The document summarizes a sermon given at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi on February 15, 2015. The sermon discusses how the public reading of the Book of the Law of Moses to the Israelites in Nehemiah 9 led them to repentance and revival. It explores various topics related to the inspiration, authority, and interpretation of Scripture.

1. Nehemiah 9
“The Power of God’s Word”
February 15, 2015
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?

3. The Glory of God!
http://dynamiqueprofesseur.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/liftupthecross1c.jpg

4. The Glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

5. February Memory Verse
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God— not by works, so that no one can
boast.

6. References
• 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By
Heart, Robert J. Morgan, B & H Publishing,
2010.
• Now, That’s A Good Question, R. C. Sproul,
Tyndale House Publishing, 1982.
• The Baptist Faith & Message, A Statement
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention,
June 14, 2000.

7. Introduction
• Cyrus allows exiles to return to Jerusalem in
538 B.C. after captivity in Babylon.
• Zerubbabel rebuilds the Temple in 516 B.C..
• Ezra returns to Jerusalem to lead the Temple.
• Nehemiah returns in 445 B.C. to lead
rebuilding of walls of Jerusalem in 52 days.
• The people are registered by families and
assigned housing areas in Nehemiah 7.

8. Nehemiah
• Story begins 1st day of seventh month, 445
B.C. with the reading of the Book of the Law of
Moses by Ezra in Nehemiah 8.
• The people stand as the Torah (Pentateuch) is
read from daybreak until noon inside the
Jerusalem wall by the Water Gate.
– Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy

9. Ezra Reads the Torah Scrolls

10. Torah or Pentateuch or Law
• Written by Moses after crossing the Red Sea and
while wandering in the wilderness for 40 years
with Israelites.
• Deuteronomy written around 1400 B.C. in Plains
of Moab before his death.
• Pentateuch was written as one continuous
narrative (maybe 5 scrolls).
• God wrote the 10 Commandments on stone and
the tablets were carried in the ark of the
covenant.

11. Introduction
• The people are weeping as the scripture is
read in Nehemiah 8, but are told to be joyful –
to celebrate by eating “Choice foods and
sweet drinks”.
• On the next day, they begin the celebration of
the “Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of
Booths” (Tent Revival!) for 7 days in a renewed
spirit not seen in 900 years.

12. The Feast of Tabernacles

13. Nehemiah 9:1
1 On the twenty- fourth day of the same month,
the Israelites gathered together, fasting and
wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their
heads.
– The people came prepared and dressed for
ceremony of confession and repentance.

14. Meaning of Nehemiah 9:1
• A day of penance in the spirit of the Day of
Atonement (usually observed on 10th day of the
7th month) was observed with fasting, wearing
sackcloth and dust on your head.
– Symbolic of great mourning and penitence
– Idea of focus on God instead of self (hunger,
discomfort and dirt)
• Strict observance of the Day of Atonement (Yom
Kippur) required High Priest entering the “Holy of
Holies”, sin offerings of goat, scapegoat, fasting,
rest with no work as prescribed in Leviticus 16.

15. Sackcloth and Ashes

16. Nehemiah 9:2-3
2 Those of Israelite descent had separated
themselves from all foreigners. They stood in
their places and confessed their sins and the sins
of their ancestors. 3 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.

17. Nehemiah 9:4-5a
4 Standing on the stairs of the Levites were
Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni,
Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with
loud voices to the Lord their God. 5a And the
Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah,
Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—
said: "Stand up and praise the Lord your God,
who is from everlasting to everlasting."

18. Nehemiah 9:5b-7
Longest Prayer in Bible
5b "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be
exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone
are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the
highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth
and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to everything, and the multitudes of
heaven worship you. 7 "You are the Lord God, who
chose Abram …
• reviews history of Israelites
• skip to verse 32

19. Nehemiah 9:32-33
32 "Now therefore, our God, the great God,
mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant
of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling
in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us,
on our kings and leaders, on our priests and
prophets, on our ancestors and all your people,
from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.
33 In all that has happened to us, you have
remained righteous; you have acted faithfully,
while we acted wickedly.

20. Nehemiah 9:34-35
34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our
ancestors did not follow your law; they did not
pay attention to your commands or the statutes
you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they
were in their kingdom, enjoying your great
goodness to them in the spacious and fertile
land you gave them, they did not serve you or
turn from their evil ways.

21. Nehemiah 9:36-37
36 "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the
land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its
fruit and the other good things it produces.
37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes
to the kings you have placed over us. They rule
over our bodies and our cattle as they please.
We are in great distress.

22. What was used to lead the Israelites to
repentance and revival?
• The public reading of the Book of the Law of
Moses to the people.
– Preparation by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles
– Remembering the commitment of their forefathers to
God in Exodus 19:6 “to be a kingdom of priests and a
holy nation.”
• How does reading scripture lead to repentance
and revival?
• Why is God’s word so powerful?

23. How did God speak to man in the
Old Testament?
• He spoke directly to man individually and
collectively and thru the written words:
– Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Noah …
– Moses; Joshua …
– Period of the Judges …
– Prophets (spokesperson for God): Samuel; Nathan;
Gad … Isaiah
– Special Prophets: Daniel through dreams, visions
– Prophetess: Miriam, Deborah, Isaiah’s wife, Huldah

24. Was John the Baptist the last
Old Testament Prophet?
Luke 16:16
16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until
John. Since that time, the good news of the
kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is
forcing their way into it.
• The ministry of John the Baptist was the dividing
line between the old covenant and the new.
• His ministry prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry.

25. How does God speak to man in the
New Testament?
• Jesus’ words spoken on earth.
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will never pass away.
Hebrews 1:1-2
1 God, who at various times and in various ways
spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.

