The Apostles declared (starting with Peter at Pentecost) that we are in the last days. We've spent 2000 years rightly expecting the imminent return of Christ. Imminence is not the problem - it is that we have forgotten that imminence is tied to the Great Commission. Each time that He was asked about His return or about the establishment of the earthly Kingdom, Christ seemed to point His disciples to their responsibility to reach the whole world with the Gospel. This was Paul's driving force, and he believed that Christ's coming was soon, not based upon a calendar date, but based upon the great traction they experienced in fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching the whole world with the Gospel. If we want imminence, we must be serious about the Gospel.
I think that one of the greatest dangers to the Christian home today is a dating spirit mixed with matchmaking family members. This creates a constant dissatisfied state where one is essentially practicing for divorce and heartache.
If, instead, we realize that God made ONE woman (Eve) for ONE man (Adam), and that God did not give them the freedom to date around, we can give our young people hope and the focus to walk with and work for God while waiting for Him to bring the perfect mate that He has designed - just for each one of them.
What a wonderful God we serve! Other so-called gods thrive on mystery and mystic powers, but the Lord desires for us to know Him and partake of His wisdom.
Reading in Proverbs 8 today, I found the discussion of wisdom. In verse 12, it says, "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions."
Later, in verse 22, it begins to declare God's wisdom in Creation and beyond, "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old."
Then, the chapter closes out by inviting us to partake in God's wisdom: "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."
God encourages us to be a part of His wisdom and plan! What an encouragement!
Good Morning, Praying Friends,
I wanted to take a moment to update you on our current situation here in California.
What Was…
When the Lord first burdened our heart for the Los Molinos, CA, area last September, we sought the Lord for a plan and prepared to move down as soon as possible. Our burden is great because we have seen the need here. Many good churches of years gone by have packed up and left or else gone in a non-Biblical direction, leaving a very thirsty people with few options for Biblical, Spiritual nourishment.
We were presented with an opportunity to work for another Baptist ministry, and have an apartment to live in and a building to use to start the church. Our plan was to take several months to establish ourselves as a family, get finances stabilized between the job and my graphics business, and then begin to plant the church. We moved down to Los Molinos with our ducks seemingly in a row. However, after we moved down, we were informed that their funding had dried up for the job. Over the next few months, we realized that, while everything looked great on paper, there were some differences in doctrine, practice, and general character that would keep us from working together. We were able to use the apartment until the end of June, when we parted ways for good.
What Is…
Not having a place to meet or live has presented its own set of challenges that have given us the opportunity to trust the Lord in a greater way on a daily basis. In the several months since we have moved down to Los Molinos, we have been welcomed into the community in a very special way. Just in trying to be a blessing, we have been welcomed into many homes, and have been able to share the gospel with many needy people without even attempting to plant the church yet. We have been able to minister to about fifteen families who have said that they will be there when the church opens, and are thirsting for a church.
Because of these kind folks who want and need a church, it has put a ‘burr under our saddle’ to find a way to make this happen, with God’s help. We found a temporary place to stay in a nearby town, and have opened an office for my graphics / web business also. Every week, at our sending pastor’s recommendation, we meet with whoever wants to hear the Gospel, normally at a local park.
What Is To Come…
Please pray that God will provide for
- Permanent housing for us
- A place for a church to meet when started
- Stabilization of our finances to be able to continue moving forward
- Most importantly, the folks here who have graciously allowed us into their homes with God’s Word. Among them, here are some specific prayer requests:
- Elizabeth and her husband, both in their upper seventies, and both of whom fight cancer. She has a clear testimony of salvation and has been praying for a church to help her win her neighbors. Her husband is not saved and is playing around with superstition and witchcraft from his old country (Mexico) in hopes of curing his cancer. Please pray for his salvation.
- Rose, and her family, who have asked a lot of questions concerning salvation, and are hoping for the church to be started soon. They are trying to find the answers to mend a broken home.
