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SPIRITUAL REVIVAL Nehemiah 7-8 7/17/16 Many Christians Are Praying

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SPIRITUAL REVIVAL Nehemiah 7-8 7/17/16 Many Christians Are Praying SPIRITUAL REVIVAL Nehemiah 7-8 7/17/16 Many Christians are praying for true spiritual revival to break out in our country. But, what characterizes genuine spiritual revivals in the Bible? First, they don’t begin with mass evangelistic crusades. They begin with a change in the hearts of those who already claim to be followers of God. Second, they are not characterized by strange behavior and bazar emotional experiences. There is no slaying in the spirit or holy laughter. There are five common features to all of the major revivals in the Bible. A hunger for the Word of God Sorrow and confession of Sin A willing obedient to God’s Word True worship and a recounting God’s glory A humble return to serving and giving to God We find of these in the revival found in Nehemiah 8-10. We will examine them over the next two weeks. As we arrive at chapter 8, the walls of Jerusalem have been reconstructed and the people have moved into their own houses. In chapter 7 Nehemiah appoints city leaders and registers a census of those who returned. The Jews were now comfortable, well organized, and well defended. Nehemiah 8-10 records the work of the Word of God and the Spirit of God in the spiritual revival of the people of God. 1. Spiritual revivals are characterized by a hunger for God’s Word . 8:1-8 1-3 The people took the initiative. • They gathered together and asked Ezra to read the book of the Law of Moses to them. (Genesis - Deuteronomy) • They weren’t seeking an emotional experience • They weren’t seeking personal prosperity • They wanted to know about God and what He wanted them to do. • They listened for 6 hours to the reading God’s Word. 5-6 They stood as a sign of respect for God and the Scriptures. • They listed their hands as a symbol of receiving God’s Word, and • They bowed down in submission and worship. Walter Kaiser (Old Testament scholar and former seminary president): “Every revival in the OT rested solidly on a new and powerful proclamation of the Word of God.” The same is true of other revivals in history. • The Reformation was characterized by a hunger for God’s Word. ♦ Wycliffe, Huss, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Knox • In America in the 1730’s Jonathan Edward led the Great Awakening. ♦ He simply read his sermons and people were crying out in repentance for their sins. • George Whitefield (1714-1770)- delivered 18,000 sermons. (@ 600 per year of ministry) ♦ He preached to 10,000 people in Boston commons before there were 10,000 people in Boston • Charles Spurgeon- In 1856, when he was only 22 years old taught the scriptures weekly to 10,000 people who filled the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. As many as 4000 stood outside hoping to get in. • The Jesus movement of the1960’s was characterized by a hunger for the scriptures. 8 The reading of the law was interspersed with interpretation and explanation. Spiritual revivals are characterized by a hunger for God’s Word. 2. Spiritual revivals are characterized by a sorrow for sin. 8:9-12 v. 9 They wept when they heard God’s law. Cf 9:2-3 • Not tears of joy, but penitent sorrow • They grieved at their violations of God’s law. • They were convicted of their sin. • They were saddened by the resulting punishments they had suffered in their captivity. • They didn’t excuse their sins or blame them on others. 9:2-3 They humbly confessed their sins to God, whatever they might be. • Idolatry and immorality • Selfish lifestyles • Anger and bitterness • Slander and gossip • Dishonesty and lying • Greed, covetousness, envy, and jealousy 10-12 Though sorrow is the appropriate response for our sin, joy is the right response to a renewed relationship with God • The words they had heard not only reminded them that God punishes sin, but also that God blesses obedience. ♦ There is a time for sorrow and repentance, and 2 ♦ There is a time to recognize and rejoice over God’s forgiveness. • By God’s grace they were on the brink of a new beginning. ♦ That called for celebration. 3. Spiritual revivals are characterized by a willing obedience to God’s Word . 8:13-18 v. 13 The people in Nehemiah’s day wanted more of the word of God for a second day. • The heads of all the families came to the priests and Levites for further instruction. ♦ The heads of households are responsible for the life-styles and spiritual instruction of their families. ◊ Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ◊ 1 Timothy 3 vv. 14-16 They learned about the feast of Tabernacles (booths) and willingly applied what they learned • It is found in Leviticus 23:33-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15 ♦ It was one of three feasts each year which every Jewish male was to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate. • The feast of Tabernacles (booths) looked back to God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness during the Exodus. • It looks forward to the Millennial reign of Christ. Cf Zechariah 14:16-19 17 The Feast of Booths had been celebrated in the past. (cf. 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Chron. 7:9; Ezra 3:4 • But it had apparently not been celebrated in this way ♦ With such overwhelming joy, ♦ With all the people participating 18 They listened to the Scriptures being read every day for a week. John R. W. Stott A man who loves his wife will love her letters and her photographs because they speak to him of her. So if we love the Lord Jesus, we shall love the Bible because it speaks to us of him. 4. Important Questions a. What is the difference between people who come to church and are bored and turned off and those who are like sponges who cannot get enough? • The difference is the heart. ♦ Some are hardened by their own sin and self-will. ♦ Others are distracted by other things in life that consume their attention. ♦ But there are others who have a hungry for God and have a teachable spirit. • What is the condition of your heart? ♦ Hard, shallow, distracted, or committed? ♦ Closed, hard, indifferent, and unteachable? 3 ♦ Open, eager, and hungry for God’s Word? Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899) Sin will keep you from this book. This book will keep you from sin. A number of surveys show an appalling lack of biblical knowledge among Christians today. There is an equally appalling lack of godly living among those who claim to be evangelical Christians. b. What is necessary to have an open and eager heart? • Fall on your knees in repentance and confession of your sin and hardness of heart. • Commit yourself to consistently spend time in God’s Word. D. L. Moody: “I prayed for faith, and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ‘Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’. I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.” The Word of God and the Spirit of God work together to chip away at hard hearts. Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock? Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. c. How important is the Word of God in your in your life? Christian Johnson A Bible that's falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn't. George Mueller: “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts. I have read the Bible through one hundred times, and always with increasing delight. Each time it seems like a new book to me. Great has been the blessing of consecutive, diligent, daily study.” Psalm 19:10 “They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” Psalm 119:72 “The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces” d. Are you aware of the seriousness of rejecting the Bible’s message of salvation? Hebrews 10:26-29 e. Would you like to hear the good news? Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 4.
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