Month: June 2020

Ezra 5, who do you work for?

Ezr 5:1-2, At that time THE PROPHETS HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH SON OF IDDO PROPHESIED TO THE JEWS IN JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. … Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak RESPONDED BY STARTING AGAIN TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE OF GOD IN JERUSALEM.

The foundation was laid, yet they were forced to stop! The people had grown comfortable leaving the work of GOD to the side!

Hag 1:4-5, “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? … LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU!

The Jews were working for themselves, BUT NOT FOR GOD! THEY BUILT HOMES, PLANTED GRAIN, YET DIDN’T PROSPER AT ALL!

Hag 1:6-8, You have planted much BUT HARVEST LITTLE. You eat BUT ARE NOT SATISFIED. You drink BUT ARE STILL THIRSTY. You put on clothes BUT CANNOT KEEP WARM. YOUR WAGES DISAPPEAR AS THOUGH YOU WERE PUTTING THEM IN POCKETS FILLED WITH HOLES! “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! NOW GO UP INTO THE HILLS, BRING DOWN TIMBER, AND REBUILD MY HOUSE. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, SAYS THE LORD.

Zec 1:3, Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: RETURN TO ME, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU, SAYS THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES.’ 

The work on the temple re-started and both Haggai and Zechariah helped!

Ezr 5:3,5, But Tattenai, governor of the province …, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO REBUILD THIS TEMPLE AND RESTORE THIS STRUCTURE?” …BUT BECAUSE THEIR GOD WAS WATCHING OVER THEM, the leaders of the JEWS WERE NOT PREVENTED FROM BUILDING until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.

INSTANTLY HOSTILITY TO THE WORK CAME BACK, YET THEY DIDN’T STOP! WE KNOW THAT GOD WATCHES OVER US; WE DON’T WORK FOR THE GOVERNOR, BUT FOR GOD! IT’S TIME WE GET TO WORK AGAIN FOR THE TIME IS SHORT AND MANY SOULS ARE IN NEED OF HIM!

Ezra 4, the lies of the enemy!

Ezr 4:1, NOW WHEN THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN HEARD THAT THE descendants of the captivity WERE BUILDING THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, 

When there is great work for the LORD, there will always be great opposition to that work!

1Co 16:9, FOR A GREAT AND EFFECTIVE DOOR HAS OPENED TO ME, AND THERE ARE MANY ADVERSARIES. 

Ezr 4:2, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “LET US BUILD WITH YOU, FOR WE SEEK YOUR GOD AS YOU DO; AND WE HAVE SACRIFICED TO HIM…

2Ti 3:5, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people TURN AWAY! 

They are adversaries, yet want to help build? Be careful who you allow in the ministry!

Tit 1:16, THEY PROFESS TO KNOW GOD, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. 

Ezr 4:3, But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “YOU MAY DO NOTHING WITH US TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR OUR GOD; BUT WE ALONE WILL BUILD TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

For years through the reigns of Cyrus, Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes up to Darius, they wrote letters ACCUSING THEM OF SEDITION to their reign! King Artaxerxes finally stopped the work because of their letter against them!

Pro 26:22-26 NLT, Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. SMOOTH WORDS MAY HIDE A WICKED HEART, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. People may COVER THEIR HATRED WITH PLEASANT WORDS, BUT THEY’RE DECEIVING YOU. THEY PRETEND TO BE KIND, but don’t believe them. THEIR HEARTS ARE FULL OF MANY EVILS. WHILE THEIR HATRED MAY BE CONCEALED BY TRICKERY, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

BE CAUTIOUS WHO YOU ALLOW IN THE MINISTRY FOR EVEN SATAN DRESSES HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT!

Ezra 3, the glory of the Temple!

Ezr 3:2-3, Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel …, AROSE AND BUILT THE ALTAR OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL, TO OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS ON IT, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES THE MAN OF GOD. … THEY SET THE ALTAR ON ITS BASES; AND THEY OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS ON IT TO THE LORD, …

Perfect place to start building the temple of GOD, the alter!  OUR ALTER IS THE CROSS OF CALVARY.  YOU CAN’T BE A CHRISTIAN OR HAVE A CHURCH WITHOUT THE CROSS, BUT THAT ALTER IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT THE CHURCH; FOR HE MEETS US WHERE WERE AT!

Ezr 3:10-11, WHEN THE BUILDERS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with TRUMPETS, … WITH CYMBALS, TO PRAISE THE LORD, …. And THEY SANG RESPONSIVELY, PRAISING AND GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD: “FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER TOWARD ISRAEL.” THEN ALL THE PEOPLE SHOUTED WITH A GREAT SHOUT, WHEN THEY PRAISED THE LORD, BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WAS LAID.