- Bertha, a lady in her eighties who has been through some terrible tragedies. She is currently battling cancer and lupus, and meets with us. She has a testimony of being saved and baptized in an independent Baptist Church several years ago. Despite the tragedies that have taken nearly everything from her, she has a sweet spirit and seeks a Biblical church.
- There are several other families who have only ever known Catholicism, but are very welcoming and thirsty for the truth. There are others who were part of other independent Baptist Churches of years gone by, that have been left without direction since their churches disappeared. There are about twenty towns in a 30-mile radius here that have no Gospel-preaching church any more.
It is my conviction and burden that light is most effective in the darkness. We were given a Great Commission to reach the World with the Gospel. It may be convenient or safe to move to a place that is more accepting of a Biblical worldview or more politically- or family-friendly, but those Christians who have moved on have left a needy gap behind. If God will graciously allow us to stay here, we hope and pray that we can fill that gap with a lighthouse that can point people to Christ.
In Christ’s Love,
Jared & Krysta Watkins
Enoch, Ezra, Ezekiel & EdWord
Sending Church: Grace Baptist Church, PO Box 231, Cle Elum, WA 98922 - Pastor Steven Harper
In II Chronicles 26, we find the story of the good King Uzziah, who began to reign when he was sixteen. He sought to honor the Lord, and did right and prospered with strong, Godly leadership.
With that strength, however, came pride. He thought that he had no limits. In his pride, he usurped the authority of the priest and burned incense in the Temple.
First, we see the mercy of God. The priests came and kindly corrected the King, explaining why he was wrong. They offered him a humble way out of the bad situation.
Next, we see the pride of the King. When corrected, he became very angry. Instead of repenting, he became hardened in his sin, and proceeded to knowingly do wrong.
Finally, we see the judgment of God. In the midst of his anger, God struck the King with leprosy.
Here is the saddest part: the great King who knew the great strength of the hand of God on his life became satisfied with leprosy. Instead of humbling himself, he let his son do his job as King, and died defeated. How sad to see such a strong king go to his grave in defeat!
How about you? Have you made some prideful mistakes? Take part in God's mercy, before the problem gets worse. Whatever you do, don't become satisfied with defeat. God's mercy is new every morning, and the same God who brings judgment delights to bring restoration through our repentance.
2 Chronicles 26:16-21, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. (17) And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: (18) And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. (19) Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. (20) And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. (21) And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land."
I really believe that every Christian should have a ministry. Not everyone needs a “stand up in front of others and speak” ministry, or a ministry that requires full-time support. The reality is, however, that no man is an island, and since one is always touching other people’s lives, he should use his life as an opportunity to serve others and glorify God.
Put another way, every Christian *HAS* a ministry; the question is: are you going to embrace it and be led by the Spirit of God, or are you going to serve in the weakness of the flesh. In the book of Judges, we find the story of an unlikely minister – Samson. His life was such a tragedy that we may wonder, “Could God even use him?!”
Samson’s ministry was thrust upon him from before birth, but he was never really thrilled about it. Even his parents thought that his life choices prevented him from being used by God, but that was not so. Judges 14:4 says this, “But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.”
In our pride and in our critical spirits, we think that God uses us because we are pretty awesome and make great Christ-honoring choices. However, if God could use a donkey to speak the truth to Balaam (in Numbers 22) or the heathen king, Cyrus, to enable God’s people to rebuild the temple, he can certainly whoever he will.
Samson was useful to the Lord – but imagine how much better it would have been if he had not served in the flesh. Imagine how different his life would have been had He willingly lived to glorify God! Let’s take a look now at three signs that you, like Samson, might be serving in the flesh.
First of all, Samson was Motivated by Anger.
Judges 14:19 says, “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.”
The first part of this verse shows how that Samson was used by God to get at the Philistines. However, the verse ends by noting his anger. It was as if his ministry allowed him access to the Spirit of God, to do a good thing, but he did so with an angry, selfish motivation.
