WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:09.339 Located in Ontario, 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:11.279 Oregon, Pastor Patrick Daly 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.839 preaches insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.640 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:21.400 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:27.160 It is great to be here with you as we are continuing. 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:30.760 This thing's all over the place. 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:33.960 Today, we're continuing our biblical exposition 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:36.359 of the book of Ezra. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:38.460 You know, we began this series 00:00:38.460 --> 00:00:41.759 with the congregational reading of Scripture, 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:44.960 whereas the body of Christ we read 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:48.159 and we responded to God's Word. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:52.960 All of God's Word is of great importance for us to read 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:55.760 and to study and to know the Lord. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:57.159 We come to know the Lord. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:59.359 We come to grow in Him. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:00.559 And through all of this, 00:01:00.559 --> 00:01:05.359 we are moved to do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:08.859 And this last week, we began our exposition 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:14.759 with a message that it set the scene for the book of Ezra. 00:01:14.759 --> 00:01:20.560 It was this understanding that Ezra is part of the history 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:22.159 that's found within Scripture. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:26.959 You have the ending of the 70-year exile of God's people. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.959 You have the fulfillment of prophecy, right? 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:31.859 The ending of those 70 years, 00:01:31.859 --> 00:01:36.560 the prophecy of the Gentile King Cyrus, 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.759 and the fulfillment of that. 00:01:38.759 --> 00:01:41.859 And in all of this, we find the connections 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:44.560 that are within Scripture. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.060 You see, the fulfillment of prophecy 00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:50.959 and seeing all the interconnectedness of Scripture, 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.859 it demonstrates the power of the God that we love, 00:01:53.859 --> 00:01:56.559 that we worship and we serve. 00:01:56.559 --> 00:02:01.859 And today, we will see how God stirred the spirit of Cyrus, 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:03.859 the Gentile King, 00:02:03.859 --> 00:02:11.060 and now the Holy Spirit stirs the hearts of people to action. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:15.859 And as we learn from this book that's just in the Old Testament, 00:02:15.859 --> 00:02:18.859 it doesn't mean that it's not relevant. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:22.360 The Word of God still speaks to us today, 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:26.360 and we are encouraged to see how God worked in the past, 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.760 as well as how God works today. 00:02:29.760 --> 00:02:32.360 God fulfills His promise, 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:35.660 and God continues to speak to us today. 00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:39.760 And although the Bible is thousands of years old, 00:02:39.760 --> 00:02:43.460 it is living and it is active. 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:45.260 God not only speaks to us, 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:50.959 but He gives us this call, this invitation to have a relationship with Him, 00:02:50.959 --> 00:02:52.560 and through belief, 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.060 not only are we saved by grace through faith, 00:02:55.060 --> 00:02:57.060 but there's inner transformation 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:02.159 that comes in knowing the Lord by trusting and obeying Him. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:06.759 Let us be encouraged today as we are going through 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:10.259 finishing this first chapter of the book of Ezra. 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:12.659 And the title of today's sermon is, 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:17.859 Together We Build, The Call for Revival and Renewal. 00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:19.859 Let's pray together before we go any further. 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:23.560 Let's bow our heads and pray. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:27.359 Gracious Father, we thank You for giving us Your Word. 00:03:27.359 --> 00:03:31.659 Your Word, this Scripture, is living and active. 00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:35.060 And it is full of how You, God, You keep Your promises, 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:38.759 how You are sovereign in how You are in control, 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:42.659 how You are strong and You are mighty and how You are light. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:47.359 You are a good God and You give us truth and wisdom and insight 00:03:47.359 --> 00:03:52.159 and You provide salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:56.259 Father, we pray that in the same way You stirred the heart of the King, 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:58.159 the Spirit of the King, 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:03.259 and You stirred these people in Ezra to action, 00:04:03.259 --> 00:04:07.560 that in the same way You will stir our lives 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:12.360 by the Holy Spirit to have a relationship with You, 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:18.459 to grow in faith and to be stirred, to have this spiritual awakening 00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:20.360 to action. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:24.759 We pray that we can do all of this in Your mighty name. 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.759 We pray that this message will be an encouragement for us 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:32.459 to see that how You are not a dead God. 00:04:32.459 --> 00:04:33.959 You are living and active. 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:36.360 You are the living God. 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:39.660 And You still speak to us today. 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:43.060 And we say all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:45.259 the Son of the living God. 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:47.860 We say together, amen. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.160 Now, feel free to have Your Bibles open, 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.960 maybe have it by in Your lap or by Your side. 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:59.460 And don't forget, we have our notes here. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:07.359 And or you can use your mobile device or Bible of choice. 00:05:07.359 --> 00:05:10.159 That'll be found if you are opening your Pew Bible. 00:05:10.159 --> 00:05:17.560 It's on page 450, 58, if you want to have that nearby. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:21.259 And so as we're turning to Scripture here, 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:28.560 we begin our sermon by continuing after the decree of Cyrus, 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.259 the Persian king. 00:05:30.259 --> 00:05:32.959 He is in power and He made this decree, 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:39.860 a call for all survivors to go to Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:44.459 And now in your notes here, I want to show you for a moment, 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:51.459 you'll see that there's this, my sad attempt at making a little chart here. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:54.660 But it's a map of the modern day Middle East 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:59.560 where you see Babylonia to Jerusalem. 00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:02.560 And the distance from there, if you were to go in a straight line, 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:06.160 which you wouldn't do back then, of course not, 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:10.160 is at least 500 miles. