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Nehemiah
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

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Studies in Nehemiah                                                                                                                              Lesson 14

THE ANATOMY OF A REVIVAL

Nehemiah 8

Part 2

Intro.     

       Remember that Nehemiah 8 is the story of a revival including insights into what brings revival, characteristics of true revival and some of the results. In the last lesson, Insights into Conditions Which Produce Revival were considered. As seen in the summary review below, Nehemiah did two major things which laid the groundwork for the revival that followed.

I.     INSIGHTS INTO CONDITIONS WHICH PRODUCE REVIVAL.

       A.    He unified and mobilized God's people. Neh. 8:1

               1.    Nehemiah introduced fresh personnel into the leadership.

               2.    The truth was established. Neh. 8:2-3

               3.    Ezra made sure they didn't confuse the means with the end.

       B.     He saw that God's word was declared. Neh. 8:2-8

II.    NEHEMIAH EIGHT OFFERS SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE REVIVAL.

       A.    Reverence for God's word. Neh. 8:5

                      "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"

               1.    Imagine the word of Almighty God. There is no authority to compare with it. Consider Isaiah 40:10-18. Philippians 2:6-11.

                      Study notes:

                             Compare the words of God to the words of a parent, a president.

               2.    Repeatedly the Bible manifests the position of respect which God's word should have in the life of every person. Psalm 138:2 captures the

                      idea well. "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Consider also Job 23:12. Psalm 119:72,127.

                             Visualize the scene in Nehemiah 8:5.

               3.    His word should command the utmost awe and respect all.

                      a.     Consider the response in Ezra 9:4, "Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel...and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice."

                      b.    Consider Elijah's response in 1 Kings 19:12-14, "when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle."

                      c.     Compare with Chron. 36:16. Acts 7:54. Acts 22:22-23.

                             Study notes:

                                    On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the strongest, how would you rate your respect for the word of God?

                                    How does the respect factor you have seen in churches compare to this scene?

               4.     There can be no real and lasting revival where people do not respect and submit to God's word.

       B.     Worship of God. Neh. 8:6

               1.    They recognized the status of God and the role He should command in life. "And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God" and all the people expressed their agreement with hearty "Amen, Amen." When used by men, the word "Amen" means agreement or support for what is being said or done.

                             In the Hebrew, the word  barak (baw‑rak') is used. James Strong says it means "to kneel" and by implication "to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice‑versa) man (as a benefit)."

                      (Strongs: ref. 1288)

                             Later the verse says they "worshipped the LORD." The Hebrew word for "worship" is shachah (shaw‑khaw') which means "to depress, i.e. prostrate (espec. reflex. in homage to royalty or God):‑‑bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship." (Strongs: ref. 7812)

                             Worship is first recognizing God for who He is. Consider Isaiah 6:1-4.

                      Study notes:

                             How big is God in your life? Where do you really see Him in relationship to yourself?

               2.    They recognized their position in relationship to God and were humbled by it.

                             "They bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground." God is everything; we are nothing without Him. Consider John 15:4-5. 2Cor. 3:5.

                             God blesses humble people. Revival cannot come until humility is in the heart of God's people. James 4:6. 1 Peter 5:5. Psalm 51:17. Isaiah 6:5.

               3.    Imagine this scene in most Baptist churches today. "Amens" are not too common and most who raise their hands are viewed as grandstanders who are putting on a show to be seen of men. Many good brethren view this kind of response to God's word to be disruptive.

                      Study notes:

                             What kind of impact do you think a duplication of this behavior would have on your church?

       C.     Comprehension of the scriptures. Neh. 8:7

               1.    They "caused the people to understand the law."

               2.    Revival does not come where people do not understand the word of God. It is not enough that people merely hear the words; they must comprehend the meaning. Consider the Ethiopian man in Acts 8:30-31.

                             It is very possible for sincere people to simply go through the motions of Christian activity and never really understand what they are doing. Consider Eph. 4:17-18.

                      Study notes:

                             Consider this reality in regard to the Lord's Supper, giving, cliches in messages.

               3.    Revival comes when the truth of God's word becomes functional reality in the lives of God's people. Consider James 1:22-27.

               4.    Every man of God would do well to consider the plan for preaching that generates understanding which is set forth in Nehemiah 8:8.

                      a.     Read the book of the law distinctly.

                      b.    Give the sense of the passage.

                      c.     Cause the people to understand.

       D.     Facing and addressing sin. Neh. 8:9

               1.    Sin will block the blessings of God and revival every time.

                             Consider Isa. 59:1-2. Consider the case of Achan in Josh. 7.

               2.    Among the people who heard Ezra, there was conviction. "All the people wept, when they heard the words of the law." (Note the impact God's word when clearly given can have on hearts. Heb. 4:12) The response of God's people to the word of God should always be honesty and brokenness over sins. Where this is the response, God will forgive and revive us. Consider 1 John 1:8-9. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

                      Study notes:

                             Can you name specific instances in your life where God's word has brought conviction of sin and repentance in you?

               3.    "Mourn not." Thank God for His forgiveness of sinners. Sin is bad but it should not stop anyone. People can get forgiveness and go on. Consider Prov. 28:13. Psalm 32:5. 1 John 1:9.

                      Study notes:

                             Do you know specific instances where someone has been perpetually defeated because he/she could not get past a forgiven sin?

               4.    It is blindness and unwillingness to face the truth about our sins that withholds personal and corporate revival.

                      Study notes:

                             Name sins to which it is easy to be blind. Consider apathy, negligence, clicks, prayerlessness & neglect of God's word.

       E.     Rejoicing in God's fellowship. Neh. 8:10-12

               1.    Forgiveness and restored fellowship with God recognized can and should bring rejoicing to the heart. That is the jest of this passage.

                             Forgiveness and fellowship with God brings into light the whole spectrum of God's goodness and grace for they are only possible thereby. The more it dawns on us where we really were before forgiveness, the greater our appreciation and rejoicing thereafter. Consider Luke 7:37-48.

                      Study notes:

                             Consider the role of meditation to bring about understanding and recognition of where we are and of God's goodness to us.

               2.    Joy is tied to forgiveness and the security that is in God's grace. Thus, passages like 1 John 1

                      which speak so clearly about forgiveness and the ensuing fellowship that comes from it also speak loudly about joy. Consider 1 John 1:4.  Note well this link: They "understood" vs. 12 and they rejoiced.

                      Study notes:

                             Can you name one occasion where an understanding of the gravity of a matter relating to you brought about greater rejoicing?

               3.    This condition of sins forgiven and fellowship with God also moved them to give to those who were in need. Twice in this passage the words "send portions" appear. 1 John 3:17-18.

       F.     Obedience to the word of God. Neh. 8:13-18

               1.    When they learned the truth, they obeyed it.

               2.    It was time to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was a time of joy based upon knowledge of God's forgiveness and provisions. It prophetically speaks of the reconciliation that believers have based upon the atoning or redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Consider Leviticus 23:34-36 and Deuteronomy 16:13-15.

               3.    Regardless of what else one might do or think, until he/she lines up in obedience to God, there can be no true revival for him/her. Consider 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

                             In view of this people's meeting the conditions for true revival, Nehemiah 8:17 says, "And there was very great gladness."

                      Study notes:

                             Do you have revival in your life? Have you identified any factor that is standing in the way of a personal revival in you? Do you know what you need to do?

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"