How to Have a Personal Spiritual Revival

Notes: How to Have a Personal Spiritual Revival

Greg Laurie

Nehemiah: The Rebuilt Life

Sunday, December 3, 2017

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/how-to-have-a-personal-spiritual-revival

A personal Bible that is falling apart is usually a good indication of a life that isn’t.

There is a difference between a revival and awakening.

A revival is when it comes back to life, a restoration.

Three things that can spark a revival:

First, get a few Christians thoroughly right with God.

Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group for a revival until God opens the Heavens and pours out the Spirit.

Third, make yourself available to God.

Revival is when God gets so sick of being misrepresented that He shows up Himself.

Everything we say and do is recorded by God.

Every Christian has their name written in the book of life.

When God is at work He is looking at the big picture, we tend to look at the temporary obstacles in front of us.

Nehemiah is putting teams of people together.

Nehemiah 7:1-3 NKJV

[1] Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, [2] that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. [3] And I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house."

The greatest ability is dependability.

Luke 16:10 NKJV

[10] He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Nehemiah 8:1-5 NLT

[1] all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey. [2] So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. [3] He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. [4] Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. [5] Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Revival is waking up from sleep. 

1. You are having revival when people are hungry for God’s Word.

Nehemiah 8:1 NLT

[1] all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey.

Ezra 7:10 NLT

[10] This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

Ezra 9:6 NLT

[6] I prayed, "O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.

Revival starts with you.

Do you need a personal spiritual revival?

Have you left your first love?

The three Rs of revival.

Remember. Repent. Repeat.

2. Nehemiah 8:3b NLT

[3b]... All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.

How are you listening to God’s Word? 

Are you engaged taking notes. Do you find yourself worshipping God?

2. You are having a revival when Spontaneously and Passionately worshipping God.

1. Understanding the word.

2. Rejoicing in the word.

3. Obeying the word.

If you don’t understand the word of God, you need to read the Bible.

We don’t worship the Bible we worship the author, God!

We must be convicted by the word of God:

Nehemiah 8:8-9 NLT

[8] They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. [9] Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God." For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

We should not be feeling happy and blessed living in sin, we should feel convicted so that we can change.

It is as wrong to rejoice when God has forgiven us, as it is to rejoice when we are living in sin.

God does not convict us of our sin to send us into despair, He convicts us to drive us into His arms.

Nehemiah 8:17 NLT

[17] So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun.

Some people think that believers are boring and miserable, that sinners are the ones who have all the fun. Sin can be fun for a season, but the repercussions are much more painful.

Revivals don’t last forever, they have a beginning, middle and end. They are like an explosion in a gas engine, we need to have them over again and again and again.

We all need to pray for another personal revival.