Revive Us Again

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Revive Us Again

• Nehemiah 81-13

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I. God's People Needed Revival in That Day.

• A. You and I are of God's people today.
• 1. The Jews in Nehemiah's day were certainly
  God's people.
• 2. They were in need of revival but didn't
  realize it.
• B. "But I am actively involved in God's Work
  now."
• 1. The Jews were actively involved in His work.
• 2. Actually, their involvement may have created
  greater need for revival.

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I. God's People Needed Revival in That Day.

• C. "But I have just had a notable spiritual
  achievement."
• 1. The Jews had just had a notable achievement.
  
• Nehemiah 616b, for they perceived that this
  work was done by our God.
• 2. The need for spiritual revival actually may
  be greatest after a great victory.

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II. The Revival We Need.

• A. It involves a renewed emphasis on the Word of
  God (v.1-3)
• 1. All Scriptural revivals are based on the Word
  of God.
• 2. It involved understanding the meaning
  (application) of the Word.
• (v.7b) And the Levites, helped the people to
  understand the Law and the people stood in
  their place.

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II. The Revival We Need.

• B. It produces certain effects.
• 1. A recognition of personal spiritual need
  they wept.
• v.9b, "This day is holy to the LORD your God
  do not morn nor weep." For all the people
  wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
• 2. A sense of great joy and rejoicing came.
• v.12, And all the people went their way to eat
  and drink, to send portions and rejoice
  greatly, because they understood the words that
  were declared to them.
• 3. A renewal of spiritual interest.
• v. 13, Now on the second dayall the
  peoplewere gathered to Ezra the scribe, in
  order to understand the words of the Law.

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II. The Revival We Need.

• C. Always exalts the Lord.
• 1. The people stood out of reverence for the
  Word.
• vs. 5-6, And Ezra opened the book in the sight
  of all the peopleand when he opened it, all the
  people stood up.
• 6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then
  all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while
  lifting up their hands. And they bowed their
  heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to
  the ground.

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III. How You Can Know Genuine Revival Today.

• A. Admit the needs in your life.
• 1. If you have ever been closer to the Lord than
  now.
• 2. If the Word of God has become routine or
  neglected in your life.
• B. Turn back to the Word of God.
• 1. Take time to expose yourself to it afresh.
• 2. Pray that God will use it in your life.

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Hebrews 412

• For the Word of God is living and powerful, and
  sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even
  to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints
  and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
  and intents of the heart.

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III. How You Can Know Genuine Revival Today.

• C. Respond to what God shows you through the
  Word.
• 1. Confess your sin.
• 1 John 18-910, If we say that we have no sin,
  we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
  us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
  just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
  from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we
  have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word
  is not in us.
• 2. Make your commitments to God.
• Nehemiah 938, And because of all this, We make
  a sure covenant and write it Our leaders, our
  Levites, and our priests seal it.

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III. How You Can Know Genuine Revival Today.

• D. Seek in every possible way to exalt the Lord.
• Mark 838, For whoever is ashamed of Me and My
  words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
  of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when
  He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy
  angels.
• Romans 1011, For the Scripture says, Whoever
  believes on Him will not be put to shame.
• Romans 116, For I am not ashamed of the
  gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
  salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
  first and also for the Greek.   

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IV. What is the Result of True Revival?

• A. The forgiveness of our sins.
• Col. 114, (Christ) in whom we have redemption
  through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
• B. It brings joy. - Ps. 518, Make me hear joy
  and gladness, That the bones You have broken may
  rejoice. 12Restore to me the joy of Your
  salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
• C. Our relationship is restored.
• Ps. 287,  The Lord is my strength and my shield
  My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped
  Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my
  song I will praise Him.
• D. Our assurance is renewed.
• Rom. 1513, Now may the God of hope fill you with
  all joy and peace in believing, that you may
  abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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V. The Consequences  

• "The Joy of the Lord is your strength." (v.10b)
• A. It is our strength in time of trouble!
• B. It is our strength in time of testing!
• C. It is our strength in time of temptation!
• D. It is our strength in time of dullness
  dryness!