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REVIVAL AT WATER GATE (Part 1) - by Darren Choo
Nehemiah 8:1-8
27 July 2008

Introduction

In the year 1904, what began as a simple prayer movement was about to affect the entire nation of Wales. Evan Roberts, a poor coal miner was touched by the Spirit of God through this prayer meeting. As a result, he returned home and promptly challenged the people in his village to:

a) confess any known sin to God
b) undo any wrong done to others.
c) put away any sinful habit.
d) obey the Spirit promptly.
e) confess Christ publicly.

What followed was truly quite remarkable. After a series of further prayer meetings, revival spread rapidly like wild fire all over the country. And within a space of five short months, more than a hundred thousand people were converted throughout. Wales had encountered the greatest revival ever recorded in her history.

About four hundred years earlier in Europe Germany, a similar incident happened. God lit a fire in the lives of several men that ultimately led to a great significant change in the history of Christianity. As the Roman Catholic Church was in a state of corruption and spiritual limbo, God’s Word and Spirit burned deep into the hearts of these few faithful men. And it wasn’t long before the likes of John Calvin and Martin Luther responded by bringing about a dramatic change and revival throughout Europe to what is known in Church History as “The Great Reformation”.

Ever since then, God has been doing His mighty work of revival in the course of times…

· 1733 in Boston under Jonathan Edwards
· 1750 in Northampton under Charles Finney
· 1906 Azusa Street Revival under William J Seymour
· 1993 Toronto Brownsville Revival under Steve Hill

What caused the revival? What caused men and women to turn away from their sinful ways? A careful study into these revivals reveals that it is due to 2 divine works:
a) There is always the Presence of the Holy Spirit
b) And the Power of the Word of God

Further, in every genuine revival in history, whenever there is the proclamation of God’s Word, there is also the response of God’s people.
And tucked away in this chapter of Nehemiah 8 is the first recorded revival ever known, where the Spirit of God together with the Word of God being proclaimed stirred the hearts of people to be changed and transformed.

The First Revival

Before we dive into this Nehemiah passage this morning, it is helpful to know the current situation. We have thus far journeyed with Nehemiah from the very beginning in chapter 1 when God planted a burden in his heart to rebuild the walls of Jericho. We saw this man’s faith as he prayed and trusted in God as he approached the king to request for a leave of absence as well as to seek for the materials needed for the task. We accompanied him when he inspected the walls and when he mobilized the Jews into this huge building project. Then when opposition and problems arise, Nehemiah stood firm and resisted. And now after more than 52 days (6:15) the city was finally rebuild with the walls now finished and the gates hung in its place (7:1).

Yet though the massive construction project had been completed, there still seem to be something missing. Nehemiah sensed a spiritual vacuum within the city; the Israelites were still very much living in their sinful ways. In other words, although the physical needs of the people had been addressed, the spiritual needs of the people were currently neglected. What was needed to revive their spiritual lethargy was a dose of God’s Holy Word. That’s exactly what Nehemiah did next as he gathered the people together and introduced the reading of Scriptures.

Make no mistake, when we as God’s disciples and leaders get away from loving, reading and obeying the Word of God, we end up falling away as the people of Nehemiah’s days did. It was Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones who rightly said “The primary task of the church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.”

Dr Jones continues, “The decadent periods and eras in the history of the church have always been those periods when preaching had declined.”

This is a grim and solemn warning that we must all heed. May we in COA not come to this stage of spiritual decline. If God is to work in and through us, then His Word nust stir our hearts and have an impact in our lives. In this portion of Scripture, Nehemiah tells us that for this to happen, it involves …
a) Understanding the Word – Mind (V1-8)
b) Responding to the Word – Heart (V9-12)
c) Obeying the Word – Will (V13-18)

Understanding the Word (V1-8)

Before there can be any life changing experiences, God’s Word must first be understood in the mind. Not surprisingly, this is stressed five times throughout this passage:
· … and all who could understand what they heard … (v2)
· … in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand (v3)
· … helped the people to understand the Law (v7)
· … so that the people understood the reading (v8)
· … because they had understood the Word (v12)

Understanding is not just merely head knowledge; it is the full realization of the truth and its implications. Take for example, in buying a car. Buying a car cannot merely just be for prestige or for convenience sake, there must be an understanding to the full implications that comes with owning it. Besides the monthly loans, there will be other costs to bear like:

a) road tax
b) insurance
c) car park (those in HDB)
d) maintenance
e) petrol

If these are neglected, then we may have failed in fully understanding the implications of purchasing the car. Who then was the ideal man to conduct such a large scale Bible study of God’s Word such that there would be understanding among the people? That person is none other than Ezra.

