News & Announcements

See what's happening at FBC

Nehemiah 9-10

“God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God’s Word.”

The gathering would have filled more than half of Memorial Stadium. These were the neighbors they had been partnering with for that last couple of months. These were the wives and kids you had teamed up to protect and for whom you labored morning to night. But there you are, 1000s of you gathered outside in the city square. And suddenly the long-forgotten scrolls are opened. Spontaneously you stand. As Pastor Ezra begins his invocation, you fall to the ground in a sudden awareness of your unworthiness to be in the presence of such a great God!

And then the Pastor begins to read the Word. Like a surgeon’s exploratory scalpel you are cut to very core of your soul! Conviction of your failure, your willful acts of rebellion, your previously undisclosed secret attitudes are laid bare. It’s not the exposure in the presence of your neighbors and friends that overwhelms you. It’s that you are suddenly seeing your true self as God sees your true self! The shame and the sorrow are more than you can bear.

Building Faith begins with an intentional re-hearing of the scriptures.

How can a young man keep his ways pure?
By guarding it according to Your Word.
With my whole heart I seek You;
Let me not wander from Your commandments!
I have stored up Your Word in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes!
With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth.
In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
I will meditate (chew the cud ) on Your precepts
And fix my eyes on Your ways.
I will delight in Your statutes;
I will NOT forget Your Word! Psalm 119:9-16

As the reading from the scroll continues, you ask yourself why all the others needed to come when obviously God wanted a word with you! ☹ You are blinded by His holiness. You are stunned by your own unworthiness. Yet your hope is rebuilt as you hear them read, “You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Nehemiah 9:17

“God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God’s Word.”

See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom