ill:
• Some dates are very well known:
• No-one ever forgets December 25th - Christmas day.
• Or NoWords and actions!
vember 5th - Bonfire Night.
• And of course in two days time, February 14th - Valentines Day.
• Some days ought to be well known but sadly are not:
• April 23rd - St. George’s Day – we English must keep the flag & memory flying high! (Spanish!)
• April 16th 2006 - Ascension day (holiday but now sadly almost totally forgotten!)
• July 16th - My Birthday! (No cheques just cash please!)
The Jewish people too, had and have their special days:
• During the seventh month of the Jewish calendar,
• The Israelite people celebrated three important feasts.
• And each feast shows us an aspect of their relationship with God:
• The Festival of Trumpets, with its offerings to the Lord; was a time of Worship.
• The Day of Atonement – Was a time of Forgiveness
• And the week-long Feast of Booths or Tabernacles; was a time of Thanksgiving & trust!
We pick up the story in chapter 9:
• After the Jewish people had dismantled their 'booths', their ‘shelters’:
• Verse 1 tells us they had ‘gathered together’.
• They chose the twenty-fourth day of the month;
• On our calendar, that would have been October 31st.
• Having chosen the day they decided to set it apart for certain practices.
• We are told that the people came together for at least four reasons:
• Verses 1-2: For confession – it was a time to get right with God.
• Verses 3-5: For adoration – it was a time to worship God.
• Verses 6-37: For reflection – it was a time to learn from past mistakes.
• Verse 38: For commitment – it was a time to move forward with God.
• We are concerned with verses 1-5a this morning;
• So we will only be looking at those first two reasons for meeting – confession & adoration.
Note:
• Before we start and examine the text;
• It’s important that you cast your eyes down to verse 3b:
“They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.”
• According to the experts, a quarter of a day was three hours;
• That is literally a quarter of twelve hours, not 24 hours.
• Referring to twelve hours of daylight in which they worked.
• So this meant the people experienced a six-hour service.
• Three hours of preaching followed by three hours of praying.
• So don’t miss the point, it was a six-hour service.
• Now I say that in my defence just in case you think I’m going on a bit!
• Just be glad we are reading about this service and not actually there!
Ill:
• Preacher and the watch story;
• “Hit me again I can still hear him!”
Quote:: More seriously:
“They used to put clocks on the outside of Churches, telling people when to come and worship God. Now we put them on the inside of Churches telling people when to go home”
• Maybe that’s one reason we don’t see revival or meet with God like we would like.
• Though I am aware that it is ATTITUDE as much as QUANTITY of time that counts!
(1). Confession (verses 1-2):
“On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads.
2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.
Ill:
Say confession is; ‘Good for the Soul’:
• Four preachers met for a friendly gathering.
• During the conversation one preacher said,
• “Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs.
• Let’s do the same. Confession is good for the soul.”
• In due time all agreed.
• One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church.
• The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars;
• And the third one confessed to liking to play cards.
• When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn’t confess.
• So the others pressed him saying, “Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?”
• Finally he answered,
• “It is gossiping” he said; “And I can hardly wait to get out of here.”
• Well in verses 1-2: the Israelites confess before God.
• That confession is made up of four elements.
(a). Words (verse 2b).
• In Nehemiah chapter 8 the focus was on God's Word to the people;
• Now in chapter 9 the focus is on the people responding with their words to him,
Ill:
Never underestimate the power of words:
• A judge speaks, and a man is condemned or set free.
• A physician speaks, and a person has surgery or he goes home from the hospital.
• A government official speaks, and millions of dollars can be spent or withheld.
• A preacher speaks and an individual can move from spiritual death to life!
• In Nehemiah chapter 8 God's Word spoke to the people;
• And once again in chapter 9 for a further three hours God's Word spoke to the people.
Note:
• True worship involves many elements;
• Hearing the Bible being taught.
• Praising God.
• Praying.
• Confessing sin;
• Separating ourselves from what displeases God.
• Each of those elements are recorded in this paragraph.
• First of all: worship involves the word of God!
• The word of God reveals to us the God of the word!
• Let me suggest; that any worship service that ignores his word will be incomplete!
• The word of God was preached and taught and explained to the people;
• And then we see the peoples response to the word they had just heard.
Notice:
• That the Israelites did not just bring ‘words’ to God.
• They brought words of genuine sorrow concerning their sins.