26. How does God speak to man in the
New Testament?
• Apostles & other spokespersons through the
direction of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will
guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his
own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will
tell you what is yet to come.

27. Divine Authorship & Authority
of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
– Biblical authority and authorship are inseparable.
– If God is the author, then it must be our only
infallible authority, because God is infallible.

28. Does the Bible claim authority over
the life of the believer?
• Yes!
• The authority that the Bible has over you as a
believer is the authority that Christ has over
you.
• Christ rules His church through the ministry of
the Word.
• The Bible is our rule for faith and life
(conduct).

29. Inspiration of Scripture
• All scripture in the Bible was from ‘divine
inspiration’ by God.
• God chose to convey His words through
humans as instruments.
• Arguments begin when we use the words
“infallible” and “inerrancy”.

30. Inspiration of Scripture
Infallible vs. Inerrant
• Infallible = Without error
– Original manuscripts in original language were
perfect or infallible as directed to the writers.
– We don’t have these for comparison.
– Translational differences do exist.
• Inerrant = All that the Bible affirms is true
– Bible is fully truthful, trustworthy and reliable.
– Without any mixture of error.

31. Interpretation vs. Inspiration
• It is wrong to say, “My interpretation of the
Bible is infallible.”
• We don’t have to be identical twins to be
brothers/sisters in Christ.
• We can disagree with each other over
interpretation and still believe in the
inspiration and authority of scripture.

32. Interpretation of Scripture
• The Holy Spirit guides each believer in
personal interpretation of Scripture.
• Priesthood of believers and personal
accountability to God.
• With freedom comes responsibility.
• Catholic Church.
– Pope has final authority to interpret scripture.
– His view considered infallible and final authority.

33. Why are new books not added to the
Bible?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
– If books were added, it would equate to saying the
Bible is incomplete.
– The Bible was complete after Revelation was written
by John in 95 A.D.

34. The Bible is complete
Jude 3
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you
concerning our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend
earnestly for the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints.
- Jude was defending the faith and truth held by
believers.
- The truth has finality and is not subject to
change.

35. Warning about altering the Bible
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words
of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to
these things, God will add to him the plagues
that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone
takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part from the
Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book.

36. What is the canon?
• Canon = “reed” or measuring stick or ruler.
• Biblical Canon = a list of books considered to
be authoritative scripture (Word of God).
• The 66 books of the Bible were mostly agreed
upon by 3rd – 5th century A.D.
• Tests of the Early Church for canon.
– Was the book written by an eyewitness of Jesus?
– “Truth Test” – agree or conflict with other
scripture?

37. Canon Consideration for
Old Testament
• Jesus mentioned the existing Hebrew Bible.
Luke 24:44
44 Then He said to them, "These are the words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that all things must be fulfilled which were
written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets
and the Psalms concerning Me."

38. Why should Christians study the
Old Testament?
• Jesus quoted Old Testament scriptures
continually; even when being tempted.
• The God of the Old Testament is the God of
the New Testament.
• Saint Augustine quote: “The Old is in the New
revealed; the New is in the Old concealed.”

39. The Power of Scripture
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation
is hidden from God's sight. Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him
to whom we must give account.

40. Hebrews 4:12
• Characteristics of the Word of God.
– 1. Alive, living
• Not dead or archaic.
• Not irrelevant to today.
– 2. Active, effective
• Greek word for “energy”.
Isaiah 55:11
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not
return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and
achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

41. Hebrews 4:12
• The Word of God is a double-edged sword.
– This idea based on the idea of knives used by
Levitical priests to cut through deepest sections of
sacrificial animals.
– God’s Word can penetrate to the depths of our
inner most being.

42. Double Edged Sword

43. Hebrews 4:12
• God’s Word judges the ideas and thoughts of
the heart.
– Judge comes from Greek word for “critic”.
– Shows us where we are weak and need
improvement.
– Guilty conscious from sin.

44. The Power of God’s Word
Ephesians 6:13
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:17
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Remember the battle is spiritual and must be fought
with God’s strength, depending on the Word and on
God through prayer.

46. Quote from D. L. Moody
Sin will keep us from the Bible,
or
the Bible will keep us from sin.
Psalm 119:11
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I
might not sin against You.

47. Comparing the 3:16’s
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.

48. Comparing the 3:16’s
• John 3:16 talks about the Savior, and 2
Timothy 3:16 talks about the Scriptures.
These 2 entities comprise the two greatest
gifts ever bestowed on humanity.
• Both are called “The Word”.
• One is the living Word, and the other is the
written word.

49. Comparing the 3:16’s
• Both are utterly unique. Jesus is like no other
person the world has ever seen, and the Bible
is like no other book the world has ever read.
• Jesus as the Savior was without sin, the
Scriptures are without error.
• The Savior is the God-Man, and the Scriptures
are from both God and man.

50. Comparing the 3:16’s
• The Savior came to save us, and the Scriptures
were given to tell us how to be saved.
• The Bible is Jesus in print, and Jesus is the
personification and fulfillment of the
Scriptures.
• So, these 3:16’s are twin verses about the
Savior and the Scriptures.

51. The Key to Success in Life
Joshua 1:8
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful.

52. The Valentine in John 3:16

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.”

54. Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve
death, died in this life to pay the penalty for
our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the
second death explained in Revelation 21:8.

55. Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,
murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars shall have their part in the lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death.”
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.

56. Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I
will be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept
Jesus as our Savior.

57. Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD
shall be saved.”

58. If you have questions or would like to know
more, Please, contact First Baptist Church
Jackson at 601-979-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/