What The Law Can Give?

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you still under the law? Then you do mourn and weep, still?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that GOD intended us to be Blessed [Happy] people not mourning or weeping people.

IV. TEXT:

Nehemiah 8:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

V. THESIS:

GOD intended us to be Blessed [Happy] people not mourning or weeping people.

VI. TITLE:

What the law can give?

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain. Autobiography of Nehemiah

B. Date written: 445 B.C. to 430 B.C.

C. Purpose: To document the political restoration of Judah, under Nehemiah's leadership

D. To whom written: Restored remnant in Jerusalem and future generations

E. Main themes:

Rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem

Rehearsal of certain divine laws

Restoration of ancient ordinances

F. Keyword: wall

G. Key verses:

Nehemiah 6:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”

Nehemiah 6:15-16 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Mourning and weeping

"Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this!"

"For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law."

1. But no changes

2 Timothy 3:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

(Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)

Acts 28:27 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

Psalms 82:5 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

Matthew 13:13 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

2. Understanding of the WORD is very important

Philippians 4:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 2:2 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

1 John 5:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

3. The devil snatches away the WORD from us if we don't understand His WORDS

Luke 8:12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

Matthew 13:19 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

Luke 19:26 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

If we prayed for understanding then GOD will give us His Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Ephesians 1:17 (New International Version)

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.