The Church at Wills Creek
Nehemiah Series "Revival" Sermon
Nehemiah Series "Revival" Sermon by Jason Ellen
Locations & Times
The Church at Wills Creek
2730 Wills Creek Rd, Gadsden, AL 35904, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-3
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."
1. What Revival is not?
Nehemiah 8:1
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.
· Just reading the Bible
· Great Worship
· When a church starts to grow
· When you bring a lot of people together to have a service
· When the church has a great deal of money given to it
Charles Spurgeon said, “
· But REVIVAL is NOT only for the individual.
C. S. Lewis said, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christ’s. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”
Nehemiah 8:1
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.
· Just reading the Bible
· Great Worship
· When a church starts to grow
· When you bring a lot of people together to have a service
· When the church has a great deal of money given to it
Charles Spurgeon said, “
· But REVIVAL is NOT only for the individual.
C. S. Lewis said, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christ’s. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”
2. What is Revival?
Nehemiah 8:5-6
“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
The Hebrew meaning for "revive" (chayah (khaw-yaw')) is... to keep or make alive, give life, to restore, repair and raise from the dead.
True revival is not something we can hold
True Revival comes from God to a people longing for Him (Longing for Him and having a high assurance of the Sovereign).
What are the obstacles to revival?
· Tradition - get into a routine, will not change
· Not holding to the cardinal doctrines
o Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone – Word is inerrant & all authority
o Sola Fide’ – Faith alone in Christ
o Sola Gratia – Grace alone of God in Jesus Christ
o Solus Christus – Christ Alone, He is Lord, Savior, and King
o Soli Deo Gloria- To the Glory of God alone, We live for the Glory of God
· Unmortified sin – sin unconfessed, sin that is hidden
3. Revive us oh God.
Nehemiah 8:9-12
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
True revival is when we die to our flesh and we are made alive in total trust in God. We must be obedient to the leading of God's Spirit! Then God will heal our land, and anoint us to bring in the harvest of lost souls.
· How does God revive us? He sent us His Word, He sent us Son and He sent us His Spirit.
Psalms 119:1-8
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!”
Nehemiah 8:9-12
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
True revival is when we die to our flesh and we are made alive in total trust in God. We must be obedient to the leading of God's Spirit! Then God will heal our land, and anoint us to bring in the harvest of lost souls.
· How does God revive us? He sent us His Word, He sent us Son and He sent us His Spirit.
Psalms 119:1-8
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!”