• And not just their sins,
• Verse 2b tells us they also confessed the sins of their ancestors.
This vital two-way relationship is inspired and encouraged throughout Scripture.
• Listening to God (Bible reading – chapter 8);
• And responding to him (prayer – chapter 9) are twin aspects of every believer's experience.
• There can be no spiritual growth or development in Christian maturity;
• Without the regular cultivation of this dual privilege and discipline.
(b). Clothing (verse 1b): “Sackcloth and ashes”.
“Wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads.”
Ill:
Most of the time we dress for the occasion.
• Although we may have the odd football shirt here this morning;
• No-one has come in the full kit (shorts, socks & boots as well).
• Going to do some gardening this afternoon;
• You will not be doing it in a bikini or a pair of bathers!
• Most of the time we wear the right clothes for the right activity;
• So too did the people of God.
“Sackcloth and ashes”:
• Was an outward sign of how the people were feeling inside;
• Ill: Black to the funeral of a close relative or friend (not a Hawaiian shirt!)
• “Sackcloth”: is symbolic of humility:
• The very opposite of ‘power dressing’ or fashionable clothes.
• “Ashes”: is symbolic of our mortality.
• We know the phrase; “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”.
• Sackcloth, was a goat-hair garment which irritated the skin severely.
• The person would sit on the ground in this itchy, irritating clothing;
• And pick up the grey ash and reddish-brown earth and sprinkle on his head.
• Sounds like fun, huh? Of course not!
• This confession time was not a light/momentary thing.
• It was the serious recognition of the fact that we are steeped in sin,
• They were dominated by it, and as such abased before a holy God.
• And so there actions were speaking louder than their words (really sorry!).
(3). Fasting (verse 1a):
Fasting generally meant going without food and drink for a period of time;
• Not only was it a sign you meant business with God (cost involved)
• But the time you could have been eating and drinking were given over to prayer.
Ill:
It might be helpful to parallel of human friendship.
• When friends need to be together,
• They will cancel all other activities in order to make that possible.
• There’s nothing magical about fasting.
• It’s just one way of telling God that your priority at that moment is to be alone with him.
Note:
• We tend to think of fasting as going without food.
• But we can fast from anything.
• If we love music and decide to miss a concert in order to spend time with God,
• Or decide to miss a football match in order to spend time with God, that is fasting.
• There’s nothing magical about fasting.
• It’s just one way of telling God that your priority at that moment is to be alone with him.
(4). Separation (verse 2):
“Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners”.
• The Israelites had been called by God to be a unique people:
• To worship the only one God and never have any idols of the true God.
• They also knew that it was wrong to marry people from the other nations;
• Because with them came their foreign gods and idols.
• And the Old Testament is full of examples;
• Of how God’s people were led astray this way.
Ill:
• Classic example flick forward to chapter 13 verse 25b-27 (The Message):
• The tragic case of Solomon, who despite all his wisdom, failed to apply it!
23”About the same time I realized that some of the men of Judah had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24Even worse, half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod or some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.
25So I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear before God that they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people of the land.
26"Wasn't this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?" I demanded. "There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives.
27How could you even think of committing this sinful deed and acting unfaithfully toward God by marrying foreign women?"
Back to chapter 9:
• The Israelites having wilfully ignored God’s warnings;
• Notice: we are not only talking about the people but also the priests,
• Men who should have led by example;
• But instead by their actions gave approval to this practice.
• Nehemiah really gets to work on this subject in chapter 13;
• So this morning I don’t think I will say much more.
Application:
• Turn over to the New Testament: 1 John chapter 1 verse 9:
• Verse 9; talks about confession for the Christian, and note that it consists of three parts:
(1). The condition: “If we confess our sins”
• This promise of God is not universal (that is for everyone);
• It is conditional (for those who genuinely want to confess their sins)
• If we confess our sins”
• The word ‘confess’ means “to agree with”:
• It means to say the same thing that God says about our sin,
• We admit, come clean, tell the truth, we are honest with God about our sin.
Ill:
The children in a prominent family:
• Decided to give their father a book of the family’s history for a birthday present.
• They commissioned a professional biographer to do the work,
• Carefully warning him of the family’s ‘black sheep’ problem:
• Uncle George who had been executed in the electric chair for murder.
• The biographer replied:
• “I can handle that situation so that there will be no embarrassment.
“I’ll merely say that Uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution.
He was attached to his position by the strongest of ties and his death came as a real shock”.
