Reforming God's House

I. Message

a. Restoring Worship – Ezra 3: 1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Joz-a-dak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealt-i-el and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. 4 Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.

i. They assembled as one - 1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem

1. Divine worship flows from a united entity

a. With people

b. With your self

c. With heaven

ii. They prepared for worship - 2 Then Joshua son of Joz-a-dak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealt-i-el and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God

1. They built it in accordance to God’s word

2. They understood the importance of divine worship, and prepared for it

iii. They feared not the opposition, but maintained the vision

b. Restoring Vision - Ezra 3:11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

i. Vision is for where you are and are going to

ii. All must have a common vision

iii. Vision produces an atmosphere full of excitement, joy, hope and faith

iv. Looking back to govern where you are and where you are going, will blur the vision and burden the atmosphere’s excitement, joy, hope and faith

c. Restoring Self Accountability – Ezra 9: 13 “What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 15 Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.” 10: 2 Then Shek-a-ni-ah son of Je-hi-el, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

i. God is not responsible for His vision not being manifested; We are!

ii. We must be accountable to His word and not our…

II. Summary

a. Restore the Worship

b. Restore the Vision

c. Restore Self-Accountability