Rise Up Week 5 - Fix Your Focus
Read
Nehemiah 8 Christian Standard Bible
8 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites] explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them. 13 On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before the scribe Ezra to study the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month. 15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.” 16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Ephraim Gate. 17 The whole community that had returned from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy. 18 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Summary
Welcome back to Community Group, we are in week five of our Rise Up Series. This week’s sermon was entitled, Fix Your Focus. We find ourselves in Nehemiah 8. The people had returned from exile and there was not a regular hearing or reading of God’s Word. The people asked for the Word to be read, they wanted to hear it. They built a platform for the sole purpose of having the priest proclaim the Word of God (aka preaching). There was something missing in life of Israel and they wanted it back. They wanted to interact with God and view His Word the right way. They wanted to FIX THEIR FOCUS.
Fixing our focus requires us to do three things: Have Passion, Have Presence, and Practice.
First, we need to have PASSION (v1-8). Passion requires us to have intent. Why do we have that passion, what do we desire to receive from it. Many times, that passion leads us to repent and be willing to make changes in our lives. We need to ask ourselves, is my passion in line with God’s will for my life? Passion should drive you to a closer and deeper relationship with God.
In verses 9-12, we find our second point, PRESENCE. We should find ourselves in the presence of God, that is where we find Joy. Zephaniah 3:17 says that the Lord finds joy in His people and rejoices over them. We need to be in the presence of our promise keeping God. When others attack our identity, His word reminds us of our true identity. We cannot live on yesterday’s Jesus; we need Him daily. They built a platform so they could hear what He had to say to them.
Finally, we need to PRACTICE being in His presence. When we are in His presence, we are able to do what He has asked us to do. We can experience His fullness. This prepares to face any obstacles the enemy brings our way.
So how can we do this?
We need to desire the Word. When we desire the Word, we are desiring God. Ask yourself, am I desiring anything above God? We need to examine where we are investing our time, treasures and talents? He gives us these things so that we can better worship God. Are we using them to worship something or someone else? Finally, we need to remember that God delights in us and we should delight in Him. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Discussion
How do you exhibit your PASSION for God? Explain
What happens when your PASSION is set on something other than God? Explain
How often are you in the PRESENCE of God? Explain
How do you know when you have not been in His PRESENCE? Explain
How do you PRACTICE praising God? How does His joy flow from you?
Announcements
Continue to pray for our CG leaders.
Help us pray for the 4 NEW CG’s started in the month of June.
Our CG Leadership gathering has been scheduled for Sunday, July 17th. More information to come through Whatsapp.
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
