Restoration Through God's Word and Grace
Summary
Summary:
This morning, we gathered to explore the profound theme of restoration through the lens of Nehemiah chapter 8. Restoration is at the heart of the gospel, a promise of perfected renewal through Jesus Christ. The Greek word "apokathistomy" encapsulates this concept, signifying the restoration that Christ brings to our lives. Just as my friend restored a dilapidated house, God seeks to restore our broken lives through His Word and Spirit. Sin creates a chasm between us and God, leaving us in need of restoration. Whether we are believers or not, we all require God's restorative work to align our lives with His truth.
Nehemiah's story illustrates the importance of God's Word in the process of restoration. After years of exile, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, but their hearts remained in ruins. Nehemiah recognized that true restoration required more than rebuilt walls; it demanded rebuilt hearts. The people gathered to hear Ezra read the law, responding with attentiveness, agreement, and a desire for more of God's Word. This serves as a mirror for us, prompting reflection on the place of God's Word in our lives and our response to it.
Restoration involves both evangelism and discipleship. As we engage with God's Word, we are transformed, conformed to the image of Christ. Conviction of sin is a vital part of this process, revealing God's desire to work in us. Through confession and repentance, we clear the rubble of sin, allowing God to do His transformative work. God's grace outweighs our sin, offering us a new beginning. My own journey of restoration, from addiction to grace, underscores the power of God's Word to bring healing and renewal.
As we approach Advent, we are reminded of the hope, love, joy, and peace found in Christ. Jesus came to save us from our sins, offering us the gift of restoration. Let us open our hearts to God's Word, allowing it to be a mirror that reveals our need for restoration and the grace that awaits us at the cross.
Key Takeaways:
1. Restoration Through Christ: Restoration is central to the gospel, promising renewal through Jesus Christ. Sin creates a void in our hearts, separating us from God, but through Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with Him. This restoration is both positional and ongoing, requiring us to continually align our lives with God's truth. [45:08]
2. The Role of God's Word: Nehemiah's story highlights the importance of God's Word in restoration. The Israelites' return to Jerusalem was incomplete without the centrality of God's Word. Similarly, our lives require God's Word as a foundation for true restoration, guiding us to right thinking and living. [56:18]
3. Evangelism and Discipleship: Restoration involves both evangelism and discipleship. As we engage with God's Word, we are transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. This process requires us to be attentive, responsive, and obedient to God's Word, allowing it to shape our lives. [01:15:26]
4. Conviction and Confession: Conviction of sin is a vital part of restoration, revealing God's desire to work in us. Through confession and repentance, we clear the rubble of sin, allowing God to do His transformative work. God's grace outweighs our sin, offering us a new beginning. [01:25:18]
5. The Gift of Grace: God's grace is greater than our sin, offering us restoration and renewal. As we open our hearts to God's Word, we encounter the grace that outweighs every sin. This grace is a gift that brings healing and hope, reminding us of the cross where Jesus bled and died for our sins. [01:27:52]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [45:08] - Introduction to Restoration
- [46:53] - The Need for Restoration
- [49:06] - Nehemiah and the Power of God's Word
- [51:50] - The Role of God's Word in Our Lives
- [53:37] - Nehemiah's Heart for Restoration
- [55:36] - Rebuilding Walls vs. Rebuilding Hearts
- [56:18] - The Centrality of God's Word
- [57:43] - Living in Ruins and Rubble
- [58:38] - Sin and Separation from God
- [59:39] - The Reality of Sin and Grace
- [01:00:40] - Personal Testimony of Restoration
- [01:01:28] - Building Walls of Sin
- [01:02:36] - Minimizing and Pretending
- [01:03:36] - The Call to Confession and Grace
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Restoration Through Nehemiah 8
Bible Reading:
- Nehemiah 8
Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the Israelites gathering as one to hear the reading of the law in Nehemiah 8? [49:06]
2. How did the people respond to the reading of the law by Ezra, and what does this reveal about their hearts? [01:08:55]
3. What role did Ezra and the Levites play in helping the people understand the law? [01:14:36]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is the centrality of God's Word crucial for true restoration, as illustrated in Nehemiah's story? [56:18]
2. How does the concept of restoration in Nehemiah 8 relate to both evangelism and discipleship in the Christian life? [01:15:26]
3. What does the weeping of the people upon hearing the law suggest about the impact of God's Word on their lives? [01:23:35]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the place of God's Word in your life. Is it central, or has it become more of a casual reading? How can you make it more central in your daily routine? [01:10:18]
2. Consider a time when you experienced conviction of sin. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to ensure that conviction leads to genuine repentance and restoration? [01:25:18]
3. In what ways can you engage more deeply in both evangelism and discipleship, allowing God's Word to transform you and those around you? [01:15:26]
4. Identify any "walls" you have built in your life, such as minimizing sin or pretending. What practical steps can you take to break down these walls and allow God's restorative work? [01:02:36]
5. As we approach Advent, how can you prepare your heart to fully embrace the hope, love, joy, and peace found in Christ? What specific actions can you take to focus on these themes? [01:36:45]
6. How can you use God's Word as a mirror in your life to reveal areas in need of restoration? What changes are you willing to make to align your life more closely with God's truth? [01:34:42]
7. Think of someone in your life who might be living in "ruins and rubble." How can you share the message of restoration and grace with them this week? [01:00:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Restoration Through Christ
Restoration is central to the gospel, promising renewal through Jesus Christ. Sin creates a void in our hearts, separating us from God, but through Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with Him. This restoration is both positional and ongoing, requiring us to continually align our lives with God's truth. The Greek word "apokathistomy" captures this profound concept of restoration, signifying the renewal that Christ brings into our lives. Just as a dilapidated house can be restored to its former glory, God seeks to restore our broken lives through His Word and Spirit. Whether we are believers or not, we all require God's restorative work to align our lives with His truth. [45:08]
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you invite Christ's restorative power into that area today?
