Bible Study

Just for your thoughts.

The Book of Ezra
Bible Lesson 5

Six Steps for the Revival of the Church.

We should not read each book of the Old Testament merely as a record of historical events. Only when we meditate on them in the light of the New Testament does the divine purpose—why the Lord has given that book to us as Scripture—become clear to us.
When I deeply meditated on the Book of Ezra in this way, one major truth stood out clearly to my eyes.
The temple that Solomon built so magnificently and gloriously was burned down and reduced to the ground.
The people chosen by God were uprooted from their own land and taken as captives and slaves to the land of Babylon.
Yet, even in that condition, the Book of Ezra proclaims how a nation returned again to its own land, restored the destroyed temple, and first of all rebuilt the altar.
There is a pressing need to compare these events with the present pitiable condition of today’s churches.
Based on what I have known and personally witnessed, I say this:
From the 1960s–70s onwards, for nearly 30 years, the work of the Lord grew remarkably well.
A deep burden for lost souls,
A strong desire to rightly understand the Word of God,
Selfless spiritual leaders,
An emphasis on holiness, godliness, and zeal—
All these were the defining marks of the churches of that time.
But today, the painful reality is that these have ceased to be lived experiences and have become mere things to look at from a distance.
In this context, as we meditate on the Book of Ezra, I clearly see six essential elements needed for the church to return to its former state.
Six Foundational Elements for the Revival of the Church
1️⃣ Repentance
A heartfelt sorrow that says, “I too am responsible for this present spiritual decline.”
2️⃣ Confession
An honest confession of sin that naturally flows out of true repentance.
3️⃣ Prayer Life
Broken, tear-filled prayers that cry out for restoration to the former spiritual state.
4️⃣ The Word of God
Giving the Word of God once again its rightful place at the very center of our lives.
5️⃣ Obedience
A life that not only knows the Word of God but also lives in obedience to it.
6️⃣ Faith
An unshakable faith that revival will once again come to our land—especially to Tamil Nadu.
All these six elements are clearly affirmed in the Book of Ezra:
Building the Altar – Ezra 3:3–4
Confession of Sin – Ezra 9:6–7; 10:11
Prayer – Ezra 3:2
Returning to the Word of God – Ezra 3:2, 7; chapter 10
Obedience – Ezra 3:3–4
Faith – Ezra 5:1–2
First the altar, then the temple.
This is the foundational truth that the Book of Ezra teaches us.
If we truly love Tamil Nadu,
If we truly love the churches beyond all divisions,
Every believer must put these six elements into practice in their own life.
If they do so, regardless of the position they are in,
the Lord will use them as useful vessels for the growth of His Kingdom.
This is true.
This is biblical truth.