“REVIVAL AT THE WATER GATE”
Nehemiah 8:1-9 KJV
INTRODUCTION:
A revival would have never come to these people, in this place, in chapter 8, if they would have not been mindful of the work that needed to be done in chapter 2.
The mind-set they had to work in chapter 2 is shown in their mind-set to worship God here in chapter 8.
They all worked 2:18 and they all worshiped 8:1….(read them)
Oh to God, that the church today would come close to having a sliver of this mind-set. Notice I said the church, not just one or two, but the “all” noted in these two verses.
Then will the church and the world see true revival, the lost saved and the saints renewed.
1. LET’S SEE WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE REVIVAL…..Vv.1-3
A. ALL THE PEOPLE…..Vv 1a
~That little phrase "all the people" occurs 11x’s in this chapter.
~It is a reminder to us of the importance of the gathering together of God’s people.
~The Bible says they gathered themselves as one man, there is beauty in UNITY
~ One Pastor said….
“I fear that in the average church Sunday morning attendance is a big blowout. Sunday
night is a little turnout. Wednesday night is practically a fallout.
B. ON THE FIRST DAY….Vv 2c
They didn’t wait to see who was there on the first day and then make it out the rest of the week; they were all there from the fist day to the last day….Vv. 18
C. FROM MORNING TILL MID-DAY….Vv. 3b
(Do not complain about the 3 hrs. you MAY be spending at church)
~When people really get a hunger for the Word, the time really isn’t that important.
D. ALL WERE LISTENING TO THE MAN OF GOD….Vv 3c
2. LET US SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE REVIVAL……Vv. 5-8
A. THE BOOK WAS OPEN, AND ALL SEEN IT…..Vv. 5a
B. THE BOOK WAS OPENED, AND ALL STOOD UP…..Vv. 5b
C. EZRA BLESSED THE LORD…..Vv. 6a
D. THE PEOPLE SAID, AMEN, AMEN! Vv. 6b
E. THE PEOPLE LIFTED UP THERE HANDS, BOWED THERE HEADS, AND WORSHIPPED THE LORD…..Vv.6c
~In those days raising your hands was a symbol of prayer.
~The Jews prayed with their hands extended as if to say they were expecting the answer
to prayer.
1 Timothy 2:8 says
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
F. ALL UNDERSTOOD…..Vv 8
3. THE WORD BROUGHT SALVATION…..9-18
A. SIN WAS REVEALED…Vv. 9b
WEEPING WHEN THEY HEARD THE WORDS.
B. SALVATION ENJOYED…Vv. 10c
THE JOY OF THE LORD…..
C. SINCERE GLADDNESS…Vv 17b
AND THERE WAS VERY GREAT GLADNESS.
Not just gladness, but very great gladness
- Now I am all for shouting and singing and testifying! But in order for our faith to grow…there needs to Faithful Ministry of God’s Word.
Romans 10:17…
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Distinctly: To separate, literally (to disperse)…
This is what an Expositor does…he separates the text…pulls it apart and gives it away
Sense: knowledge, understanding, wisdom.
Why is all of this Necessary?
A.) God’s Word Leads To Repentance
B.) God’s Word Leads To Remembrance
C.) God’s Word Leads To Rejoicing –v. 10c –12
CLOSING
~The Word is available to all that will listen; they were there to listen, and that caused
them to go away with great gladness……..“Fail not the assembly”
~What we need can be found in the assembly of the local church.
~It is your choice to go and get it.
~They did, and they received it.
~Do you want it?
Bro. Stepp
Revival 6/14/08
