Chosen to Lead the Exiles Home

Chosen Generation

In every generation we see the Lord sets apart a people who are so intent on worshiping Him, and serving Him they are protected, and appear to be sealed for a specific assignment.

This people that is set apart are a people who are tested, pressed, and at times stretched to the point of what appears to be despair. We can look at the example of Elijah who came to the point of almost breaking as he pleaded with the Lord “God where are you...” “God am I the only one left” Instead of running away he contends to see the Lord

In this pressing instead of falling away they persevere as they await the arrival of what the Lord desires for the standing generation.

Today we see a people who are being called home… a people who have been sealed for this very season… a people who seem walk in favor even in the middle of the storm…

This people have endured in the most insurmountable of instances and today are being stood up to lead this generation God’s people back to a restored worship.

This people have asked “why Lord?” “Why me Lord?” In their greatest despair they were unwilling to let go of the Lord and instead affirmed “I may not why, but I know that my life is yours, and what I desire is for your will to be done.

This generation of people who love God have been set apart to bring God’s people into right worship.

Ezra 7:25–28 ESV

“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra was chosen to bring God’s people home

Favor with the King who acknowledges the anointing Ezra carries

the king acknowledges there are some who do not know the word of the Lord

Humility to acknowledge that it is not by our own strength we will accomplish this task

Take courage for the hand of the Lord is on this Generation

He did not Go by himself … this task needs all of us… dont let the enemy whisper in your ear that you are not for this

Hearts Postured for the Lord

Ezra 7:8–10 ESV

And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

The good hand of the Lord

favor, authority, power, grace Love

v.6 he dedicated himself to know God

Set his heart to study the Law

we may not have the ceremonial law but the Law of God His moral law remains a part of us

Set his heart to be a doer not just a hearer of the law

we can no longer just stand idly by

Set his heart to teach His statutes and rules

we need to teach others

Examine the People

Ezra 8:15 ESV

I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi.

Gather the people

the Lord is gathering His people

Leaders must account for the people

some are ready to serve and lead

others are in need of training

Acknowledge we cannot do the work alone

Levites are the ones appointed to the care taking and safeguarding of the temple and God’s people

Five fold ministry… examine the people gathered who are the

apostles; prophets; evangelist; shepherds; teachers

Ezra sends notice to the people our approach should be similar

Send for the ministers

Stand in prayer for each one to arrive

Utterly Dependent on the Lord

Ezra 8:21–23 ESV

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Could be seen as a minor slip… but it magnifies how over and against governmental favor He trusts the Lord

Implore the Lord He will listen

Appoint and Install the Leaders

Ezra 8:28–29 ESV

And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.”

Stop looking at who they were look at who God has made them to be

Challenge them to serve the Lord and to seek not their desire but God’s desire

They are charged with the proper care of the church

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Today hear the voice of the Lord who is calling us to lead His people those who have been exiled home, to build an altar to the Lord, to restore right worship…

You are not alone… you have been set apart… sealed and guarded for this very season where His people will be brought home…