Day 21


“When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.” Nehemiah 8:1

The walls have been rebuilt and the Israelites gather together as one man to hear the Word of the Lord. As Ezra opens the book, “all the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground” (8:5,6). As the word of God was read, the Levites instructed the people while they stood there so that they could understand what was being read (8:7,8). In response, the people wept and mourned as they listened to the words of the Law (8:9). However, Nehemiah said to the people that they should not weep but celebrate and not grieve “for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:10).
When one studies revivals throughout history, one can recognise certain principles that seem to be common to most of them. Certainly, fervent and passionate prayer precedes every revival. But just as importantly, so does reverence of God’s Word, a clear understanding of its meaning and faith in what God has spoken lead to the revival of God’s people. I believe God’s purpose in restoring the walls and the city of Jerusalem was to bring His people back to Himself - to restore not only the walls but to restore His people to the knowledge and ways of their God. 
If we want to see revival in our own lives and in our churches we must follow the example of Nehemiah and the people of Israel who gathered as “one man” to seek God (see also Acts 1:14); who honoured God’s Word by “listening attentively” to it (8:3); who recognised the authority of God’s Word and praised Him for it (8:6); who submitted to God’s Word as the only truth (8:6); who sought to understand God’s Word (8:8); who allowed God’s Word to judge their hearts (8:9; Heb 4:12); who rejoiced in the knowledge of God’s Word (8:12) and who obeyed God’s Word (8:13-18). God wants to revive His people. He wants to revive you! He does not rebuild and restore so that we remain the same. His intention is to restore you to fullness in Christ – a life filled with the knowledge and life of Jesus. Set your heart on revival. Seek God’s face in the secret place and join with others “as one man” and pray for God to revive your church and awaken your city. Honour God’s Word and seek spiritual revelation and understanding. Listen attentively, recognise the authority of God’s Word, submit to it, let it judge your heart, rejoice in the truth and do what it says. It took one man to bring about revival in his city and in his nation. Will you be such a person as this? 

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„Und als der siebte Monat nahte und die Kinder Israels in ihren Städten waren, da versammelte sich das ganze Volk wie ein Mann auf dem Platz vor dem Wassertor, und sie sprachen zu Esra, dem Schriftgelehrten, dass er das Buch des Gesetzes Moses holen solle, das der HERR Israel geboten hatte.“ Nehemiah 8,1 

Die Mauern wurden wieder aufgebaut und die Israeliten versammeln sich in Einheit "wie ein Mann" um das Wort des Herrn zu hören. Als Esra das Buch öffnete, „öffnete (er) das Buch vor den Augen des ganzen Volkes; denn er stand höher als das ganze Volk. Und als er es öffnete, stand das ganze Volk auf. Und Esra pries den HERRN, den großen Gott; und das ganze Volk antwortete mit aufgehobenen Händen: Amen! Amen! Und sie verneigten sich und beteten den HERRN an, das Angesicht zur Erde gewandt.“ (8,5&6). Als das Wort Gottes gelesen wurde, unterwiesen die Leviten das Volk, das dort stand, damit sie verstehen konnten, was gelesen wurde (8:7,8). Daraufhin weinten und trauerten die Menschen, während sie den Worten des Gesetzes hörten (8,9). Nehemia sagte jedoch zu den Menschen, dass sie nicht weinen, sondern feiern und nicht trauern sollten "denn die Freude am Herrn ist eure Stärke" (8,10).
Wenn man die Erweckungen im Laufe der Geschichte untersucht, kann man bestimmte Prinzipien erkennen, die den meisten von ihnen gemeinsam zu sein scheinen. Sicherlich geht jeder Erweckung ein inbrünstiges und leidenschaftliches Gebet voraus. Aber ebenso wichtig ist die Ehrfurcht vor dem Wort Gottes, ein klares Verständnis seiner Bedeutung und der Glaube an das, was Gott gesprochen hat. Ich glaube, dass Gottes Ziel bei der Wiederherstellung der Mauern und der Stadt Jerusalem darin bestand, sein Volk zu sich selbst zurückzubringen - nicht nur die Mauern wiederherzustellen, sondern auch sein Volk wieder auf die Erkenntnis und die Wege seines Gottes zurückzuführen.
Wenn wir Erweckung in unserem eigenen Leben und in unseren Gemeinden sehen wollen, sollten wir dem Beispiel des Nehemia und des Volkes Israel folgen, das sich in Einheit "wie ein Mann" versammelt hat, um Gott zu suchen (siehe auch Apg 1,14); das das Wort Gottes geehrt hat, indem es "aufmerksam zuhörte" (8,3); das die Autorität des Wortes Gottes erkannt und ihn dafür gelobt hat (8:6); das sich dem Wort Gottes als alleinige Wahrheit unterwarf (8,6); das versuchte, das Wort Gottes zu verstehen (8:8); das dem Wort Gottes erlaubte, ihre Herzen zu richten (8,9; Heb 4,12); das sich über die Erkenntnis des Wortes Gottes freute (8:12) und das dem Wort Gottes gehorchte (8,13-18). 
Gott will sein Volk erwecken. Er will dich erwecken! Er baut nicht wieder auf und stellt wieder her, damit wir unverändert bleiben. Seine Absicht ist es, dich zur Fülle in Christus zurückzubringen - ein Leben, das mit der Erkenntnis und Leben Jesu erfüllt ist. Ersehne Erweckung von ganzem Herzen. Suche Gottes Angesicht am geheimen Ort und schließe dich anderen in Einheit "wie ein Mann" an und bete, dass Gott deine Gemeinde und deine Stadt erweckt. Ehre das Wort Gottes und suche nach geistlicher Offenbarung und Verständnis. Höre aufmerksam zu, erkenne die Autorität des Wortes Gottes, ordne dich ihm unter, erlaube es dem Wort Gottes, dass es dein Herz richtet, freue dich über die Wahrheit und tue, was es sagt. Es brauchte einen Mann, um die Erweckung in seine Stadt und in seine Nation zu bringen. Wirst du solch eine Person sein?


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