BUILD HIS KINGDOM 2
BUILD HIS KINGDOM • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Announcements
Announcements
SUMMER SEMESTER
- Consolidated schedule
- Wednesday morning and evening Bible Study - 10 and 6:30
- Thursday - KNOWING JESUS 101
JUNE PROJECTS:
Party with the Pastors TODAY!
Veterans of Action - June 10 thru 14; needed labor support and food support
Father’s Day - June 16th
SUMMER CAMPS
June 24-28
July 1-5
GOD IS LOOKING FOR KINGDOM BUILDERS
GOD IS LOOKING FOR KINGDOM BUILDERS
1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: 2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.” 5 So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had roused—prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering. 7 King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods. 8 King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 This was the inventory: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 silver knives, 10 30 gold bowls, 410 various silver bowls, and 1,000 other articles. 11 The gold and silver articles totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought all of them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
God is looking for Creatives.
God is looking for worshippers through design, building, constructing, orchestrating, finishing.
This is reflective of the character of God - God is the ultimate Creative!
God’s genius, strategy, beauty, design is all evident and we see it throughout the Universe - in all of creation - in you and me and your neighbor next to you.
God is Creator God
He creates from within Himself for all to see His Glory
The LORD our God is ONE GOD
God the Father who creates with Will
God the Son who creates with Word
God the Holy Spirit who creates with Wonder and POWER
He is ONE God and drives creation from the beginning until He says it is Finished.
Jesus is the centerpiece of all Creation, He was made in Himself of the divine and born into flesh.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
To this day, Creation is creating new, recreating, and multiplying. Just as He commanded to do.
He said let there be Light - and there was Light, and there continues to be Light.
He flung the stars into the Heavens, counts them and knows them by name. Still now, new stars are forming, galaxies colliding, new flowers adorned with its own individual beauty, dressed in their own individual splendor.
And we, as the apple of God’s eye, God’s Creative wonder - God-molded, and God-breathed, continue to create newness of life and multiply.
And it’s in this capacity, God has called us to be more intentional about what matters most - the eternal.
Our souls are the only eternal things born of this earth that will remain for eternity. Everything else will be burnt up, consumed.
And so God, with His genius and glory, and having invited us to the table - to bring that part of ourselves He has invested in us from Himself; to partner with Him.
In the beginning, He planted mankind in the garden to steward His creation.
Now, we have new beginnings and He has planted us, the born again, in gardens of people, to steward those True Riches.
And that’s what we’re here to do today.
That’s why we’re here in Aviano - outside Aviano Air Base, just outside Pordenone. Here in Northern Italy.
We have been planted here to build, to strategize, to plan, to implement and - not just be hearers of the Word of God, but DOERS of the Word of God.
CHARACTER INVOLVEMENT
CHARACTER INVOLVEMENT
God spoke to us this past conference - and specifically on Sunday with Sister Jamie Massey’s sermon entitled
“UNLOCKED and UNBLOCKED”
God’s message is that the things that we have been prevented in doing.
The things that we’ve known to do for His Kingdom.
The fulfillment of our Kingdom purpose.
Whatever held those up can’t hold them up any longer.
We are Kingdom builders.
We are Jesus preachers.
We are Gospel carriers.
We are divinely inspired through the Word and God’s Spirit to take a LIVING HOPE to the masses.
We are given God’s Spirit to be on Fire for Jesus.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
And it goes on to say
23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, __RYAN___, have become a servant of it.
That’s it. We are servants of the Gospel. We were made for THIS.
All of who you and I are have been purposed through this - a servant of the Gospel. To be His Witnesses.
We have all been gifts for the assignment.
Say “Gifted for the assignment.”
We all have a role and responsibility in the House of God - just like every family does in their own houses.
1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 14; Romans 12; 2 Tim 1
All indicate types of spiritual gifts given and employed in the Body of Christ.
1 Pet 4 says in verse 10 that EVERYone has received at least ONE spiritual gift for service in the body.
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
BOOKS OF EZRA and NEHEMIAH
REBUILDING OF LIFE out of EXILE
REBUILDING OF LIFE out of EXILE
Israel rebelled against God cyclically and got to a point where 2 Chron 36:14
14 All the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, imitating all the detestable practices of the nations, and they defiled the Lord’s temple that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.
