Our God Reigns - See God
Together We Build • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsIn chapter one of Ezra, we learn about God’s sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. He initiates a great stirring of his exiled people to come home and rebuild his glorious temple where he once dwelled alongside them. Before this event can pass, the Lord must work through countless people, tribes, and individuals to achieve his divine plan. In this message, “Our God Reigns – See God,” we understand who is truly in control of our destinies as we comprehend the truth. God, who is above all, works through all people for his glory.
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Introduction to Book of Ezra
Introduction to Book of Ezra
Why study Ezra?
Why study Ezra?
The ancient narrative of Ezra recounts the Jewish story of how God’s covenant faithfulness towards his people never ends. Even when God’s chosen people rebel and reject his goodness and love, he returns to them and offers grace, forgiveness and restoration. Within the pages these Scripture found in Ezra, we learn about character of God. His divine mission was to restore the broken temple in Jerusalem so that his people could communion with him.
Authorship, historical context, purpose of the book
Authorship, historical context, purpose of the book
Most scholars believe the Book of Ezra was written and compiled by a chronicler, quite possibly the same person who wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles. Portions of the book appear to come from the personal journal of Ezra himself, a Jewish priest and possibly a Person high official.
The scared Scripture was written from the Postexilic Jews. This book was written between 440 and 400 B.C., probably a few decades after the return of the exiles under Ezra and the purifying the community.
In the Hebrew bible, Ezra and Nehemiah constitute as one book.
The book highlights the mysterious cooperation between sovereign will and power of God, and the initiative and choice of people.
The explanation of the sermon series, "Together We Build"
The explanation of the sermon series, "Together We Build"
In this series, we are praying to do something brand new at Ubly Christian along with learning about Ezra and the journey of God’s people. We are aspiring to complete our one year mission by everyone at Ubly Christian to take one new step in their faith journey by Easter of 2023. As God’s people were moved to build a physical temple, now, the church is challenged to expand the spiritual temple. We’ll discuss more later what it looks like to follow Ubly Christian’s two-page plan.
Our God reigns (1:1-11)
Our God reigns (1:1-11)
God's foresight and faithfulness
God's foresight and faithfulness
Prior to the opening chapter of Ezra, we the decline of Judah and its inclination to sin and death. 2 Chronicles records, All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem. (2 Chr 26:14).
Because of Judah’s unfaithfulness, God handed them over to a pagan king. Now the Jewish exiles were living in a distant land under the reign and authority of King Nebuchadezzar. Yet, we know this truth: God doesn’t abandon his people because they wandered away and fell into a pit of sin. Why not? Because he is faithful and just to remember his promises he made with their fathers. The Lord has foresight on when he was going to liberate and save his people and he prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah concerning God’s ability to redeem his people by sending another king.
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
The King of Persia and God's House
The King of Persia and God's House
In the first chapter of Ezra, we see the demise of the nation of Babylon and the exaltation of Persia. The Lord punished Babylon for its sins and gave them over to their enemies.
God wielded the sword so that king Cyrus to overcome Babylon. What happens in king Cyrus story isn’t anything he can take credit, it is the Lord who established his reign and dominion. Then Cyrus made a proclamation for God’s people about sending them out to rebuild the house of the Lord.
Preparing for an second Exodus
Preparing for an second Exodus
This second Exodus began by God stirring the hearts of everyone: the king, the Jews, the Gentiles, and the king’s treasure. God is the protagonist in this story. He gave the Jews everything they needed to go home and begin rebuilding the temple of God.
Taking the goods from the old temple proved how our God was greater than the gods of Babylon and Persia.
Is God above all things? Yes, he is over all kingdoms, tribes, and nations. Most importantly, God is over his church which he saves, keeps, blesses and glorifies.
God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness
God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness
The Lord stirs us to action (Holy Spirit role in the Christians’ life is to move us in the faithful direction towards God’s will).
Everything will go according to his decree. (Christ reigns)
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Building the temple is about restoring glory for God. While the Jews mission was to rebuild the house of the Lord so they could return to proper worship of God. We are commissioned to build God's house not by collecting rock, marble, and gold, but through the means of the gospel and making disciples. God is seeing this work being done and we are not doing it without his assistance.
God's sovereignty and man's choice work together.
God's sovereignty and man's choice work together.
He initiates the mission, we respond with obedience. Listen and obey God's prompting and seek for lost pieces to add to God's house. (Invite the forgotten) Seek people who are spiritually lost that need hope, invite them to your homes, outdoor gatherings, church service, and family events.
He equips us with the tools to succeed.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
God is with you wherever you go. Jesus is the true king who oversees and guides his church. He is sending us into the world to build. It is by his good pleasure which the church can resume temple building. Since Christ is with us and works in our hearts, we are able to build onto the temple of God.
God, who is above all, works through all people for his glory.
