𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐳𝐫𝐚, 𝐍𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬𝐧 ’ 𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 : 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐳𝐫𝐚 , 𝐍𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 , 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 ’ 𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 ( A Devotional from Ezra and Nehemiah) Revival. It is one of the most desired and yet misunderstood words in the life of God’s people. We often long for it in our churches, our communities, and our nations. But what does a “perfect revival” look like—and why do even the best efforts sometimes fail? The books of Ezra and Nehemiah paint a vivid picture of what seems like the perfect formula for revival: returning from exile, rebuilding sacred spaces, restoring worship, and renewing the covenant. But this revival, even with all the right components, ended in failure. Why? Let us trace the movement and learn what God is teaching us through it. Three Parallel Movements: A Nation Returning and Rebuilding Ezra 1–6 — Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead the first group of exiles back from Babylon. Their mission? Rebuild the altar and...