for the slides. The slide started with Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guarders watch over in vain.” Pastor describled various aspects of the mission chapel like the unit no., sq area, etc. and ended with 1 Cor 15:58.
The hardware aspect of the ministry is the building structure of YCK mission chapel. Like the walls Nehemiah sought to build. The software aspect of it are the rebuilding of the church member’s lives, mirroring the lives of those staying within the walls of
Throughout these tough times, the more we have to reply on God. God’s promises are never empty. In the wilderness, the people’s sandals, clothes were never worned out. God’s promise of them entering the promised land did not go in vain. God’s promise are not in vain.
In today’s situation, the more we have to hold on to the providence of God. At this time, can we truly live out seeking first the
Let our lives be revived! Revival is not something temporal, but lasting throughout our life times. Nehemiah chp 8 is a blueprint of revival.
Nehemiah 8 - Blueprint of Revival.
Nehemiah is not a priest or scribe. But he knew that people needed the Word. He brought Ezra to read the Word to the people. Nehemiah knew that:
God’s Word is the foundation of revival,
God’s Word is the aim of revival,
God’s Word is the means to revival.
The people listened attentively to God’s Word. It’s a time of crisis in the church today. Many have left the focus of the bible. God’s Word is the church’s aim. Our lives are thirsty, dull. We need the sweetness of God’s Word in our lives. Through God’s Word, we gain revival.
Hence, the pulpit has to preach the Word of God.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.
Ezra wasted no time in bringing the Law to the people. He knew what was most important to the people ensuring that the Word is taught to them. Pastor encouraged everyone to rise up and shoulder the responsibility of preaching and teaching the word. He thanked God for the many speakers that we have today, and there is continuity, if someone falls, there will be another who can take its place. He recollected a phrase said by Rev Tong, that if parents don’t allow their children for full time ministry, you can’t expect to have good preachers. He encouraged all to respond actively.
3 He read it aloud from daybreak till
The Word was read before the water gate. It’s a big area allowing many people to hear. The only motive for a church to have a big area is to allow more people to hear the Word! At Chin Lien’s night classes previously held at xian house, attendances averaged about 600 plus. We thank God for the congregation of the people. People should not be hindered from coming to the Lord. Ezra certainly did not hinder anyone from coming to the square.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
Ezra stood on a platform and read. It was human to human face contact. Again re-iterating what is the path to revival? Preaching the Word of God. And this is done but not just by some specific people but also by normal believers (the rest of v.4). We have Sunday school teachers, teaching in truth, interpreting it correctly. Pastor encouraged for the rising up of more teachers. So teachers to be, do keep it in prayer and bring it to the Lord.
When man wants to hear the Word, teachers must be there to teach.
V2. who were able to understand. V3. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. V12. and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them
The people responded rationally to the Word. They were able to understand the Word. Many of the people then knew only the Persian language due to the cultural background of the years in exile. Ezra read the Law in Hebrew and there were people who translated so that all could understand. 从不明白到明白。Unlike some situations today, where from the clear obvious message becomes unintelligible.
8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear [a] and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
The people responded rationally. Pastor told those who preached, that we could learn from verse 8, making it clear, giving the meaning, so people could understand.
If the one preaching can’t understand it in truth, naïve people who can’t discern would be greatly deceived. Many sermons now preach of wrong messages. The situation now is that though many sermons are not based on truth, it stills get accepted by many people.
We can learn from Philip who taught in truth to the Eunuch who earnestly sought the Word of God.
Philip asked the Eunuch "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip later explained to him the words as recorded in Isaiah. (Look Acts 8)
With our rational mind, we accept the Word. With our feeling, our hearts, and our will, we live out, manifest the Word.
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