"for a little while grace has been shown"

Ezra 9:1-15

v.8: "And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg (ESV: “a secure hold”) in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.”

We all seek salvation, of one form or another. What happens between the time we learn of our sin and the time we stop it? God gives us grace in this time; grace to correct what needs to be corrected, and to be able to stand tall before Him.

God’s grace TEACHES us.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

We are taught to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts”.

If we deny something, it means we do not give it a chance.

Too often, we do not only give sin a chance, we give it a head start!

We get as close as we can without sinning, and somehow think that we will stay on the right side.

In fact, it is easy to fall into sin when we are under worldly pressures.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

We are taught to “live soberly, righteously and Godly”.

This is NOT impossible. How dare we claim otherwise when God Himself tells us this is so?

1 Peter 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Some believe grace automatically functions in our lives, as if it is a power unto itself.

Our walk, our “conduct”, reflects the holiness (the “separateness”) of our hearts.

God’s grace can only work within us if we allow Him to work within us.

Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

We are to do so in “the present age”.

Many seek to lower the standard instead of aiming for the standard.

We do this because of the pressure of the culture surrounding us. We want to be accepted and loved, and Satan will use this to manipulate our minds into thinking that being godly is impossible.

“If I can’t do it perfectly, then why do it?” - This is a misunderstanding of the grace shown to us by God.

Many only seek to maintain the standards of OTHERS instead of looking into their own hearts.

Matthew 7:1–5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

Grace does NOT mean we do not discern, but we rely on God’s grace to help us have grace with each other.

Jesus proved that it can be done.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is why the example of Jesus is the most important for us RIGHT NOW.

2 Corinthians 4:11 NLT Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

God’s people are “zealous for good works”.

Zeal denotes ENTHUSIASM. We are minded to be excited and positive about doing God’s will! Grace TEACHES us that we can be saved and faithful.

Titus 3:8, 14 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. ... And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

God gives us TIME in His grace to repent.

There are times when obeying God is hard.

Putting away pagan wives. How would this affect their families?

Children who may have grown up in this situation now have to face their parents splitting up.

Husbands and wives who have grown close to each other now realize that they cannot continue on in such a way.

Sometimes obeying God is easy. Other times, it is hard.

What is “hard” or “easy” can be subjective. Faithfulness in certain ways might not be an issue for some, but it might be for others.

We all have particular sins that are difficult for us.

Venture to say that this situation covered in Ezra would be hard no matter who you are.

There are many moments like this when obedience to God might carry a high price.

Jesus promised this to us.

Matthew 10:34-36 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'

God knows our challenges, and thus gives us time to work things out.

Grace must be in the overall approach and mindset of the Christian. It is not a “band-aid” or salve for healing now and then.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

“Evangelicals abuse the word [grace -SM] when they refer to their ‘experience of grace’ -- as a ‘better felt than told’ power by which they are miraculously regenerated. And ‘our’ brethren misuse the term by applying it as an "enabling power" by which Christians persevere.” - Robert Turner, Truth Magazine, 1986

We must be creatures of reason and logic, “People of the Book”. Grace among each other is necessary to this identity.

We need to have the right mindset about grace. Grace is not a PIECEMEAL SOLUTION, but a LIFESTYLE MOTIVATION.

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

We trust in God’s grace CONSTANTLY, because it is the only way we can be taught the right way and have the proper conviction to live it.

Even in the midst of problems and challenges, God’s grace can shine in the heart of a true disciple.

The power is NOT necessarily in God’s grace, but in His Word.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

“THE power”, not “A power”! Grace is part and parcel of salvation, but the power behind it is the Gospel.

Why? Because grace is dependent upon the reception of the one to whom it has been given. God’s grace does not save us if we do not receive it!

Acts 13:46–47 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Remember: This time will not last forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

Grace is never a license to keep sinning.

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

God’s Way is the BEST way!

Ezra 10:44 All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Many in unscriptural marriages – “God doesn’t want me to do that to my children”

This is the mindset that leads to whole generations being lost.

If our children see us doing the right thing, they have a better foundation to do the right thing.

Are we preparing our children for the easy AND hard times of obedience?

We need to allow our families to see and know EVERY ASPECT OF SERVING GOD!

Young Christian men: “they’re not ready for business meetings/studies/hospitality”

Young Christian ladies: “they’re too young to visit/prepare the Lord’s Supper/be hospitable/help teach classes, etc.”

We cannot expect children to automatically know everything they need to know. We must teach them actively!

If we are consistent in our application of God’s word, our children will see that, and it will make an incredible impression upon them.

God shows grace in the gift of salvation.

He was willing to save His people - in Ezra’s day and NOW.

1 Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

If God was not interested in saving mankind, we would have been given nothing. On the contrary, He has given us ALL THINGS.

2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

He is always willing and ready to save.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Share in the sufferings of Christ so that we can appreciate the grace bestowed upon us and live in the light of God!

We can trust in our Savior!

Revelation 19:11-16 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”

He is strong and has conquered all of our enemies!

Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

He will shepherd and guide us till the end of our lives on earth, and guide us into eternity. May we trust in the word of His grace that we can do so!