We should not be fooled into thinking that our anger is a good thing, because it seems to produce desired results from time to time. The Bible clearly tells us in Ephesians 4 to put away *ALL* wrath and anger. Surely things are going to come in life to make us angry; in the case of Samson, these things came about as a result of his own choices. However, we are supposed to put that anger away from us, and allow the Spirit of God to work instead.
Truly the Spirit of God was at work with Samson, but imagine how much better it would have been if his anger had not been present. With his fleshly anger out of the way, the Spirit of God would have had more freedom to show that this was the work of God, not the vengeance of an angry man.
Secondly, Samson’s Heart Was in the Wrong Place.
When Samson got in trouble with Delilah, the Bible says this in Judges 16:17-18, “That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. (18) And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.”
Samson’s heart should have been dedicated to God, motivated and controlled by the Spirit of God. Instead, he gave his heart to Delilah, and that ultimately cost him his eyes and then his life.
How often do we see men and women of God who are grudgingly serving God. It is like it has been thrust upon them, but their hearts are elsewhere! Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with “all thine heart” and the result will be the step-by-step direction of God in our lives.
If you are trusting the Lord with *all* your heart, then any other relationships and pursuits will be motivated and in alignment with the heart of God. Oh what a different story Samson’s life could have been had he submitted to the Lord with all his heart!
Finally, Samson’s Service to the Lord Required Personal Vindication.
Judges 16:28 says, “And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Samson would go on to kill himself and more Philistines than he had previously in all events put together.
His life ended here, with Samson looking to be avenged – vindicated – justified, in his very last breath. He was okay with God’s work being accomplished, but this was personal. This was for him – not for God.
When I think of many other servants of God whom He used to bring deliverance to God’s people, I see men like Gideon, and women like Deborah, who completely surrendered their hearts and lives to be used by God. When God brought deliverance, they glorified Him for his might acts, and lived to see the goodness of God and the peaceful liberty of His people. Not so with Samson. He lived in the flesh and died, still seeking validation. He never got to see the results of God’s deliverance.
I wonder how much time and deliverance is lost when we live our lives like Samson! What does it cost when we must be justified in the eyes of others? What effectiveness is lost when we will glorify God, but only if we get something out of it, too?
Remember, Christian, you have a ministry! Are you going to embrace it by allowing the Spirit of God to guide you step by step, or are you going to live life in the flesh like Samson? Either way, God will be glorified, but it is much sweeter to be part of glorifying God instead of serving as a bad example.
The Book of Judges is a book that tells us about the tragedies that came upon Israel after the death of Joshua. During Joshua’s life and leadership, there was victory and triumph as God’s blessing was poured out in their obedience. When the next generation came along, however, all of that evaporated! How did this happen?
First, the parent’s generation went soft on sin. They had been commanded to drive out all the wicked inhabitants of Canaan, but notice what Judges 1:28, 32 says: “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out…. (32) But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.”
Notice that it says, “when Israel was strong.” We have to watch ourselves when we feel strong. Many great tragedies occur directly after a time of great victory. Sometimes, this is because we get prideful when God brings victory, and we connive better, more efficient ways to “serve God” instead of doing it His way. In the case of the Israelites here, they thought that having the Canaanites as slaves was a ‘way better idea’ than following God’s plan.
The second mistake that the parent’s generation made was that they didn’t pass on to their children the goodness of God. Judges 2:10 says, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”
Here’s the thing about telling about the miracles of God in your life: it makes you vulnerable, and God is always the hero. It takes humility to admit that you messed up, and God delivered you. It is perhaps natural to try and appear strong and heroic to your children, and act as if you have always ‘had it all together,’ but this puts your children in a vulnerable position. If you instead talk about the bad habits and family curses of the past, and glorify God by recounting His deliverance, you put your children in a position to realize that no matter how they fail, turning to God is always the answer!
