Text: Nehemiah 8:1-12

2016  True Life bp Church Camp Morning Devotion

 

Introduction

Today, one of the words frequently used among Christians is revival. Churches pray for revival. There are Christians songs has the word revival in the title. Many places mark the historical events of revival which happened in the past. However, despite of frequent usage of this word, there are different perceptions of this word among Christianity. Some believes revival is the growth in size and wealth of the church.  So, when a church has a huge and spectacular building, they would consider it as revival. Others think revival is to have extraordinary experience or occurrence. During a certain rally, when people experience something different from usual, they would claim that experience as inner revival. Having a certain emotion is not wrong, but when that emotion is not a result from the truth, it is wrong and dangerous.

What is biblical definition of revival?  This word, revival, is not found in the Bible.  Nevertheless, we can find many revival occurrences in the Bible.  Let me define the meaning of revival with a dictionary definition. The word revive consists of two parts. The prefix, ‘re’, means ‘again’ or ‘back’ and ‘vive or vivere (in Latin)’ means ‘to live’. According to an Oxford English dictionary, revival is the process of becoming active or popular again.  Another word with the similar meaning is 'awakening’. Awakening means not to sleep, or to cause someone to regain consciousness after being asleep. Awakening must accompany repentance.  Christians in 18 to19 centuries thought that a revival came through awakening and repentance. In the light of this word (awakening), the definition of revival is to realise and repent of one’s sin, and come to have life through faith in Christ Jesus.  When an individual or a church is spiritually alive, we call it revival.

The passage, we have just read, shows us a good example for revival. People prompt to hear God's words, realize and repent of their sins. As a result, a community is empowered spiritually.  Their lives were changed. There are the important points I would like to highlight in this passage.  There are three preconditions that will bring about revival. This morning, I would like to share these three preconditions in the light of the passage.  My sharing title therefore for this passage is “Preconditions of True Revival”.

 

I. Passion for God’s Words (v. 1-6)

a. Who are the people?

The first precondition is passion for God’s words.  In verse 1 we can see how the people were passionate for God’s words, "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel." The people really wanted to hear God's words.  They gathered like one man that is in one mind, in order to hear God’s words. In verse 5, when Ezra opened the book, they all stood up. They were very attentive and serious to hear God's words. In verse 6, all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands. They were all agreed with God's words. They bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces on the ground.  They were very serious to God's words.  What a beautiful scene!  How wonderful their attitude is!

Who were they? This people were the one that had just finished repairing and rebuilding the wall and the gates of Jerusalem.  They completed this work for 52 days.  It is estimated that the walls were 2.5 mile that is 4 kilometer, 220-acre. In compared with the wall in the time of David, it was small. Nonetheless, the size of the wall was equal to 10 athletic tracks of 400 meters. If you or anyone here ever builds his own house can understand well how difficult this construction is.  In building, we need to consider several unexpected factors and needs. These factors and needs are weather, building materials, workers, etc.  In their situation, half of the people had to be on guard days and nights, because of their enemies.  The rest of the men worked.  Children must have played their part also.  Women may have cooked, preparing food for the workers. When all of them were united as one, they could finish repairing and rebuilding the wall and all the gates in 52 days.  There is an urgent need to be done as earlier as possible.  Self-help with God’s self indeed is the best help.

The day when the construction was finished, it was the twenty-fifth day of Elul according to Nehemiah 6:15. Elul is the sixth month in religion calendar, which is in August or September of our calendar.  A month of Elul has 29days, which means the people just have their rest for only 4 days.  When the hard work was finished, it is natural to rest until they were fully refreshed.  However, they gathered as one in order to hear God words. They were passionate for God's words.

 

b. Why were people passionate God's words?

We can find the reasons from verse 1 and 2.  Firstly, we shall study the water gate as it is a significant place. Secondly, we shall study the meaning of the first day, the seventh month.

First is the significance of water gate.  There is a record of building the wall and gates in chapter 3 of Nehemiah.  Please turn your Bible to Nehemiah 3.  According to chapter 3, 10 gates were rebuilt along the wall.  Let us quickly go through the ten gates.

