3 questions before moving Ahead

 Read Ezra 4-6. 

Whenever action is taken to achieve God's work, expect opposition.  Opposition does not mean that anything is wrong.  Indeed, it may be the very confirmation that it is right. 

The pagan neighbors watched as the Jews returned to resettle in Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.  To stop the work, they tried to infiltrate the work force.  When that plan failed, they began to say and do things to discourage the people and make them afraid.  The enemies even used bribes.  Next, they sent a letter to the new king of Persia with accusations that prompted Artaxerxes to call a halt to the project.  The king acted on partial information and not the whole truth. 

God's people had full authority to move forward, yet there is no record of fighting with those who opposed them.  And, there was no rebellion against the king.  Instead, God used two of His spokesmen (prophets) to encourage the people to go back to work.  Haggai's message was short, immediate and direct regarding priorities.  Zechariah took a long-range view and encouraged them to finish the work for the coming Messiah.  Zerubbabel acted quickly to restart the project. 

The opposition's plan backfired.  Once the next king, Darius the Mede, received all the information, not only did the Jews have permission, but the government was to pay for it.  The king's new decree: "Let it be done with all diligence.” (6:12) 

Again, there will always be people with their own agenda, wanting to do different things, their way, and on their timetable.  Sometimes (not always) it is Satan who energizes opposition to godly leadership.  Many times people with differing ideas oppose godly leaders due to personal pet projects, their own feelings of fear and/or inexperience. 

Questions leaders must ask and know the answers before moving ahead:

1. Is this what God wants done?

2. Is this how God wants it done?

3. Is this when God wants it done?

Getting back on track with God

 Read Ezra 2-3. 

In response to the God-given proclamation of Cyrus, king of Persia, the Jews began to return to the Promised Land.  Among those leading the people back, two names stand out.  Zerubbabel and Nehemiah provided the spiritual and project leadership the people would need.  Though 70 years had past each family knew their heritage of service to the LORD.  Those who could not prove their genealogy waited for a priest to make a decision (2:63). 

First, they set up the altar.  Here sin was acknowledged and the sacrifices for atonement were made.  Next, they celebrated their faith according to the Law of Moses.  Then, they presented their freewill offerings to begin the project. 

When the foundation of the Temple was laid, a formal procession followed with singers and instruments.  The song was a familiar one, recorded in several places in the Old Testament.  It is a song of praise to God. 

"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel." 

1. God is good.  He is good to us, because He is good.  It is His nature. 

2. God is love.  This is not an emotion but a commitment by covenant to His people.  Therefore, His love does not change. 

3. God is faithful.  The promises He made to Abraham (becoming a great and blessed nation) and to David (regarding the kingdom) are forever just as He said.  Yes, the people may disobey.  Yes, the LORD will step in and discipline His children when needed.  But the character and the Word of God stand sure.

5 steps to getting things done for God

 Read Ezra 1. 

For 70 years the Jews had lived as captives in Babylon.  This was God's response to their ignoring His command to allow the land to rest every 7th year.  Finally, the total number of years they owed to God and the land came to 70 years.  At the end of those days, the Medes and Persians conquered the Babylonians.  Cyrus, king of Persia, now ruled from India to Egypt.  Though he did not live to see it, the Prophet Jeremiah several times foretold that this captivity would last for exactly 70 years.  Before the captivity ever took place Jeremiah wrote: "The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it" (Jeremiah 51:11) 

God wanted His people back on the land He promised them.  So, He did an amazing work in the heart of King Cyrus.  This is one of the most astounding turning points in Jewish history.  There are lessons here for all of us. 

1. He acknowledged that what he had came from God.

"The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all..."  This is the confession of stewardship: that his possessions were a gift from God and that he had accountability to the Owner for what he did with what he had been given. 

2. He announced what God had called him to do.

"…and he has charged me to build..."  It was not merely a good idea that Cyrus had.  In fact, it was what God wanted done!  This is the statement of one who knows why they are here at this specific time and place on earth.  Using our resources for God-ordained results is the implementation process of a steward. 

3. He communicated to others and encouraged their participation.

"Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go..."  When one has a confident passion for a specific calling, they want others to be engaged also.  This is a clear call to action.  

4. He provided his own resources and encouraged others to give willingly.

He led by example.  He did not ask others to do something he was not doing.  He could have paid for the whole project, but that would have robbed the people from having their own investment in what God was doing.  This was not their tithe money they contributed.  As with ever project in the Bible, this was generosity giving, a freewill offering. 

5. The people responded to God's prompting.

This was not a response to the king or to the project need.  God "stirred" their hearts to action.  Every great work of God was accomplished by those whose hearts were open, praying for God's leadership in their decision. 

What is God stirring in your heart today?

A hope-filled end to a sad Story

 Read 2 Chronicles 36. 

Judah experienced a rapid succession of kings and three take-overs.  First Neco, king of Egypt came up from the south and brought Judah under his control.  He even dethroned King Jehoahaz and took him back to Egypt as a prisoner. 

Next, Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian Empire, came down from the north and forcefully took control of Judah in 605 B.C.  Most of those who were not killed were taken captive back to Babylon.  Among the captives were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Two more times the Babylonians came until the land of Judah was totally conquered in 586 B.C. 