Day 2: The Role of God's Word
Nehemiah's story highlights the importance of God's Word in restoration. The Israelites' return to Jerusalem was incomplete without the centrality of God's Word. Similarly, our lives require God's Word as a foundation for true restoration, guiding us to right thinking and living. Nehemiah recognized that true restoration required more than rebuilt walls; it demanded rebuilt hearts. The people gathered to hear Ezra read the law, responding with attentiveness, agreement, and a desire for more of God's Word. This serves as a mirror for us, prompting reflection on the place of God's Word in our lives and our response to it. [56:18]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make God's Word more central in your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to ensure it guides your decisions and actions?
Day 3: Evangelism and Discipleship
Restoration involves both evangelism and discipleship. As we engage with God's Word, we are transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. This process requires us to be attentive, responsive, and obedient to God's Word, allowing it to shape our lives. Conviction of sin is a vital part of this process, revealing God's desire to work in us. Through confession and repentance, we clear the rubble of sin, allowing God to do His transformative work. God's grace outweighs our sin, offering us a new beginning. [01:15:26]
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can share the transformative power of God's Word with this week? How can you intentionally disciple them in their faith journey?
Day 4: Conviction and Confession
Conviction of sin is a vital part of restoration, revealing God's desire to work in us. Through confession and repentance, we clear the rubble of sin, allowing God to do His transformative work. God's grace outweighs our sin, offering us a new beginning. This process of confession and repentance is not just a one-time event but a continual practice that keeps our hearts aligned with God's truth. As we confess our sins, we experience the freedom and renewal that comes from God's grace. [01:25:18]
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one sin you need to confess to God today? How can you create a habit of regular confession and repentance in your spiritual life?
Day 5: The Gift of Grace
God's grace is greater than our sin, offering us restoration and renewal. As we open our hearts to God's Word, we encounter the grace that outweighs every sin. This grace is a gift that brings healing and hope, reminding us of the cross where Jesus bled and died for our sins. As we approach Advent, we are reminded of the hope, love, joy, and peace found in Christ. Jesus came to save us from our sins, offering us the gift of restoration. Let us open our hearts to God's Word, allowing it to be a mirror that reveals our need for restoration and the grace that awaits us at the cross. [01:27:52]
"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." (John 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: How have you experienced God's grace in your life recently? In what ways can you extend that grace to others around you today?
Quotes
"Nehemiah knew that for 13 years, up to this point, for 13 years, Israel had been without God's word. Since being back in Jerusalem, there was no mention of the centrality of God's word here. They built walls, they built the temple, but there's no mention of the centrality of God's word in these verses." [00:56:43] (25 seconds)
"Listen, open up God's Word. You're going to learn a lot about yourself. And for me, that's kind of icky. But you're going to learn an awful lot about grace. You're going to learn an awful lot about Jesus, redemption. Open up the Word and yield to the Word." [01:13:41] (28 seconds)
"There are times in our life that our minds are going to need restoration. We're going to have to be reminded through God's Word, through the Holy Spirit, of His truth, of His promises, who He is, who He says we are, who He's made us into be." [01:17:18] (14 seconds)
"Every past, every present, and every future sin has been washed white as snow. There are times our minds will need restoration. There are times our hearts, because of sin, will need to be restored, not to bring salvation back twice. That's one and done for the true believer." [01:18:21] (20 seconds)
"Godly sorrow brings about repentance. Worldly sorrow, you're just sorry you got hurt. You're just sorry you got hurt. You're caught. But that weeping, we yield ourselves and we lament and mourn our sin, brings about repentance, which leads to salvation, which leads to restoration." [01:24:44] (20 seconds)
"God's word also conforms us more and more into the image of Jesus. It corrects us. It teaches us. Paul's letter to Timothy, it's good for all of these things. Teaching, correction, exhortation. Church, it grows us. It changes us. It conforms us more and more into the image of Jesus, so long as we yield in obedience to God's word." [01:26:39] (26 seconds)
"When the reality of our sin meets the reality of God's grace, restoration, a weeping, done through Jesus. And we're broken, and we are undone by the gospel." [01:28:38] (22 seconds)
"We are also confronted with a grace that outweighs every sin that we've ever committed. Father, give us the courage and boldness to run to you, to fall on our knees in front of you, to know that you fight for us, that you love us, you care for us." [01:38:14] (26 seconds)
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