The Greatest Sermons In the World... Ever!

Will be reading from Neomaya chapter 8 starting from Esurita Law. When the seventh month came, and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as 1 in the square before the water gate They told Ezra the teacher of the law to bring out the book of the law of Moses, which the lord had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month, Asia, the priest brought the law before the assembly, which was made of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the water gate. In the presence of the men, women, and others who could understand, and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

Ezra, the teacher of the law, stood on a high wooden platform, built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Metathaya, shima, Ananania, Eurya, Hilkaya, and Masiah. And on his left were Padaya, Michelle, Malke malkasha, Hazam, Hayshbadana, Hayshbadana, Zechariah, and Mashulam. 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.

Ezra praised the lord, the great god, and all the people lifted their hands and responded, our men, our men, then they bowed down and worshiped the lord with their faces to the ground. The levites, Jeshua, Benay, Sherabaya, Gemin, Akub Sherubithai. He did Hodaya messiah. Kolita Azariah, Josephad, Hainan, and Poliath instructed the people in the law while the people were standing there. They read from the book of the law of god, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Then Niamaya, the governor, Esha, the priest, and teacher of the law, and the levites who were instructing the people, said to them all. This day is holy to the lord, your god. Do not mourn or weep for all the people who had been weeping as they listened to the world words of the law. Nehemiah said, go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to the lord.

Do not grieve for the joy of the lord is your strength. The levites calmed all the people saying, be still for this is a holy do not grieve, 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. Thank you very much, Caitlin. Thank you for being brave enough to have a go with those names. She did did well with those, didn't she?

I'm not actually gonna even attempt it in the in the sermon. So, glad to have somebody else to have a go for us. My name is Tom Sweeman. I'm on the staff team here, and, a very warm welcome to you. It's good to have you, if you're visiting friends or family today.

We're beginning a new series this morning, which myself and Dean are gonna be doing over the next 3 weeks. And, we've in although it's not on the screen, we've entitled it the greatest sermons in the world ever. And, it's worth saying upfront that that's not a premature comment on our own sermons. Instead, what we've decided to do is to spend a few weeks looking, into the Bible and choosing some of the most, the greatest sermons that we find in the scriptures. From the old testament and the new testament and, spending a time thinking about why they were so good, what made them so good, and, what was their significance in the life of, the life of god's people.

And today, we're jumping back into this ancient book of Neemaier, and, we are going to think about Ezra's reading of the law and the, the way the levites went around and applied the teaching of the law, to the people. So let's bow our heads 1 more time and pray. And ask for god's help. Father, we thank you that, this morning, just like these people, we can have your word opened. And we can hear it read and explained.

And, we pray that you would help us to be transformed in the same way that these people were. They were attentive to the law. They were keen to hear the law. They responded with praise when they heard about the god of the law. They wept, and they rejoiced.

And we pray that you might take us on that similar journey this morning, that as we hear your word, you would confront us with your great promise keeping character and that we would both repent and rejoice as we see you afresh, in this sermon. And we ask it in Jesus' name. Oh, man. Oh, man. Well, on Thursday, many people gathered to remember the D Day landings And, this year, it was the 70 fifth anniversary of that momentous day on, June sixth, 19 44, when thousands and thousands of troops landed, all across the Normandy coastline, in order to fight against the the German German invasion.

But if you wind the clock back just 4 years earlier, almost exactly 4 years earlier from that point, and you come to June the fourth 19 40 when the threat in Europe was really starting to grow. You come to the moment when Winston Churchill, who had only who had only been prime minister for a few weeks at that moment, stood up in parliament and he delivered 1 of the most famous speeches ever to be delivered. Here's just 1 extract, which I'm sure you'll recognize. Even though large tracts of Europe, and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo, and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end We shall fight in France.

We shall fight on the seas and the oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds.

We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. And what makes that speech so famous is not is not just a poetry of it or the way that, it inspired a nation to take fresh courage. In the face of such a large threat, but the timing, the timing of it made it so special.