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:16.960 It goes and further, just to add some more thoughts to your mind, 00:06:16.960 --> 00:06:20.460 imagine about 40 plus thousand people 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:25.759 who are traveling in the desert, in the hot sun, 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.959 traveling with thousands of vessels. 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:33.560 And it's this great migration as it were 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:37.259 because there's the Holy Spirit who is stirring the spirits, 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:43.359 the hearts of these people to return and to rebuild the temple. 00:06:43.359 --> 00:06:46.159 If that's not a move from God, then I don't know what is. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.460 Can you imagine for a moment the scene that's happening here? 00:06:50.460 --> 00:06:55.660 So you have Cyrus that made a decree, the call for the survivors to go to Jerusalem, 00:06:55.660 --> 00:06:56.960 to rebuild the temple. 00:06:56.960 --> 00:07:00.960 And Cyrus made this call and there was a tremendous amount of response. 00:07:00.960 --> 00:07:04.760 We go to Ezra chapter 1 verse 5. 00:07:04.760 --> 00:07:07.860 It's on the slide here as well, which says, 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:12.560 then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.460 and the priests and the Levites. 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:18.060 Pay attention to this part. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:22.060 Everyone whose spirit God had stirred 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:28.859 to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is where in Jerusalem. 00:07:28.859 --> 00:07:31.959 We see that Cyrus made a proclamation. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:36.560 Those in authority in the houses of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, the Levites, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.659 they had responded, but it did not stop there. 00:07:39.659 --> 00:07:41.759 It extended. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:46.560 The verse further mentions that everyone whose spirit had stirred 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.759 went up to go rebuild the temple. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:52.259 And quite a journey that must be. 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:56.860 I mean, we already know with how the heat is right now and how hot it can be. 00:07:56.860 --> 00:08:00.759 Just spending an hour in the heat, you get kind of thirsty. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.959 Imagine traveling with so many people 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:06.560 on a single mission to go and rebuild the temple. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.759 That's just an amazing thought to think about. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:14.560 And there's a connection with the beginning of chapter 1 verse 1 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:19.060 where we see that the Lord, if you have your Bibles open, it'll say, 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:23.360 the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, the king of Persia. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.459 And then it goes down to verse 5 here, right? 00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:32.460 Everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild. 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:38.559 And this stirring that we see is what we would call a spiritual awakening. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:41.259 It doesn't mean you're waking up from a nap, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:43.959 although sometimes we like our naps, don't we? 00:08:43.959 --> 00:08:48.659 But we're talking about a spiritual awakening that is happening. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:54.559 It's not like, again, waking up for a nap or waking up from going to bed at night. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.459 Isn't this, doesn't this go to show you the inner working of the Holy Spirit? 00:08:59.459 --> 00:09:05.559 I am fully convinced of the nature of the Holy Spirit that this is the Holy Spirit at work. 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:09.159 And verses 1 through 5 mention that the Spirit was awakened, 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.159 which indicates the nature of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:19.459 The Holy Spirit, it's always amazing when we see how the triune God is at work, 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:23.959 not only in the New Testament, but also the Old Testament. 00:09:23.959 --> 00:09:30.559 And in any case, it is the power of the triune God and the inner workings among people. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:37.359 God provided the vision, and that vision was to rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 00:09:37.359 --> 00:09:43.459 And just as people were given a vision by God, we too, as Christians today, 00:09:43.459 --> 00:09:48.759 we have been given a vision for building the church and doing the work of Christ. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:53.059 And there are two things that you'll see in your notes that come to mind. 00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:57.259 There are two things that stand out when we think of this part of Ezra. 00:09:57.259 --> 00:10:01.360 And number one is that vision comes from the Lord. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:05.360 It is divine direction on where to go. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:11.259 God will lead and guide you in your life, much like how he has led other people. 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:18.159 And secondly, the Holy Spirit stirs leaders and people to follow God's vision. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.960 Have you ever reflected before and thought about, 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:25.259 what does God want me to do in my life? 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:29.659 How is God working in your own life? 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:32.059 Have you thought about that recently? 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.259 Sometimes we think about it immediately when we become a believer. 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:38.659 And other times we just forget about it. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:42.059 It's always important to be in tune with the Lord 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:46.559 and consider how God is speaking to you today. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:50.559 Have you ever felt that tug at your shirt, so to speak? 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:55.559 That pull for God wanting you to maybe converse with a specific person 00:10:55.559 --> 00:11:00.259 or speak life to people, sharing in the gospel. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:02.859 It could be a variety of different things. 00:11:02.859 --> 00:11:07.659 We go into Ezra, this next verse, verse six. 00:11:07.659 --> 00:11:13.059 And it says, and all who were about them aided them with vessels. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:15.159 And I want you to pay attention to that word, vessels. 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:16.959 We'll get into that. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.660 Excuse me, vessels of silver with gold, with goods, 00:11:20.660 --> 00:11:22.960 and with beasts and costly wares. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.860 And I kind of wonder what kind of beasts we're talking about 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:29.460 and what other kinds of goods that were not listed here. 00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:33.160 And besides all of that, that was freely offered. 00:11:33.160 --> 00:11:36.759 And to pay attention to this is understanding that 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:40.060 it is the community who is working together, 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:46.360 even those people that might not have had the Spirit stir, right? 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:49.860 The Holy Spirit working in their heart and in their mind. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:52.460 You see here that the community is coming together, 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:56.460 helping support God's vision. 00:11:56.460 --> 00:12:00.759 And this is a great encouragement for us today. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:06.460 If you don't feel the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you specifically, 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.960 that's okay. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:11.560 You can still help and contribute your time, 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:17.759 your talent, and your treasure to the workings and the mission of God. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.959 Still support those who have heard God's call 00:12:21.959 --> 00:12:24.359 and contributed in your own way. 00:12:24.359 --> 00:12:26.459 And for us believers, 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:32.259 let us be encouraged to pray for revival in this land. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:37.659 You know, it doesn't take much time to turn on the news 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:40.159 or to go on social media 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.059 to see all the crazy things like the Microsoft Outage 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:49.259 or the attempted former president assassination that's happening 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.059 or that happened. 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:52.959 That's just two things. 00:12:52.959 --> 00:12:56.459 Of course, there are the fires that are happening around in our own community 00:12:56.459 --> 00:13:00.159 and there's so many we can go on and on about all of the tragedies 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.559 and all of the terrible things that are happening. 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:05.360 But in all of this, 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.860 we should pray for our leaders, 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.759 for our nation, 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:12.960 for the world, for our community, 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:17.960 for revival that the Holy Spirit will stir the heart of the King, 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:19.659 the spirit of the King, right? 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:23.560 Those who are in leadership, those who serve in the community, 00:13:23.560 --> 00:13:25.960 those who are in positions of authority, 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:32.259 but also for revival, restoration, and renewal in our own land. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:36.060 So pray for the stirring of hearts and support the local church. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:42.859 And for you, find a way in which you can help in the mission of God. 00:13:42.859 --> 00:13:46.959 I cannot emphasize enough its time, talent, and treasure. 00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:52.459 It can be any of those and how you answer that is up to you. 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:59.359 And this is a wonderful and direct link for what we find with Ezra and Christ's mission for us, right? 00:13:59.359 --> 00:14:03.059 We have the great commandment to love God and to love others, 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:06.959 the great commission to make disciples of all nations, right? 00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:09.759 And to baptize believers. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:11.659 And so there's this wonderful connection. 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:18.459 God provided the mission and the vision to Cyrus and to the people, 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:23.259 and in the same way, God gives us mission and vision. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:25.559 We go to verse 7, which says that, 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:29.159 Cyrus the King also brought out vessels of the house of the Lord 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:32.059 that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:34.959 and placed in the house of his gods. 00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:36.959 Uh-oh. 00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:38.759 What happened, right? 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.459 You have vessels, right? 00:14:40.459 --> 00:14:44.559 I want you to imagine for a moment my little water bottle, right? 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:48.759 Imagine it got stolen and it was put in the wrong house, right? 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:51.959 That's a very children's story, right? 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:55.059 It gets placed into the wrong hands. 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:59.259 But in this analogy, it's not one vessel but many vessels. 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:02.960 That which was stolen is being returned. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.960 It is being restored. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.559 And that's a wonderful connection that we can see. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:12.159 Cyrus is returning the vessels that were once stolen. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.059 He took the treasures from the temple and placed them, right? 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:17.960 He's placing them where they rightfully belong. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:24.960 And you'll see in your notes, there's references to Second Kings and Daniels 1, 1, 2. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:29.360 We won't go into that but just for your own reference. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:36.460 What was stolen and what was taken for evil by evil is now placed in the rightful place. 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:38.759 And this is a parallel, my friends. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.860 A spiritual truth just like parables, right? 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:47.759 There's a lot of spiritual truth that we can find in Scripture with Cyrus and Christ. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:53.160 I mentioned last time before that Cyrus is a prefiguration. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:56.559 He is a representation of who Christ will be. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.159 And I want you to listen to me closely when I say this. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:05.959 That just as Cyrus, he rightfully took the vessels from the wrong place and returned them. 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:12.360 Jesus Christ does the same for us when we are saved by grace through faith. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.360 And I say this because very often in Scripture, right? 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:23.560 You find that vessels are referred to as people. 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:27.360 So not only are you having the physical object, right? 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:33.159 But you have the spiritual person, the spiritual representation here. 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:37.560 Isn't that interesting how God works in His Word? 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:42.460 It's part of the symbolism or the deeper meanings that we find within Scripture. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:50.160 And in your notes, you'll see that again, you have mentioning of the physical object, the vessels, 00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:55.160 but also the spiritual person, the one who ends up getting saved, right? 00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:58.160 How we are human vessels. 00:16:58.160 --> 00:17:01.560 So it's a nice representation here. 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:09.960 Because Jesus Christ takes us human vessels from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:14.759 as mentioned in Colossians chapter 1 verse 13. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.960 I'll read the verse for you. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:21.559 It's not on a slide here, but it says that Christ has delivered us from the domain of darkness 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:29.259 and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, right? 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:36.559 As believers, we are filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, new life and treasures, right? 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:43.759 Some of you may know the verses that talk about being a vessel of honor, right? 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:49.259 It's having life in you as opposed to not having life in you. 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:54.359 So therefore, this physical representation that we find in Cyrus, it speaks a spiritual truth. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:56.859 It's just a nice little connection with Christ. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.460 Let's go to verse 8 here. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:05.059 Cyrus the king of Persia brought these out in charge of Mithredeth, the treasurer, 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.960 who counted them to Shespazar. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.859 Imagine having a name like that, Shespazar. 