Foundations Week 27, Day 3

Scripture Read: Ezra 9 - 10
Title: Repentance in Judah

H.E.A.R. 
(H) Highlight verse: "While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly." Ezra 10:1

(E) Explain:  Ezra is informed by the officials that the people in Judah were not living as holy separated people as the LORD had commanded.  The men and women had intermarried and this was prohibited by God.  Upon hearing this Ezra wept bitterly for the people and repented to God on behalf of his people.  His public sorrow and repentance led others to be convicted of their sins and this led to a mass revival.  The people returned to God and renewed their covenant to become a people who are separated for God and live accorrding to his purposes.

(A) Application:  Ezra was grieved over the sins of his people and this led to a very public display of sorrow and grief on his part.  His conviction of the sins of his people led him to fast and pray for them.  The result of his fasting and prayer led to the people repenting from their sinful ways and turning back to God.  

We like to talk about revival, but we rarely take the necessary steps to ushering it in.  Ultimately revival is a movement of the Holy Spirit among God's people, but this movement is usually (not always) preceded by a group of individuals who have prayed, fasted and repentend.  This is not to say that God sent revival because of their righteous acts, but the revival was brought on because people are faithful to respond to God as He calls them to prayer, fasting and repentance.

Do you want to see revival happen?  Be attuned to God's Spirit, He may be calling you prayer, fasting and repentance so that you may experience revival in your life.

(R) Respond: Lord I want revival in my life.  Speak to me as to what you are calling me to do personally so that revival can happen in my life and in the lives of those around me.