If this speech had been delivered a few years earlier, when the war was just a shadow or a rumor, it would never have landed with such force and I don't think it would have been remembered in quite the, quite the same way. But at this moment in history, when morale was at its lowest, when invasion was looking likely, when our allies were falling all across Europe, it was exactly what people needed to hear. The speech came at just the right time for the people. And as we come to Namite chapter 8, The same thing is true. Timing is what makes this sermon, this reading so very important.

In 586 BC, the southern kingdom of Judah was in big, big trouble. They had been invaded by the Babylonians led by king nebuchadnezzar. Their city had been sacked their temple had been burnt to the ground, and they had been carried off into a pagan world into into exile. So all those things that Dave was slightly drawing attention to in his prayer, those promises to Abraham, their their land and and the dwelling, and and and the presence was gone. They had no land, no temple anymore.

They were out into exile. But in 538 BC, nearly 50 years on, things changed. And King Cyrus of Persia, who was the new superpower on the scene, was then ruling the world, and he said, that god's people, the exiles, could begin to go home. Now, Ezra, who we find in this story, was 1 of the first people to go back. He was in 1 of the initial groups.

He was a priest. He was a scribe. And when he got home, he wanted to focus on spiritual reformation. So he wanted to reform the people of god under the law of god and bring them back to their roots. He wanted to reform those returning exiles and those few who had stayed behind.

And he did that for 13 years. For 13 years, he went about spiritual reformation with the law of god. But after that, Naomi came back. Now Naomi was not a priest. He was a governor, and he had come back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Which was no small project. And by the time we get to chapter 8, that work is now done. The walls are finished. The temple is up, and here we find Ezra and Neomaya gathering to to push on with this spiritual reformation. Now that most people are back, they wanna get them all together, get the law out and continue with this spiritual work that they've been doing.

So just like Churchill, what makes the speech so good is the is the timing. For decades, they had been in exile without the law, without a home, without a temple under god's judgment, but now everything was rebuilt. The word of god was coming back. This was a fresh start. This was a fresh chapter.

This was an opportunity for them to renew their covenant with the lord. And the word of god is going to be central to their lives. That that's that's what we see. Ezra and Nam know that, you see, they know that ultimately the security of the new Jerusalem doesn't really depend on how big the walls are, but on how loyal they are to the word of god. They could all be living inside a giant cardboard box and be safe providing they were loyal to the word of their covenant lord.

And so that is what chapter 8 is all about. They are they are at this critical moment in history, and new future is opening up before them. And Ezra steps up. With the book of the law. And so the first point I want us to, see this morning is this, they were hungry to hear.

The people were hungry to hear. This sermon. You might have noticed in the reading. Have a look at verse 1. It says all the people came together as 1 in the square before the Watergate.

They told Ezra, the teacher of the law to bring out the book of the law of Moses which the lord had commanded for Israel. Now some people think that could have only been the book of deuteronomy, but lots of others think it was probably the whole of the Torah. The the first 5 books, if you like, of Moses, first 5 books of what we call the Old Testament. So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the water gate in the presence of the men, women, and others who could understand.

And all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. So here we've got, it says it a couple of times, men and women and all who are of an age to be able to understand out in the open air. And what is the first thing that we're told about this crowd? What's the first thing we're told about them? They want the law.

They're the ones who ask for it. So they haven't assembled because they know the coffee is really good when they all get together. They haven't assembled because there's no decent sport on the telly. And they may as well do something with their afternoon. They haven't assembled because a family member has has dragged them along kicking and screaming.

They're thirsty for the law of god. Ezra, bring out the law. Bring out the law, Ezra. We we demand it of you. Get it out.

We wanna hear it. We wanna hear our god speak to us. Ezra, bring the bring the law. And so verse 4, Ezra stands on a wooden platform. And apparently, this is the first pulpit in the Bible.

