Real Revival- The Beginnings

Introduction- Ezra 9:1-5

A week from now we will begin our Spring Revival meeting.

The intent of this meeting is to challenge us and to stir our hearts that our passion for the Lord would be renewed and that each of us would be drawn closer to Him.

In this passage of scripture we find that the people of Israel were in dire need of a spiritual revival.

They had fallen away from the Lord and their hearts had grown cold and even worse they were in bondage under the Babylonians.

Some 42,360 people had been allowed by the king of Babylon to return to the land to populate it once more and to rebuild the temple.

Ezra returns to land after some time has passed and arrives with a smaller party in the land.

When he arrives there is the initial appearance that all is well but he would soon discover there were significant issues and the people of Israel were in need of a spiritual revival.

In chapter 9 and 10 of the book bearing his name we have a record of the process which would serve to prepare them for revival.

This portion of scripture serves as an excellent guide to show us what is necessary if we are to experience real revival.

Shortly after Ezra’s arrival some leaders among the people came to him and delivered some terrible news.

Ezra is made aware of the fact that the people have failed to separate themselves from the pagan peoples around them.

This is significant because it is this same sin which was at least in part responsible for their decline into idolatry and rebellion previously and had caused God to allow them to be brought into bondage.

Now they are repeating the same mistakes and thus there is a need for revival among them.

Revival is when God's people return to God and God returns to them, and everyone sees the difference. (Henry Blackaby)

Revival is simply New Testament Christianity, the saints going back to normal. (Vance Havner)

This morning we are going to see the beginnings of revival and tonight we will see the progression of revival.

In this passage of scripture we can plainly see that revival begins with...

Contrition (Vs. 1-5)

When we think of revival we may often think of the excitement, the thrill of seeing God work in a powerful way and seeing lives and hearts miraculously changed.

Though all these things may come in the midst of a time of spiritual revival this is not where it begins.

Contrition- Penitence; deep sorrow for sin; grief of heart for having offended and infinitely holy and benevolent God. The word is usually understood to mean genuine penitence, accompanied with a deep sense of ingratitude in the sinner, and sincere resolution to live in obedience to the divine law.

Revival should begin with contrition as we recognize that we have grown cold and have fallen away to some degree and that we need to return to the Lord.

This is exactly what happened in the life of Ezra and the children of Israel. They were confronted with the fact that they had not wholly followed the Lord.

One thing that has often been associated with the powerful moving of God throughout history is that it began first with a people experiencing deep grief over sin.

Far too often we dismiss our sin, our coldness, and our failure to wholly follow the Lord as though it is not significant or serious.

Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility. (Charles Finney)

Yet revival will not come until we are broken over our sin to the point that it grieves us and causes us to tremble at the words of God as did Ezra and the people.

Ezra received the report of the failure to follow God in the lives of the children of Israel. Notice then his immediate response.

He rent his garment and his mantle a sign of his anguish and deep grief.

He even went so far as to pluck off the hair of his head and beard and then he sat silently absolutely astonished.

Notice that it was not Ezra alone but there were others who were also grieved when they heard that the people had not kept the Word of God and they trembled at the Words of God and sat with Ezra.

Until we recognize our sin as not some minor error but rather a major infraction which separates us from God and limits His power to work among us we will never have revival.

At the end of these few verses we find that Ezra moves beyond mere contrition for sin and falls down before God.

When a Holy God draws near in true revival, people come under terrible conviction of sin. The outstanding feature of spiritual awakening has been the profound consciousness of the Presence and holiness of God. (Henry Blackaby)

So begins the next phase of revival...

Confession (Vs. 6-15)

Notice now the content of his confession to the Lord.

He first acknowledges that he and the people have sinned not only in this present moment but also in the past.

He rehearses the sins which had led to their being placed into bondage.

Then he speaks of the little space of grace that has been showed in that God has allowed some of them to return to the land obviously desiring to make Himself known among them again.

God had not forsaken them but had been merciful to them to allow them such a privilege to dwell in the land again and to restore worship there.

The trouble is that the people have once again followed the same pattern and have forsaken the commandments which they received from God and have fallen into sin.

Ezra rehearses the command that God had given them and then confesses that once again they have broken the commandment.

He expresses gratitude that God has not punished them as they deserved and speaks of the righteous nature of God.

If we are to experience real revival, we must not simply feel sorry for our sins but we must confess them to God that we may again be right with Him.

We must acknowledge that we have not wholly followed Him and that we have rebelled against His commandments just as the children of Israel did.

Yet there is one more step which remains if we are to experience real revival...

Correction (Ch. 10 Vs. 1-12)

At this point Ezra and the people have acknowledged their sin, they have confessed it to God, but now the question remains… “What are you going to do about it?”

You may say well I have not committed any great trespass as the children of Israel did, but are we not all guilty of prayerlessness, a lack of concern for the lost in our community, a lack of passion and fire in our service to the Lord and our witnessing for Him?

The question for you and I is the same. “What are you going to do about it?”

When Ezra had finished confessing their sin to God the people began to assemble unto him from across the land and they were weeping as they came.

They have concluded that they cannot continue in their sin and it is time to correct their ways.

They decide that though it will be difficult and time consuming they must make things right.

They choose to do what is necessary to return to God so they put away their strange wives so that they may return to the Lord.

Whatever the sin that we are guilty of may we not only feel contrition and confess it but may we also take the practical steps to correct it!

Then we will be ready for real revival!

Conclusion

Revival is simply a return to God and this passage describes what is necessary if we are to return to Him.

We stand in desperate need of the Lord for as the scripture states without Him we can do nothing.

What is it that is preventing Him from manifesting His presence among us today?

If God would reveal it to you today will you take action. No matter how small or how great our sin let us not merely dismiss it but let us consider it in light of the holiness of God and let us treat it seriously being grieved by it, being willing to confess it to God, and then taking the necessary steps to correct it that we may be able to return to God and that He may be able to move among us once more!