00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:11.559 That's kind of a unique one. 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.259 The Prince of Judah. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:15.559 And what we see here are key leaders. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.859 They are contributing, right? 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:22.359 They're contributing during the reign of King Cyrus of Persia. 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.859 They are helping with the restoration, the counting of the vessels, right? 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:30.159 We have the stewardship and the counting of these vessels. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:35.259 And you'll see that both of these people appear in Scripture again. 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:40.960 Mithredeth later opposes the building of the temple and Shespazar continues in the mission 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:47.759 by receiving and helping transport the vessels and also laying the foundations of the temple. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.160 Let's go to verses 9 through 11. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:55.060 Now, a lot of math here. 00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:58.259 A lot that's going on, but this is the counting, right? 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:02.359 30 basins of silver, 1,000 basins of silver, right? 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:09.559 29 censors, 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver and 1,000 other vessels and all these vessels, right? 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.460 5400 is quite a lot. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:17.660 If you think of a ceremonial bowl, imagine having a lot of them. 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:21.359 Having a lot of these vessels. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:28.259 And all these Shespazar brought up when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem. 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:32.759 And that map again is that representation of that. 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:40.559 What a journey that must have been to have over 40,000 people. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:44.059 All of these items accounted for, right? 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:48.159 And it says even earlier in the verses there were beasts, right? 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:56.560 So there had to have been animals and other things that were not mentioned as the counting of all of these temple vessels. 00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:58.259 That's also something to factor in. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:03.660 So how many of you think of the Oregon Trail, right? 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:09.560 Or the traveling of the expansion of America when they're going west, right? 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:16.660 Now, for some of us who know history or maybe you don't, there was a lot of traveling by wagon that was happening. 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:21.660 And how treacherous it must have been just for a few families. 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:32.360 Just imagine that amount of people, that amount of items to be accounted for in something in a vision that God had provided. 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:38.360 And these basins, these bowls, and these sensors were all used for the rebuilding of the temple. 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:41.860 Again, a 500 plus mile journey. 00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:44.259 40,000 people. 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:51.259 I'm not even going on about the weights or the monetary value about this, but that's quite a journey. 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:57.359 And so in all of this, we can see that God worked, let's go to that next slide. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:06.359 God worked his divine plan for his people to come out of exile and to come together to rebuild the temple. 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:10.960 We see that it is God who works in the king's spirit. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:22.460 Cyrus made that proclamation and from this proclamation came a spiritual awakening, a renewal, and a revival, so to speak, in the hearts of so many people. 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:24.160 You know this next week? 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:30.860 We're going to go over those 40,000 people who embarked on this 500 mile journey. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:35.660 It's the power of families coming together, but that'll be for next week. 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:44.460 Just as God had provided the vision for Cyrus the king and the people of God, God provides us new life. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:50.660 He provides us direction and clarity and he transforms us from the inside out. 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:55.860 Not only in our individual lives, but God is the God of renewal. 00:21:55.860 --> 00:22:02.860 There is transformation that will happen when you believe in him and you trust and obey in the Lord. 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:06.159 And you'll also see revival and renewal. 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:10.559 Let us pray for this to happen in our church and in our community. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:18.259 And I want you to consider how has God shown the transformative power in your own life? 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:24.959 Maybe you know someone that has come to the Lord and you've seen a complete transformation in their life. 00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:26.459 That is the God that we worship. 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:28.259 That is the God that we serve. 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:34.660 God continues to speak to us today and his power still works through so many lives. 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:37.559 Let's go to that next slide. 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.359 It says growing in faith. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:43.660 These are part of the lessons on the second page here, right? 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:50.859 Because there's lessons here and there's application action steps that we can have for what we're learning here in Ezra. 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:53.259 Grow in Christ from milk to solid food. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:55.759 Be encouraged to live out your faith every day. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:59.059 And just a little side note, these are not in order. 00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.859 Okay? 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:02.859 Someone's like, oh, you got a step by step process. 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:06.960 These are things for you to consider to reflect on. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:11.859 I encourage for you to pray for clarity and guidance from the Lord. 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:18.059 Begin first and foremost if you are not a Christian to have that relationship with Jesus Christ 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:24.359 and to be on a path of becoming the man or the woman that God wants you to be. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:31.259 Be open, open the Scriptures and listen to the call that God has for your life. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:37.659 Do you really think that God would want this Bible to be on a shelf collecting dust? 00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:42.259 I think it's Charles Spurgeon that once said that those, I'm paraphrasing it, 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:48.459 if those my Spurgeon friends that really love that theologian. 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:55.660 If you have a beaten up Bible, very often you have someone who's really taken care of by the Lord, right? 00:23:55.660 --> 00:24:01.059 Means the idea is that continually opening the word of God and studying it and reading it 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:06.860 and allowing for God to transform your life, the wear and tear of Scripture, right? 00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:13.360 How many of you have an old Bible that might be falling apart? 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:17.460 That you've read it and you've studied it and you've seen how God, 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:21.860 when you remember when it was brand new or maybe when it was given to you. 