Sermon Tone Analysis
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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
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.
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