The final mistake that the parent’s generation made is to emphasize religious acts instead of a walk with God. We see this come out in the lives of the next generation in Judges 2:11, where it says, “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:”
Notice here, that the children’s generation was religious. They *SERVED* Baalim. What was missing in their religion was a genuine walk with God. Since they didn’t know God and didn’t know of God’s deliverance, their religious acts pulled them away from God, and into heathen idolatry.
It is tempting to train our children in mindless obedience – to obey their parents no matter what without question. This produces beautiful replicas of ourselves that are all dressed up in cute church clothes and hair-sprayed curls, but are empty inside, void of any true walk with God. Some day that veneer cracks, and the children are left to figure out life without the presence of the Author of life. Though obedience and honor should certainly be trained into our children, it cannot be done with lasting effects unless there is the foundation of a personal walk with God. We cannot eliminate our children’s free will in hopes of making them super Christians; all we will do is make them super religious and empty of the Spirit of God.
It has been said that we are always only one generation away from extinction. This is certainly true if we make these mistakes that Israel did after the death of Joshua. Instead, we should walk step by step in obedience and fellowship with the Lord, and bring our kids up along side us so that they know first-hand the goodness, deliverance, and miracles of God!
2 Chronicles 15:8, "And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD."
Exodus 9:27-28, "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. (28) Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer."
Exodus 9:34-35, "And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. (35) And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses."
These verses are found after the Lord brought the plague of fire mixed with hail upon Egypt. In the midst of the horror of this plague, it seems that Pharaoh repented - after all, he said all the right words! Outwardly, it sounded great, but when the circumstances changed, so did his so-called repentance.
Sometimes, as believers, we make wrong decisions that require repentance. Is it genuine repentance that returns us to the fellowship with the Lord Who died for us, and to Whom we have committed our lives? Or is circumstantial repentance, decided out of fear, in the midst of the terror of self-brought circumstances? This false, fear-based repentance is simply an attempt to manipulate the Lord.
Sometimes, as believers, I wonder if we use fear as a motivation in soul-winning, and then push a lost sinner into making a wonderful-sounding confession that is void of true repentance. We cannot do the job of the Holy Spirit, and when we try, the result is a generation of false repenters, whose manipulation "by prayer" did not work, and who, like Pharaoh, return to their old ways, unchanged and un-born-again.
2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
2. I Love Church Because It Is Good for Me.
3. I Love Church Because It Is Good for Others.
This is interesting to me, from Psalm 105:25:
"He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants."
It is in reference to the Israelites just before they left Egypt to return to the Promised Land, just before the ten plagues on Egypt. They had been comfortable; the Egyptians liked them, and they liked the Egyptians. It was convenient, but they weren't supposed to be in Egypt.
So God orchestrated some events, and according to this verse, even turned the heart of the Egyptians to hate the Israelites. This working in the hearts of the Egyptians and the Israelites prompted the necessary change that moved the Israelites back to where God had called them to go.
What uncomfortable relationship is in your life right now? Is God trying to use it to push you towards Him? Maybe those unkind or unfair things that are happening to you are actually gifts from God to move you from a convenient relationship with Him to an obedient, personal relationship with Him, fully committed and dependent upon His leadership.
As we open the Book of Nehemiah, we find that Nehemiah learns about trouble in Jerusalem. These were his people, serving God - his God! Yet he was the King's Cupbearer in the palace; he wasn't in Jerusalem. What is he to do about these troubles?
- He didn't try to solve them.
- He didn't start talking about them.
- He didn't ignore the troubles, either.
The first thing that he did with his troubles was that he took them to God! He fasted and prayed and poured out his heart to the One Who knows all, and can provide peace and direction.
- He humbled himself in mourning and confessing sins, both his own, and those of his fathers and the children of Israel (vs. 4, 6).
- He prayed for those who served God, that they would be strengthened by Him, and prosper (vs. 10, 11).