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:28.660 I have a Bible that was from the 1940s and the cover came off 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:35.559 and I had to have it rebound because I didn't want the rest of it to fall apart. 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:40.059 But it goes to show you that there was that wear and tear in that Bible. 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:47.160 And I love it because there's just a lot of reference verses and cross connections and maps on there. 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:50.259 I love those kind of study Bibles. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:54.060 But again, be open and listen to the call that God has for your life. 00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:58.460 God wants you to open his word, learn and grow, right? 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.660 It's trusting in God. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:03.259 That's the most important, but obeying as well. 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:09.460 Listen to the word of God, grow and move from milk to solid food of the word. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:15.160 And as you grow in your faith, there is a call for you to act upon your faith, 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:19.259 to be a doer and not just a hearer of the word, right? 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.960 Sharing in your faith with other. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:23.560 Let people know about your testimony. 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:28.759 Serve in the local church and be a voice in the community for Christ. 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:34.759 One thing I appreciate about this church is how so many people are active in the community. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:40.259 Being a light of Christ for others through leadership. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:46.059 And how you serve that is uniquely up to you and how God has called and equipped you. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.460 We go to that next slide. 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:51.960 The role of the Holy Spirit, the spirit stirs hearts for revival. 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:55.059 Pray for his work in leaders and in believers. 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:59.259 Let us remember that it is the Holy Spirit who stirred the spirit, right? 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:01.859 The heart of the King to make a proclamation. 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:04.960 Consider that this was a Gentile King. 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:10.160 He was not Jewish, but yet he was still prophesied about in Scripture. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:13.660 And he did so much good in the eyes of God. 00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:20.259 Can you imagine if someone who wasn't a believer made a proclamation? 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:23.259 I'm trying to think of a modern day connection, right? 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:30.259 If a, I don't know, let's say an atheist leader made a call to build a church and you're like, 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.560 Why? Why? 00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:34.560 But yet that's happening. 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:36.960 God can still work through the Gentile. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.360 That's the lesson there, right? 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:41.759 God can work through the Gentile and the Jew. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:45.259 God can work through whoever he wishes. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:51.159 If we're going through a dry season in our life or if there's moral decline that's happening in our culture, 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:53.759 that doesn't happen to us, does it? 00:26:53.759 --> 00:27:00.259 We should still pray that just as Daniel prayed to the Lord for renewal and restoration of God's people, 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.959 we should be in constant prayer. 00:27:01.959 --> 00:27:03.559 And by the way, that was sarcasm. 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:06.259 Of course, there is moral decline that's happening. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.259 Okay. 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:14.559 We too should pray that the Holy Spirit will stir the spirit, the hearts, the minds of those leaders, 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:21.359 the politicians, those who serve on school boards, whatever it is, the chief of police, 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:27.559 those who serve in the fire department, whatever it is to make a greater impact for Christ, 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:32.660 those who serve in government positions in Oregon, in Idaho, and in this nation. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:39.060 Let us pray for renewal in this land, for restoration, for repentance, right? 00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:45.160 The changing of the mind, metanoia, to change your mind and revival to happen in this land. 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:53.759 And this stirring of the Holy Spirit is crucial because it allows for God to work through the hearts of leaders 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:56.259 and everyday people. 00:27:56.259 --> 00:28:02.360 Because at the end of the day, what matters is that God works in and through your life. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:11.359 Let us never forget that God uses everyday people, ordinary people, for extraordinary purposes. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:16.259 It is God's intention that all will be saved by believing in Him. 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.959 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:22.459 And let us be on fire for the Lord in His Word. 00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:27.659 Let us follow in the footsteps of Christ by being a beacon of hope for others. 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:29.259 We go to that next slide. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:34.859 You have the support of the church and the community. 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:39.960 We are stronger when we are together, united in Christ. 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:45.559 We learned today that in Ezra, that the community came together. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:51.559 There were some people whose spirits were stirred and some that may not have been. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:56.460 It may be discouraging to hear about those who might not have had that awakening. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:29:03.160 But there was still the coming together and contributing for the rebuilding of the temple. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:11.960 Much like how we, we may not have that spiritual awakening, but we can still contribute to the cause of Christ. 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:17.759 If your heart hasn't been stirred, you can pray that God will stir your heart. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:25.559 But also for all of us, let us think about the idea of our time and our talent and our treasure. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:28.960 There is great importance in the collaboration, right? 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:33.659 Us working together as the body of Christ for greater impact. 00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:36.259 There is collaboration and community support. 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:44.359 We see that in Ezra, the community came together and provided the resources for the building of the temple. 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:50.059 And in the same way, when it comes to the local body and the church, we should do the same. 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:54.659 Be encouraged to find ways to connect with those in the community. 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:59.960 And hear God's call to support the mission and the vision of the local church. 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:08.160 And here at Ontario Community Church, our mission is encouraging, equipping and engaging lives for Christ. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:15.660 That first point encouraging is to encourage people to first and foremost have a relationship with the Lord. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:20.360 And a place where they belong in the local body of Christ. 