TRUE MEANING OF EASTER

 

Robert Dean Steel

Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church

 

     We just celebrated Easter.  To me this is the most wonderful time of the year, and this article is designed to help you understand why.  I grew up in a small town in Alberta.  I went to church until I was thirteen.  My Mom gave me the choice of whether or not I had to go to church which of course being thirteen I decided not to go.  Now I grew up in the time of hippies and the counter revolution.  Growing in my small town in Southern Alberta you were either a hippy or a cowboy.  I chose to be a hippy.  I had the long hair, granny glasses, hippy ideas, and morality.  I dabbled in socialism, cults, occult, activism, eastern mysticism, politics, martial arts and a number of other things.  You do this when you do not have a moral compass.  I wanted to change the world because I didn’t know how to change myself.  That is what people do when they don’t know how or want to change themselves.  They focus on some large issue such as climate change, righting the wrongs of the past, trying to rewrite history, dabble in political correctness, become social re-constructionists, and various other large issues.  I know because I been there, done that and got the t shirt.   

     When I was seventeen two young friends of mine invited me to a young people’s convention in Montana telling me that I was going to meet girls.  Being seventeen and running on hormones I went fully expecting to meet Miss Right.  It was Thanksgiving weekend and on the Friday night I went to a service was nothing like what I grew up in.  My church was a liturgical church.  It featured scripted prayers and an outline which was the same every week.  To an active child it was boring and confusing.  Just before I stopped going to the church my mom convinced our priest to employ me as an altar boy which ended abruptly when I hit my priest in the back of the head.  By the way I heard words coming out his mouth that should have never been said or heard in church. 

     The young people in that service were Jesus people and they really knew how to worship God and experience their faith.  Later that night I asked a young person I was staying with what the service was all about and he said he didn’t know because he was forced to go by his parents The following morning I went to the morning rally in the park of that community and the speaker had long hair and beard so we already had a connection because he looked like me.  It was like he was reading my mail.  He talked about how many of us had tried so many different things to fill our life which I had done.  Then he said, “Why don’t you try Jesus?  It made sense and then he instructed to find a place of prayer and ask Jesus into our heart.  By a tree in the center of that park not knowing how to pray I simply said, “Jesus if you are real would you come into my heart, and He did.”

     When the first Easter came around after my conversion. I fully understood that Easter was about Jesus allowing His body to be broken and His blood to be shed so I could be healed and forgiven.  He died on the cross on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday so all mankind had a way back to God.

I Googled what Easter means and this is what they said.  “Easter is the Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his promise of eternal life. Christians celebrate Easter to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made.”  I like that.  Easter is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  I love Easter and the impact it has on me.  It is a time to refocus, reset and be renewed.  It is a time to be thankful and grateful that God loved us to much to l eave us the way we are.  Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection gives us eternal and abundant life and the beautiful thing it is offered any time and place.  My prayer is that you will be wise like I was on that Thanksgiving morning and accept the offer. 

TRUE PEACE

 

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 

1.      In Vs 14, For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.  Paul in this portion is revealing one main theme and that is Jesus Himself is our peace.  Jesus gives peace that the world cannot give or take away.  Peace is the absence of personal conflict, war or strife in the heart.  In the Bible it is taking action to restore a broken situation, a state of wholeness or completeness and it is fruit of the Spirit. 

 

a.      Paul reveals there were two groups in the world.  There were the Jews and the Gentiles.  The covenant people and the people who were not.  The saved and the unsaved.  There was a barrier, wall, impasse between both groups.  The dividing wall between the two groups created hostility, prejudice and warfare.  That still happens today.  If the Bible was bedtime stories, a myth or legend why it is banned in 52 countries.  There are 50 countries where Christians are actively persecuted. 

b.      Jesus Christ is the bridge over troubled waters.  The gate to eternal life.  He is the peacemaker between two opposing camps.  Jesus became the bridge between ourselves and God.  His death, burial and resurrection made this happened.  His broken body and shed blood accomplished this.  In Paul’s days the Jews were the chosen people.  They were the carriers of truth.  Jesus had come from them.  To them only through Judaism could people come to God.  Jesus destroyed the wall, partition, fence and barrier.  He was and is the peacemaker.  Jesus restored a broken situation.  He made us complete and whole and He is the fruit of divine intervention.

