Nehemiah 8:16
“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.”
One of the hardest lessons many have had to learn in the ministry is that they can’t make people respond to what they want them to do. You can try to shame people into responding, but that doesn’t make them change. You can require people to respond, but again that won’t constitute a change in heart. The desire of every preacher, teacher or ministry leader should be that people don’t only respond, but that their response is the result of a change of heart.
The verse above shows that Nehemiah learned the secret to getting people to respond as a result of a change of heart. Two times in this chapter they responded to Nehemiah’s leadership through the teaching of the Word of God. You find that God’s Word is the key to getting people to respond as a result of a change of heart. It says in verse 1, “…they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.” It was God’s Word and what they did with His Word that started the people’s response through a changed heart. There were four things they did with God’s Word that caused the change of heart.
First, they read the Word of God. Verse 3 says, “…he read therein…” There is only one way you will ever get to the heart of any individual, and that is through the reading of the Word of God. God reminds us of the power of how deep His Word will go in Hebrews 4:12 when He says, “…piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” You will never change people without the reading of God’s Word.
Second, they prayed to the God of the Word of God. After they had read the Scriptures, they prayed to God confessing their sin and praising Him. If you want God’s Word to affect the hearts of those who hear it, you need to commit the reading of it to God through prayer asking Him to let His Word work deeply into their hearts until they change.
Third, they taught the Word of God. Verse 8 says, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” It is vitally important to teach God’s Word in such a manner for people to understand what they read. You will find that when people clearly see what God’s Word teaches, they will more aptly be willing to change from their erring ways. Teaching your opinions and preferences will not change people, but God’s Word is what causes people to have a change of heart.
Fourth, they challenged people to change from God’s Word. In verses 10 and 16, you will see the people accepted the challenge from God’s Word to change. You will be amazed how God’s people will be willing to respond when they are clearly taught and challenged from His Word.
My friend, don’t underestimate the power God’s Word can have in the hearts of mankind. People will respond as a result of a change of heart if we use God’s Word to do the changing. Don’t fall for the trap of using man’s methods and opinions, but stick with the teaching of the Word of God and you will be amazed how readily people will want to respond.