Nehemiah 9-13

I've been thinking a lot lately about revival. God has spoken time and time again about how He called me from before the foundations of the earth to be a revivalist and how He placed revival in my blood from the womb. I was commissioned as a nazirite in August of 2009, but I personally have yet to see anything major break out. I know I was called to Purdue for such a time as this, and I know that I am a fire carrier and a straetegic tool of God's for ushering His shekinah glory into every place i walk. so why is His move being held back?

One thing that He keeps speaking to me is that we as christians aren't preparing ourselves enough. He can't pour out His Spirit if we aren't able to sustain it. In fact, His shekinah glory could kill us if we're not adequately prepared. naturally, i've been looking into practical steps that we, as christians, should take to help speed things up and ensure that revival won't fizzle out once it arrives in its fullness.

A couple days ago, I stumbled across Nehemiah. what I read convicted me. we say we want revival. we "beg" God and call ourselves committed.. but would you like to know what the people in the old testament did in days such as the ones we're currently living in? here's a quick summary of the steps they took after the walls of the temple were set in order to position themselves for reformation.

-they assembled together in one place

-they fasted corporately

-they humbled themselves by wearing sackcloth

-they humbled themselves by covering themselves in dust

-they separated themselves from foreigners

-they stood and read the Law for 6 hours straight (can i emphasize that they read the LAW? which most of us today consider painfully boring? for SIX hours STRAIGHT?)

-they confessed their sins and worshiped for another 6 hours straight

-they signed a written covenant (entering into an oath and a curse to stick to it and walk in the Law) of their commitment to the Lord. i encourage you to read Nehemiah 9:38-13:3 and read everything that was involved in this document.. because it was pretty radical! in summary, they committed not marry unbelievers, to keep the Sabbath, to financially support corporate worship, and to refuse to have unholy alliances.

now we ask ourselves.. what do WE do to attract a move of the Lord or reformation which is so badly needed? are we humbling ourselves? or are we still trying to do works out of our own power? are we separating ourselves from those of the world? or do people around us have little knowledge that we're even christians? are we fasting regularly and confessing our sins completely? or do we fast when we want God to move in personal matters or only confess to clear our consciences? are we dedicated to intercession because we have a burden for souls and the realization that PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TORMENTED FOR ETERNITY IF THEY'RE NOT SAVED? or is it another religious task - because "that's what good christians do"? or do we attend a corporate meeting here and there and maybe show up to extra prayer meetings once in a while? do we worship our King because He's God and He deserves it? or do we only thank Him here and there or worship Him because it's the typical way to start christian meetings? are our hearts genuinely involved in our worship? or are we thinking of other things while singing empty words? are we committed to reading His word daily? or is it something we do because "that's what christians should do"?

i'm starting to think it's pretty obvious why we haven't seen any huge moves of God. i could go on and on and on because God has laid this so heavily on my heart.. but i think the idea is here. my question is.. what are you going to do to change?