The first gate mentioned is the sheep gate (Neh. 3:1, 32).  It was called the sheep gate because this was the gate which the sheep and lambs used in the sacrifice were bought through.  The second gate is the fish gate (Neh. 3:3).  It was called the fish gate because the fisherman of Galilee would bring their catch in through this gate to be sold.  The third gate is the old gate (Neh. 3:6).  Nehemiah is the only book in the Bible where it mentions the old gate.  This gate maybe was one of the original gate made.  The fourth gate is the valley gate (Neh. 3:13). Several valleys were surrounded Jerusalem. This gate was opened out for the valley of Hinnom.  The fifth gate is the dung (Refuse) gate (Neh. 3:14).  All the refuse and rubbish was taken out through the dung gate, down to the valley of Hinnom, where it would be burned.  The sixth gate is fountain gate (Neh. 3:15).  It was often used by the people for cleaning before proceeding on to the temple.  The seventh gate is the water gate (Neh 3:26).  The water gate led down to the Gihon Spring which was located adjacent to the Kidron Valley.  The eighth gate is the horse gate (Neh 3:28).  The men of Jerusalem would ride their horses out of this gate to war.  The ninth gate is the east gate (Neh 3:29).  The east gate is located on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives.  This gate faced toward the east, and it was shut.  Jesus will come again on the mountain of Olives which opposite of this gate.   The last gate is the inspection gate (Neh 3:31).  It is also known as the Miphkad gate.  The word in Hebrew has a military connection and according to tradition it was at this gate that David would meet his troops to inspect them.

We have seen that each gates had its purpose and function.  Why the people gathered at water gate?  Water is the universal cleansing agent.  God’s words are as water can cleanse our sins away.  In John 3:5, Jesus said, “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” We must be born again through water and the Spirit. What is water? Ephesians 5:26 tell us what is the water, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” The water here is referring to God’s words. In the old Testaments, God’s words are also illustrated as water which can cleanse us of our sins. Psalms 119:9 tells us this, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."  The people gathered at water gate probably because they had strong desire to have their sins wash away.  They brought their family to the water gate also. The reason is they wanted their love ones to be born again through God’s words.  According to Nehemiah 13, some of their wives were gentiles.  They were from Ashdod, Ammon, and of Moab.  They must become God’s children.  They believed that through God’s words alone, they can be cleanse spiritually.  Gathering at the Water Gate was the expression of their faith in God’s words.

Second is the significance of the first day of the seventh month.  According to Exodus 12:1-2 which says, "And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you." The first day of the seven month is called Rosh Hodesh.  The date is marked by the birth of a new moon.  Because of this, two witnesses were needed to observe the moon. However, on the first day of the seventh month, one more witness was added. So, there were three witnesses observing the moon for 2 to 3 days. Finally, when they were sure that the moon was in its fullest, they went to report to the high priest. Then the high priest will declare Rosh Hodesh and then the Trumpet feast begin.

This feast started, by blowing a horn for the purpose of making people aware and ready. And this feast lasted for 10 days. The last day was known as the Day of Atonement, which was the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. During this feast, for ten days the Jews will desperately pray, fast and repent of their sins, in order to make sure that their names will be recorded in the book of life.

 The significances of the water gate and the first day of the seven month, give us clue why the people were passionate for God’s words.  It is because they wanted to repent of their sins and be cleansed through God’s words.

We need this kind of attitude today. Why do you look forward to a church camp? Why do you gather here instead of spending your holidays with your family somewhere else? It is because you have the same spirit as the people in this chapter. It is because you want to be encouraged and repented of your sins if necessary.  It is because you want your love ones’ names that are your parents, children, friends, and so on, to be recorded in the book of life as well.  God pleases this kind of people. God has used this kind of people.  He has blessed them with the true revival.  The first precondition of revival therefore is passion of God's words.

 

II. Understanding of God’s Words (v. 7-8)

Let us look at verse 8 now, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”  There are three verbs from this verse I would like to mention.

