Let The Revolution Begin

The opening chapter of Nehemiah reads, 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ’If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."

The church has been in exile in America, the walls have been broken down and it is time for a fresh revolution of change to take place, for streams of revival to flow from believers, through the buildings, into the streets as living streams of revival into our cities, state, and nation and once again throughout the world. This New Year brings with it challenges and it also contains the promised victory of God for those who are willing to stand and fight in the name of Jesus Christ. It is time to let the revolution begin.

Nehemiah said he had heard of the plight of those who had returned home from exile, their walls of protection had been broken down and they needed help. He also was a man who knew the Word of God which brings victory, pointing out in prayer God’s words to Moses, the unfaithful will be scattered but for those who obey God’s commands, He will draw then together and bring them to a place of gathering in His name.

We repent today, for our nation, for our state, for our community, for our church and we, like Nehemiah call upon the Name of the Lord to redeem us, drawing us together in this place of gathering, and others of like mind who seek to restore the walls of faith which have been broken down in our city, to see a life transforming revolution begin starting with us and spreading out into the streets of our city. Let the Revolution begin.

Luke wrote in Acts 5:42 “And every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: "The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus." Where did they share the message of Jesus the Messiah? In the Temple (the main gathering place for worship) and in their homes.

In Acts 20:20, Luke records these comments from the Apostle Paul, “Yet I never shrank from telling you the truth, either publicly or in your homes.”

He taught them out on the streets or in their homes the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Interesting to note, prior to Paul’s conversion, when he was the dreaded Saul, following the death and burial of Stephen, Acts 8:3 tells us this of Saul, “Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail.”

Where was he going to get them? In their homes? Why? Because the early church was a house church where people could come and gather knowing each other and knowing Christ in a more personal gathering.

The Temple, the main church building, and the homes were tied together. Nehemiah was informed the walls had been broken down, perhaps the walls of our faith have also been broken when we moved from the Biblical example of Acts into what we perceived to be a better form of worship. If it is better, then why do we find less genuine Christianity and more pseudo-Christianity today? Have we neglected the principles, which caused the church to grow 2,000 years ago by developing a new form, which has not seen growth but has lead to decay?