It's a wooden platform that is that is built for for preaching and for leading, first first, first pulpit in the Bible. And then verse 5, Besides him on his right stood, these 13 helpers, who were probably looking after the books of the law. They didn't have nice leather bound, you know, hardback additions. It probably would have been in scrolled form. And therefore, you would have needed at least 13 helpers plus yourself to be unraveling the scrolls and passing you the next 1.

So this was no small lectern. I mean, I don't know how many we could get on here, but I think 14 would be would be pushing it. So there's this big pulpit. The law is out. The helpers are out.

And then it says in verse 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. As repraised the lord, the great god, and all the people lifted up their hands and responded, amen, amen. Then they bowed down and they worshiped the lord with their faces. To the ground.

So you see how hungry they are to eat what is inside this law. Ezra bring it out, they say. They stand up as a mark of respect. I mean, maybe if you remember school days, perhaps you had stand up when your teacher came in. Now why did you have to do that?

Well, because it was a mark of respect, but secondly, it was a recognition of their authority, wasn't it? You stood up when a greater authority came into the room. And that's what they do here. The law comes up. They stand up.

We respect the great god whose word this is. And now we're saying we want this authority back in the heart of who we are. We want this authority back. And then when Ezra begins, they lift up their hands, they bow down and they praise the lord. And that that is what they really, really want.

They're not idolizing the scroll They want to worship the god of the scroll. They're not just here to learn from the law. They want to encounter the god of the law. They want to meet their covenant god and praise him and build their lives upon his word again. And so from daybreak until noon, which is which is about 6 hours, they stay there and they listen.

No. I was on our website this week, and I was trying to find the longest sermon, that's ever been preached at Cornerstone. And it's quite hard, but you you can only order the files by size and not by length of recording. But I did a little bit of research, and there's quite a there's a lot of sermons in the sort of 40 to 50. Minute category.

There's there's a quite a few in the 50 to 60 minute category. But the winner was a sermon preached by our very own Pete, in November 2013, and it was part of a series called god on god. And, that sermon lasted for 1 hour and 4 minutes, which is quite, which is quite an achievement, isn't it? But it is nothing compared to this. 6 hours in the law.

And apparently, for the whole time they listened carefully. It literally reads, the ears of the people were in the law. The ears of the people were in the law, they were into or towards the law. That that was their focus. They were in the law for 6 hours.

They were in the law. Coffee breaks, comfort breaks, toilet breaks, snack breaks, Now we don't know. But for 6 hours, they were in the law, listening, and worshiping. Now I think most of you will be relieved to hear we're not planning to, to to mimic this service, in its entirety this morning. But there is a lot to learn, isn't there?

From this hungry crowd. Firstly, as I've said, they wanted the law at the heart of their community. And I'm sure you'd agree if you're a member here and you look around at your brothers and sisters, that it is wonderful to be part of a church. Where so many people share that passion. Even if age or illness or a young family, or a tough job, or a rough life situation, make things difficult.

With so many, there is this commitment. If I can get there, I will get there. I'm going to gather around the word of god. That's how I wanna order my week. Whatever else we've gotta do, if we can, we wanna build our lives around the law of the lord.

We wanna make sure we're we're building up around the word of god. And by god's grace, let's let's keep that up. But also, they respected the words. Now I'm not suggesting that we do exactly what they did and we stand up when the Bible is is read, although some some places do do that. But in the end, the important thing is is the heart, not the posture, But having said that, they weren't casual when it came to the word of god, were they?

Don't get the impression they were casual about the whole thing. I mean, I don't know for sure, but I don't get the impression there was people turning up halfway through the reading here. I don't get the impression there was people dozing off in a kind of uninterested way. They had gathered together eyes forward, hungry, relishing the opportunity to be able to meet with the lord. And so the way that we can respect the word of god in the same way is not by standing or bowing or kneeling, although some people, you know, that is that is helpful.