- He kept on doing his responsibilities as a cupbearer (vs 11).
Ultimately God would direct and use Nehemiah in a great way in this situation, but this is where it started.
So what should you do with your troubles? Humble yourself before God; bring your troubles to Him. Pray for God's servants that are around you, such as your pastor and other co-laborers. Keep on keeping on, until God directs further action.
(Nehemiah 1:3-4) "And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,"
In Ezra Chapter 10, we see the repentance that followed Chapter 9. In Chapter 9, they were grieving when they realized how bad the situation was, but we see HOPE early in chapter 10, where is says in verse 2, "yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing."
What gave them hope? Repentance! All around us is a world that faces seemingly hopelessness and darkness. The solution? Turning to Jesus. Turning is the act of repentance.
Repentance came with a price. They had to painfully break off wrong relationships and friendships (verse 11). It was a big job that would require determination, diligence, and accountability (verses 13-14). It would take them weeks and months to make this right (verses 16-17).
When the people saw the HOPE that came with repentance, they were ready to what it took, saying "As thou hast said, so must we do." Are you willing to do what it takes to turn from your hopelessness?
If you don't have a personal relationship with Christ, salvation is a free gift - simply trust Christ and His death, burial and resurrection to take away your sin, and call upon Him for salvation once and for all today. He will come into your heart and give you HOPE.
(Ezra 10:2, 10-12) "And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. ... And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do."
In Ezra Chapter 9, Ezra comes to realize that God's people are in trouble again, for not exercising Godly separation which ultimately led down the path of compromise, and pretty soon they were doing the same abominations as the heathen nations around them (verse 1).
This greatly grieved Ezra. and I am struck by his response in verses 8-10, where he speaks of God giving them mercy and grace, and "a little space" for revival. After the judgment of the Babylonian captivity, in one of the lowests points of their history, God used a heathen king to extend mercy - for the purpose of revival. It was a small window of escape, with a specific purpose.
If we are going to see revival in our hearts and lands, it is not going to be from a position of our own outward strength. It will be from a time when we have been brought low - either through chastisement or by humbling ourselves. It is then that we are too weak to think that we can bring revival ourselves and realize that it is all Christ and none of us; all the power of God, and none of our own strength.
If we are going to see revival in our hearts and lands, we must realize that the window that God gives us is for a purpose. So often we see God give us liberty and abuse it by not recognizing it as an opportunity for Spiritual revival. Liberty is not unbridled freedom - it always has a purpose.
If we are going to see revival in our hearts and lands, we must recognize that the window given is "a little space." God is merciful and gracious, and His mercies are new every morning, but there are opportunities that are lost and lines that are crossed and ground that cannot be regained in this life when we put off too long the prompting of the Spirit of God.
(Ezra 9:8-10) "And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,"
It has been several weeks since I have written about the book of Ezra. The reason is this: as I came to Ezra chapter 8, I was excited about the powerful lesson learned in this chapter; but as I began to write, I didn't have peace about it, and felt that I was missing something; and so I have read this chapter over and over in conjunction with my devotions over the last few weeks, asking the Lord to show me what I was missing. Early this morning, I realized what I had missed: Ezra's enemy was as of yet unknown and unseen - he was preparing in advance for the unknown. I had realized that he was preparing for the enemy, but it wasn't until this morning that I realized that it was the unknown "enemy in the way" (vs 22, 31).
Several years ago, I had faced a troubling, overwhelming, life-changing problem. After going through it, I faced terrible Satanic attacks that left me in very dark, weak, scary places, battling horrible memories from the past. The main problem was that I didn't know when these attacks would come; often I would awaken in the night, and I didn't know how to fight something that was already upon me. It was then that my pastor and some other men of God taught me the power of preventative prayer: the all-knowing, loving God can go before us and help us even before we know what is going on, and we should praying to this end.