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:23.160 Where they're a part of something bigger than themselves. 00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:28.660 We equip people to read and study the Bible and learn what it means to be a Christian. 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:34.160 And thirdly, we engage the community through serving both the local church and the community. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:42.160 It is a balance between what happens in the church walls, but also what happens within the community. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:50.660 That's why in your notes, you'll always see our mission statement encouraging, equipping and engaging lives for Christ. 00:30:50.660 --> 00:31:03.660 And I encourage you, encourage you that you should ask yourself, how can you support your brothers and sisters in Christ, the local body, and how can you serve the community? 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:08.660 We certainly are stronger when we are together, when we work together. 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:14.160 Because we can do such great things together in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:22.160 And then go to that next slide, restoration and renewal, that Christ restores us just like the vessels in Ezra. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:31.160 The transferring from being in a temple of gods and goddesses and being transferred over into the right kingdom. 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:35.660 What a great representation of being in the domain of darkness. 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:38.160 That's so, oh, I don't like that word, right? 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:40.660 Into the kingdom of light. 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:47.160 We learned about restoration and renewal and we see that Cyrus returned the stolen vessels. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:53.660 There was this going from this awful place where it didn't belong to its rightful place. 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:58.160 It is a powerful representation of the gospel, right? 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:01.660 That how Christ works with us human vessels. 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:10.160 It's almost, it sounds terrible to be called a vessel, but scripture does show that we are filled with something, right? 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:13.660 Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:22.160 And I want you to further think about another verse that scripture talks a great deal about how God is the potter. 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:23.660 And we are the clay. 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:26.660 How many of you have done pottery before? 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:30.660 Right? You're literally molding something together. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:36.660 And there's constantly work that's being done to shape the vessel, so to speak. 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:40.660 And that's how God works in our lives. 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:46.660 We may not always see all of the movements that are happening in our own lives. 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:51.160 You have to think God continues to work in our lives. 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:53.160 He doesn't stop. 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:57.660 For our entire lives, we continue to be molded by him. 00:32:57.660 --> 00:33:01.160 That's just a wonderful thing for us to keep in mind. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:06.660 Going from that domain of darkness to being transferred into the kingdom of light. 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:08.160 And how do we do this? 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:11.160 Well, let us go to that next, the simple gospel message. 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:14.160 It's to believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:17.660 Believe in the death, the burial, and the resurrection. 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:20.160 This is what you call the simple gospel message. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:26.660 That is why it's so important to believe in Jesus Christ first as the savior of the world. 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:33.160 And in being a believer, that is the beginning of your new life in Christ. 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:37.660 It is critical to understand that when it comes to salvation, again, 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:43.160 believe in the death, burial, and resurrection according to the Scriptures. 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:48.160 You'll hear me say many times, and I put it on these notes, 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:50.160 believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:54.160 If you want to understand the simplicity of the gospel, 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:58.160 go to the 1 Corinthians 15, 1-4. 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:02.160 If you ever wish to share the gospel message in a simple manner, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:04.160 turn to those verses. 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:08.159 Explain how Jesus died for our sins, right? 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.159 That he was buried in on the third day. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:13.159 He rose again to fulfill the Scriptures. 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:15.659 And that our God is powerful. 00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:20.159 I mean, thinking about the idea, who do you know has been resurrected from the dead? 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.159 Do you know anybody? 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:25.159 Because when we talk about Jesus Christ, we're talking about something 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:30.159 that is remarkable, a miracle happening. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:34.159 That Jesus Christ conquered death itself. 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:40.159 And so God keeps his promises and he fulfills the prophecies of his word. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:45.159 This is just as what we've seen with Cyrus being prophesied about. 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:48.159 Our foundation is in Christ. 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:50.159 Our God is constant. 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.159 He doesn't change. 00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:53.159 Our God is light. 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:55.159 And our God is good. 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:59.159 And again, God desires that everyone is saved. 00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:06.159 That is why it is our responsibility to share in the gospel message with others. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:12.159 God has entrusted us to share in the gospel and the words of our testimony, 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:16.159 to share the truth about Jesus Christ and to be that light of the darkness. 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:22.159 I encourage for all of you to embrace the restoration, right? 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:25.159 And the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ. 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:29.159 Believe in the Lord first and be saved. 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:32.159 Let God work in and through your life. 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:36.159 Let God heal you and restore you and renew you. 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.159 It's a process. 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:39.159 It doesn't happen. 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:40.159 Salvation happens like that. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:44.159 But when we're talking restoration and renewal, growing in Christ, 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:47.159 it's a lifelong thing. 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:54.159 If you're a new believer, make a commitment today to allow God to continue to work in your life. 00:35:54.159 --> 00:36:00.159 And consider how we are like those vessels that God is the potter and we are the clay. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:04.159 Then we have on the next slide biblical stewardship. 00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:07.159 It is recognizing that everything is a gift from God. 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:11.159 And just as there is this counting of all the vessels, 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:16.159 take inventory of your time and your talent and your treasure. 