Don Graham Revival Ministries

A Word Driven Revival

Nehemiah 8-10

Still ringing in my ears are the passionate words of Richard Owen Roberts at a Heart For Revival Conference exhorting us to pray for a Word driven revival. That is a revival that is born in and carried along by the faithful anointed proclamation of the Word of God rather than human experience and emotion. Recently the Lord showed this principle to me in the study of revival under Nehemiah. Here is a classic example of just such a revival. Will you join me in earnest prayer that just as in Nehemiah's day so among us a Word driven revival will break out across our nation?

Following the building of the walls in fifty-two miraculous days, revival broke out in restored Jerusalem at the Water Gate. Note from chapter eight, the emphasis on...

I. The Centrality of the Word (vs. 1-9)

The healthiest revival is always a revival that is driven by the Word of God where the Scriptures are central in all things. Observe how the Word is so honored….

A. The people ASKED for the Word (vs. 1-2)

The people requested that the Word be brought to them. Ezra the priest brought out the Word before the whole congregation.

B. The people were ATTENTIVE to the Word (vs. 3-4)

When Ezra stood upon the prepared pulpit to read the Word unto the people they were attentive to the book of the law. They stood attentive to the Word of God for one-half of a day, from the morning until midday. (v.3)

C. The people were AWED by the Word of God (v. 6)

When the Book was opened all the people stood up in reverence. As Ezra blessed the Lord the people responded with shouts of Amen! and lifted their hands to heaven. So awed were they that they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces toward the ground. (v.6)

D. The people were ADDRESSED by the Word (vs. 7-8)

As the Word was read certain of the Levis moved among the congregation as they stood in the place giving interpretation of the Word. They read distinctly, not in a hurried tone, and caused the people to understand the Word.

D. The people were APPALLED by the Word (v. 9)

Upon hearing and understanding the Word, the people saw themselves and their need, heavy conviction fell upon them and the people wept. (v.9) The Word breaks the cold heart, exposing sin and bringing horrible grief over how they have dishonored their holy God.

II. The Finality of the Word (vs. 10-18)

The Word of God is final in all things! Even though revival is breaking out the newly discovered, read and understood Word of God indicated there was a prior obligation to pause and celebrate the Feast of Booths. This celebration had been neglected for years and it was time on the calendar for its observation. Bowing to the finality of the Word of God in all things they postponed their weeping to celebrate the feast! This was not easy. Their heart was breaking over their desperate need while the Feast of Booths was largely a festive occasion. They had to cross some difficult territory. Yet in obedience to the finality of Scripture they bowed and acquiesced to the Word, celebrated the feast as they were commanded, and would then return promptly to the critical business at hand.

Any study of the great revivals of the church will show that invariably in each movement excesses of various types were reported. This is to be expected given the predictable work of Satan to thwart any activity among God's people. The greatest antidote to the enemy's attack is to diligently ensure that the Word of God and its exposition must be central and final in all things. We must not allow man's experience to be elevated above the Word of God, for when we do, we become vulnerable to confusion and all sorts of spiritual error. Our experience must always be subordinate and subject to the absolute truth of God’s Word.