The way we respect it is by having our ears in it. In the same way that they did, and also by not taking it for granted. I mean, it is a great privilege, isn't it that we be in this room where there are probably a hundred and 50 to a hundred bibles all around us. You know, we're used to a culture where we've got the word of god at our fingertips all the time, and praise god that that is true, but it also comes with a danger, doesn't it? Yeah.

Sometimes we can't even be bothered to to open open to the reading and have it in front of us. So we think it was a Bible over the nose, it's just none of mine, then I, you know, you know, there can be this sort of casualness about the word of god. And look, I'm not saying that we worship the page in the ink. We worship the god of this book, but we shouldn't take it for granted. There is a sort of respect that comes by having the voice of god able to be read and explained to them.

So by god's grace, Let's follow their example. This sermon then begins with a hungry crowd. They've all gathered together. They're ready to encounter the lord. But secondly, they were helped to understand.

So they were hungry to hear, but they were helped to understand. Have a look at verse 7. The levites, these these those people there, instructed the people in the law while the people were standing there. They read from the book of the law of god, making it clear, and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. When the Victorian preacher, Charles spurgeon, used to used to speak, he would compare himself to a gunman who was out shooting.

And, he would say that when he stepped into the pulpit and preached his sermons were like a rifle that he was firing out into the congregation. He was firing bullets out to his people. And, because he couldn't be everywhere at once after the service, what he needed was some gun dogs, he called them, who could run out into the congregation and collect the wounded animals. That was his sort of idea that after the shots have been fired, you need the dog to go and get the wounded animal. And in his mind, that was the role of the elders and the deacons.

They were to be his gun dogs. So after he had shot out from the pulpit, they would go and see if any had been bought under a sense of conviction see if there was any who could be prayed for, any who could be brought to Christ, any who needed a bit of help understanding what had been said. His elders were his gun dogs. And it's a great it's a great image, isn't it? And it's it it seems to be the sort of thing that is going on here.

Ezra is reading the book of the law from the front. He's firing off his rifle, and these levites are like the gun dogs. It seems as if they were going around trying to make sure that the people understood what had been said and were giving them the meaning. And that was a very important thing, not least because, at this time, they were probably used to speaking aramaic, but the law of the lord was written in Hebrew. And so to be a gundog was hard work here.

You had a massive crowd you gotta run around, making sure not only people can hear it, but then being able to translate it and spelling out the applications for them. And all of that work was absolutely essential in this in this gathering. And here's why. Because if god's word was going to be the foundation at this covenant renewal, then they needed to understand what it said. If they were gonna go forward now and build their lives upon this authority, they needed to get it.

In order to be transformed by it. It was so critical that they made the meaning plain so that people could understand. In, Maxi, ready to understand. Just turn with me to colossians chapter 1, in your bibles. And, to verse 28, the end of colossians chapter 1 and into colossians chapter 2.

And I just want you to pick up the language that, shows Paul had a really similar cern. So colossians 1, verse 28. Someone could shout out page number when they get there. That would be good. 1 1 8 3.

Thanks. Christ is the 1 that we proclaim. Admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy that Christ so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Leodicea, and for all who have not met me personally, My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of god, namely Christ, In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, I tell you this so that no 1 may deceive you by find sounding arguments.

So here's the thing, Paul, Paul is saying I worked as hard as I could. I contended I proclaimed why so that you may have the complete riches of understanding. I labor so that you can understand because if you don't understand, then how are you gonna be united in love? If you don't understand, how are you gonna be matured into the image of Christ? If you don't understand, then how will you fend off these fine sounding arguments?

He needed to labor to make sure they understood the gospel. Because if they didn't, There could be no transformation. There'd be information, but no transformation. And that is why Paul says at the end of colossians, pray for us that god may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Here we go, Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should.

Colossians for verse 4, it is absolutely critical that the word of god is clear and that we can understand it. If it's going to be our authority. And so that is why we must pray for our Sunday school teachers And we must pray for our youth leaders, and for those who teach at the international cafe, I mean, that is a real challenge, isn't it? All these different languages, different levels of English, different cultures. We must pray for those who teach at the women's bible study for those who preach, for those who lead home groups.

