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10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Nehemiah
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
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Studies in Nehemiah Lesson 13
THE ANATOMY OF A REVIVAL
Nehemiah
7-8
Part 1
Intro.
It is one thing to build a wall; it is quite another to build a people. Nehemiah did both. In the process of building the wall, he was building, developing, teaching, mentoring these people. It is usually the case that a mechanical vehicle of one sort or another is necessary in the development of people, especially in the molding of a group of individuals into a unit or effective team. The work of building this wall bonded this people. The project gave them goals, specific works to do, a series of accomplishments and self-esteem. They had to get to know one another and rely on each other for mutual support. The result was unification and a sense of belonging to a successful team.
Study
notes:
Tell where you have seen a mechanical vehicle or project mold and bond a group into a unit. Perhaps you saw it in a youth department, a church building program, in a family, in a business situation? How do wars affect nations? What about serious illnesses in a family? How did a fire affect early western settlers?
In the book named after him, Nehemiah is seen in three distinct roles.
1. As the book begins, he is the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Neh. 1:1-2:8
2. In Neh. 2:9-6:19 he is the builder of a mighty wall.
3. In the rest of the book, Nehemiah is the governor. Neh. 7:1-13:31 He was called "The Tirshatha" which means governor. (See Neh. 7:70).
As governor, the attention of Nehemiah was mainly on restoring the people whereas before it had been mainly on rebuilding the broken-down wall. Much work with the people had already been done, yet there was more. Once the wall
was completed, Nehemiah ordered the attendants for the house and work of the Lord Neh. 7:1 and men to attend many of the political and defensive responsibilities Neh. 7:2-4. By the end of chapter 7, the people were:
1. Well ordered.
2. Well defended.
3. Well governed.
In spite of all of the social and political molding of these people that had been done, something was missing. The spiritual life of the people was poor.
Study
notes.
Name and discuss cases where you have seen all of the external, visible pieces in place, but where in spite of these, things were not right at all due to a poor spiritual condition.
Nehemiah 8 is the story of a revival including insights into what brings
revival, characteristics of true revival and some of the results.
I. INSIGHTS INTO CONDITIONS WHICH PRODUCE REVIVAL.
A. God's people must be unified and mobilized. Neh. 8:1
1. Nehemiah introduced fresh personnel into the leadership. "I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many" Neh. 7:2
Ezra the scribe was also in the forefront of leadership. Neh. 8:1-6. He became the chief spokesman for the city.
a. Those who are in chief positions of leadership should not be afraid to delegate responsibilities. Furthermore, jealousy has no place in responsible leadership. Consider *2 Tim. 2:2.
Study notes.
Do you know someone who seems to be afraid to turn loose and share power? What has been the effect?
b. Delegation expresses confidence in people and involves them in the work. People always do better as participants, rather than as bystanders.
Study notes.
Discuss the differences that occur where people become truly involved as compared to their being mere spectators.
2. The truth was established. Neh. 8:2-3 Ezra took the law of God before the whole congregation and declared it to be the standard for life.
a. He made clear that the truth was not merely what each man wanted or thought it to be. To the contrary, the truth is established by God as set forth in His word. Every man is not to do his own thing, as he pleases;
instead every man is to conform to what God has said in His word. Consider 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Acts 5:29 & Rom. 3:4.
Study notes.
Discuss truth in light of today's attitudes toward absolutes and relativity.
b. Ezra made it clear that men are not to operate on emotions and feelings, but rather upon the word of God.
Study notes.
Discuss the modern Charismatic movement in light of Ezra's teaching.
Discuss attitudes toward the current work of the Holy Spirit in light of Ezra's teachings.
3. Ezra made sure they didn't confuse the means with the end.
a. They had not built a wall for a wall's sake. The purpose of this wall was to contain God's people, give them protection and identity that (1) usefulness might result and (2) God be glorified.
b. There is no lasting value in building stone edifices, church buildings and other such structures. The accumulation of large bank accounts by churches, the finest equipment and great programs are useless unless they result in fruit to the glory of God. Many scriptures speak of the vanity of religious activities apart from a heart that touches God. See Psalm 51:16-17. Isaiah 1:11-15. 1 Samuel 15:22. Hosea 6:6. Micah 6:6-8. Amos 5:21-24.
Study notes.
Elaborate on exactly correct religious activity where the heart is not right. In light of this, discuss giving, prayer and singing. Consider what Jesus said in Mat. 6:1-7 and Mat. 23:23-28.
B. God's word must be declared. Neh. 8:2-8
1. In a very broad-scale public gathering, the word of God was publicly declared. "And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose...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...So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" Neh. 8:4,5,8. That is God's way. He wants His word openly declared. See 1 Cor. 1:21. Preaching means to openly declare or herald forth.
Study notes.
What is your attitude toward preaching? After 30 minutes?
2. Men can not be timid and ashamed to declare the word of God and still legitimately expect revival to come.
3.
The people manifested a proper response to the word of God. Verse
3 says, "the ears of all the
people were attentive unto the book of the law."
Study notes.
What good is truth and all that goes with worship if it is ignored?
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"