THE POWER OF THE WORD

Message for June 1, 2008- Ezra 7:10

 

Intro:  Today we are going to look at three lessons we can learn from the book of Ezra.  The power of the Word of God in human live, trials are a stepping stone to faith and lastly we all need personal revival and renewal.

 

Background

 

-  Ezra in this book gives an account of the Jewish nation in Palestine from the degree of

    Cyrus till the time of Nehemiah and the problem of mixed marriages.

-  The hand of God is beautifully seen when the decree is made and they were given the

    Materials to rebuild the temple.  Those who return endure hardship but were rewarded

    When they saw the temple rebuilt and the nation restored.

-  Temple construction was stopped for 16 years but a revival turned the situation around.

     Israel was blessed with great leadership Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, Ezra, Zechariah and

     Haggai.  Giants of faith on their own but together an unstoppable force,

-   This book shows that God can use heathen people to accomplish His purposes. 

 

1.  From this book we learn about the power of the Word of God in human life.  In the

     Old Testament it was the book of the law or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the

     Bible.  The 614 laws of Moses, the commandments which Jesus summed up in

     Mt 22:37-40.  “To love the Lord with all your heart, soul mind and strength and love

     Your neighbour as yourself.” 

 

a..  As we learn from our scripture Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance

     Of the law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  His

     Responsibility at this time was to enforce the law.  To Ezra, the Word of God was the

      foundation of life.  It was equated to the name of God.  It is the expression of His

      Nature and character.  To him it was not an option or set of guidelines it was the

      Essence of life and was to be obeyed.

b.   The Word of God is food for the Soul.  Job called it bread for his soul in Job 23:12.

       Ezra as the writer of Psalm 119 called it sweeter than honey.  Ps 119 :103.  Jeremiah

       Called the word, his joy and hearts delight.  Jer 13:16  Peter called it spiritual milk

       In 1 Pet 2:2 and Paul called it meat in his letters.  The protein for the soul.

c.  The Bible is divinely inspired. Paul says all scripture is God breathed, useful for

     Teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  2 Tim 3:16   Peter said,

      Men spoke from God as the Holy Spirit moved them along.  2 Pet 1:21.  Its precepts

      Are written on the heart.

d.  Ezra wrote Ì have hidden your word in my heart that I will not sin against you in

     Ps 119:11.  Paul writes in Col 3:16 that we should let the word of God dwells in you

     Richly.

 

 

 

 

George Washington wrote:  It is impossible to rightly govern the world with God and the Bible.

Charles Dicken wrote:  The New Testament is the best book that was ever written and will be ever known to the world.

Horace Greely wrote:  It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible believing people.  The principles of the bible are the ground work of human freedom.

 I have a warning for you this morning church.  This book is habit forming.  Regular use cause lack of anxiety, decreased appetite for lying, cheating, stealing, hating.  Symptoms:  increased sensations of love, peace, joy and compassion. 

 

2..  The second truth we are going to learn today is adversity, trials and problems are only

      Stepping stones in the life of faith and a pathway to victory.  The enemies of God in

      This case gained a temporary victory.  .  This was a test to see whether the work of

      God was going to be completed.  We often face setbacks and reverses in the work of

      God.  The enemy does not want the work of God to go ahead. 

 

a.  There is also other reasons for reverses and struggles.  These build character, develop

     Creativity and resourcefulness.  Trials make us wiser and we learn to trust and obey

     God.  That does not seem to happen any other way.

b.  When things are good that is when we often become complacent and self centered.

      Most of never see the good in trials until they are over.  The secret is learning from

      The trial and asking the question, `God what are you trying to teach me here and

      Help me so I won’t make the same mistake again. 

c.   When we put our trust in God, We may not always understand things but you

Know all things work together.  All things may not be good but all things work

Together for good and that is enough.  Read 6834 and 6852

 

3.  Ezra is associated with Nehemiah in starting a revival of the study of the scriptures.

     That is a real necessity today.  Many believers do not have a full appreciation or

      Necessity in the reading, study and application of the Bible to daily life. 

 

a.  Ezra as the writer of 1 @ 2 Chronicles understood the secret of revival.  In

     2 Chron 7:14, he writes God view of how an individual and nation can be revived.

     We are to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways and God

     Will hear, forgive and heal our land.   The healing of the nation does not lie in the

      Hands of the nation but in the church.  We are the secret of national restoration.

b.  As we learned in our character study of Ezra, he is the originator of the Jewish

     Synocague.  He believed in daily and weekly worship and study of the scriptures.

     And set up local places to do that.  He was a pioneer in this and actually help set a

     Pattern which we follow even today when we set up local churches.

c.  He also was a complier of the Old testament.    Ezra was a man of incredible spiritual

     Power.  His prayer and fasting through God’s help helped the people make a new

     Covenant with God.

d.  Ezra and the leaders of Israel at that time show us that if we face opposition we just

     have to put our trust in God and we will win.