"Real Revival" June 30 Readings: Nehemiah 6-9

Today's Reading - Nehemiah 6-9

Background

Nehemiah finishes the wall in spite of opposition and Ezra leads the people to return to God.

Devotional - Real Revival

Many books have been written and sermons have been preached on how to bring revival to our land. Most fail because they reduce this work of God to simple formulas and easy steps. We cannot do that. But in Ezra 8 and 9 we observe a real revival in which Ezra led the people of God to return and be spiritually renewed. In these chapters, we see some key aspects of real revival. This is not a formula or easy steps, but there are keys.

The word of God was central to the work of God. Ezra begins the renewal by reading the word (8:2-6) as the people stood in the presence of God. There was a group of Levites who took the time to explain to the people what they were hearing from the lips of Ezra (8:7-8). There have been many revivals throughout biblical and church history, but those that have been the most long-lasting and have had the greatest societal impact were word-based. Jonathan Edwards boldly proclaimed Christ for 17 years before God brought the First Great Awakening.

Yes, you should pray for revival, but do not neglect studying for it and preaching for it. The word of God is the basis of true revival.

There is something interesting that takes place in the middle of this renewal. The natural tendency of people when God shows up is to repent and weep and mourn. The brightness of the glory of God exposes the darkness of our sin. But in Nehemiah 8:9-10, the people were told that on this day holy to the Lord that they should not weep or grieve, but should rejoice in the Lord and what he has done.

Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.

We gain our strength from Jesus Christ and his work in our lives. Yes, salvation requires repentance from sin, but he has done great things for us and we should rejoice. Our strength comes from the joy that Jesus produces in our lives.

Of course, the fact that we glory in the Cross does not mean that we do not face our sin. After a time of rejoicing, chapter 9 speaks of a time of national and intentional confession of sin. All of the people gathered to seek God and to lay bare their hearts before him. Celebration of Jesus leads to confession of sin.

There is one more element in this story. Time. We want to microwave spirituality. A quick trip to church on Sunday morning. A verse or two of Bible and a devotional thought. But growing in Christ takes time. The Israelites built shelters so they could stay in the presence of God. Weeds grow quickly but an oak takes time to grow. We need to devote time to God's word, to prayer, and to the things of God if we wish to be conformed to Christ.

Father, thank you for your gracious work and willingness to revive your people. May we seek you through your word, celebrate your goodness, confess our sin, and give you the time it takes to grow in the knowledge of Christ. 

Think and Pray

Revival is a work of God but there are things we do to seek God's power and presence.
Are you seeking deeply the word of God, rejoicing in Christ and giving the time necessary to draw near to Christ?
"Praying for revival" is empty if you are not doing those things.