Our Fire-starter comes from Nehemiah 8. Our Fire-starter thought is the message that came from the Master through the messenger!!!!

Let me start this morning off by saying we need the Master, Message and the messenger. All three things are vital in our daily walk. 

People have gotten away from the Bible, from the conservative music and from the separated Messenger. What do i mean by this? This world has tried its best to redefine the Bible to make it sound good to them they have made the music sound like a rock and roll band and the preachers look like they just come off of a Hollywood commercial trying to impress another generation. God help us!!!

In Nehemiah's day they didn't sing they listened to the Word of God. In fact, if you notice the text, they stool for the reading of the Word of God which brings me to my first statement and that is 

a.) They had respect for the Bible 

You will stand for the president, or some great official but yet we sit and listen to the Word of God being read in the comfort of your seat when Christ ought to be esteemed higher than the president, or pastor, or even your elder. He puts his Word above his name!!!! Have respect for the Bible. 

Several years ago, I was in a church, and it didn't matter what scripture i read he stood for every one of them. If I even quoted a scripture he stood up. I thought to myself this is kind of odd but looking back at it now i wish that all would have respect like this man did. 

We will applaud the preacher, but we will be appalled at the Bible. 

The message has not changed friend. Sin is still sin, Christ died for the sin, and he wants you to be cleansed of your sin. 

b.) They received the message with open hearts and open ears 

They sat there and listened to the message that had been given. This was not a fairy tale story, this was not a build your church in ten steps, this was not the three little pigs that tried to build something good. This message was a convicting, concerning, and complete message. They listened to every bit of it. By the way, this message was not over everyone's head!!! Young preacher, remember do not put things over everyone's head 

you can tell when there are backslidden people in the pews from whether or not they want to hear the message or not. Notice what Billy Sunday said, “The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn't hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.”

c.) They responded to the message 

It brought sadness of heart but then they became joyful. 

Let me ask you this morning, Are you respecting the message? Are you receiving the message gladly? Lastly, Are you responding to the message joyfully 

The messenger has an important part to play in this. Preacher, make sure you dress like a preacher, act like a preacher, and live like a preacher, but most importantly preach like a real preacher!!! Don't be ashamed or scared of the message or the people receiving the message because one day they will have to give an account for how they responded, preacher, you will have to give an account for the message you have given!!!

“I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” ― Richard Baxter

Have a great Day!!!!

Nehemiah 8:1-18 KJV
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. [2] And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. [4] And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. [5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: [6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. [7] Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. [8] So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. [9] And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. [10] Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. [11] So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. [12] And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. [13] And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. [14] And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: [15] And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. [16] So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. [17] And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. [18] Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.