That type of preventative prayer is what we see in this passage in Ezra chapter 8. Ezra was leading a group of people to Jerusalem. He knew that there were enemies along the way; he didn't know when or where the attack would be, but we see here how he handled it - IN ADVANCE.
- He Refused to Accept Man's Solutions (vs 22) - Ezra said that he "was ashamed" to get help from the king, because they had told him of the hand of God and the power of God. Do you know the hand and power of God on your life? Have you sought him yet to the point that you would be ashamed to seek man's help in His place? When it comes to the spiritual battles that man faces, the world can offer seemingly good advice in the form of counselling and psychology, but its time that we become ashamed to seek man's answers, so that we can know the power of hand of God.
- He Did What it Took to Do Things the Right Way (vs 21) - They had a long journey to take and a job to do, yet they stayed there by the river for 3 days (vs 15) and fasted and prayed (vs 21, 23) to find the way to go, in God's direction and protection. Are we willing to do what it takes to get God's heart on the matter? Are we willing to give up what is necessary to hear from God, and pause and wait on Him for guidance?
- God Protected Them (vs 31-32) - God was intreated of them (vs 23) and they went on their journey without incident in the protection of God! It should make us shout with excitement to see the power of God in this situation, and to know that the same God is our God, and the same solution is available to us, if we will follow the same pattern!
(Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32) "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. (22) For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. (23) So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. ... (31) Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. (32) And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days."
(Proverbs 16:2-3) "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. (3) Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
Are you overwhelmed with knowing what to do, how to make a decision, how and what to accomplish? How do you get to where your ways and thoughts are established and following God?
First, we see the solution cannot be solved by outwardly doing more good stuff - simply because starting from the external, that is from the flesh, you are always going to justify whatever it is that you choose to do: "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes." It is here that religion exists. It is here that performance exists. It is here that the "checklists" of "every good Christian" exist.
Secondly, we see that God's priority is the spiritual: "but the LORD weigheth the spirits." God looks at us from the inside-out, and is concerned about our relationship with Him first. Simply put, we can't know if we are pleasing God if we are not in fellowship with Him. You can religiously read your Bible every day, even memorize it, but without a personal, daily relationship with Him, it won't help you.
Finally, we see in verse 3, we see the practical summary or answer - "Commit thy works unto the LORD." When you commit your works to the Lord, you dedicate yourself to finding out what God wants you to do and only doing that. Instead of trying to do good things from the outside-in, this requires you to seek God's Word first in order to get answers - not to check off a religious box. This requires the help of the Holy Spirit, and a personal, ongoing relationship with the Lord.
Man's Way: Doing "good" things in the power of the flesh, hoping to satisfy God and find peace within.
God's Way: Seeking God first, and being empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God's plan for your life.
In Ezra chapter 6, we see the conclusion of the storm that the builders went through in chapters 4 and 5. In chapter 4, the bad guys came in, first trying to trick their way in, then by outright attacks, to stop the building of the temple. The builders were so overcome that by the end of the chapter, they stopped working. In chapter 5, the prophets preached to the people, and they were encouraged and went back to work, writing a letter to the king about the problem.
Notice the pattern in this trial:
- They went about their work, with the help of God (ch 5, vs 2,5). It may be difficult in a hard trial, but keep moving; keep doing what God has called you to do. Go in His strength and the power of His might, but don't quit.
- They appealed to the king, instead of retaliating (ch 5, vs 7-17). Be in a position to act instead of reacting when necessary. When in the middle of a trial, if some type of problem needs to be dealt with, follow the correct Biblical pattern, with the right spirit. Using Biblical principles and the right spirit to interact with others through my trial will allow me to be a good testimony in the midst of a dark time. The reality is that our lives touch other people's lives, and so our trials will, too, so even if the trial that I'm going through shouldn't involve other people, its likely to affect other people. If I retaliate every time I feel attacked, not only do I risk losing my testimony, but I also get distracted from doing the job that God has put before me.
