Reclaim Holy Ground
Ezra Restore Reclaim • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsA series on Ezra and rebuilding your life and the dreams God planted
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1 When the seventh month arrived, and the Israelites were in their towns, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem. 2 Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers began to build the altar of Israel’s God in order to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3 They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples. 4 They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed, and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day. 5 After that, they offered the regular burnt offering and the offerings for the beginning of each month and for all the Lord’s appointed holy occasions, as well as the freewill offerings brought to the Lord.
6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid. 7 They gave money to the stonecutters and artisans, and gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so they would bring cedar wood from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, according to the authorization given them by King Cyrus of Persia.
Luis Palau invited a couple dozen people working in evangelism to spend a week with him in Washington for the first Next Generation Alliance. We had times of worship, seminars and time with Luis Palau.
For those who may not be familiar with Luis, he initially served as Billy Graham’s Spanish Interpreter during the 60s. He became part of the Billy Graham Team before becoming, “The Billy Graham of South America.”
During dinner, the question of where does the Power come from came up. Luis started telling a story of his travels with Billy in Europe. Billy and the group kept a hectic schedule. They had been going all day in Germany and wanted to retire. The local pastors said, there’s an evangelist who wants to meet with you. The team asked if it could be at another time. But the pastors said, he’s the son of a very wealthy donor. He’s important, can you give him a few moments.
Billy and the team deferred. The man come in with a large staff. He had the wealth to hire people outright. He began to ask Billy for guidance. He said, I have a large staff, we have the contacts, we rent out large venues, but I don’t see the power or response we’d expect. We copy your methods and organization as close as possible. What are we missing?
Billy just looked at the man and said, “Let’s pray!” Luis closed his eyes and heard Billy’s booming voice crying out to Jesus. He prayed and prayed. He prayed for 5 - 10 minutes and kept going. At some point Billy’s voice sounded muffled. Luis said, so I peeked with my eyes and Billy lay prostrate, his face in the carpet. He kept praying. Then everyone began to open their eyes. The German evangelist and his entourage looked perplexed. After a few minutes as Billy kept praying, the evangelist shrugged and left the room. Billy kept praying.
After some time, Billy ended his prayer. Luis said, Billy, what are you doing on the ground like that, you are Billy Graham. You shouldn’t be doing that. Billy became stern with Luis. Luis, I fear God. I worship God. Without His presence and power, nothing else matters. Not money, not organization, not prestige, not even friends. It is Christ alone and none of Billy. I worship God.
I. Two views of SACRED Space.
In the Ancient Near East, Israel’s way of worship and theology stood in stark contrast to the Canaanite religions.
A. The World Around Israel:
They replicated what they thought would attract gods.
When they thought about gods, they thought gods lived in luxury and in a distance from the people. So they viewed the gods living in high lofty places like mountains and in the midst of abundant food, think gardens. (There’s a place in Colorado Springs by Focus on the Family called the Garden of the gods.) So they made things like Ziggurats, Towers, pyramids. It wasn’t because of Ancient Aliens folks. It was clearly related to their mindset of where the god’s lived. They wanted to draw the gods to themselves by making a replica of where they envisioned the gods dwelled.
They made idols to localize those gods.
We sometimes misunderstand the view the Canaanites and others had about their idols. They didn’t believe the statues were actually the gods. They made the idols to localize the deity. There would be what is called the opening the mouth ceremony from Egypt gives some insight. The ritual would allow the idol or statue to become a surrogate so the spirit could eat drink, and receive gifts.
They believed they could coerce gods to work on their behalf.
This was a sustenance culture. They depended on good harvests. They believed Baal was Lord of the harvest. Life was tough. So they would invoke Baal to coerce him to bless their harvest and fertility. But Baal lost to Mot or death every year as the Fall came. Everything died. So they would have to coerce Baal to bless their farming and livestock.
B. The Jewish people.
i. The Temple had NO idols.
That is why Israel was to not make any graven image. People were not clay toys that had to beg God. People are God’s image and were to populate the earth on His behalf.
a. God created His image.
27 So God created man in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.
b. God is Everywhere.
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
Not only are we to represent God. He doesn’t need to be called to a place, He exists everywhere. There is no place God does not see and no place that can hide from God. The only difference is that we must declare our desire to have His presence in our lives.
II. We worship the only true Lord.
A. God wants to meet with us.
22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
The Festival of booths thanked Yaweh for what He did.
It came after the harvest and during the Fall. It declares God’s goodness and provision. It thanks God for providing Manna directly from heaven when needed. It declares God’s goodness in creating the seasons, livestock, and vegetation to provide food for His people. It also declares faith that God will sustain them through the winter. So what are we doing in worship?
We must renounce sins of contamination.
22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
You are agreeing with God that He is holy and this world is contaminated by sin and selfishness, and self-contentedness and not God centeredness. That God is to be honored and feared.
B. You enter sacred space by:
Choosing to worship, not merely attending.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
ii. Serving the Lord with gladness. Not sadness, not madness. Not, I’ll do it as long as nothing else seems more important. I’ve watched those who make the worship of God and serving Him the priority. When they commit, they commit. I observe others who the slightest opportunity becomes a reason to call and say, “I can’t make it today” last minute or say “I forgot.” When you do that, you’ve not really ever entered sacred space. See a commitment to serve the Lord whether as a greeter, children’s worker, coffee attendant, usher, preacher etc…
10 Better a day in your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than live in the tents of wicked people.
A mother heard her son’s alarm going off on a Sunday morning and the click of the snooze button a few times. She knocked on the door and said, “Son, it’s the Lord’s day, not your day. You need to get up and get ready to worship.” Son replied, “Mom, I don’t feel like it today.” She said, “Son we walk by faith, not feeling, that’s just the Devil discouraging you.” But mom, I don’t have fun. Son, it’s not about you, it’s about the Lord, you have an audience of ONE and He’s not you. But mom, I don’t think anyone likes me. Son you have to go. But why mom? Son, you’re the preacher.
You know as kids get older, they will make their own choices. But as a parent, you set the pace and example. Do your kids see you value worship? Do they know they are expected to go to worship no matter what? Sure there can be prodigals by choice. But many parents create prodigals by their example. If you don’t lead by example and set the expectation, don’t wonder why your children go astray and do not embrace Christ and His values.
See with God, either He is First, or He’s not really the LORD to you. He’s just an idol you call upon when convenient. See pagans go to the Lord only when they have a need or want a hand out. God wants you to want Him. He wants you to want His hand.
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
iii. Give Joyously.
7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
God commands that you demonstrate trust in Him in what He gives to you. If you earn a living but show up to God empty handed, what does that really express?
Action Plan:
Memorize Psalm 122:1
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
2. Review your Priorities:
a. Your time commitments.
b. Where you spend your wealth.
3. Commit to serve as an act of worship during the holidays:
Food Pantry
Family in need.
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