 

2.       In vs 15, By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.  Paul states that through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus created a new humanity.  Through His broken body and shed blood the law with its commands and regulations were done away.  The old covenant ended at the cross.  When Jesus said, “It is finished,’ the old Testament ended.  When He died a new covenant began. 

 

a.      This next statement is so revolutionary.  Jesus created a new humanity in Himself.  The old has passed away all are becoming new.  He made one flesh out of two.  What the law could not do Jesus did.  This statement of course was a complete surprise to the law keepers.  You did not need circumcision, sacrifices, law or priest any longer. 

b.      There was no longer need for hostility.  Jesus made peace.  The two were now one.  They were the chosen generation, holy nation, royal priest hood  and particular people.  Jesus made us unique in the world.  There is no organism like the church.  We have one head but many parts and each part does its function nothing and no one can stop us.  I want you to know that God has a plan for your life today.  You are special.  There is no one like you.  No one can love, heal and touch others for good like you.  Jesus is the complete one who makes us whole and is the giver of the fruit of the Spirit. 

 

3.      In vs 16, Paul says, 16, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  This is one of the benefits of the cross.  Both groups the Jews and the Gentiles were reconciled to God.  Reconcile means to restore friendly relationships, to cause coexistence and harmony and to create consistency.  This was done on the cross.  Jesus’ broken body brought healing and His blood brought salvation, redemption and forgiveness. 

 

a.      All hostility and war were put to death on the cross.  God is no longer our enemy neither is anyone else.  God’s love accomplished in one act what thousands of years of manmade efforts could not.  God love has healed us  and as we love Him with every fiber of our being and we love others made in the image of God.  We are His channels of love, acceptance and forgiveness.

b.      At the cross Jesus took our place, He took our curse, He clothed us with righteousness and He created a way to the Father, heaven and eternal life.  He gave us eternal and abundant life.  At the cross He gave us light and our burdens rolled away.  He gave us sight, hearing and truth. 

c.      He destroyed every reason, excuse and justification for hostility between God, man and each other.  He created an eternal peace treaty.  One that cannot be broken or rescinded.  A perfect example is Rahab of Jericho fame.  Jewish tradition says that Salmon was one of the two spies Rahab saved.  He was the one who got her at the order of Joshua.  He then married her and she was the mother of Boaz of Ruth fame.  That is why he was not opposed to marry Ruth.

 

4.      In Vs 17, Paul says, He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  There are many results or benefits of Jesus’ passion.  Paul says that He came to bring peace to those that were far away which is the Gentiles or us.  He took action.  He made us whole and complete.  We are the fruit of His labor.  Jesus also brought peace to those near which were the Jews.  Can you imagine the Jewish believers in the crowd as this letter was being read?  There was a gasp, a what, a wait a minute and what are you talking about Paul moment.   Jesus our peacemaker had accomplished what no other person could.  One of the beatitudes said “Blessed are the peacemaker for they shall be called the sons of God.”  The Son of God blazed the way.  Because of the Son who sets the captive free and brings peace to warring camps we can as well.  That is why Paul says we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.  Jesus came and preached peace and so will we.  The reality is we bring Jesus to our world we give people an opportunity to find the Prince of Peace.

 

5.      In vs 18, Paul says, “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”   We have through Jesus Christ access to the Father.  The writer of Hebrews tells us that this gives us mercy, grace and help in our time of need.  We also have been given the Holy Spirit who is our seal and our guarantee to all the benefits of heaven.  God has made all of us one.  We have been given eternal and abundant life together.   All mankind has access to God through Jesus Christ.  The gospel is universal in its scope and application.  People from every race, creed, color, tribe, nation, region and language can come to Christ.  All walls of prejudice, bias, hostility and shame have been broken down.  You just have to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.  The Holy Spirit draws, convinces, regenerates and transforms us.  He then fills us with gifts, anointing, power, authority and fruit.  All because of the Prince of Peace.  He is the one who took action, made us whole and complete and through the indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the fruit of peace based on the foundation of God’s love.  What a wonderful Savior, Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lord.  He gives us peace and today let us be like Paul when he said in 1 Cor 11:23, “That which I have I give unto you.”  Close with man who was filled with demons who came to worship Jesus and after Jesus healed Him He was clothed and in His right mind.

