Unfortunately, the recording did not have any sound, so here is a summary of Estelle’s sermon on Ezra 7 & 8:
A FRESH NEW START – READ EZRA 7-8
Ezra (whose name means ‘Yahweh has helped’) is a gifted leader who “…had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.’ 7:10) and he’s devoted to God’s Spirit. He humbly asks for God’s protection for what seems to be a particularly dangerous journey with a large amount of treasure and provisions!
Artaxerxes had a fear of God (Esther was a consort of his father Xerxes) and was extremely generous in providing the resources the Israelites needed and paved the way for their return to their homeland.
This 2nd small remnant returning from exile gets to work after only 3 days’ rest, offering many sacrifices at the Temple and ensuring the local governors comply with Artaxerxes’ orders.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR US TODAY?
God is sovereign – He’s the real hero of the story, but He chooses to operate through human channels to accomplish His will. He uses imperfect people like Artaxerxes who was rich and influential, Ezra who was willing to take huge risks for God, and a group of ordinary, willing people.
We may feel like we don’t fit the mould, or that we have nothing to offer, but God can use us mightily.
Ezra studied, obeyed and taught God’s Word, allowing God’s Word to transform his character and behaviour through the Holy Spirit, for the benefit of others.
Bible commentator Phil Moore says: ‘With just God’s Word, churches dry up. With just God’s Spirit, churches blow up. But with God’s Word and God’s Spirit, churches grow up into the true Temple of God.’
We don’t need to be Bible experts, but we do need to take personal responsibility for learning what Scripture says and then applying it to our own lives. We don’t need to be experts in the gifts of the Holy Spirit either – we just need to be willing to obey when we feel His prompting. And we don’t all need to be teachers/preachers in an official sense like Ezra was, but we can all share of what we know – with our families, friends, colleagues and whoever we meet.
When we feel weak and few in number, we should use Paul’s encouragement in 2 Cor 12:5-10 that God’s grace is sufficient for us and His power is made perfect in our weakness. We can rely completely on God’s strength and equipping to do His will. Our studies of God’s Word will only get us so far, sometimes we encounter times of uncertainty/difficulty when we must learn to trust God’s provision despite our circumstances. As Ezra says, ‘Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage’ so we can be strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
Fasting is one way to remind us of both our weakness and dependence on God. We don’t fast to try and persuade God to answer our prayers, but in order to humble ourselves and acknowledge that we need His help.
Several times in England’s history, the reigning monarch called for a nationwide fast in response to a looming crisis or helpless situation: In 1756, King George II called for a national fast & prayer, and the French invasion was averted. In 1940, King George VI did the same and over 300,000 soldiers were saved from Dunkirk. So when we’re encouraged to fast by WFC’s leaders, please do prayerfully consider joining in. Then you can celebrate with us when God provides so much more than we need!
It’s right that we make Bethany Hall a welcoming and safe place for people to come and get to know God and spend time with Him, much like Zerubbabel and Joshua rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem in 516 BC. But BH isn’t the Church – we are! In God’s New Covenant, we are the living stones that make up His temple. If we don’t invest in building ourselves and each other up, we will fall into ruin, or become stagnant and irrelevant in today’s society.
Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us, ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’
It matters to God how we steward the talents He’s given us – every chair stacked or toilet cleaned, every cup of coffee served, every greeting of welcome at the door, every penny in the offering box, every Gospel-orientated conversation, every time we obey a prompting from the Holy Spirit: it all matters to Him. God is less interested in our ability than He is in our availability. How ready and willing are you to lay down all that you have in order to see revival and growth in your church and nation?
Lord God. Thank you for your faithfulness and commitment to your people. Much like you helped Ezra and his group of followers safely return to Jerusalem, you’ve not given up on our small group here at WFC.
Thank you that Ephesians 2:8-10 says that we’ve been saved ‘by grace … through faith … not by works.’ But equally, thank you that we are your ‘handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance for us to do’. Help us to find out the unique way in which you’d like us to help build your kingdom here in Weymouth Family Church, in the rest of the town of Weymouth and Portland, and in the UK as a whole.
We are wholly dependent on your Holy Spirit, but don’t let us become passive. Give us courage, like you did Ezra, to take risks and use the talents and resources you’ve given us to benefit others. Build us up on firm foundations, and bind us together as we seek to encourage each other in our faith.
Help us to remain committed to following your Word closely and to obeying it to the best of our ability. Let us not be swayed by the culture around us nor compromise our faith for the sake of appeasing others.
May WFC be a church fellowship known for its love for You, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Let us also be known for our love for one another – those within our fellowship and those looking in. Amen.