MESSAGE NOTES
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 6 (ESV)

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
Nehemiah 9:1-6 (ESV)

“A season of unusual divine visitation resulting in deep repentance, supernatural renewal, and sweeping reformation in the church, along with the radical reformation in the church, a radical conversion of sinners in the world, often producing moral, social, and even economic change in the local or national communities.” —Dr. Michael Brown

“Revival occurs as a group of people who, on the whole, think they already know the Gospel discover they do not really or fully know it, and by embracing the Gospel they cross over into living faith.” —Tim Keller

The 5 Ingredients of Revival:

1) Unity
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate.
Nehemiah 8:1

2) A Return to God’s Word
And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day
Nehemiah 8:3

3) Genuine Worship
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands.And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:6

4) A corporate confession and separation from sin.
And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.
Nehemiah 9:2-3

“For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.
Jeremiah 2:20 (NKJV)

For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

5) An outpouring of the joy of the Lord.
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)