Ezra 9:5-15; Nehemiah 8, 9
Step Into The Circle

Introduction
1. America is the greatest country in the world. America is great because God made her great.
2. America is on the decline. Hosea says: Seeing you have forgotten the law of God, I will
forget your children. America is on a collision course with the judgment of God.
3. God’s wakeup call precedes His final judgment. Any society that rejects the principles of
God is in trouble. God gradually withdraws His presence and leaves a society to its own
devices. I believe the process has begun.
4. The church has the same problems as the world. We are playing church. The condition of
our society is no more than a magnified reflection of the church as a whole. Judgment
must begin at the house of God.
5. It is time for God’s people to get right with God. Revival is not a miracle. Draw a circle.
Step into the circle: “Lord, begin to do a work with me…in this circle.”

Are you willing to step into the circle?
I. IN THE CIRCLE…THE PRAYER Ezra 9:5-15
Israel was in a state of moral decay and spiritual decline. Listen to Ezra as he prays:
A. Are you willing to get down before God and be honest with Him? 5
B. Are you willing to quit playing games and call sin…sin? 7, 8
C.Are you willing to realize you are a slave and claim God’s grace? 8, 9
D.Are you willing to admit you have forsaken God’s word that led to sin? 10
E.Are you willing to see that we are like the world and have sold our children out? 12
F.Are you aware that what you are doing is hypocrisy and evil? 13, 14
THIS IS THE ONE IN THE CIRCLE!

Are you willing to step into the circle?
II. IN THE CIRCLE…THE PROCLAMATION Nehemiah 8:1-12
October 8, 444 b.c.
A. The People’s Responsibility 1-3
1.I Must Hunger For It 1
2.I Must Have It 2a, 3
Ezra brought the Law before the congregation. There must be a returning to God’s Word.
3.I Must Heed It 3b, 6, 9 Do It!
B. The Preacher’s Responsibility 4-8
1.The Pulpit 4
The pulpit is filled with a man who is broken before God.
2.The Power 5
Ezra opened the Book.
3.The Purpose 6
They Blessed the Lord. 30,000-50,000 (7:66,67)
They Fell before the Lord.
4.The Pronouncement 7, 8
They Understood the mind of the Lord. The people were convicted: The people wept!
Are you willing to step into the circle?
III. IN THE CIRCLE…THE PURITY Nehemiah 9:1-3
Ezra 10:2 “We have trespassed against our God.” If one is Right with God there must be
repentance (a turning from sin).
A. Sincerity 1
1.Mean Business!!
2.Feasting gave way to fasting. Sackcloth was a sign of inner repentance. Dust showed a sorrowing heart.
3.Call sin…sin.
4.Confession is uncomfortable.
B. Separation 2
1. These are God’s people in brokenness.
2.Admit what God’s Word has uncovered.
3. Confession must go deeper than we think!
C. Sanctification 3
1.Time: they were 3 hours in the Word…3 hours searching their hearts and confessing, 3 hours in worship.
2.Toil: It takes time for God to work and do a work. Give God Time To Work!

Are you willing to step into the circle?
IV. IN THE CIRCLE…THE PRAISE Nehemiah 9:4ff
They are absorbed with God: Who He is…What He has done.
A. God’s Goodness 6-15
1.And reflects God’s goodness. Count your blessings!
2.Confession is more God centered than we understand. God is used 85 times, and the pronoun for humans only 33 times.
B. God’s Grace 16-32
1.They (16-18, 26, 28-30) They did it!
2.We, Us, Our (32-34) We did it!
3.But In spite of all His goodness how stubborn they were (16) God’s grace (17)!!
4. Nevertheless…they were disobedient. (26-29)
5.Yet They would not listen. (30, 31)
C. God’s Greatness 6-38
He is our only hope!! (31ff)
1.He is great, mighty, awesome and powerful! (9-11)
2.His faithfulness is without question! (17b-25)
3.His compassion is boundless! (27-31)

Are you willing to step into the circle?
V. IN THE CIRCLE…THE PROMISE Nehemiah 9:38ff
First, God must have you. Then He will have everything else.
A.New Vision
1.The priest led the people to renew their commitment.
2.There is a desire for a new relationship with their covenant keeping God!
B. New Vitality
1.Signatures accompanied this sealed document: THEY MEANT BUSINESS!
2.“Lord, I want the world to know!”
C. New Venture
1.These people were anxious to alter their lives!
2.They had new priorities: At Home (10:29, 30) In Their Business (31) In Their Church Life (39)

The Church wants the world to get saved.
The world is waiting for the church to get right!

Draw A Circle…Step into the circle: “Lord, do a work in this circle.”
Are you willing to get into the circle???