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:19.159 Manage it all for the glory of God. 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:24.159 We've learned from this wonderful set of verses in Ezra about the meticulous counting 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:27.159 and the preparation for the transporting of the vessels. 00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:29.159 This demonstrates the importance. 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:34.159 It's one of the many examples of stewardship. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:38.159 God has given us everything. 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:47.159 And it's not unfortunately look, it's not all about money. 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:53.159 It's about taking an inventory of all that you have been given and asking yourself the question, 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:56.159 what can I give to the Lord? 00:36:56.159 --> 00:37:01.159 How you answer that question will vary from person to person. 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:04.159 For some, you may have a lot of time. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:07.159 For others, you may have a lot of talents. 00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:10.159 For some, you may have a lot of, you may have all three. 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:13.159 It varies from person to person. 00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:16.159 It's managing all resources. 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:18.159 Everything that God has given. 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:24.159 Do you realize that every day that you have been given here on this earth is but a gift? 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:29.159 I mean, I always find it very hard to find that I'll never get today again. 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:35.159 That is why we must live today for the glory of God. 00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:39.159 However you do that, that is between you and the Lord. 00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:42.159 And I encourage you, follow what the word says. 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:46.159 We must be intentional with managing all that God has given to us. 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:48.159 And I want to make it very clear. 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:50.159 I'm not saying, let's give more money. 00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:55.159 No, I'm saying take inventory of all that you've been given. 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:57.159 And perhaps this is a call for you. 00:37:57.159 --> 00:38:02.159 Maybe you need to do a re-inventory and do another counting. 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:06.159 We are to engage lives for Christ through service. 00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:08.159 Ask yourself that question. 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:11.159 How can you give to the Lord? 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:16.159 And we do this because God's given us everything. 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:20.159 Maybe God is stirring your heart to give of your time. 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:23.159 Maybe it's to give of your talents. 00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:26.159 Maybe it's to give of your treasure. 00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:28.159 Only you can answer that. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:32.159 Every contribution no matter what it is though. 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:35.159 Just like how there was the rebuilding of the temple. 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:40.159 When we're talking about the local body, the building up of the church. 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:43.159 It all matters in the eyes of God. 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:45.159 It's not a salvation thing. 00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:47.159 It's after salvation, right? 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:54.159 We're saved by grace through faith so that we do good in the name of Christ. 00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:58.159 And so this comes with this next question, a famous question. 00:38:58.159 --> 00:39:00.159 What action steps can I take? 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:04.159 What can I do knowing all of this information? 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:07.159 Well the first thing is stewardship. 00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:09.159 Like I was saying, taking inventory. 00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:11.159 I can't emphasize that enough. 00:39:11.159 --> 00:39:16.159 Your time, your talent and your treasure decide where or how you can give to the Lord. 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.159 Right? 00:39:17.159 --> 00:39:22.159 Consider the idea of stewardship and be faithful for everything that you've been given. 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:29.159 Sometimes when you take that inventory, you actually come to appreciate all that God's given to you. 00:39:29.159 --> 00:39:36.159 A good example that I like to think of is there's an activity that sometimes youth ministry does 00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:40.159 of writing a list that everything God has given to you. 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:44.159 Your friends, your family, the food that you have to eat. 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:46.159 It could be something as simple as that. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:48.159 Starting there at least. 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:51.159 And appreciating what God's given to you. 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:54.159 And then ask yourself, what can I do for the Lord? 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:58.159 The second thing is, and these are not in order, is trusting in the Lord. 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:00.159 That God is in control. 00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:02.159 Know that God is in control. 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:03.159 Know that God is faithful. 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:06.159 And that God is constant and God is good. 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:08.159 He is sovereign. 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:13.159 When I say he is constant, it means that he is consistent. 00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:15.159 How often do we change? 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:17.159 We change all the time. 00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:20.159 And I'm not just talking about the clothes that we wear. 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:23.159 Are you the same person that you were a year ago? 00:40:23.159 --> 00:40:25.159 Are you the same person that you were 10 years ago? 00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:27.159 And I'm not talking about like personality changes. 00:40:27.159 --> 00:40:30.159 I'm talking about how you are learning and growing. 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:35.159 But God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:43.159 God can even use non-believers or people whose spirit hasn't been stirred for his purpose. 00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:48.159 And the next one is commit to Christ's mission. 00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:51.159 Love God, love others, make disciples, right? 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:56.159 Baptize believers and ask God for your own specific direction. 00:40:56.159 --> 00:41:00.159 And what your role is in the body of Christ, 00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:05.159 and that even extends to how you can be a voice to your family and to the community. 00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:08.159 It continues with that. 00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:10.159 Love God and love others. 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.159 We have the Great Commission. 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:14.159 We have the Great Commandment. 00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:17.159 And dedicate yourself as a believer to God's mission. 00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:20.159 Maybe you feel a specific calling. 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:26.159 Maybe God's pulling at your shirt, so to speak, to do something that is specific. 00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:33.159 And I'm convinced that every single one of us, right, God loves you first and foremost. 