The Hand of the Lord

THE HAND OF THE LORD MY GOD WAS UPON ME"

Ezra 7:28

INTRODUCTION

1. The Bible is filled with stories of people who lived their lives
under the influence of God...
a. Through deep faith and a willingness to serve, God used them to
fulfill His purposes
b. Ezra is one such example of what can happen:
1) When a person determines to seek God
2) And allows the Lord to use him

2. In 457 B.C., Ezra led a group of Jews from Babylonian captivity back
to Jerusalem...
a. About eighty years after a group led by Zerubbabel to rebuild the
temple
b. The mission of Ezra's group was to restore the people of God

3. In the book of Ezra...
a. The first six chapters describe the work of Zerubbabel
b. The final four chapters relate Ezra's arrival and the great
restoration he brought about

[The theme of Ezra's life and work could be stated as "The Hand Of The
Lord My God Was Upon Me," for six times in two chapters he thus
attributes his success. In our lesson, let's first notice...]

I. HOW THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON EZRA

A. IN RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM THE KING...
1. Notice Ezra 7:6
2. Because the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra, Artaxerxes allowed
him:
a. To go to Jerusalem - 7:12-13
b. To take silver and gold to buy animals for sacrifice - 7:
14-17
c. To buy what is needed for the service of the house of God
- 7:18-23
d. To be free from taxation - 7:24
e. To set up magistrates and judges - 7:25-26
-- Ezra recognized the hand of God was at work in his behalf!
- 7:27-28

B. IN FINDING SERVANTS FOR THE TEMPLE...
1. Prepared to leave, Ezra noted none of sons of Levi - 8:15
2. He sends men to find some who will go with them - 8:16-17
-- By the good hand of God upon them, they find 38 Levites and
220 Nethinim to assist them! - 8:18-20

C. IN PROVIDING SAFE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM...
1. Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek from God the right way to
travel - 8:21-23
2. Having told the king that God's hand would be them, he was
ashamed to ask for a military escort - 8:22
-- God's hand was upon them, and they safely arrived in
Jerusalem! - 8:31-32

[From beginning to end the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra. Why did
Ezra enjoy the blessing of God's provision in his life? Is there
anything we can glean from Ezra's story that might ensure the hand of
God in our own lives?

I believe there is! Let me suggest some reasons...]

II. WHY THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON EZRA

A. EZRA HAD PREPARED HIMSELF...
1. In a summary passage, we learn why God was with him - 7:9-10
2. God was with him "For (because) Ezra had prepared his heart"
a. "to seek the Law of the Lord" (to learn what God wanted him
to do)
b. "to do it" (to apply it to himself first)
c. "to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel" (and then
teach others)
-- Ezra had first made himself "useful for the Master, prepared
for every good work" - cf. 2 Ti 2:21

B. EZRA HAD SOUGHT THE LORD...
1. He believed that God would be with those who seek Him - 8:22
2. Thus he entreated God's protection through fasting and prayer
- 8:21-23
-- Ezra believed that God rewarded those who diligently seek Him;
such faith undoubtedly pleased God - cf. He 11:6

C. EZRA WAS WILLING TO STEP OUT IN FAITH...
1. Trusting the Lord would protect them, they began their
perilous journey - 8:31
2. It was not easy, for there were enemies and potential for
ambush along the way!
-- But Ezra illustrated that he had a living, working faith!
- Ja 2:17,26; Ga 5:6

D. EZRA WAS WILLING TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS...
1. Upon his arrival, Ezra found a difficult situation - 9:1-2
a. Many of the Israelites had inter-married with Gentile women
b. The rulers and leaders of Israel were the worst violators
2. He was moved to fasting and prayer - 9:3-15
a. Others joined him ("everyone who trembled at the words of
the God of Israel")
b. He offered prayer confessing the sins of Israel
3. He accepted the responsibility that was his - 10:1-8
a. Encouraged by those willing to repent
b. Leading the people to a great restoration!
-- It would have been so easy to rationalize away any need for
the people to change; but Ezra did not let the emotionally
charged issue deter him from doing God's will!

CONCLUSION

1. The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he...
a. Had prepared himself
b. Sought the Lord
c. Was willing to step out in faith
d. Was willing to face difficult situations

2. Ezra was not the only person who experienced the hand of the Lord
upon him...
a. The Lord was also with a contemporary, Nehemiah - cf. Neh 2:18
b. Sometimes the hand of the Lord was for the purpose of judgment
- cf. 1 Sam 5:6
c. But here we have considered the working of God for good in the
life of his servant

3. How will the hand of the Lord be for us? For our good, if we emulate
Ezra by...
a. Preparing ourselves to be useful to the Master!
b. Seeking the Lord with diligence and faith!
c. Stepping out in faith against the odds
d. Facing difficult issues and situations head on

Let the example of Ezra encourage us to so live in Christ, that one day
we can look back at the events in our lives and say:

"The Hand Of The Lord My God Was Upon Me!"

Lessons from Grandpa

Lesson from Grand pa……….!

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grand pa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his BIBLE. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, ' Grand pa! I try to read the BIBLE just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the BIBLE do? The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.' The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Grand pa, it's useless!' 'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. 'Son, that's what happens when you read the BIBLE. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Jesus in our lives.

Jesus is Better than Santa

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or
girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He
knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even
knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and
builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.


May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this
Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

Spend time with your loved ones

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what is it ?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down. S

SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often.

The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.' The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled. Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Joyful flowers

Don't you agree with me that flowers always bring a smile to us :)

How nice it is to look at God's creation !!!!

Diary Of The Bible

Diary Of The Bible
a. January: A busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me through this year. They kept me busy for the first two weeks. I'm now forgotten.

b. February: My owner used me for a few minutes last week. He had an argument and was checking references.

c. March: Grandpa visited us. He kept me on his lap for an hour, reading 1 Cor 13

d. April: I had a busy day. My owner was appointed a leader of something and used me. I got to go to church the first time this year...Easter Sunday

e. May: I have a few grass stains on my pages. Had some early spring flowers pressed in me.

f. June: I look like a scrap book. They have stuffed me full of clippings. One of the girls got married.

g. July: They put me in a suitcase today. I guess we're off on a vacation. I wish I could stay at home, as I will have to stay in this thing for a month.

h. August: Still in the suitcase.

i. September: Back home again, and in my old place. I have lots of company. Two "True Stories" and four "Funny Books" are on top of me. I wish I could be read as much as they are.

j. October: They used me a little today. One of them is sick. Right now I'm all shined up and in the center of the table...I think the preacher is coming.

k. November: Back in my old place.

l. December: They are getting ready for Christmas. I'll be covered under wrapping papers and packages.

మంచి వాక్యము

దేవుడు లోకమును ఎంతో ప్రేమించెను కాగ ఆయాన తన అద్వితీయ కుమారునిగా పుట్టిన వాని యందు విశ్వాసముంచు ప్రతి వాడును నిత్య జీవం పొందునట్లు ఆయనను అనుగ్రహించెను - యోహను ౩: 16