In Service to God: Overcoming Challenges with a Strong Start

Introduction

Luke 24:45–46 “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,”

Where did it say that?

Genesis 3.15 - life is a struggle either against or for God

Churches struggle

Immaturity in the church causing complaining, factions, and infighting.

“He can’t judge me.”

Every church I worked with required figuring out which groups dislike each other.

The elder and the Lysol. The elder and the website.

Churches attacked by culture

Our schools and universities are training the youth’s minds.

Government agenda here and throughout the world (Benin).

The common caricature of anti-science, blind faith believers.

It’s a battle for the mind, and we are in all out war.

Where is Westside? What are our hopes. Have you lost faith?

Message

We must align our focus every day upon Jesus (3.1-7).

What does that mean?

We train our self-awareness to live in his presence, always.

We position ourselves as forgiven sinners before Holy Father God. Sinners.

We trust him no matter what.

Illustrated by this passage (2 months after Ezra 2)

The first thing done - reestablish worship, building altar.

They did this with “one mind” - singular purpose, as group and individual (3.1).

They did this in utter fear for their lives (3.3).

They obeyed God’s 1,000 year old Law, precisely

Uncut stones (Deut.33.1)

Alar in right place (1 Chr 22.1)

Morning/evening sacrifices with oil, flour, wine (Exodus 29.38-42)

All sacrifices and festivals instituted (3.5-6)

From 1446 to 586 BC the altar burned 24/7

The smoke/smell - a constant reminder of their sinfulness

(Lord’s Supper. Repetition only breeds complacency when faithless)

The first thing to handle when inviting God’s presence is your sin.

Forget what you hoped for and celebrate what God is doing and has done (3.10-13).

“He is loyal” - to his covenant with sinful Israel

I make it about what he is doing for me next week. He works in centuries.

His way is better.

Haggai 2:3 “‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?”

The shouts and worship heard 5 miles away.

We must overcome through the power of Jesus (4-6).

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

For the next decades the exiles were tormented by their neighbors.

Stop collaborating with those who do not chase Jesus (4.3).

Samaritans mocked, heckled and taunted the workers (4.4-5).

Threats made on their lives.

Those with a low view of Scripture will mock us.

Their enemies wrote a letter Xerxes, Esther’s husband, making accusations (4.6).

Another letter written to the next Persian king, Artaxerxes (4.7-8).

From judges, administrators, people groups and all surrounding nations.

Pointed to Israel’s rebellious history.

“They are building a wall to rebel and stop paying taxes.”

Enemies of Israel allowed to stop them with weapons.

God raises two prophets - Haggai (80 years old) and Zechariah.

Israel hadn’t been doing anything for 16 years (536 to 520 BC).

Had they lost hope? We’ve tried this before?

Haggai chastises the people’s priorities.

Haggai 1:4 ““Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”

Haggai 1:6 “You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.”

If we want to find reasons not to serve God, there are many.

God has a way past our excuses, if we follow him.

The people repent and listen to God’s prophets.

The work begins.

The governor writes the king of Persia, Darius.

His response.

Fund the rebuilding from Persia’s treasury.

Restore the sacrifices to Yahweh.

Pray for me and my family.

Kill anyone who violates this decree.

May Yahweh destroy any who violate this decree.

The temple was completed 4 years later (515 BC)

They celebrated the presence of God (6.16).

Conclusion

They kept the Feast of Booths (3.4).

As these returned exiles, this is the Feast we are in. One of 3 required.

The first required, Passover - Jesus’ sacrifice.

The second required, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) - Acts 2 harvest

The third required, Feast of Tents - NOW

We are in the wilderness on your way to Zion (Hebrews 3.8).

The enemies are all around us, sometimes dissension within us.

Westside, now is our time to serve.

Put aside your personal feelings and histories.

Chase after the heart of Jesus and please him.

Make yourselves victims of one another. Accept wrong. Don’t seek vengeance.

If you have an idea, tell me.

Let’s dream and vision together.

You, now is the time.

Align your focus on Jesus every day.

Stop collaborating with the lost.

Prepare for certain adversity.

Remember the promises of God.