In the midst of this evil and rebellion, God continued to send messengers into their lives
15 But the Lord, the God of their ancestors sent word against them by the hand of his messengers, sending them time and time again, for he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept ridiculing God’s messengers, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, until the Lord’s wrath was so stirred up against his people that there was no remedy.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Because of Israel’s evil, rebellion, their pride in themselves, God raised up the Chaldeans to come and conquer Israel and to demolish the city of Jerusalem, the temple, the city walls - everything that Israel had raised up for THEMSELVES, rather than for the Lord - it was all demolished, broken and burnt to the ground.
Israel had lost their way, and God could do no more with this people.
And for 70 years, the survivors of Israel were enslaved and held captive in Babylon.
So the books of Ezra and Nehemiah recount a reawakening of God’s promise towards His people.
God needed a people that would be His people once again.
It started with men who desired God’s presence and His Word in their life.
For the nation of Israel to be rebuilt - for LIFE to be reestablished in Jerusalem - it needed to start with a people who loved the Lord, who desired His presence and His Word, and who God called according to His purpose.
God would rebuild His chose people for Himself according to His purpose, and use people - men and women of God to do it.
The book of Ezra specifically talks about two aspects of this
Ezra 1 - 6, focuses on restoring the Temple
Ezra 7-10, focuses on restoring the Law
They had to restore a place of meeting God
They had to restore the Law - or God’s Word in the community
Rebuilding LIFE required LIFE had to be CENTERED on God’s Presence and His Word!
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah focus on two specific events of restoration - that were key moments of spiritual renewal, individually for the people of this reborn nation, and for their society as a whole.
Ezra was one of these people - he was this generation’s Moses in leading God’s people back to the Promised Land.
6 —came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Church, if we are going to be of any use to our King of kings, we MUST be centered in our desire for God’s presence and to find purpose in the WORD of GOD.
Our focus can’t just be a temporary hearing of a good sermon or a word of wisdom on TikTok.
Our lives must be CENTERED on the Word - we must determine in our Hearts the Priority and Preeminence of the Word of God in our lives.
And we must also be determined to Obey the Word of God in our lives, and to be servants of His Word and presence.
RESTORATION STARTED WITH A SACRIFICE
RESTORATION STARTED WITH A SACRIFICE
God called His people back to be His chosen people.
But when they returned to the place where God would meet them.
Before they grabbed any bricks and supplies for the temple or their city.
Before they were able to cart off the rubble of their destroyed homeland.
They had to start with a sacrifice.
Ezra 3:3–4 (CSB)
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 Feast of Tabernacles as prescribed, and offered burnt offerings each day, based on the number specified by ordinance for each festival day.
Unity with God required a sacrifice.
Relationship with God required a holy moment.
Unity with God required forgiveness and a return of clean hands a pure heart before the Lord.
It’s the same with us - we cannot have unity and relationship with God. You can’t know God without sacrifice.
And I want remind you this morning that sacrifice has already been made for you and me.
Jesus was our sacrifice - He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
And whoever desires to know and be right with God must first go to the Cross.
The Cross is where our sacrifice was made, in Christ’s death we are made dead to sin, and in Christ’s resurrection we have been given newness of LIFE
AND right-standing with GOD.
We have relationship with God ONLY through Christ Jesus.
And an amazing thing happens when we have life in Jesus - we have a reason to celebrate, we have a reason to rejoice.
Here in Jerusalem, they celebrated with the Feast of Tabernacles - a nation reborn and set into motion with joy and unity in God.
A direct correlation with the Church seen in the book of Acts, where after Jesus had brought His people together and them focused on prayer seeking God that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire on the day of Pentecost…where the believers became individual in-dwellings of God’s presence and power
OPPOSITION TO REBUILDING THE TEMPLE
OPPOSITION TO REBUILDING THE TEMPLE
Not everyone was for this rebuild of God’s presence in Jerusalem.