QUOTES FOR APRIL 15, 2026

 

TRUE REDEMPTION

 

We only have two messages left in Psalm 111.  Today we are looking at the three truths as presented inverse nine.  To once again summarize, this is a psalm written by Ezra to reintroduce the returnees from Persia Empire to Judah after 70 years of captivity.  They had been allowed to go back by Cyrus in fulfillment of Isaiah 45.  Cyrus is called the Shepherd of his people.  Ezra was mandated with the responsibility to teach the people the customs, language and religion of the people.  He chose to use poetry or an acrostic psalm to do this.  Psalm 111-112 and 119 are these works. 

1.      Ezra begins by stating here that, He provided redemption for His people; Ezra was a Levite and understood the concept of substitution.  In his days that was done through the death and blood of an animal sacrifice.  It was our sin that caused that animal to die and it was their death and blood that provided the means and ways back to God.  The person who sinned would put their hand on the animal before it was slain and confess what they did.  This practice was always one for God’s people.  It started with Adam and Eve when God slew animals and covered them.  Cain, Noah, Abraham, the patriarch’s and it became a practice from Moses to Ezra.  It was also a fulfillment of Gen 3:15 where the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.

a.      Redemption means, “The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. Vindication.  God's plans for the redemption of his world, absolution.  Also it is the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.”  This is what happened in Ezra’s day. 

b.      A beautiful story of redemption is found in the book of Ruth where Boaz redeemed or bought a field and Ruth was part of the deal.  In ancient Israel if a piece of property went vacate a near relative could redeem or buy back the property for the family.  We also see a custom in ancient Israel where you would exchange a sandal to seal the deal.  This was based on Joshua 1:3. 

c.      This verse is also a prophetic verse talking about future redemption.  Jesus would become the redeemer of mankind by allowing His body to be broken and His blood to be shed.  His death, burial and resurrection bought us salvation and in a few minutes we will be celebrating this fact for the first time in a year and a half.  There is a chorus, that explains this so beautifully.  “He paid a debt, He did not owe, I owe a debt I could pay, I needed someone to wash my sin away.” 

d.      Jesus gave us eternal and abundant life by His sacrifice.  He was the bridge for our reconnection with God.  He made us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a one of a kind new person in Christ.  While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  I love the fact that in one moment a sinner becomes a saint and our eternity is changed from hell to heaven.  It is Amazing Grace.  Talk about judge who paid his son’s fine.

2.      He ordained his covenant forever.  I almost feel that Ezra is harping this thought but He wanted his readers and audience to realize that they were back in Judah because God ordained this covenant forever.  The word ordained has two meanings.  Make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on and to anoint, install and invest in.  God had set Israel has His representatives, ambassadors and examples for their world.  They were His showcase nation.  They still are. 

a.      The second mean is, To make a decree, rule, command, order or decree officially.  God has made it official that His covenant with Israel and Judah is forever.  There were many questions about why God let this happen.  They had returned and Ezra was there to help re-establish the people according to God’s covenant and agreement.  This was important because the people were starting fresh and this time they needed to do it right.  Ezra was also setting the stage for Jesus to come.  The Jews would be in Judah for another 500 years until Jesus came and they were deported under the Romans.  What is so wonderful is we live in a time when Israel is again a nation and the final days are upon us.   

b.      You and I are part of a new covenant through Jesus Christ.  God has made this with all people it is universal.  Jesus is the means through all may be saved.  The old has passed away the new has come and each day we are becoming new.  Each day is an opportunity to become more like Christ, to do the Father’s will and touch our world in a new way.  Forgetting the past and focusing on the future.  Enjoying the present day which is God’s gift to us.  Live each day for the Lord because this is the only day you have. 