It's no good having a bible teacher, it would just waffles on about things that not even they really understand. It's no good. Neamaia 8 is the model the word of god at the center, but clearly explained so that we can all understand So if someone asks you after the service this morning, what was the sermon about? And you say, well, we were looking at NamI 8, start of a new series, and, you know, I I was I was I I was really listening. I mean, sometimes I don't always, but I was really listening But you know what?

It's just it's just too complicated. I just couldn't get it. That's my fault. That's my fault. The job of every bible teacher is to open god's word and to explain what it means.

If information doesn't lead to transformation, then there's a problem somewhere. We need to be able to get it so that we can understand. So this crowd were hungry to hear but they were also helped to understand as the levites did their did their job. And thirdly, and finally, they were ready to be trans formed. They were ready to be transformed.

Have a look with me at, verse 9. Then Namaya, the governor, Ezra, the priest, and teacher of the law, and the levites who were instructing the people said to them all, This day is holy 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. Namiah said, go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our lord.

Do not grieve for the joy of the lord is your strength. The levites calmed all the people saying be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve. 1 more little trip into a church history. 1 of the 1 of the best preachers that this country has ever produced, is a man called George Whitfield.

And, he was famous for preaching in the open air, for a long time and to massive crowds. And 1 of my favorite stories from George Whitfield's life comes from, 17 39, when he was preaching to a load of coal miners in a place called Kingswood, in Bristol. Now coal miners at this time were famous for their bad working conditions and for their bad behavior. And in some ways, that wasn't really their fault. Because the state church of the day had largely neglected, people like that, and, they hadn't been any real effort to evangelize them, and so most of them had never set foot in the church.

But you can imagine the scene, can't you? These green hills and, these mineshafts and these piles of coal, and, these squalid little huts that they would have lived in, and you've got thousands of minors before George Whitfield, their faces are black with the coal dust, that they have been breathing in all day. They are leaning on their tools or trees or whatever else they can find, and George Whitfield stands up to preach. And here's what he says to them. Having no righteousness of their own to renounce, they were glad to hear of Jesus who was a friend to sinners.

The first discovery of their being affected was the sight of the white gutters made by their tears. Which plentifully fell down their black cheeks as they came out of their pulpits. Hundreds of them were soon brought under deep conviction, which, as the event proved, happily ended in a sound and thorough conversion. The change was visible to all. And I just love I just love that image of these these faces black with coal dust.

And yet as they're hearing the law of god preached, they begin to weep. And these white channels are carved out of their black faces by the tears that they're shedding because they recognize how far sure fallen, they they are. They recognize how far short they are of god's law, but then wonderfully they're led to Christ. And that was the order of things, you see. The law of god was understood.

It exposed their sin, and they wept But then they were taken to the gospel. They were taken to the lord who is their strength and their salvation and their joy. And the reason I mentioned that little scene is because it's not a million miles away from what we find here. Just think of the similarities. In the open air, a massive crowd, a makeshift pulpit, the word of god weeping over sin and then rejoicing.

But here's the question, what it what is the difference between these 2 scenes. What what what do you think is strange about Namia 8 as we read it? There's 3 things, 3 times it's mentioned, this strange detail. Do not mourn or weep verse 9. Do not grieve verse 10.

Do not grieve. First 11. So let's backtrack because just like those minors, the people were weeping as the law of god was read. Maybe they were being confronted with their sinfulness. Maybe they were regretting the fact that had been abandoned so long.

Maybe they realized as they looked around that this community was never gonna be as big or as glorious as the past 1. They were weeping as they heard the law. But then they are led to rejoicing. And why then does nehemiah? Why do the levites say don't weep?