Then, the Medes and the Persians conquered Babylonia.  In one of the most astounding passages displaying God’s sovereignty, He stirred the heart of the pagan King Cyrus to release the Jews to go back home.  Even more, he charged them to rebuild the Temple and he would pay for it! 

What was God doing?

1.     He was responding to the evil and blatant disregard for Him and His word.

Each of these kings after Josiah not only ignored the LORD and His claims upon them, but they involved themselves in every evil practice.  They willfully refused to acknowledge that it was the LORD who gave them life and opportunity.  This was His land.  They were His people.  They were only allowed to be there as a result of His blessing.

2.     In His love, mercy, and patience with them, He faithfully sent messenger

after messenger to call them back to God.  “The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place” (v.15).  But instead of listening and embracing what God had made clear to them, they rejected the word of God and even mocked it.

3.      He was fulfilling His word with or without them.

In their ignorance of the Scriptures, and/or rebellion against God’s commands they had not rested the land every 7 years.  These skipped Sabbath years now totaled 70 that the nation owed God.  Jeremiah, one of those messengers from the LORD, made this clear to them well in advance (Jeremiah 25:11-12). 

Insights for all of us:

1.     It is better to listen to God and humbly respond than to suffer the consequences of disobedience.

2.     It is better to give God what rightfully belongs to Him than for Him to have to take it from us.

3.     It is better to live for the LORD and experience the blessings He desires to bestow upon us.

The Greatest Celebration in 400 Years!

 Read 2 Chronicles 35. 

Nothing was spared in celebrating the Passover when King Josiah reigned. 

As he grew older, he also grew in his spiritual leadership.  The Temple had been cleansed and repaired.  The Book of the Law had been discovered and there was a renewed commitment to obey it.  Only now could the leadership and the nation properly come before the LORD for a wholehearted celebration. 

1. They prepared themselves.

The Levites who taught and served at the Temple were charged again to fulfill their responsibilities.  This meant they were to accomplish their assigned tasks by family and division as prescribed in the Scriptures.  They then could put the Ark back where it belonged.  In order to handle the tremendous amount of people and offering, they must be ready.  There was work to be done. 

2. They consecrated themselves.

Without spiritual preparation, they would just be doing a job, instead of a ministry.  The price of serving God is purity!  Ministry is an inside out work.  It begins within the heart of the servant and flows into the lives of others. 

3. They worked hard.

Those who taught the people, those who helped with the sacrifices, those who burned the offerings, those who boiled the meat, those cleaned up after all the mess, those who sang, those who offered the sacrifices and worshiped--all celebrated together!  Yes, they came for the day of Passover, but the feast lasted a week. 

Verse 18 states: "No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet." 

Worship is not a spectator sport.  Everyone should come with their hearts right before the LORD and ready to give, work and do their part.

The most important factor to spiritual Life-change.

 Read 2 Chronicles 34. 

Josiah was only 8 years old when he began his reign over Judah.  At age 16, he began to exercise his faith in the LORD.  By age 20, he was leading his nation in a spiritual cleansing process.  When he became 26, he turned his attention to the repair of the Temple. 

This is a great reminder that spiritual maturity has nothing to do with how old a person is.  Paul told Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because he was young (1 Timothy 4:12). 

As the work proceeded, a copy of the Book of the Law was found!  Obviously, the people had not seen, nor heard, the word of God in a long time.  When Shaphan read the scriptures to King Josiah, he became overwhelmed with conviction.  His concern regarding the lack of attention and obedience to God's word was not only for himself but for the people of his kingdom and that of the northern kingdom of Israel. 

To understand the implications, they sought out the Prophetess Huldah.  She confirmed the king's concerns for the people, yet the judgment would not take place in Josiah's lifetime.  Further, she explained why: "Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words..." (v.27a).  

When one's heart is open to hear what God has to say, it is life-changing!  "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) 

The openness, or tenderness, of the heart toward the LORD is what makes the difference in the results.

Gain from the Pain

 Read 2 Chronicles 33. 

After some 29 years of wonderful and godly leadership from Hezekiah, his son Manasseh became Judah's next king.  Manasseh systematically reversed the spiritual reforms of his father.    He turned from worshiping the LORD to installing every false and evil way. 

1. He not only built altars to the Baals but also to the fertility goddess, Asherah.  When people turn to false worship, moral values are soon lost.

2. He built altars to the "host of heaven".  Astrology and worship of the movement of stars and planets has always been condemned by God as evil (Deuteronomy 4:19).  It is a system that looks to the creation for life guidance rather than the Creator.

3. He led the nation into human sacrifices, including his own sons.

4. He used fortune-telling, omens, sorcery, mediums, and wizards.  These are not amusements for video games, role playing, fantasies of escape, and advice seeking.  They are in fact satanic and rooted in everything that is against the God of heaven.

5. He even carved an idol and set it up as a god.  A piece of inanimate wood that he fashioned became something to which he bowed and paid homage. 

All of these actions resulted in God's anger and judgment.  The Assyrians humiliated him and took him captive.  He lost everything. 

"And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (v.12).  God heard his prayer.  "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God" (v.13b).  The personal and national restoration began. 

It took the pain of loss and distress to turn his heart from going his own way to surrendering to God's way.  Isaiah described this behavior as true of everyone and the reason the Messiah died on the cross.  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) 

Restoration begins when a person turns from their sin to embrace God's forgiveness.