Missions-in-Focus - Keynote 3: The Heart of Revival - A Look at Zerubbabel

What this episode covers

Br. Steve Campbell Slides: PDF or PPTX Points to Consider Zerubbabel was a descendant of David, being grandson of King Jehoiachin of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:17). He was born in Babylon during the exile and traveled to Judah after King Cyrus II allowed the Judean captives to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4; 6:3–5, 8–10). The prophet Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the governor of Judah after the exile (Haggai 1:1; 2:2, 21). In Ezra 1-4, after seventy years in captivity, the Lord begins working a revival under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Often times Zerubbabel gets overlooked because his ministry is found in the book of Ezra and others, but Ezra doesn’t actually come into the picture until chapter seven. In chapter three, Zerubbabel is associated with Jeshua and it is there the alter is first set up, before anything else is built (Ezra 3). Seventy years later, Haggai and Zechariah arrive and challenge the people of with their ministry and the house of God was built. Approximately sixty years between chapter six and seven, between the completion of the rebuilding of temple to Ezra’s arrival. About fourteen years after this Nehemiah is used by the Lord to lead a revival which involves the rebuilding of the walls and gates and reasserts one more time the authority of the Word of God. What is interesting and what we want to focus on is where did Zerubbabel begin in the building of the temple? He began with the alter, why the alter? We would suggest that the alter is the heart of the Revival under Zerubbabel. He began with the Lord having His rightful place! As we look at what led up to this there are many lessons to consider: Their devotion and zeal to build the house of God (Ezra 2:68-3:2). They began to see things from God’s perspective, there was unity (Ezra 2:70, 3:1). They responded to the ways, will and Word of God (3:2, 4, 4, 10). Their unity was evident (Ezra 3:1, 3, 5, 7). Suggested focus: Why is beginning with the Alter so important? What does this have to do with revival? Why is the burnt offering mentioned 5 times in the first six verses of chapter three? What was their priority once they set the alter upon it’s bases (Ezra 3:8-13)? Go in, therefore, for revival in your neighborhood, dear friend, and pray on, and expect largely. Meanwhile shrink neither from heart-searching’s, even deep ones, in the presence of God, nor from the relinquishing of long-cherished idols, so that with a heart truly devoted to and fragrant of Christ, you may have your hands well filled with His blessed service. - FB Hole

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