- God gave them a clear victory (ch 6). The appeal to the king resulted in him looking at the records, and protecting the builders. He told the bad guys to "Let the work of this house of God alone" and that anyone who disobeyed his decree would be hanged with wood from his own house. The chapter ends with great joy as the Jews kept the feast of unleavened bread; this was what it was all about - serving God with joy!
Do you want the story of your trial to end in great joy? Simply keep moving in God's strength, serving Him. Ask Him to give you the right spirit in dealing with conflict, seeking the Biblical pattern for resolve. Rest in the Lord, knowing that in His timing, this trial will pass, and great joy will return to your life again.
(Ezra 6:7, 11, 21-22) "Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. ... (11) Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. ... (21) And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, (22) And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel."
Ezra chapter 5 shows us the solution to the problem of chapter 4. The bad guys had come in chapter 4 and deceived and attacked and discouraged the builders to the point that they stopped building.
Ezra chapter 5 starts with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah preaching to the people. The result was that they got back up and started building again. By the end of the chapter, they had written a letter to the king, challenging the bad guys. They had become encouraged and revived by the preaching of the prophets.
Are you discouraged? Are you ready to quit? Perhaps you have already given up and decided to stop fighting for what is right. Our adversary the devil is a deceitful enemy, but "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
Get under the preaching of God's Word and be encouraged. Be in church for every service and hear what God has prepared for you through the preaching; it just might give you the strength to get up and get fighting again. Will you allow the preaching of God's Word to work on your problems?
(Ezra 5:1-2, 17) "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (2) Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. ... (17) Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."
Everything was going along fine until the bad guys showed up in Ezra 4. When they first showed up, they pretended to be "all for" the Jews, and wanted to build with them and claimed that they worshipped the same God. But the leaders saw right through them, and stood up to them.
We have an enemy, who will sneak in and pretend to be something that he is not. Consider 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." Be on guard, and be like the leaders of Israel in Ezra 4 - cut off the conversation before it even begins.
When you refused to play games with the devil, then he will show his true colors and the deception will fade. The wicked men began to trouble those who were building. Then they hired lawyers. Then they sent a letter to the king; it was a deceitful letter with no context concerning the Jew's past and predicting their future.
(1 Peter 5:8) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" When the devil can't get his way by sneaking in to your life, watch out, for he will attack like the pouncing of a lion. He'll bring up your past, taking it out of context, and leaving out the part about the blood of Christ cleansing you from all sin. He'll predict your future, void of the power of the Spirit of God in your life.
The story doesn't end here - as we will soon see as we progress into the book of Ezra. The story doesn't end here for us, either, at a spiritual attack from the devil. Overcome his attack in your life by resisting him and submitting to God instead, and the Bible promises in James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
(Ezra 4:1-3, 23) "Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; (2) Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. (3) But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. ... (23) Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power."
In Ezra 3, we see that the work began. They began to rebuild and to sacrifice and keep the feasts and give. Then, in the second year and the second month, they began to rebuild the temple, and when the foundation was done, there was great singing and rejoicing and praising God and giving thanks!
There were some that were praising God because of what they could do now - they could go on to build the rest of the temple and continue on with the great future that lay before them. Praise God for what is ahead of you. God already has the future!
There were some that were rejoicing for the present. The foundation was laid before their eyes. They were making progress and working together right then and there, and they were unified as one man (verse 1) to accomplish this. It was a good time to be alive! Rejoice in what God is accomplishing right now. Appreciate those around you. Relax and serve God, thanking Him for what He has for you in "the now."
And then there were the "ancients" - those who had seen the first temple, and now were here to rebuild it again. They wept and thanked God for His mercy; for bringing them back out of judgment; for bringing them through to where they could serve Him again. They remembered the "glory days" and could see that the God of the past is the God of the present and the God of the future.