The apostle John reminds us that forgiveness flows out of being honest:
• We need to confess our sins on a regular basis to God,
• Good principle: is to keep short accounts with God.
(2). The assurance: “God is faithful and just”
(a). God is just.
• If you and I were the authors of verse 9 we would probably write it this way:
• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and merciful”.
• But John deliberately chose the word ‘just’.
• The forgiveness we have in Christ is based on God’s justice, on his righteousness.
Ill:
• Oops: The Book of Blunders, 1980.
• Surprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium,
• The thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall,
• And dropped down the other side, only to find himself in the city prison.
• The man actually escaped conviction on a technicality,
• The judge who he appeared before told him:
"I know that you are guilty and you know it,
and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser Judge,
and that there you will be dealt with according to justice and not according to law."
(b). God is faithful.
• This book the Bible is full of promises 7,474.
• God always keeps his promises!
Many of those promises say:
• That he will never spurn, he will never reject a contrite, a penitent heart.
• And he has given his word on that, a promise he will faithfully keep!
Ill:
• David’s prayer of repentance after he was found guilty of committing adultery & murder,
• Psalm 51 (verse 17).
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.”
(C.E.V.)
17The way to please you
is to feel sorrow
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
(3). The outcome:
“Will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.
THERE ARE TWO KEY VERBS IN THIS VERSE:
(a). First verb: ‘Forgive’
• It describes the act of cancelling a debt and restoration of the debtor.
• Ill: Notice on the city gates.
(b). Second verb: ‘Purify’ (or ‘Cleanse’):
• Refers to making a forgiven sinner holy;
• So that he or she is able to have fellowship with God.
Ill:
• 10 Lepers “Go show yourself to the high priest”
• Not only healed but now they were fit for worship.
• You and are who have been forgiven
• Are now able to worship!
(2). Adoration/worship (verse 4-5):
(A). Balanced worship (Vs 3):
• There worship grew out of their time spent in confession and Bible reading;
• Remember they spent ‘three hours’ doing both.
I believe we cannot separate true worship from the word of God:
• I have been in situations where the Bible teaching is seen as an interruption to the worship;
• Or is simply tagged onto a time of praise & worship.
• Yet the Bible teaching is a vital part of our worship time.
• The word of God does two things.
First it gives us content for our worship.
• Ill: You look to serious, so let’s have a laugh….ho, ho, ho!
• Of course you can’t do it!
• If you want folks to laugh you tell them something funny!
• And if you want folks to worship you show them the God of the word in the word!
Second: it makes worship real and lasting.
• Ill: In Hebrew the language of our Old Testament;
• Hebrew word for worship means to ‘Bow down’.
• In other words as we catch a glimpse of Almighty God;
• Our response is to ‘Bow’ our wills in submission to his word.
• Having spoken to God in praise and adoration;
• We then let God speak to us concerning our lives – take this further in a minute!
(B). Collective worship (Vs 4 and 5a):
4 “Standing on the stairs were the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani—who called with loud voices to the LORD their God. 5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said:
• Verses 4-5a Explain how the Israelites conducted this time of worship:
• The Levites divided themselves into two groups.
• Some were standing on the stairs on one side of the assembly;
• And the other group stood across from them.
• These two groups called back and forth to the congregation,
• One group confessing the sins of the people, the other praising God for His greatness.
• It’s like an antiphonal (an-ti-ph-o-nal) chorus.
• The first group “called with loud voices.”
• This literally means that they “cried out.”
• The second group focused on God’s character as they sang.
• In fact, the rest of this chapter gives us the actual words they used.
• Cries of guilt are followed by shouts of praise for God’s greatness, goodness, & graciousness.
• Tears of grief over their many sins;
• Followed by tears of joy as they find forgiveness and cleansing.
God likes collective worship:
• Just read your Bible;
• He introduced it to his people (his idea) and the Bible is full of example after example.
• As Christians we can worship privately;
• But there is something quite unique in collective prayer and praise.
(3). Focussed worship (verse 5b):
"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting."
Ill:
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall,
• Where his oratorio The Creation was being performed.
• Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair.
• As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion.
• When the passage “And there was light!” was reached,
• The chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power;
• That the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm.
• The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause.
• Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence.
• With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said,
• “No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!”
• Having given the glory and praise to the Creator,
• He fell back into his chair exhausted.