The first verb is ‘read distinctly.’ In Hebrew, ‘read’ means ‘to proclaim’ or, ‘to cry'.  The adverb ‘distinctively’ means ‘separately.’  The first reader was Ezra. Afterward, the chosen Levites take over and read the law of God. Through this reading, all people who gather at the water gate could hear God’s words clearly.

The second verb is ‘gave the sense.'  This means to expound God’s words. This is an act of preaching. A preacher is who studies the Bible verses by verses, and gets the points of the verses and apply it to the congregation, so that the congregation would understand the Bible.  Although, we read the Bible 100 times or even 500 times, if we fail to understand it, it is considered as unprofitable.  The need of expounding sermons cannot be emphasised enough in one day.  Well expounded and organised sermon will help hearers to understand scriptures well.

I would like to thank FEBC faculty. Their sermons are richly expounded and well structured. Their sermons are biblical and accurate. Listening to their sermons is a good way to study how to preach.  FEBC made me study hard for the biblical languages, namely Greek and Hebrew. To be honest, I did cry and complain, because of the biblical languages.  I said to myself FEBC requirement is too high.  However after graduated, I came to know the value of studying biblical languages. I find myself understand God's words better and deeper with the biblical languages and with the principle of literal, grammatical, and historical interpretation.  On top of that, I enjoy reading through the Bible with the covenant theology and Pre-millennialism’s view. Contemporary theology I have taken in FEBC, gave me insight in applying God's words in our time, which a perilous days.  Finally, I want to express my thanks to the English teacher who taught me English in FEBC. Using English has many advantages.  One of them is preparing an English sermon. I can freely access to useful materials that are written in English.  I also want to express my gratefulness to True Life B-P Church. I know the church has been supporting FEBC both spiritually and financially. FEBC's tuition fee is very cheap, almost free.  I will remember Christian’s charity of the church for my study in FEBC.

Understanding God's words is very important. In order to understand God's words, there is a need of a faithful preacher who will divide and expound God's words correctly.  In last day, we need a preacher like Ezra, so that the church will be protected from false teachings and heresies. May God continue to use FEBC and True Life B-P Church as a witness for His infallible truth of God’s words.

 

III. Conviction of God’s Words (v. 9-12)

In v. 9-12, we can see the responses of the people who understood God's words. All the people wept, when they heard the words of the laws. They felt sorry for their sins and grieved.  How can the people to response to God's words in this way?  It was the Holy Spirit who enabled the people to do that. Only through the help of the Spirit, we can understand God's words and respond accordingly. A revival or awakening must be energised by the Holy Spirit.  Charismatic churches teach differently. When God's words are preached and proclaimed, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds, helping us to understand and apply God's words.

Last precondition of true revival is the conviction of God words by the Holy Spirit. The most impressed memory I have during a prayer meeting every Friday, is the fellow brethren of the church started praying for the preacher of the Sunday worship service or of the service of special occasion. I am sure that for this church camp, many have been praying for the attendants and the preachers, including me, of this camp.  Intervention of the Holy Spirit is of divine sovereignty, praying is human responsibility. A revival happens, when the Holy Spirit illuminates and applies God's words to us.

 

Conclusion

We learn three preconditions of a revival in the passage. First is the passion for God's words. Second is the understanding of God's words. Last is the conviction of God's words.  Before I finish my message, I would like ask you one question?  Will God still revive a church in our time? The answer is yes. What is the ground of it?  The ground is True Life B-P Church. As you know, your church has no special program. Teaching and preaching are a center or core of the ministry in your church. Preachers and teachers of your church are diligently expounding God's words.  The congregation joyfully learns and accepts God’s words that are expounded and taught. On Friday, your church is keep on praying, hoping for the help and illumination of the Holy Spirit.  I heard that when this church was just started, the church's members were just 50. When I graduated in 2014, I heard that the church grew to more than 400. Now, I don't know how many, but I believe it must be more than before.  I also met faithful deacons, elders and church members in the church. They have the same mind with the church pastor.  This is the strong point of this church.  May God bless True Life B-P church and use her as the witness for a true revival in God’s time. Let us pray.