3.      Ezra closes off this verse saying, “Holy and awesome is His name.”  Ezra is again reminding that God is holy.  He is one of a kind, unique.  He is the creator of all.  He is YHWH.  He is above all the false deities set up by demons and man.  They may have been bombarded in their previous world but now they are back in Judah.  They can again be a holy people, separate, be in this world but not of it and pilgrims passing through. 

a.      God is not only holy which is character, nature and essence but awesome.  No words can described God in fact, no language, thought or explanation can adequate described who God is.  He is beyond description to marvelous for words.  His name is above all.  Today we are been added to this wonderful agreement.  Paul says at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  There is no other name by which people can be saved.  Jesus is the name above all names.  Yes, there is something about that name.  He is the master, Savior and Lord. 

b.      Let me summarize.  The Lord has provided redemption for His people, He ordained His covenant with forever and He is holy and awesome in His name.  As we conclude I want to remind you that as we prepare for communion that God gave us redemption and salvation through the broken body represented by the bread and the shed blood represented by the juice.  Let us fully enjoy and partake of this wonderful ordinance today. 

   

 

QUOTES FOR APRIL 15, 2026

 

TRUE RICHES

 

We are once again looking at Ps 112, in our summer with the Psalms.  It has been an exciting journey.  Ezra, who is the writer of Psalm 111 and 112, has a goal, mission and aim.  He wants to reacquaint his readers and audience with God and our relationship with Him.  Ezra has used an acrostic form of Psalm which is using the Hebrew Alphabet with q corresponding truth about God.  Psalm 111, was about who God is and 112 is how we need to respond.  Today we will look fourth more truths about God as revealed in this psalm.  

 

 

1.      Wealth and riches are in their houses.  Ezra says the blessing of God, His wealth and riches will be in their house.  True riches are righteousness, love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience, peace, forgiveness, truth, honesty integrity, acceptance and joy.

 

a.      Prosperity and health are as 3 John 2, describes it.  Health and prosperity that comes from a soul that prospers.  The problem today is so many preachers make this about material wealth which can be taken, ruined and lose its value

b.      Jesus says seek treasures from above.  Salvation is the greatest treasure of.  Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added.

c.      Ezra says wealth and riches are in the home.  This is a good spouse, godly children, love for prayer, the word, worship and the house of God.   If God gives you wealth and material riches that is a bonus which are to be used for the benefit of others.   When we do things for others we are doing it to Him.

 

2.      And their righteousness endures forever.  Righteousness is a communicated attribute of God that guides ethical conduct.  You want to do the will of the Father.  You are doing what God wants.  You are holy, loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.

 

a.      This is also something you pass onto others and your children by you example.  This is a promise of godly legacy.  Your influence will be felt long after you leave this world.  Daniel, David, Paul, Peter and Esther are examples. 

b.      How we live and what we does matter.  When you focus and center your life on the Lord this is a wonderful promise. 

 

3.      Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.  When the darkness of hurt, bitterness, offense, misunderstanding, sorrow, discouragement, fear, pain, anxiety and overwhelming burdens comes there is light.  Remember sorrow is for a night but joy comes in the morning. 

 

a.      The light of God has come and His name his Jesus Christ.  By His death, burial and resurrection He has defeated death, hell and the grave.  His broken body brings healing and His shed blood brings salvation and friendship with God. 

b.      The light of Jesus comes back motivates us daily to serve the Lord.  To go and tell others about Him and to love, accept and forgive unconditionally.  The upright will always stand.  Even though you fall down seven times you will get up eight.  Even in the darkest times there is light coming. 

c.      Our responsibility is to reflect the light.  Like the moon reflects the sun so we reflect the Son of God.  As the upright we have the light in us.  This dark world needs light and we provide that through Jesus Christ. 

 

4.      For those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.  Your light will shine when you are first gracious.  Courteous, kind, pleasant, courteous, polite, civil, chivalrous, well mannered,

merciful, forgiving, compassionate and lenient.  Being a gentlemen or lady is making people feel as comfortable around you as possible.  Good conduct is always in fashion.

 

a.      Compassionate.  Showing sympathy, concern for others, empathetic, understanding, caringand concern.  This is showing love in a tangible way.  Love is never true love unless it is shown. Compassion is a communicated attribute of God that moves us to help others. 

b.      Righteous.  It is a person whose conduct morally right or justifiable; virtuous, good, decent and ethical.  It also means that you chose to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ by faith.  You are declared righteousness because of the free gift of God. 

 

Conclusion

 

     Today I encourage you to pursue true riches, claim a promise of legacy, be a light and walk in grace, compassion and righteousness. 