1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the family heads and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time King Esar-haddon of Assyria brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of Israel’s families answered them, “You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4 Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build. 5 They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.
There were people that wanted in on the blessing of God’s people returning but wanted their own way of life at the same time.
You’ve got to understand that there are going to be people that want in on your blessing - the joy you have since you found Jesus, the oil of gladness they see in your life.
There’s going to be people that see the blessings from the anointing on your life and want to take your oil.
They’re selfish in intent, unconsecrated in heart, and often bitter when they find they can’t have it.
God has called and anointed YOU for the YOUR purpose in His Kingdom.
Not everyone can do what you do for God’s Kingdom.
Not everyone can have your relationship with the Lord, to walk your walk, and carry the mantle you have on your life because of what God wants to do in and through you.
These people soon turn on you - they try to discourage you in your walk with the Lord.
They’ll try to make you doubt your faith - your relationship with the Father.
They’ll try to discourage you and tell you - you don’t have to do all that to serve God.
4 Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.
People will try to discourage you from doing what God has purposed you to do for His kingdom.
That word discourage means relaxed
As in saying
“Then the people who were already in the land RELAXED THE HANDS OF the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.”
You ain’t gotta do all that serving at Church. Relax, chill. You ain’t gotta be all that intense in attending Bible studies. Relax.
Why you gotta talk about Jesus all the time? Why you gotta make me uncomfortable by talking about your faith? Relax.
And that relaxed word of discouragement suddenly becomes intimidation…intimidation in sharing your faith, intimidation about telling people about eternal LIFE found in Jesus, intimidation about telling people around you that there’s actually a God who loves and adores them, has given ALL He is to have unity with them.
Be careful!! Watch out! Because these same people will conspire with others - especially those with positions of influence to keep you quiet if they don’t get their way.
5 They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia. 6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land wrote an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.
There will be the nay-sayers in your life. There will be those who don’t understand what you’re doing. They haven’t yet believed. They don’t get it. They have received the revelation of the Gospel of peace.
But you remain faithful. You remain in Jesus - His promise is that He is with you and will sustain you. You will have those painful people in your life - but His grace is sufficient. You will have those who will wrong you..but Jesus never fails.
The greatest amount of resistance will be right at the moment of breakthrough.
So if you just hold on a little longer. Keep your grip on Jesus and the Word a tighter. Remember your testimony. Remember the joy of your salvation. Remember God of Heaven has called you by name.
CONSECRATION
CONSECRATION
Keep building the Temple according to the Word of the Lord.
19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
You are the temple of the Lord - keep building, keep reinforcing, keep investing.
6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
That perseverance includes what we read in Ezra 6:16
16 Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
20 All of the priests and Levites were ceremonially clean, because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles. 21 The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land in order to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
God has called us to be separate - to be set apart. A holy people for His purpose.
14 Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
1 So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
The goal and call to holiness is not simply to create a community of well-behaved people.
Jesus called his disciples away from the world that they might go into the world.
Only holy people have something to offer those to live apart from God.
A holy people - a set apart people - have a truly redeemed life that operates on a different set of values and principles…and these kinds of people - those who live a holy life pleasing to God - are only the ones who can truly reach out and draw people into something different.
A PLACE AND PURSUIT OF PRESENCE
A PLACE AND PURSUIT OF PRESENCE
This morning we are reminded that there is a place and a pursuit for the PRESENCE of GOD
God wants us to have a place set aside - sacred before Him - so that we can know Him.
As we know Him, we can tell others about Him!
Ezra and Nehemiah tells the stories of how God restores people following failure.
It focuses on the place where people meet the Lord
It focuses on creating space that is holy for people to know the Lord
And it focuses renewed covenant and relationship between God and His people.
THIS ONLY HAPPENS because of the God of restoration. Because of His great compassion and goodness, who watches over the entirety of each of our stories.
Let’s build the physical space for the Lord.
Let’s build the spiritually holy place within our hearts for the Lord that’s focused on studying the Word, and focused on obeying the Word.
This is where you’ll find Him there. You’ll find the presence of God there.
13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”