Quote:
“Prayer is preoccupation with my needs.
“Praise is preoccupation with my blessings.
“Worship is preoccupation with God alone”.
• And this unique prayer starts by focusing our attention of the everlasting God!
• No-doubt you will focus in on this next week.
Final application:
• Romans chapter 12 verses 1-3.
• Which like 1 John 1 we looked at earlier, I think complements this passage.
(A). Consecration (verse 1).
• Verse 1: "I urge you".
• Notice this is an urgent plea, and not a proposal,
• He never says: "I have a good suggestion for you" or "Here's a good idea".
• Consecration is much more than a good idea.
• Look again at how he puts it (verse 1):
• "Therefore, I urge you brothers".
• Ill: 11 chapters explaining what God has done for us (his plan of salvation);
• Now in return he says; “Can you now do something for God?”
Question: What does God want us to do?
Answer: Consecrate yourselves.
• Or as verse 1 puts it:
• "Therefore offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God"
• Consecration simply means set apart or reserved for God.
• ill: Theatre tickets / Football match.
• 30, 40, 50, 60,000 at the game.
• But one seat has been consecrated for me.
• It's been consecrated or set apart for you, that's what the word means.
• We are to be those who are reserved for God.
Notice:
• You do not find a day of the week mentioned!
• This is to be more than Sunday and ?day night.
• There is no age group mentioned.
• Or any let out clause!
• This is for all Christians at all times,
• And this is our spiritual service, ‘our worship’ this is what God requires of us.
Notice also the word sacrifice,
• Whenever we read that word we are programmed to think of death:
• You kill something and then you lay it on the alter and it is consumed.
• But here it is a living sacrifice,
• Quote: "Trouble with a living sacrifice is they crawl off the altar".
So this is talking about a process, not a one off incident or event:
• Something we need to do daily, weekly, monthly etc it’s a process.
• To get right with God, to consecrate ourselves.
• So that we can have the ability, the strength and the desire
• To live out the practical Christian life in the Church and in the world.
(2). Transformation.
Verse 2 in the Phillips translation:
"Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within,
So that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity".
There are two commands in verse 2:
(1). Do not be Conformed.
• Conformed means:
• Your outward expression is different from what you really are inwardly.
ill:
If I dressed up in a Gorilla costume, I would be conforming myself to the image of an ape,
• Now obviously I would not be a Gorilla.
• Outwardly I would look like one, but inwardly I would still be human.
• God says don't you be like that conformed to an image which is false and not you.
• When you wrap yourself up and around in the things of the world. We are conforming.
ill:
• Don't be like a chameleon which takes its colour from its surroundings
• (i.e. Tartan joke - Nervous breakdown).
ill:
Instead be transformed. (be different):
• Biscuits all cut the same way are made by being conformed,
• Butterflies are made by being transformed.
• That’s the Greek word used here;
• We get the word “metamorphosis” from it.
• What God wants for us is not outward conformity (all made into the same).
• But a change inwardly that will produce something beautiful outwardly.
Question: What is that change?
Answer:
• Left to ourselves we live a life dominated by human nature, and desires.
• According to the pattern of this worlds system.
• But in Christ we have a new life,
• "Renewing of our minds" verse 2.
• Now we are to be dominated by Christ.
• He has transformed us, made us new, different, so we are to live his way.
But don't forget the order:
(1). Consecration.
• A deliberate choice to reserve yourself for him, that is our spiritual act of worship,
• And in the process of working that through we go through the second stage.
(2). Transformation.
• We see his plan and his arrangement for our lives,
• That plan is to be lived out in the fellowship of other Christians, his church.
So that leads on to verse 3 where Paul says there will be an honest evaluation.
(3). Evaluation.
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
But rather think of yourself with sober judgement,
In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you".
Verse 3 is talking about a proper estimation of your self.
• It reminds us that we are purposeful people!
• We were designed to ‘know God and enjoy him’.
• To serve him;
• In Nehemiah’s day it was building a wall.
• You and I are building God’s kingdom.
• We cannot do it on our own or in our own strength.
Ill:
• John 15.
• Without him we can do ‘NOTHING’
• So when sin comes into our lives and spoils that relationship;
• Let’s confess it!
• When we want to know the mind and will of God for our lives;
• Let’s make sure we are rooted in his word!
• And as we worship God with our lips;
• Let us seek to allow it to go deeper into our hearts, affecting our lives!!!!!!!!!!!
