In Ezra
Notes
Transcript
Continue 2021 Series - Jesus is In!
Scriptures testify “about me”
39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
In Ezra, He is our faithful Scribe
The Faithful Scribe
Personified in person of Zerubbabel, the rebuilder of the temple (Ezra 4)
In Ezra He is the Rebuilder of Broken down walls of human life.
Ezra restores hope - in the midst of opposition - the temple building came to a standstill in Ezra 4.
1. Rebuild altar
Ezra 1-6: The rebuilding of the worship of God
2. Rebuild temple
Ezra 7-10: The rebuilding of the rule of God
3. Rebuild City
Nehemiah 1-6: The rebuilding of the city of God
4. Rebuild Wall
Nehemiah 7-13: The rebuilding of the people of God
Celebrate! - Nehemiah 8 - Ezra reads the Law of Moses - daybreak until noon - while they all stood in honor of its reading
Would you stand as we honor the reading of God’s word
1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.
9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.
10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Concentrate on Verse 10 today
STUDY OBSERVE TEACH
Verse 10 - STUDY OBSERVE TEACH
What we study with our mind - impacts what we practice (observe) in our soul - which empowers our witness (teach) to those around us.
Study - Do - Teach
STUDY
STUDY
Study
Return from exile - like escaping Egypt - back to the promised land
We are created to worship God
After the exile - Israel wanted to worship
The temple in Ezra is plain in appearance vs. Solomon’s
Rebuilding & Reviving
Must start at the altar - spiritual reset
Why is it important to study?
A living temple - you and me
Constant building - changing - improving - EXAMPLE - hospitals “adding on”
OBSERVE
OBSERVE
Observe - Practice - Do
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Dad & his aquarium - looks nice - keep the fish fed - keep the algae from growing - clean it so the bad stuff won’t grow - like our lives
Focus on the fundamentals - great athletes become great at fundamentals before great at the game
TEACH
TEACH
Teach
We teach whether we think we are or not
We see it in our children
We see it in our co-workers
We see it in one another
What are we teaching?
In Ezra - it wasn’t just returning back to the “good ol’ days” - there was a sense of a new beginning - a hopeful future - something special to come
God is looking forward - to Revelation - not backward to Genesis -
the past is there for us to learn but not to dwell
Are we teaching hope in Jesus to those around us.
CONCLUSION
As we come to the altar - as we study - observe - teach - as we think of the building of the temple - Paul wrote this to the Corinthians
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
Ezra had a part in restoring the altar and the temple when returning from the Exile
Ezra made the word of God known
Jesus is the foundation to that altar and temple- we are the temple - Jesus is the Word
Jesus is in Ezra!