Thus far in the story, Ezra has not appeared. But it will interest you to know that records however show that he had come to Jerusalem about 14 years earlier before Nehemiah. His purpose and ministry was to bring the people back to the ways of the Lord, one of which was to purge out the mixed marriages that had occurred. Further, Ezra as a priest, scholar and a teacher was certainly the perfect ideal candidate for the job. And observe this: Nehemiah didn’t stand in Ezra’s way.

He wasn’t one of those leaders who insist on doing everything even though they may not have the ability or necessary gifts for the particular task. But Nehemiah as a true spiritual leader knew his limitations; he didn’t insist that because he was the boss he had the right to teach the Word. Rather, Nehemiah delegated or assigned Ezra for this next big task while he willingly took a backseat. Don’t be mistaken, he was in no lazy; not at all. Nehemiah knew that the spiritual needs of the people were far greater and more important than his pride. That was why he didn’t oppose Ezra taking the spot light when it came to the reading of the Word to the crowd.

That the site of the assembly at the Water Gate in V1 is also an interesting point to note. Water in the Bible depicts cleansing as well as the presence of God’s Spirit. And that the people gathered together at the Water Gate therefore signifies that God’s Word and Spirit will bring a cleansing on the people – a revival at the Water Gate. It is indeed refreshing to the soul when the word is received and the Spirit is teaching. To help the people understand God’s Word, Ezra performed 3 vital steps:

a) Ezra brought the Book (v2)

The book that Ezra retrieved was the Book of the Law of Moses. It was the entire scroll of the Torah, the very foundation of the Jewish religion. The need for the Jews to know God’s revelation of His will and ways in the Torah was urgent. That was why this massive Christian Education program was planned and the Book brought forth.

What of us? Do we bring the Good Book out every Sunday for service to hear what God has to say to us in our lives? Or is it still left on the shelf all covered with dust and cobwebs? In 16th century England, William Tyndale labored at length to translate the Scriptures; King Edward VI appointed scholars to expound the Bible, all for the very purpose that every English speaking person like you and I could own a Bible to read, hear and understand God’s message for their own. It would indeed be sad if their efforts were gone to waste when we have versions of the Bible sitting back home acting only as ornaments instead of being brought to church and be understood.

b) Ezra opened the Book (V5)

But bringing the Book alone is just the first step; it is useless if it is kept closed and the contents are not revealed. Thus the next step which Ezra took was to open the great Book.

Scriptures are filled with great riches and truths. These riches are liken to be what St Matthew, the Gospel writer mentioned as treasures hidden in a field (Matt 13:44) or like a pearl that is of great value (Matt 13:46). As we dig for these great riches buried in God’s Word through reading, praying, studying and meditating, we will find them. Scriptures affirms that these treasures in the truth of God’s Word will be to us …
· A lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119:105)
· For teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16)

The Book, the Word of God reveals also God’s character, His love, his mercy, His redemptive plans and will for our lives. But one can only discover them upon opening the book.

c) Ezra read and taught the Book (V8-9)

As the Book was brought forth and opened, it was read to the whole crowd. Amazingly, the congregation devoted about five hours a day (until midday – v3), standing and listening to the truth of God’s Words being read continuously for seven days (v18). Listen again to what theses two verses tell us – the people stood and listen to the Word for 5 hours for 7 continuous days! These Israelites were hungry for the Word of God! Nothing was going to stop them from receiving it!

What a contrast of the attitude of these Israelites from modern Christians today. It is ironic that today when the Bible is the world’s most circulated book, the Best seller of all best seller, yet understanding and learning its contents has become a neglected discipline. What is unfortunately lacking is a respect for the Word of God. Churches today are in too big a hurry to have the service end on time and complain when the sermon gets too long! I know of some Christians who sadly “busy” themselves when it comes to the sermon and only to reappear suddenly when it is time for Holy Communion.

Sadly, even in the homes, the Word of God is not frequently read or is omitted altogether. Parents no longer teach their children the Bible and tend to leave it to the teachers in Sunday Schools. As author and teacher Warren Wiersbe correctly pointed out that though “We will defend the Bible as the Word of God but we don’t always treat it like the Word of God.”

Are we guilty then of not bringing, opening and reading the Bible? Praise God that many of you have developed this good habit of bringing your Bibles to church every Sunday. It’s encouraging to observe also that some of you are also taking down notes. However, to those of you who have not yet developed this habit, let this be a challenge not to leave the Bible on the shelf.

Let this be a reason to take it down from the shelf, wipe off the dust and the cob-web and bring it to church. Begin to open it, read it, study, reflect and meditate, allowing God’s Word to sink deep into our being (hearts and minds). Allow the Holy Spirit to speak and transform areas of our lives that needs to be changed. Let there be a revival in our hearts.

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