 

TRUE RICHES

 

We are once again looking at Ps 112, in our summer with the Psalms.  It has been an exciting journey.  Ezra, who is the writer of Psalm 111 and 112, has a goal, mission and aim.  He wants to reacquaint his readers and audience with God and our relationship with Him.  Ezra has used an acrostic form of Psalm which is using the Hebrew Alphabet with q corresponding truth about God.  Psalm 111, was about who God is and 112 is how we need to respond and the promises given to those who do what the writer of Hebrew 11:6 says, “God is the rewarder of them who diligent seek Him.”  Today we will look fourth more truths about God as revealed in this psalm.  

 

1.      Wealth and riches are in their houses.  Ezra says the blessing of God, His wealth and riches will be in their house.  We often attached riches to material possessions and that can happen but true riches are righteousness, love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience, peace, forgiveness, truth, honesty integrity, acceptance and joy.

 

a.      I do believe in prosperity and health but as 3 John 2, describes it.  Health and prosperity that comes from a soul that prospers.  The problem today is so many preachers make this about material wealth which can be taken, ruined and lose its value.  The reality is the more stuff you have the greater care it takes.  Talk about when we were moving.  I spent 30 years building a library no one wants.   

b.      Antiquities, is big business because people thought they could take it with them.  Hollywood has proven over and over the folly of riches.  Jesus says seek treasures from above.  Salvation is the greatest treasure of.  Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added.

c.      Ezra says wealth and riches are in the home.  This is a good spouse, godly children, love for prayer, the word, worship and the house of God.  You value these and you are rich beyond measure.  If God gives you wealth and material riches that is a bonus which are to be used for the benefit of others.  In God’s economy material possession is about others not ourselves. When we do things for others we are doing it to Him.

 

 

2.      And their righteousness endures forever.  When we talk about righteousness we are talking about a communicated attribute of God that guides ethical conduct.  In essence you want to do the will of the Father.  You are right with God and people around you.  You are doing what God wants.  You are holy, loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.

 

a.      This is also something you pass onto others and your children by you example.  This is what we talked about last week.  This is a promise of godly legacy.

b.      It is your testimony long after you are gone when people think and talk about you.  Your influence will be felt long after you leave this world.  Daniel, David, Paul, Peter and Esther are examples. 

c.      How we live and what we does matter.  I want people to remember me as a person they were glad to know not wished they never knew me.  When you focus and center your life on the Lord this is a wonderful promise.  Talk about Mary and Jennifer Rice.

 

3.      Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.  When the darkness of hurt, bitterness, offense, misunderstanding, sorrow, discouragement, fear, pain, anxiety and overwhelming burdens comes there is light.  Remember sorrow is for a night but joy comes in the morning. 

 

a.      The mercies of God are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.  The light of God has come and His name his Jesus Christ.  By His death, burial and resurrection He has defeated death, hell and the grave.  His broken body brings healing and His shed blood brings salvation nd friendship with God. 

b.      The light of Jesus comes back motivates us daily to serve the Lord.  To go and tell others about Him and to love, accept and forgive unconditionally.  The upright will always stand.  Even though you fall down seven times you will get up eight.  I love a FB quote.  Rule One, “Never give up,” Rule Two, “Remember rule one.”  Even in the darkest times there is light coming. 

c.      Our responsibility is to reflect the light.  Like the moon reflects the sun so we reflect the Son of God.  As the upright we have the light in us.  John Wesley said, He wanted to a match to light a fire of revival in His world.  Our prayers do that.  This dark world needs light and we provide that through Jesus Christ.  Again we are talking about the power of influence.

 

4.      For those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.  Your light will shine when you are first gracious.  Courteous, kind, pleasant, courteous, polite, civil, chivalrous, well mannered,

merciful, forgiving, compassionate and lenient.  Being a gentlemen or lady is making people feel as comfortable around you as possible.  Good conduct is always in fashion.

 

a.      Compassionate.  Showing sympathy and concern for others.  Empathetic, understanding, caring

and concern.  This is showing love in a tangible way.  Love is never true love unless it is shown.  Jesus had compassion on the crowd because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd.  Compassion is a communicated attribute of God that moves us to help others. 

b.      Righteous.  It is a person whose conduct morally right or justifiable; virtuous, good, decent and ethical.  It also means that you chose to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ by faith.  You are declared righteousness because of the free gift of God. 

c.      Today I encourage you to pursue true riches, claim a promise of legacy, be a light and walk in grace, compassion and righteousness. 