GREAT JOY CAME FROM JUST LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE! YET NOT ALL WERE CELEBRATING!

Ezr 3:12, … OLD MEN WHO HAD SEEN THE FIRST TEMPLE, WEPT WITH A LOUD VOICE WHEN THE FOUNDATION OF THIS TEMPLE WAS LAID BEFORE THEIR EYES. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 

It’s estimated that the first Temple cost 5 billion dollars to build, Yet the foundation of this temple didn’t compare in their eyes!

Hag 2:3,7,9, ‘WHO IS LEFT AMONG YOU WHO SAW THIS TEMPLE IN ITS FORMER GLORY? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? … AND I WILL FILL THIS TEMPLE WITH GLORY,’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS…. ‘THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER TEMPLE SHALL BE GREATER THAN THE FORMER,’ … 

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GOLD AND THE RICHES THAT THE FIRST TEMPLE HAD; IT’S ABOUT GOD! FOR THE SECOND TEMPLE WAS VISITED BY GOD JESUS HIMSELF. WITHOUT HIM IT’S JUST A BUILDING, BUT IN HIS PRESENCE, WE FIND GLORY! 

Ezra 2, the book of LIFE!

Ezr 2:1-2, Now these are the people of the province WHO CAME BACK FROM THE CAPTIVITY, OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN CARRIED AWAY, WHOM NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING OF BABYLON HAD CARRIED AWAY TO BABYLON, AND WHO RETURNED TO JERUSALEM AND JUDAH, everyone to his own city. THOSE WHO CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL…

For 70 years they were in the land of Babylon, and with the command of Cyrus, the king,

Jer 29:10-11, FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: AFTER SEVENTY YEARS ARE COMPLETED AT BABYLON, I will visit you and perform MY GOOD WORD TOWARD YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND NOT OF EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.

It’s time to come back home, come back to HIS fellowship, come back and be HIS people again! It’s amazing to know that the LORD is thinking of us, HIS people; knowing how flawed we are YET STILL LOVES US!

Ezr 2:59, 62, And these were the ones who came up… BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THEIR FATHER’S HOUSE OR THEIR GENEALOGY, WHETHER THEY WERE OF ISRAEL: …THESE SOUGHT THEIR LISTING AMONG THOSE WHO WERE REGISTERED BY GENEALOGY, BUT THEY WERE NOT FOUND; THEREFORE THEY WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD AS DEFILED. 

The Jewish nation kept good records of their genealogy, yet some couldn’t find their names written in the book and were counted as defiled meaning they couldn’t serve GOD!

Rev 20:15, AND ANYONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. 

Luke 10:20b, BUT RATHER REJOICE BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.” 

THE LORD IS A GOD OF LOVE AND IT’S UP TO EVERYONE TO EITHER EXCEPT HIM OR REJECT HIM!  THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND, AND HE WILL NEVER FORCE HIS WILL ON YOU! IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN HIS BOOK?

Ezra 1, called out by name!

Ezr 1:1, NOW IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD BY THE MOUTH OF JEREMIAH MIGHT BE FULFILLED, THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA… 

Josephus and others believe that the prophet Daniel showed the book of Jeremiah to Cyrus!

Dan 1:21, 9:2, Thus Daniel continued until the FIRST YEAR OF KING CYRUS…. I, Daniel, UNDERSTOOD BY THE BOOKS the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD THROUGH JEREMIAH THE PROPHET…

Ezr 1:2-3, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HAS GIVEN ME. AND HE HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE AT JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH…. LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.

In the prophecy of Jeremiah, written about 150 years before the birth of Cyrus, GOD CALLED CYRUS BY NAME!

Isa 45:1, 4-5, “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, … I HAVE EVEN CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; I HAVE NAMED YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME. I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; THERE IS NO GOD BESIDES ME. I WILL GIRD YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME.

Cyrus didn’t know the LORD, yet GOD anointed him, guided him, blessed him and used him for HIS work! HOW MUCH MORE US WHO SAY WE KNOW HIM! HAS HE STIRRED YOUR HEART FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY?

Pro 21:1, THE KING’S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, LIKE THE RIVERS OF WATER; HE TURNS IT WHEREVER HE WISHES. 

Remember in the eyes of the LORD, though we don’t at all deserve it, we are kings and priest!

Rev 1:6, AND HAS MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO HIS GOD AND FATHER, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

Cyrus was indeed honored by GOD as HE called him by name! YET, TRUE HONOR AND GLORY WILL BE FOR THOSE WHOS NAME ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE!