New Year, New Route

Best Route?

The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line.

But, is that the best rte to get you where you want to be?

When Sara and I want to go to a doctor that’s in our health ins plan, we call them and they help us find the nearest doctor.

Our health insurance requires that we see the nearest doctor to our house.

Do you know where they tell us the nearest doctors are?

Sedona, not Flagstaff. Why? B/C if you draw a straight line to Sedona Medical Center it’s closer than Flagstaff Med center.

Then, we have to explain to the person on the phone, wherever they are, you can’t get there from here.

Ask them to pull up their GPS on their phone or computer and check the rte from here to Sedona. It’s 40 miles.

We have to go 20 south then 20 miles back north and west. Flagstaff Med center is only 25 miles.

They’ve been pretty easy to deal w/ but we have to go thru this every time we call them looking for a doctor in our plan.

Sometimes a straight line isn’t the best route.

But then other times...

How many of you have flown to Europe from Chicago O’Hare or NY or some airport on the upper east coast?

We’ve gone on Mission trips to Ethiopia and Uganda and there’s always a stop in Europe someplace. We’ve connected thru Brussels, Frankfurt, and London Heathrow.

On the plane in Chicago getting ready to take off and pull up the screen on the seat back in front of me to the world map and the little plane showing the route we are flying.

As soon as it takes off, it heads north. But we’re flying to Europe and that’s east!

No, we’re flying over Nova Scotia, Greenland and then south to our connecting city. Why?

B/C, the shortest route is the straight line that goes north over the Arctic then south into Europe. Who knew?

So, the best route to get you where you want to be may vary depending on circumstances and situation you find yourself in.

This morning, we’re back in Ezra. Ezra then Nehemiah will take us to Easter. The Series is titled, Do-Overs.

And, the question is, when God gives you a Do-Over what are you going to do with it?

One of the first things to consider is what route did you take that got you in a situation where you needed a do-over in the first place.

Maybe it’s time for a new route!

We all need do-overs from time to time. Sometimes they’re major, most of the time they are minor.

Sometimes we need major course corrections, usually a minor adjustment will suffice.

I can’t tell you where God wants you to be this time next year. The HS will tell you what you need to know about where He wants you to go.

I can’t even tell you the best route to take. Again, that’s God’s deal and it’s important that you hear God on these details.

But, I can tell you where to start. And, likely, this will be at least a bit of course correction for all of us.

New year, new route.

2 reasons why I am confident I can tell us where to start. It’s where Ezra got Israel started when they got their big Do-Over and came back into the Promised land.

The 2nd reason is, if God is the One who knows the best place for you to be and the best route to get there then the place to begin is where you can hear from Him clearly.

When Israel made their way to the PL the first time, the original route was a straight line. But, then, they messed up. And God gave them a different route.

And they wandered.

But it gave them the chance to learn much more about God who was leading them. They had to humble themselves, trust God, and accept His provision and protection.

This time, not only do they need to know how to get there but they also need to know where to go once they are there so they avoid the trouble that led them to need the do-over in the first place.

There are 3 things Ezra did that we can apply today as we chart our course into the new year to get where God wants us to be.

The people traveled from all over Persia and they met up at a canal so they could travel together from there back to the PL.

The first thing Ezra did once everyone got there was check to see how many good teachers they had.

He was concerned when he discovered the answer. And, the trip was delayed until they found people who could teach so the people could learn what they needed to know once they arrived back in the PL.

The first thing Ezra did that we can do as we embark on our own journey into next year is Learn.

Learn

Ezra 8:15-20

Ezra 8:15–20 NIV

I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

This is a big moment. Zerubabbel returning and rebuilding the temple was big. And, when Nehemiah comes back and rebuilds the wall will be big.

But, this is the biggest.

Finally, their disob. had become so gross God had to exile them.

Finally, the punishment was over and they get to return.

Members of 3 tribes had returned w/ Zerubabbel.

Mostly all Judahites and Benjaminites. But, a few Levites who served in the rebuilt temple.

Some Levites came, too. The Levites didn’t have their own land as a tribe. They were responsible for the temple and synagogue activities w/in each tribe and territory.

Now, w/ Ezra, members of all 12 tribes get to return.

Right away, Ezra discovers a big problem.

There were no Levites.

Not just only 11 tribes were represented is the problem. It’s the role the Levitical priests performed.

They were the teachers. They taught God’s word.

Remember why they got into trouble in the first place. Disobedience.

So, in exile, they got jobs. The took other careers.

And, they probably made better money.

Where do you learn about the character of God, what to expect of Him, and what He expects of us?

Being a Levitical priest had its advantage in serving God. But, there were restrictions and tight rules about how they could live their lives while they were in service.

In His word.

So, now, these younger Levites, faced 2 difficulties.

The first, relocating like everybody else. Moving is no picnic.

But, the also had to leave their other careers and take on the restrictions of a career in temple service.

This was so important He saw that these books and letters were written to perfection and preserved all these years.

I hate the process of selling and buying a house, moving and getting settled. Everybody does. Including Levites.

But, the also had to leave their other careers and take on the restrictions of a career in temple service.

If it was important for God to do this, then it’s important for us to learn it.

Teachers are important. But teaching the bible isn’t the goal. Nor is learning the bible the goal. The goal is getting to know God better and His life-changing truth.

You let this in your life it will change you.

W/out teachers, learning can’t happen. And, if it’s not learned, then lives aren’t changing.

But, the goal is the life-change.

And, Ezra knew, if there were no teachers then they’d end up in the same mess that got them in so much trouble before and God would punish them again.

So, they recruited the teachers who left their other careers before they ever started their journey back.

B/C they needed to know God better to avoid the trouble they found before.

The second thing Ezra did that we can do as we embark on our journey into next year is Listen.

Eliminate distractions, make sure we are spiritually ready, and our ears are keenly attuned to what God is saying to us by fasting.

Listen

Ezra 8:21–23 NIV

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Ezra 8:21-23

In preparation for the trip, Ezra led them in a fast. This was part of their spiritual preparation.

The journey was dangerous. They were sitting ducks for an ambush and invaders.

They told the king they absolutely trusted God. But, did they really?

Do our actions match our words? Do we live Monday thru Saturday according to what we claim on Sunday?

Consistent or Contradictions?

A fast communicates some important things to God.

One, we are willing to give up something important for God acknowledging He gives up much more for us.

Two, acknowledging everything good comes from Him and we won’t take any of it for granted.

And Three, it is a demonstration of humble and total dependence on Him.

Generations past they had gotten themselves in trouble w/ their arrogance, taking God for granted, and thinking they didn’t need Him.

Their actions were inconsistent w/ their words. They paid lip-service in their worship.

They lived in the illusion that they had complete control over their lives.

A fast demonstrates these important life characteristics to God and quiets the clutter so we can hear clearly from God.

They fasted. They not only gave up food, they gave up the illusion that they alone were responsible for what God really did.

And, in so doing, they asked God for provision and protection. Then, listened for God’s direction before they embarked on their journey.

The third thing Ezra did that we can do as we embark on our journey into next year is Let people in.

Accountability is vital to enabling to get where God wants us to be.

Good people still need others holding them accountable.

Once the route is chosen we need help from others keeping us on track.

Let People In

Ezra 8:

Ezra 8:24–30 NIV

Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God. I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold. I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests and the Levites and the family heads of Israel.” Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles that had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

The Levitical priests were good men. But, even good men can be tempted and fall.

Ezra made sure that as they prepared for their journey the priests would know they would be held accountable for their work as treasurers.

In today’s money, the value of what they were transporting was about $180 million. You can see how that might tempt one of them to pocket a little of it.

After all, what’s a few hundred thousand when were talking so many millions.

So, beginning w/ the temple leadership they would be held accountable for every ounce of precious metal.

When they got off course so many years earlier it didn’t begin w/ a big turn. Bad course management almost always begins w/ a subtle turn to the left or right.

And, holding the priests accountable by requiring they let others into their business would prevent any inappropriate course adjustments along the way.

Stay on the route. Don’t veer.

Once the route is chosen and everyone is prepared, then you’ve got to move. It’s time to go. Take the first step. You can’t take the last step unless you take the first step and every step in between.

God will be leading every step. But, you’ve got to get going.

Do something to get started on your do-over.

Ezra got the people moving and they finished their journey to the PL.

God did what He promised. He provided and He protected.

Let’s Get Going

Ezra 8:31–36 NIV

On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days. On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him, and so were the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time. Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.

Ezra 8:

Knowing how God works, if He’s going to work in MP, then He’s going to use you and me in the process.

Not so much here, but places I’ve been before, people will pray, “Oh God, glorify yourself and draw people to yourself. Build this church, raise the attendance, make this a great place.”

I’m sure, God is like, “Okay, here’s what I want you to do.”

How many times do we pray for God to bring people to church, fix our families, bring the community together.

And the ppl pray again, “Oh God, make your name great by growing this church.”

And, God’s like, “Okay, this is what I want you to do.”

“Oh God, ...

At some point God go silent b/c He’s told us how He is going to use us to do what we’re asking.

“God, fix my family.”

He’s got something He wants you to do in the process.

God, fix my health”

He’s got something for you to do to improve your health.

God, fix my money problems.

Just like any parent or teacher, He’s not going to do it all for us. He’s going to show us how to do it and then let us.

He’ll provide the cover, the protection, but He wants us to be involved in the process.

If we’ve prayed for it to happen, heard from God, then it will be time to do something.

In Ezra and Israel’s case, they needed to head out on the journey. And, as it turned out, the trip to the PL was totally uneventful. Just b/c God answered their prayers.

It was about 1000 miles, 50 days. And, there’s nothing to write about the journey. Isn’t that the dream?

Uneventful, easy, no problems. God worked.

Their preparations were spot on. And, because they were so prepared and their faith was in the right place, and the moved the right direction at the right time the journey was totally uneventful.

And, so, they worshiped when they arrived.

12 bulls; one for each tribe.

96 rams; 8 for each tribe.

77 lambs; not sure why this number.

12 goats as sin offerings; 1 for each tribe.

This was a significant sacrifice.

It was genuine and heartfelt.

The people were back. Exile was over. Gracious God led the people back and they understood the significance.

The authenticity of the worship was recognized by the non-Jewish community. Unbelievers participated in the worship b/c they recognized the authenticity of the worship of the believers.

This journey was not done. In fact, it had barely begun. Getting back was the first step. But now, they needed a route in life that led them in a different direction than they had taken the first time they were here.

That’s what led to the exile and the need for the do-over in the first place.

Now, they all had their do-over. What were they going to do w/ it?

They started in the right place. And, I don’t mean at the canal where they met.

They started by making sure they had good teachers so they could learn more life-changing truth about God.

And, they started with a fast. The communicated to God their humble and total dependence upon Him for everything good.

He was going to sacrifice so much more for them in the future. But, this got them in the right frame of mind for their lives back in the PL.

And, they started out by letting others in to hold them accountable to stay on the right route that God led them onto.

Since God is the One who knows the best place for you to be and the best route for you to take to get there, then the best place for you to begin is where you can hear from Him clearly.

Let’s get the journey started right.

Applications

They ought to be fairly obvious by know.

Learn

If it was this important for God to perfect it and preserve it then it’s important for us to learn it.

Teaching good lessons is not the goal.

Learning what the bible says is not the goal.

Letting the Bible change you is the goal.

Learning the character of God and letting those traits become your character traits why anyone teaches God’s word.

Dedicate yourself to learning it in such a way that it changes you.

Listen

Maybe, begin the year w/ a fast. Give something up for God.

If Jesus showed up and said, I gave up everything for you, I want you to give this up for me. What do you think it would be?

Could you do it?

Cut out the clutter for a time and listen to God.

Willingly deny yourself something.

Communicate clearly that you are humbly totally dependent on Him for everything good in your life. Including, something good that will give up for a time.

Maybe, memorize some verses as part of your fast.

A good one to begin w/ could be

Ezra 8:22 NIV

I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”

Let God speak to you in ways you haven’t before.

Let someone else in

Accountability

Good people can be tempted to the point they fall. Choose your route and let someone in to know that route and to know you well enough to know whether you are on it or not.

Choose a friend or 2 to let into your life so deeply that they can hold you accountable to stay on the route God is leading you down.

New year, new route.

Maybe just a minor adjustment.

Or, maybe a major course correction.

The place to begin today is where you can hear from God.

God is the One who knows the best place for you to be and the best route for you to get there.

Together, let’s get the journey into 2019 started right.

Where is God leading you to go and how does He want you to get there?