TRUE WIDSOM

 

We are now looking today at the last three of the 23, statements about God in Psalm 111.  We have covered 20 and now we are looking at the last three.  To summarize, Ezra is the author of this psalm.  He is reintroducing the returnees from Persia and Babylon the Hebrew written language, culture and religion.  As a scholar and educator he knew that the written language was the best way to create a lasting generational effect.  He chose in Psalm 111-112 and 119, to use a Jewish form of poetry called an acrostic to make his point.  He uses a letter in the Jewish alphabet and then attached a truth about God.  We see it in its best form in Psalm 119. 

 

1.      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Ezra here is repeating what Solomon says in Prov 1:7, 9:10, 14;27 and 15:33.  When the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord it has several meanings. 

 

a.      It means to realize that God is your judge and you will have to give an account of how you live and His role and place in your life.

b.      It means, “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully. 

c.      It also denotes the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5). The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these. 

d.      Fear of the Lord can be defined as “the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we think, say, and do.”  Jesus told each of the seven churches in Revelation 1—2, “I know your works.” Nothing escapes His attention.

e.      In order to develop the fear of the Lord, we must recognize God for who He is. We must glimpse with our spirits the power, might, beauty, and brilliance of the Lord God Almighty (Revelation 11:17; Hosea 12:5; Isaiah 6:1–5). Those who fear the Lord have a continual awareness of Him, a deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him.

 

2.      Ezra says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Wisdom means, “knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.”  Knowing what to do with what knowledge, information and facts that have been revealed to do. 

 

a.      There are three types of wisdom.  Satanic, worldly and godly. 

b.      We live in a world where knowledge, understanding and wisdom are prized.  People look to Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Mohammad, and the gurus of the east for wisdom.  It is big business.  People are looking it in man but true wisdom only comes from the author of wisdom.  The Bible says that wisdom was with God before the creation of the world and was part of it.  Wisdom is a communicated attribute of God.  It is part of the character, essence and nature of God.  James says in James 1:5, “if you lack it ask of God and He will give it to you liberally.”

c.      James gives us a great look at wisdom in the Bible.  James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

d.      A perfect example is found in Matt 22:15-22, where Jesus talked about paying taxes. 

e.      Ezra says that having a healthy respect for God is the beginning again repeating Solomon. 

 

3.      All who follow His precepts have good understanding.  Ezra then says to have wisdom is one thing to truly be wise is to apply, follow and do.  James says don’t just be a hearer of the world you must do it.  Ezra then answers this question.  The source of understanding and wisdom is the Word of God.  In the pages of the Bible you find wisdom and understanding. 

a.      The word precept means a rule, law or principle that guide thought and behavior.  We all have principles and philosophies that guide our lives.  For the believer it is the Bible.  It is the final authority of faith and practice. 

b.      The Bible is our compass, rulebook, guide and playbook for life.  If you model your life after Jesus Christ, obey the Bible and do the will of the Father as outline in this book your will have good understanding.  There are 10000 promises or reasons given to you and I.  Simple, clear and precise. 

c.      Application of what you read, see and hear is the secret of an abundant and eternal life.  You have to follow through with action otherwise it is just talk.  You are a just noise as Paul points out in 1 Cor 13.  We have had enough noise in this world.  We need people who show what God is by what they do and our silence is deafening.

 

4.       To him belongs eternal praise.  Ezra then closes off this psalm as He started it with praise.  To God belongs eternal praise.  Let us thank the Lord not just for this moment but for all time.  He has done great things.  He is the God who creates, loves, forgives, heals, restores and gives eternal and abundant life.

a.      Let everything that has breath,  praise the Lord, TODAH - sacrifice of praise, YADAH - let your hands be raised, BAROUCH- with a quiet voice, HALLEL - let your soul rejoice, ZAMAR - play for Him a song, TEHILLAH - you can sing along and SHABACH - shout for joy!  This is seven ways to praise the Lord.

b.      Let us clap and thank the Lord.  You can dance, jump, wave say yes, and thank you Lord.  In everything, give thanks and praise the Lord.  Let us close our time together with a song of praise and thanksgiving.  Let us now have our communion.