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Scripture for today:
Ezra 9-10; Psalm 131; Luke 21
Scripture-My special verse today:
Ezra 10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”
Observation:
This was result of God telling the Israelites not to intermarry. When we do not listen to god, we have chaos. Look at our family units today. How many family units are equally yoked in the faith together? But, even when they married having a strong faith was not the deciding factor in choosing their spouse. The church is in trouble because we so few family units on fire for the Lord. Telling the Israelites not to intermarry does not mean God did not other like nations. God knew that if they intermarried they would steal their loyalty away from Him and that is exactly what occurred.
Application:
We have to start in the household o God to raise sons and daughters who will marry others committed to the faith. Our family units are weak because they are built on incomes not principals to live by. Parents are happy with the child’s spouse if their child marries well. In other words, their spouse makes BIG money. Our marriages, pensions, mortgages, are all in jeopardy because we placed our priorities not in the hands of God. This is scary time in the church when so many feel they have it together when in essence they are best half committed.
Prayer:
Help this generatioin long for your favor before it is to late.
Scripture for today:
Ezra 7-8; Luke 20
Scripture-My special verse today:
Ezra 7:27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Observation:
Reading verses about God’s movement in others lives uplifts me. The Jews believed that God had made King Arthaxerxes desire to beautify the temple in Jerusalem. What would the King care about a temple for the exiles in their homeland? It was a movement of God or may I say miracle. Not only did the King desire to help restore the temple but was willing let others venture back to make sure it was done properly and support it with the treasury.
Application:
Faith is a powerful tool that has caused many to rally to cause, take a stance, or attempt the impossible. When this happens, it comes directly from the hand of God. Our faith becomes stale when our lives are focused on this movement. God is always moving and desires for His people to be drawn closer to Him. God always desires the best for His children. God always desires for His children to use their gifts and talents for the betterment of humanity.
Prayer: May I have my ears and eyes open to hear and see the movement of God!
Scripture for today:
Ezra 5; Ezra 6; Psalm 138; Luke 16
Scripture-My special verse today:
Ezra 6:19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. 20 The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. 22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
Observation:
The Israelites were celebrating because they believed God had changed the attitude of the King of Assyria. They had an all out party. God had worked on their behalf to continue to rebuild the temple that Solomon had built because David was not allowed. Their party lasted a week.
Application:
When circumstances go our way, do we immediately think God has anything to do with it. What is the use praying if we believe that God does not answer prayer. So many time sin life God has intervened on my behalf and I failed to throw a party as a witness. A witness in what he can do in my life.
Prayer: Empower me to throw parties on behalf of an awesome God!
Scripture for Today:
Ezra 4; Psalm 113; 127; Luke 9
Scripture-My special verse for today:
Ezra 4:24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Psalms 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Observation: The enemies of Judah and Benjamim are the reason for the standstill of the temple. Their lies and schemes stalled the plans of God. Satan is always desiring to destroy the spirit blowing in the hearts of believers. If believers are weak, then they pack up and go home. It is also necessary when building for God to be sure that it comes from God not just what we want. Because without his presence our plans are futile.
Application: What a great lesson to never forget. The people of God should not be surprised when others outside the church seek to destroy our plans. The people of Good should not be surprised when we plan without God that our plans fail. As a church leader, these lessons are fatal if overlooked.
Prayer: May I know when I plan to do ministry in the Church or even in planning that God has His hand in it!
Scripture for Today:
Ezra 1; Psalm 84; Psalm 85; Luke 7
Scripture-My special verse today:
Ezra 1:5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Observation:
God moved in the hearts of the family heads at just the right time. It is hard to wait on God. God moved the hearts to prepare and undertaking to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The Psalmists says that a single day in his house is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Application:
The modern day Church is hemorrhaging due to the culture. the pull is so strong that spending time time in the temple verses playing sports or attending them on the Sabbath is rare. Very few today take a stance that they would rather be in the household than with screaming fans cheering on their team. I long for the time when God move sin the hearts of people to unite under his Name. God stirring the hearts of the people made me want to be apart of it.
Prayer: Help me to not grow faint in a culture that follows the stirring of the culture verses the stirring of Jesus.
