A Spiritual Guide

Facing Opposition 06.03.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Tuesday June 3, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezra. Please read Chapters 3-5 in your Bible or Click Here to read.

biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%203-5&version=9

Today we will read and learn about restoration of the altar and worship, the beginning of rebuilding the Temple, the adversaries stopping their work, their resuming, and Tatnai, the governor writing to Darius the king. Today’s message focuses on the importance of not dwelling on the past and overcoming the opposistion we face as Christian’s following God’s will.

When Zerubbabel and the returning Jews left the pleasures and prosperity of Persia, they faced the hardships of a long, treacherous journey in order to rebuild a destroyed Jerusalem. When they returned to Jerusalem, the Jews first built an altar. “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.” (Ezra 3:1-3).

They could have assumed that the first thing to do was build their own homes. Undoubtedly they realized they were reaping the pitiful destructive effect of their sin. The burnt offerings were more than mere religious rituals because these Jews had forsaken everything in Persia in order to restore fellowship with their God in Jerusalem. Many needs for existence such as food and shelter for their families and animals claimed their attention; but personal necessities were set aside until they had first rebuilt the altar of God and reestablished worship to the One True God.

When our hearts desire is to be obedient to God and His Word, the Holy Spirit will witness within us to abandon our dependence on self and material things and instead rely on our Savior and Lord. Sacrificial giving, devoted work, and faithful attendance in a local church are outward manifestations of restored fellowship with God.

It is recorded that many men weeped as the foundation was laid. “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 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. 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: 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.” (3:10-13).

It is right for us to sorrow over our past sins which have brought the judgment of God upon us, just as the Israelites did. God is faithful and just to forgive all our sins and all who repent are free from those sins. Jesus took those sins to the cross with Him and God has forgotten all of them, it is we who do not forget and keep reminding Him. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:6-9).

Deciding to serve the Lord and do His work does not guarantee a life of ease and freedom from problems. To the contrary! Once Satan sees that we have set our hearts on pleasing the Lord, he will use everything and everyone in his power to keep us from the task we have set out to accomplish. His purpose is to divert our attention from reliance on God’s Word and prayer.

A lesson we gain from these devout Jews is that, as we seek to serve the Lord, we will face opposition. During the rebuilding of the Temple they were faced with much opposition and even at one time were forced to stop construction. “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. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:23-24).

However, they did not give up and the work resumed, “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.” (5:17).

So let us purpose in our hearts to finish the work the Lord has called us to do. No one else can do it for us since each Christian is individually responsible to God for accomplishing what He has ordained for each one of us to do. Let us look ahead with confidence, not in ourselves, but in Jesus for He gives us the strength and power to endure all things and will never leave. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33).

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It seems that the day to day circumstances in our lives are so uncertain. The solutions to our problems can be very perplexing and seem beyond our grasp. You don’t expect us to have all the right answers or to fully understand all that concerns us, but You do want us to trust You, as we hold on to Your unchanging hand.  Jesus, we have trusted You over and over throughout the circumstances of our lives, and today we pray for grace to trust You even more. Help us to stay faithful to You as you are so faithful and just toward us. We love You, Lord and need You. In Your mighty name, Jesus, I pray……Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God Bless,
Christina

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