Speaker : Rev. Daniel Yaw
Scripture: Nehemiah 9
Introduction
What are you reflecting as we come to the close of 2023?
A) Core Values Upheld (1-5)
“And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; and for another quarter of it they made confession and worshipped the LORD their God. On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.” (v3-5)
When I read those verses and meditate upon them, I see the hands of God upon our church as well. From the very start of FCC, the leaders gathered together and came up with these first 3 core values. Word, Worship and Waiting upon God.
B) The Character of God Unfolded
1. The Righteousness of God / The Faithfulness of God
“And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.”
2. The Providence of God
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea’ (v 9)
- The God who sees and hears
- The God who acts and provides
3. The Mercies of God
"But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them."(v17)
Inspite of....
Abounding in....
4.The Goodness of God
“And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness." (22, 25)
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The Promise of the Land
"And God gave them kingdoms and peoples from every corner"
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The Provision of the Lord
"So they ate and were filled and became fat."
Conclusion
As we close the year – it is always good to
REFLECT and
REDEDICATE and be
REVIVED. This is the road to be revived in the LORD.
- v 28 “Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.’
- v 31 “Nevertheless, in your great merices you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
- v 38 “Because of all this, we make a firm covenant in writing….”