00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:36.159 And he has a plan and a purpose for you. 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:40.159 What God has called one person may be very different than the next person. 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:44.159 Of course, God's calling is going to be in line with Scripture. 00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:49.159 God's not going to call you to do something evil, but to do something that is good. 00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:52.159 So make a commitment to the mission of Christ, 00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:58.159 but also the mission and vision of the local church and the community. 00:41:58.159 --> 00:42:02.159 And next we have relying or rely on the Holy Spirit. 00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:05.159 Seek the Spirit strength and guidance. 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:08.159 Let him stir your heart for God's glory. 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:11.159 It's the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:14.159 Have you felt the stirring of your spirit? 00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:19.159 Have you felt the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Holy Spirit? 00:42:19.159 --> 00:42:22.159 Maybe you need, maybe, I know that sounds kind of funny. 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:25.159 Maybe we all need to be stirred up a little bit, right? 00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:29.159 But really, maybe we need to be reminded of who Christ is. 00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:32.159 Maybe we need that stirring in our life. 00:42:32.159 --> 00:42:36.159 I almost think of like mixing a fruit punch or something, right? 00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:38.159 When you're stirring a drink together, right? 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:41.159 Our spirits being stirred, right? 00:42:41.159 --> 00:42:43.159 And let there be an awakening. 00:42:43.159 --> 00:42:48.159 It is the Holy Spirit who stirs heart and is the source, right? 00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:53.159 Part of the source to do great things for the glory of God. 00:42:53.159 --> 00:42:57.159 And the one thing that I want you to think about, let's go to that next slide. 00:42:57.159 --> 00:43:01.159 As we're coming to the close from today, 00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:07.159 I want you to think that it is the same God that brings restoration and revival 00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:10.159 at the time of Ezra. 00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:16.159 He brings restoration, renewal, and revival to our own lives, 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:23.159 to our own church, to our friends and to our families, to this nation and to marriages. 00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:26.159 Let us be reminded that it is God. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:30.159 He continues to speak to us today through His Word. 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:33.159 God is constantly at work. 00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:35.159 God continues to stir hearts. 00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:39.159 God continues to provide vision for our lives. 00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:45.159 And God calls for us to participate in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:49.159 but also when it comes to the local body as well. 00:43:49.159 --> 00:43:56.159 We are all parts of the body of Christ and together we function as a team, right? 00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:59.159 We may have...it's important for us. 00:43:59.159 --> 00:44:01.159 We are stronger together. 00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:04.159 We are better when we are together. 00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:11.159 Let us respond with faithfulness, with unity in Christ, and let us be committed to God. 00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:17.159 Let us ask God that our hearts will be stirred, that there will be an awakening. 00:44:17.159 --> 00:44:23.159 Let us be encouraged to take inventory and steward all that we have been given. 00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:27.159 Let us encourage one another and support one another. 00:44:27.159 --> 00:44:33.159 That's one of the beautiful things about being in a church is that you help one another. 00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:36.159 You encourage one another. 00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:41.159 You know how many places you can go and experience discouragement? 00:44:41.159 --> 00:44:43.159 You don't have to go very far. 00:44:43.159 --> 00:44:47.159 Scroll on Facebook for like 10 minutes, maybe less than that. 00:44:47.159 --> 00:44:49.159 Turn on the news for a little bit. 00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:55.159 It's full of discouragement, but here we're talking about renewal and restoration 00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:58.159 and the inner working of the Holy Spirit. 00:44:58.159 --> 00:45:03.159 That's something that the world does not have to offer, 00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:11.159 because not only is it us helping each other out, it's allowing for God to work in and through our lives. 00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:15.159 There's something beautiful about the body of Christ, right? 00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:16.159 That we are coming together. 00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:20.159 We are encouraging people to make that decision for Christ. 00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:24.159 We are like a spiritual family, and that we're there for one another, 00:45:24.159 --> 00:45:28.159 that we are loving one another just as Christ has for us. 00:45:28.159 --> 00:45:33.159 And it is together that we build up the church. 00:45:33.159 --> 00:45:40.159 It is through God that together we can see revival and restoration and renewal in our lives. 00:45:40.159 --> 00:45:46.159 Let us pray that God will stir our hearts for transformation in our lives, 00:45:46.159 --> 00:45:56.159 but also in our marriages, also in our families, in our church, in our nation, and in the world. 00:45:56.159 --> 00:46:01.159 May we rise up, let there be a spiritual awakening, 00:46:01.159 --> 00:46:06.159 and let us fulfill the mission and vision that God has for us. 00:46:06.159 --> 00:46:08.159 Let's pray together. 00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:14.159 And Heavenly Father, we thank you for the wisdom and truth that is found in your Word today. 00:46:14.159 --> 00:46:18.159 We're grateful for the lessons that we have learned. 00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:22.159 For this book of Ezra is full of wisdom and connectedness. 00:46:22.159 --> 00:46:29.159 We're thankful for your faithfulness and how you stir our spirits, our hearts, and our minds to follow you. 00:46:29.159 --> 00:46:36.159 Lord, we ask that there will be an awakening and that there will be revival and restoration in our own lives, 00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:45.159 but also let it continue in our families, in our marriages, in our church, in our country, and throughout the world. 00:46:45.159 --> 00:46:49.159 Let us be vessels of your love and your grace in the world. 00:46:49.159 --> 00:46:57.159 And as we close in this final song, may we take to heart the story of Ezra. 00:46:57.159 --> 00:47:02.159 May we take to heart this message of how you worked in all of these people. 00:47:02.159 --> 00:47:07.159 May we be good stewards of our time, our talent, and our treasure. 00:47:07.159 --> 00:47:13.159 May we use it for your glory and even give back just a little bit. 00:47:13.159 --> 00:47:17.159 You give us everything and you encourage us to give a little. 00:47:17.159 --> 00:47:18.159 May we give a lot. 00:47:18.159 --> 00:47:22.159 May we be good stewards of our time and talent and treasure. 00:47:22.159 --> 00:47:27.159 Father, we pray for unity and love in our church and our community. 00:47:27.159 --> 00:47:29.159 We pray for protection. 00:47:29.159 --> 00:47:35.159 We pray that instead of division within the church, that there will be unity. 00:47:35.159 --> 00:47:41.159 And that through unity, we can do great things in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:44.159 We ask, Father, that you will stir our hearts. 00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:54.159 You'll renew our minds and you'll transform our lives so that we can exhibit your love and truth to those around us. 00:47:54.159 --> 00:48:00.159 We say all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:48:00.159 --> 00:48:03.159 And we all stay together. Amen. 00:48:03.159 --> 00:48:07.159 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:15.159 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:48:15.159 --> 00:48:25.159 May God's blessings be with you.