Be Sanctified.  Study it.  Submit to it.  Share it with others.

Ezra 7:10 says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” 

NLT: “Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.”  

An Example of Actions to Take with the Word of God

Ezra was a tremendous spiritual leader and a very skilled teacher as a scribe in Israel.  Before Ezra was a teacher, he was a learner, a learner of God’s Word.  From Ezra 7:10 we see four actions that Ezra took with the Word of God.  These four actions serve as an example to each of us for what we should be doing with the Word of God.  

What actions did Ezra take with God’s Word?   

First, he prepared his heart – He was sanctified, having a clean heart.

Second, he studied it. 

Third, he submitted to it. 

Fourth, he shared it. 

While the outline may seem simple his actions are very significant.  Let us thus go a little deeper regarding his actions. 

First, he prepared his heart so that he had a clean, sanctified heart.   Pastor James in his book called James teaches this important action.  James 1:21 says, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” 

One of the ways to view God’s Word is to see it as a seed.  For a seed to germinate and start to grow and then to produce fruit it has to be in good clean soil.  Soil that is hard or already cluttered with weeds will not allow the seed to get IMPLANTED.  It is therefore important for the student of God’s Word to begin with confessing all sins and asking for forgiveness that one might have a clean heart or a sanctified heart.  

Secondly, he studied to know what the Word said.  He opened the Word to observe the Word asking what is the one thing the verse is saying.  In a previous lesson we laid out ten good questions to ask as one is studying God’s Word.  As a reminder they are:

 1.  Is there a  PROMISE     to claim?                    Such as Proverbs. 3:5-6
 2.  Is there a  WARNING    to heed?                    Such as Proverbs 4:14-15; Luke 12:15
 3.  Is there a  COMMAND   to obey?                  Such as Matthew 28:19-20
 4.  Is there a    SIN    to confess?                         Such as Proverbs 6:16-19
 5.  Is there a    SIN    to forsake?                         Such as Proverbs 5
 6.  Is there a   LESSON    to learn?                      Such as II Samuel 13
 7. Is there a  PRINCIPLE   to apply?                     Such as Daniel 1:8
 8. Is there an  EXAMPLE   to follow?                   Such as the Good Samaritan
 9. Is there a  BLESSING     to expect?                  Such as Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38
10. Is there a   SERVICE    to perform?                 Such as James 5:16

Thirdly, he did not just tell others to how live, he lived it first. He submitted to what he had learned from God’s Word.  He practiced what he preached. And he did not keep to himself what he learned but shared it with others. 

As a teacher our conduct is a teacher.  Many times, our life teaches more than our lessons. In Hebrews 13:7 we have a verse that speaks to the members of a congregation where they are to “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow.”  This verse gives strong admonition for members to follow the leadership of God’s pastor.  It is worth noting that this is not the end of the verse as there is another action and that action is to “consider the outcome of their conduct.”  The follower is not to follow someone who is not practicing what they preach. 

As Ezra observed God’s Word he obeyed God’s Word.

Ezra then, fourthly, shared God’s Word with others.  He did not just learn for himself, he learned for others and then created opportunities to share what he had learned.  Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 went into action.  Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 says, “And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.  The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.”

What about you?  What are your actions with the Word of God?

Are you starting your Bible study with a SANCTIFIED heart so the Word of God can be implanted?

Are you taking time to STUDY God’s Word?  Are you a lifelong student of the Word?  Is there a hunger to know what God’s Word is conveying?

Are you SUBMITTING to the teachings of God’s Word?   Are you a doer or just a hearer of God’s Word?

Are you SHARING what you are learning with others?  You might recall from 2 Timothy 2:2 that it teaches to be a learner and then a teacher.  It says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  

Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”  As you pick up God’s Word let the example of Ezra equip you with four actions to take. Be Sanctified.  Study it.  Submit to it.  Share it with others.

An Article written by our founder Dwayne Carson 

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