Fight for Your Family Celebration of God’s Word

Fight for Your Family

Celebration of God’s Word

Make sure you and your family see

How God’s Word makes life full and enriching

Never lose sight that Jesus said

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

God is calling you and your family to celebrate

Even in the darkest moments, those who trust in God’s Word have

“HOPE”

Remember celebration is joy because it reveals a grateful heart

…do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the

goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:3-5 NKJV

Never let your condition control your life

Let the Goodness of God control

Then you will be able to change with Joy

Celebration of God’s Word

Nehemiah 7:1…

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place,

the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed.

After the wall was built…

 Nehemiah established gatekeepers to control

what came in and what went out of the city.

 

He appointed singers to fill

the city with songs of joy.

He also appointed Levites to make

sure the needs between God and

the people were being served.

Nehemiah 8 introduces us to

another leader whose name is Ezra.

Ezra is credited for bringing the Word

of the Lord back to the people.

Ezra has the word of the Lord read

and explained so everyone can understand.

There must have been a heaviness that came

upon the people as God’s Word was read.

It must have felt condemning as

the people realized how far they have

gotten from the life God called them to.

As they heard the reading of God’s Word,

it must have been hard to see themselves.

Like looking into a mirror after falling

in the mud and being cut on rocks.

Your clothes and wounds are magnified as you stand

before God with spotless robes and glory all around.

One of my greatest nightmare is being in

front of a large group of people, friends

and strangers, and realize I have no clothes on.

  In my dream I am totally embarrassed,

I wanted to hide.

That must have been the feeling the people had

as the Word of The Lord was being read.

The answer is absolutely amazing…

   

9 Then Nehemiah the governor,

Ezra the priest and scribe,

 and the Levites who were instructing

the people said to them all,

"This day is sacred to the LORD your God.

Do not mourn or weep."

For all the people had been weeping

as they listened to the words of the Law.

Look at Nehemiah’s response,

it is not condemning.

Nehemiah takes their eyes

off their failures…

 Their embarrassment.

He tells them to see the sacred day,

 the Word of the Lord is

something to rejoice about.

The mirror is not a bad thing,

 but a good thing.

The Word of the Lord is not there

to condemn us, but to liberate us.  

10 Nehemiah said,

"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks,

and send some to those who have nothing prepared.

This day is sacred to our Lord.

Do not grieve, for the joy of

 the LORD is your strength."

The Word of the Lord is to strengthen us.

Because it gives us hope.

It gives us desire to change because

we see life can be so much better…

11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying,

"Be still, for this is a sacred day.

Do not grieve."

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink,

to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy,

because they now understood the words

that had been made known to them.

When the Word of the Lord become known…

When you and your family really understand it…

The Word of God liberates you and the family.

After you have built the walls…

 Do not let the Word of the Lord

become the “dos and don’t” of home.

Do not live within walls of laws.

Be sure you and your family

understand how liberating God’s Word is.

Make sure you and your family see how

God’s Word makes life full and enriching.

Never lose sight that Jesus said…

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

God is calling you and

your family to celebrate.

Even in the darkest moments,

those who trust in God’s Word have…

“HOPE”

Remember celebration is joy

because it reveals a grateful heart.

Remember…

…do you think this,

 O man, you who judge those practicing such things,

 and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance,

and longsuffering, not knowing that the

goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 2:3-5 NKJV

Never let your condition control your life.

Let the Goodness of God control.

Then you will be able to change with Joy.

Scripture Reading

Nehemiah 4:13-14 NIV

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

Nehemiah 8:5-12 NIV

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 The Levites-Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah — instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.