Why do they say don't weep? Is it because their response is wrong? Well, no. In 1 sense, there's something very healthy about weeping. When the law reveals our sin and when we're convicted of it and when we're confronted with the holiness of god, that is a right response, and they felt that.

I mean, it's interesting in verse 9, isn't it? The levites had to calm people down. Mean, imagine that. When when can you remember a time when you or I were so convicted under the reading of the word that somebody actually had to calm us down? Because we we felt such a conviction.

That's what happened to them. And in 1 sense, that's right. But nehemiah says, don't weep. Why? Because weeping over sin is not to be their final destination.

Wallowing in their guilt is not the gospel. It might feel like the gospel to us wallowing in guilt, feeling bad, but that's not the gospel. Feeling the weight of it, is good, but bringing it to the lord and rejoicing. That's the finishing line. And that is what Namiah says in verse 10.

Over the past few years, there has not been much time for rejoicing. Building the wall has been hard work, Every stone has been a reminder that what we had, we have lost because of our sin. But this is a new chapter. The walls are up now. The temple is up now.

The word of god is open now. The lord has done this, and now is the day to delight in his grace. Now is a time for rejoicing. Under the word of god. And so he says verse 10, do not grieve.

For the joy of the lord is your strength. And in verse 12, that's exactly what they do. They're keen to obey. 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 have been made known to them. And in 1 sense, this is the storyline of every Sunday morning, isn't it?

It ought to be the storyline of every Sunday. We gather, eager to hear, ears in the law, we grieve over the ways that we have failed the lord and other people, but then we renew our joy in Christ. Celebration is the end goal of every Sunday morning. Celebration in God, celebration in Jesus, who knew our every sin, and yet with his blood satisfied the justice and the anger of god on the cross so that you and I could be brought out of exile out of sin, out of death, into a new life, a new chapter, a new start, into forgiveness. Christian believers are not defined by their sin anymore.

In Jesus, we are right with god. And so this life will always be 1 of sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Sorrowful over our sin anticipating a future day without it, but always rejoicing because we are right with god in Christ. Rejoicing is the end goal. And so I think that's what makes Nameyer 8 so special.

Just like Winston Churchill, the timing is perfect. After exile, beginning a new chapter, the content of the sermon is spot on. It is the law of god. Where else would you want to be? And the response is just wonderful, isn't it?

The information leads to transformation. That is why it belongs in our new series. They gathered together, that was good. They listened to the law. That was great.

It was explained to them that was crucial. But the reason it's kicking off this new series is because they were transformed. They repented and they rejoiced. What a great sermon that was. And I hope that is our ambition every week that the information we hear would lead to transfer we may not experience massive shifts in thinking and believing of the every service But no 1 should remain the same after an encounter with this god.

So as we reflect, can I ask, do you find yourself in this crowd this morning? Hungry to hear, keen to understand, respectful of god's authority, and thirsty to be transformed by the word of your god. That is the key to spiritual reformation. Let's bow our heads and, pray together. Father, we want to thank you for this amazing chapter, and, we thank you for the example.

That your people set for us here, that for the way they gathered and demanded that the law of the lord be brought out We thank you that they were hungry to hear and to encounter the lord of the law. And we pray that you would help us please week by week to have that same desire to hear from you. Father, forgive us that sometimes we can barely concentrate for 6 minutes. Let alone stand for 6 hours. And so lord help us, please, to love your law because there we meet you.

Father, we pray for everybody who teaches in whatever way in this church and ask that you would please help them to not only pass on what is written here, but to make the meaning clear. Father without your spirit, that is a hopeless task So please help all who teach in whatever way to be clear about the meaning of your word that we might understand it and be transformed by And father, we pray that each time we gather, you would help us to be confronted with our sin. Lord, we don't wanna be complacent. That we do sin against you so often and others, and yet we thank you that in our grief, we must not forget our great gospel rejoicing. The hope of Christ that is held out for sinners.

Help us always to come back to him and to delight in him, and we ask it in his name. Oh, man.