Verse 13 tells us that if you were there, you would not be able to discern the weeping from the joy and the shouting. God is good! Give Him glory for the past, serve Him in the present, and seek Him for the future. His mercy endureth for ever!
(Ezra 3:11-13) "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. (12) But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: (13) So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off."
One of the most cherished doctrines that I hold dear, and that is one of our Baptist Distinctive, is the priesthood of the believer. The Bible teaches in I Peter 2 and other places that all born-again believers have direct access to God; we don't have to go through an earthly priest to get God's attention.
In Ezra chapter 2, we see the Jews returning from Babylon to Jerusalem and Judah; everyone to his own city. In verses 59-63, it gives the account of some who claimed to be in the priestly line, but their names were not recorded.
The right seed
"...They could not shew their father's house and their seed, whether they were of Israel." They sought a claim based upon who their parents were, but couldn't take it any further.
Today, many people make a claim on salvation based up on the wrong thing: "my parents said," or "I did this," or "I'm a good person," or "I think." The reality is that nothing matters but being born again: 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
There is hope in Jesus Christ
"...Till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim." This is a reference to the high priest. Since their names were not written down, they were told to wait until the high priest came and could get direction from God on the matter. Jesus Christ is our High Priest - Hebrews 4:14-15, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
If your name is not written down in the Book of Life, turn to Christ today. Then you, too, can be included in the priesthood of the believers (I Peter 2:9).
(Ezra 2:59-63) "And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: (60) The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. (61) And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: (62) These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (63) And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim."
I find the story in Ezra chapter 1 to be a fascinating testament to the working of God. It was the end of the Babylonian captivity of Judah, and time for God's people to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the house of God. But how did God accomplish this? Did God's people rise up on their own to go home? Did God raise up a leader from within the Jewish people to lead them out, as God raised up Moses to lead his people out of the bondage of Egypt?
No, in this case, God used the pagan king himself, who was in charge of their captivity, to send them home and support them in rebuilding Jerusalem. The Bible says that the Lord stirred up his spirit to do this. God clearly used him to do a great thing.
God doesn't use us because we are special. God can use whoever He chooses to accomplish His will and keep His promises. Its not about me, and what I can do for God; its about God, and bringing glory to Him and fulfilling His Word.
(Ezra 1:1-3) "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, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, (2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (3) Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem."
As the book of Daniel comes to a close, we see an important focus in chapter 12 - one that I think should matter to all of us. When you boil down the great prophecies and events found in Daniel, they are just events and future events unless you remember Daniel 12:2-3: physical death is not final and does not conclude our lives. Every person will face either everlasting life or everlasting shame and contempt. Every person will face his Creator. Then verse 3 shows us that the wise will be involved in pointing others to righteousness.
I think that Daniel got ahold of this focus and burden early in his life. Very few people have gone through the likes of Daniel's traumatic life, yet he stayed focus on serving the Lord, and through some of the clearest and most detailed prophecy in the Bible, is still pointing others to righteousness to this day.
So what's my excuse? When I boil it all down, there is still a Great Commission that commands me to give the Gospel, and to be involved in pointing people to righteousness. I can get involved in programs and become an expert in any doctrine or any subject, but if I lose my focus on souls, I've missed the point of that program or study or expertise.
Daniel saw the destruction of his beloved country in the Babylonian captivity, yet he didn't lose his focus, and kept on for God.
Daniel was kidnapped and made to serve ungodly kings, yet he didn't lose his focus, and kept on for God.
Daniel was falsely accused and disliked by the others he had to work around, yet he didn't lose his focus, and kept on for God.
Daniel faced "sure death" in the lion's den, yet he didn't lose his focus, and kept on for God.
Daniel faced uncertain times and changing leadership, yet he didn't lose his focus, and kept on for God.
I hope that I may be able to glorify God in my life in even a fraction of the way that Daniel did, and work with others, pointing them to salvation and the goodness of God.
(Daniel 12:2-3) "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."