Title The Word and Revival
Contents
Word and Revival
Neh 8:1-12 10.01.24
I read the story of Kim Hyun-cheol, who was the chairman of Jeon Sammi Group, in a newspaper. Sammi Group was a company that produced special steel and was once a prosperous company.
The story of his becoming a missionary was as follows.
He became chairman of the group at the age of 29 and ran the group for about 15 years before passing the group to his younger brother in 1995 and emigrating to Canada. Then, in 1997, the company went bankrupt and he was a joint guarantor in the bank, so he had all the assets. Then, in 2002, he had a colorectal examination by chance, and rectal cancer was discovered. He made a vow to God at that time. God answered his prayer and he was miraculously healed.
After that, he became a missionary as he vowed to do missionary work in Dominica.
At that time, I had a lot of worries and worries, but now, although I have little, it is very rewarding and worth living.
It is said that this time too, a Christian Union organization asked for guidance in helping Haiti.
Guys, what could have caused a person to change 180 degrees like this?
What made him give up everything in the world and become a man doing God's work?
It must have been an opportunity to turn to God through suffering, and must have decided to receive grace through God's Word and dedicate himself to the Lord.
Today's message is that the people of Israel were taken captive to a powerful country called Babylon, spent 70 years, and were liberated by God's grace and returned to their homeland. It shows a scene from a revival meeting.
1. The people of Israel voluntarily asked Ezra the bachelor to read the book of the law.
They are God's people, a nation that lives by receiving the word of God. However, they were taken captive to another country and lived without hearing or learning the word of God properly. For God's people, this is a dark period. They are indicators, hope, and strength, but I have not heard the word for a long time.
When they returned, they built the temple and rebuilt the walls, but that could not satisfy their thirst.
So he asked Ezra to bring the book of the law and read it.
Folks, man shall not live by bread alone, but by the word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Our souls can only be satisfied with the Word of God.
Just as our body needs food, our soul also needs food.
The Word of God is the food of the soul.
When we eat enough food for our souls, our souls prosper, everything goes well, and we become strong.
2. When you hear the word of God, do you listen?
Ezra the priest stood in front of the crowd with the book of rules and read it from dawn to noon for about six hours. At that time, all the people stood up at once and listened to the words.
When listening to the Word of God, the effect it has on me differs depending on how you listen to it.
Although it is a word that is heard through the mouth of a person, I do not think that it is speaking as a human being, but I think that God is speaking to me now and I am listening to it.
I am listening with a very serious and solemn attitude.
The famous Saint Augustine confessed, "When I open the Bible and read it, I do not simply read the text, but I hear the voice of God directly from heaven."
When listening to God's Word, it is not right if you are flirting with others, chatting with other people, listening with your arms crossed, or listening with your legs crossed.
It is good to read the Word and listen to the sermon with the heart that you are always in the presence of God.
3. I learned the Word of God in detail.
In the text, Ezra read the words from the pulpit, and the Levites were among the crowd and taught the people what they meant.
The reason was that at that time, the Bible was written in the native language of Israel, but the language was used in Aramaic. So, it was necessary to translate the meaning.
The Word of God was originally written so that everyone could understand it.
However, as the years passed, the culture and social environment changed and the language also changed, and as it spread to a foreign country, it was necessary to understand the meaning and apply it.
That is why our pastors preach and teach the Bible.
Therefore, our members must listen to the sermon diligently and study the Bible diligently to grow in faith and become mature and powerful believers.
Faith that does not learn the Word properly is like a house built for sand, so it easily fluctuates and falls into the temptations of heretical cults.
Dear saints, God is looking for disciples who have been trained in the Word.
4. When the people heard the word, they repented and confessed.
When I read the world's books, I clap, laugh, and cry. I laugh and cry because I can empathize with the situation of the main character.
But the people of Israel weeping for hearing the word is not at that level.
First: God's grace is so great that we cry.
The grace of God is so great that God restored them, who had been taken captive to another country for 70 years and had not been able to hear the word properly or worship properly, so that they could return to their homeland and listen to God?셲 words in this way. It's crying out loud.
Second, they are weeping with shame and sinful heart because they have not been able to live properly before God and have done nothing for God.
Anyone who just listens to God's Word will realize how evil and dirty sinners are, and will cry with tears in their eyes.
Folks, this is the power of the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 ?쏤or the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of our soul and spirit and joints, and discerning our thoughts and intentions.??God's Word is light. It reveals darkness. Also, God's Word is a mirror. It reveals who I am. I see my sinful side that I have never known before.
Only those who realize that they are sinners through the Word like this can fully understand the meaning of the cross and come to believe that Jesus died on the cross purely because of my sins, leading to salvation.
5. I have tasted the joy of healing and restoration.
While listening to God's word, when the people repented and repented, the Levites and Nehemiah calmed the people and encouraged them not to be sad because today is a holy day, saying that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Then the people stopped weeping and We enjoyed sharing food with each other.
Ladies and gentlemen, when we think of our sins, we cry and repent and confess. But we can't. Because if we confess sincerely, the Lord forgives all our sins and transgressions.
Now we must enjoy the joy of forgiveness of sins and the joy of salvation.
This is the will of the Lord. It is the joy of the Lord to see His people rejoice and rejoice.
Especially on holy days, that is, on Sundays and festivals, we should praise God, fellowship with the saints in God, and spend joyfully.
Today is a day of festivals. It is a day to please God who made us and saved us.
It is our strength to rejoice in Jehovah like this.
When we rejoice and rejoice in God, not in worldly ways, amusements, or pleasures, it makes us healthy and energized.
Proverbs 15:13 ?쏛 joy of the heart makes the face bright, but a sorrow of the heart bruises the soul.??I hope that you will experience the joy of realizing the truth through the words and become those who always rejoice in God's grace and love.
A robber has entered the dormitory of a girls' school in Japan. Stay still, and give out all the important things you have...' The robber threatened to pack all the valuables into the room and leave, but a female student said, 'Uncle, the important thing is He said, "Why don't you take that most important book," he said, pointing to an old book.
The thief also stole the book. The thief sells the stolen items, but no one considers the book. I read the book, 'What the hell is this book that no one lives in, so what kind of book did the girl say that it was the most valuable book?' However, the girl's words did not disappear from her ears, and as she read and read, it stopped changing.
Obviously, he knew that he was crying because he received grace from his sermon, so he asked for a testimony. The woman came out and said that she was the girl who gave the Bible in the dormitory, and after that, she continued to pray for the robber.
You, God's word revives our hearts and immediately brings about the revival of the church.
Let's become people who value God's word more than gold and listen, read, learn, and put into practice the word every day. Amen