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 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.719 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:22.440 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:24.920 As we have just taken of communion, 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:26.879 it's always a wonderful time to 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:30.879 reflect and remember who Jesus Christ is. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:32.839 Remembering the sacrifice that 00:00:32.839 --> 00:00:34.679 he paid for on the cross. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:36.439 I'm reminded of that song, 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:38.920 Jesus paid it all. 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:40.759 How many of you know that song, right? 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:43.759 Jesus paid it all, all to him, I owe. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:45.560 It's just a wonderful, 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:48.239 one of many wonderful songs that are out there, 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:52.719 that just reminds us of the sacrifice that Christ has made. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.519 So today, we're going to continue 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:59.560 our biblical exposition of the Book of Ezra. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.060 We have been going through verse by verse, 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:06.680 line by line, looking at so many of the spiritual truths, 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:08.520 the things that we can observe, 00:01:08.520 --> 00:01:10.560 the lessons and the applications 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.840 from this wonderful Book of Ezra. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:18.200 It is incredible to see how the Holy Spirit 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.400 worked through kings and the people of God, 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:26.359 starting a renewal and a revival among people. 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.440 It goes to show that the same God 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:32.200 that stirred the heart of kings, 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.480 that moved the people of God to go out of 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:40.760 exile from Babylonia back to Jerusalem to return, 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:42.719 is the same God that loves you. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:45.439 I've titled this sermon, 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:49.200 the unstoppable work of God and that's because 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:53.840 you cannot stop what God has set in motion. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.520 The will of God will be set in motion by him 00:01:57.520 --> 00:01:59.879 and it will come to completion. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:03.040 When we think of this Book of Ezra, 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:06.520 we see how God again was working 00:02:06.520 --> 00:02:08.000 through the hearts of these people, 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.360 the minds, the spirit of being stirred, 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:14.199 but also the rebuilding of the temple. 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:17.759 We think of how there was Cyrus the king, 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:21.519 who issued a decree that the Jewish people would return. 00:02:21.519 --> 00:02:23.560 You had the Jewish people coming back 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:25.359 and they began rebuilding the temple. 00:02:25.359 --> 00:02:29.560 They laid the foundation and in each step of the way, 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:32.560 they celebrated the progress that was happening. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.199 Much like how we as Christians, 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:37.560 we are to celebrate progress that is made, 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:40.519 such as making a decision for Christ, 00:02:40.519 --> 00:02:42.519 even partaking of communion, 00:02:42.519 --> 00:02:46.000 that is a time of reflection and remembrance. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.960 Or when there is a couple that is getting married 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:53.360 and they want to have God at the center of their life, 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:57.240 how beautiful is it to see a couple coming together 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:02.080 and making that dedication, that commitment to Christ. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.840 That's something that we ought to learn and ought to remember 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.280 and we've also learned in Ezra about how there were adversaries. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.039 There were people who were doing everything within their power 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:15.240 to try to stop the progress that was made 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.280 by the people of God. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:21.000 And I'm sure for many of us we have had those moments 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:25.400 where you're doing a good thing and people try to stop you. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.400 We also learned about the great pause 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:30.800 that had happened with the people of God. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:33.640 I'm sure for many of us we can identify moments in our lives 00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:35.400 where we've had a great pause 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:40.200 and we had to wait upon the Lord for His divine timing. 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:42.480 And before I left on vacation, 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:46.239 we were finishing Ezra chapter 5 00:03:46.239 --> 00:03:49.199 where there was again the pause that was happening, 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:53.839 but there was the continuation of the rebuilding of the temple. 00:03:53.839 --> 00:03:57.639 And in that continuation you had prophets who were prophesizing. 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:02.639 They were speaking that the temple needs to be completed. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.199 And you had the people of God continue once again 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:10.919 on the progress continuing with that temple being rebuilt. 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:14.919 This temple is known as the second temple, Zerubbabel's temple. 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:17.719 It was originally Solomon's temple that was destroyed 00:04:17.719 --> 00:04:20.560 because of disobedience to God. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:24.199 And in all of this, this leads us to where we are today, 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:27.439 where we are in chapter 6. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:31.079 If you remember, Governor Tatani in chapter 5 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:34.599 wrote a letter to King Darius. 00:04:34.599 --> 00:04:36.919 He was seeing something that was going on. 00:04:36.919 --> 00:04:39.159 He was seeing the movement of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:41.480 He was describing these great stones 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:45.680 and this progress that was happening among the people of God. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:47.080 And he was writing this letter saying, 00:04:47.080 --> 00:04:51.200 hey, King Darius, you've got to see what is going on here. 00:04:51.200 --> 00:04:53.280 There's something that's remarkable that's happening here. 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:57.480 And quite honestly, I want to be a good worker for the king. 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.120 And I need to know that search the records. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.720 Make sure this is verified. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.320 But in all of that, there was this tone from Governor Tatani 00:05:06.320 --> 00:05:07.640 of saying, you've got to see this. 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:09.399 You've got to check this out. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:11.560 And so that leads us to today. 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:15.719 We are in chapter 6 of Ezra. 00:05:15.719 --> 00:05:18.879 And this is where we begin with the first five verses. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.120 If you'd like to turn there in your Bibles, 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.680 it's going to be page 462. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.959 And in here, the first five verses, 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.599 this is what is known as when King Darius is, 00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:34.519 he verified the records. 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:36.560 So if you remember, Governor Tatani wrote the letter, 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:38.519 you've got to check this out. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:40.639 So let's go to the scriptures here. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:45.000 Ezra chapter 6, if you're using your Pew Bible, page 462, 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:46.920 King Darius made a decree. 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:48.680 The search was made in Babylonia, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.720 in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:52.639 It's going on. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:56.399 If you go to the end of verse 2, a scroll 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.800 was found on which this was written, a record. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.120 So he found it. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:02.439 If you can think of that imagery for a second here. 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:04.600 How many of you have filing cabinets? 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:05.959 I know we're in a digital age. 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:08.079 What is filing cabinet anymore? 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:09.319 But you're searching through the records, 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:10.799 or you're going through like a periodical. 00:06:10.799 --> 00:06:12.359 I can get this imagery of this guy who's 00:06:12.359 --> 00:06:15.519 searching the records, and he finds the record. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:18.879 In verse 3, the first year of Cyrus the king, 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:22.240 Cyrus the king issued a decree concerning the house of God. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:25.199 Let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.240 offered, and let its foundations be retained. 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:27.879 So it's going on. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:29.120 Three layers of great stone. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:33.479 Verse 5, the gold and the silver vessels of the house of God, 00:06:33.479 --> 00:06:35.159 which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:39.640 If you guys remember when we were going over Ezra chapter 1, 00:06:39.640 --> 00:06:43.840 the vessels, we have Cyrus who is a prefiguration, 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:46.880 a representation of the coming of Christ. 00:06:46.880 --> 00:06:49.160 The vessels going from the place where they did not 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.480 belong to the place that they do belong, just like how when 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:56.080 we are sinners in need of a savior, when we come to Christ, 00:06:56.080 --> 00:06:59.840 we go from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:02.960 That's kind of a wonderful little spiritual parallel 00:07:02.960 --> 00:07:03.640 that happens here. 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:05.319 But it goes on. 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:09.319 So he's saying, let the gold, you shall put them 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:11.279 in the house of God. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.560 So we have here the first five verses, right? 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.560 Darius verified the records. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.039 Then we go into verse 6 through 12, 00:07:19.039 --> 00:07:21.519 where it says here, verse 6, Tatani, 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:23.360 governor of the province beyond the river, right? 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.039 It's going on. 00:07:25.039 --> 00:07:26.039 Keep away. 00:07:26.039 --> 00:07:29.000 Verse 7 is very important. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:33.439 It says here, church, let the work on this house of God alone. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.959 Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.519 rebuild this house of God on its site. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.560 And I want to take a moment here. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.680 What is being said here is, leave the people of God alone. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.120 Let them finish what they're doing. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.720 They've been making this progress on this temple, 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.720 the rebuilding of it. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:51.720 Leave them alone. 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:53.759 Let them do what they need to do. 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:57.959 And that's a very powerful verse saying, listen up here. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:58.800 And so it goes on. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.399 I made a decree in verse 8, you shall 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:04.439 do for the elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:07.120 The cost is to be paid, right, in full. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.479 So it's to be funded. 00:08:09.479 --> 00:08:10.039 So it goes on. 00:08:10.039 --> 00:08:11.120 What about the royal revenue? 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.839 Verse 9, whatever is needed, bowls, ram, sheep, 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:17.279 or burnt offerings, the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:20.560 or oil, goes on in verse 10, that they 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:24.479 may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven 00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:28.000 and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:29.239 Isn't it interesting? 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:31.720 He's saying, give them what they need 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:34.879 so that they can pray for us, those who are in positions 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.759 of power, right, those who are the rulers who 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.600 are the overseers of that area. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.039 That's what's happening there. 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:46.120 It goes on then in verse 11, if anyone alters this edict, 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:48.840 a beam shall be pulled out of his house, 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:51.360 and he shall be impaled in it. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:52.960 And his house shall be made a dung hill. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.799 That's pretty harsh language right there. 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:59.039 Verse 12, may the God who has caused his name to dwell there 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:03.079 overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter 00:09:03.079 --> 00:09:06.120 or destroy this house of God, I, Darius, make a decree, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.719 do it with all diligence. 00:09:07.719 --> 00:09:09.480 So the work is to continue. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.639 There's three things that you'll see in your notes here, 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:12.360 right? 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:15.039 Leave the people of God alone, right? 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.439 Give the people of God what they need and require, 00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:20.480 and may God stop all opposition. 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:24.000 And further, he's going to stop the person, the king, 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.559 is going to stop oppositions here. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.199 This leads us to verse 13 through 18, right? 00:09:29.199 --> 00:09:32.799 We have the completion and the dedication of the temple, 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.039 right? 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.439 According to the word sent by Darius, the king, 00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:37.000 Tatni the governor, right? 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.000 It goes on with all diligence. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.559 Verse 14, the elders of the Jews built and prospered 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:46.399 through the prophesizing of Haggai, the prophet in Zachariah, 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.679 the son of Edo. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.439 They finished their building by decree of God of Israel 00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:53.679 and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artis Erkseys, 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:54.679 the king of Persia. 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:58.639 Do you realize that in Ezra, you have the conversion 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.799 of three kings? 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:03.399 It's remarkable, because if you remember when we were going back 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.120 with Artis Erkseys, he didn't seem very 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.000 friendly to the Jewish people. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.639 We'll go further in that next week, 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:13.479 but you should note the heart of King Cyrus, 00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:17.759 the stirring of the spirit of King Darius, right? 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:22.120 And even Artis Erkseys, there was a change of mind, 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:26.679 much like how we should pray for people to repent. 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.600 The idea of repentance, the changing of the mind of who 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:34.200 God is, the changing of what sin means, 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:38.519 and knowing that we continue to have our minds changed, right? 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.840 To be transformed, so to speak. 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:42.480 And so that's just very interesting. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.720 That little note right there, the three kings that 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:46.639 are being changed. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.000 And it's going on here in verse 16, 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:52.159 the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:54.080 the rest of the returned exiles, they 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:57.159 celebrated the dedication of this house with joy. 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:57.639 How long? 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.399 I mean, this entire book, we've been seeing the people of God 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:04.720 being exiled into Babylonia. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.080 They return, they start, they build the altar, 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.159 they build part of it, they build the foundation of the temple, 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:12.720 but now they've completed it. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.600 And what you'll notice is that in every step of the way, 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.240 they are praising God, and they are 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:20.039 celebrating the progress that has been made. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:20.960 That is so important. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:24.759 Verse 17, there's these dedications, 100 bowls, 100 rams, 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:25.480 400 lambs. 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.399 That's a nice little rhyme right there, right? 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:30.759 And as a sin offering for all of Israel, 12 male goats, 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.680 according to the numbers of the tribes of Israel, 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:35.799 that's pretty cool, right? 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:38.320 And then verse 18, they sent the priests and their divisions, 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:43.039 the Levites, service of God at Jerusalem. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:46.399 And so what you see here is the fulfillment of prophecy. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.959 Now, I had mentioned when we went over chapter 5 00:11:48.959 --> 00:11:52.319 that there was, you had Zachariah and Haggai, 00:11:52.319 --> 00:11:56.759 and so many books, so many sections of the scriptures 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.759 that is connected here, right? 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.840 I mean, that's not even factoring in the prophecies of Cyrus 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:04.199 and Daniel and how they're all tied in here. 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:07.679 But you'll see in your notes, Haggai chapter 2, verse 9, 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:10.480 it says, the latter glory of this house 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.120 shall be greater than the former, right? 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:15.480 Talking, referencing the first and the second temple, 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:19.080 that the second temple will be greater than the first. 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:23.080 And then Zachariah 615, which is talking about 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:24.920 the people who are going to come and help build 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:25.960 the temple of the Lord. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.440 So there's just a lot of that, 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.920 where we see the connections with this. 00:12:29.920 --> 00:12:33.360 And when we're looking at the connections within scripture, 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:35.159 I want this to be an encouragement for you 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:37.800 in seeing when we think of the Bible, 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:42.159 the collection of the inspired books of the word of God, 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:48.159 this helps us with our understanding that our God is unstoppable. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:50.959 That our God is powerful, that he is just, 00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:53.639 that he is a good God. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:55.279 And that we see through the prophets 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:58.639 that these prophecies have been fulfilled. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.399 That's remarkable when we think about it. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:05.439 Verse 19 to 22 is the Passover celebration. 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:06.759 And I think it was really cool. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.360 I didn't intentionally time this 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.720 where there was this, the Passover celebration. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.639 We had a time of celebrating communion. 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.680 I mentioned in the communion devotional, 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:20.560 where we were talking about how God has provided for his people, 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:24.800 the Jewish people, and to us Christians today, 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:28.720 just like the manna, the bread of life, 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:32.560 the substance that comes from God. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:34.279 God provides. 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:38.600 And we also think of Passover, the sacrificial lamb that 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.040 was slain. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:42.279 I mean, look, it says right in here. 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.480 Let's see. 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:46.639 Yeah, they offered the dedicate, or excuse me, I'm on verse 19. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:50.679 If you look at verse 20 here, the priests and the Levites 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.199 had purified themselves together. 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:56.599 All of them were clean, so they slaughtered what? 00:13:56.599 --> 00:13:58.399 The Passover lamb. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:02.039 It's a representation of what would happen in the future 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:06.679 with the lamb that was slain, Jesus Christ. 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:09.919 And if you need further evidence, 1 Corinthians chapter 5, 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.919 verse 7, speaks to this. 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:18.959 It says that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:22.599 So isn't it cool when you see these connections here 00:14:22.599 --> 00:14:25.039 within the old and the New Testament? 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:29.479 It just goes to show the power and the intricacies of our God 00:14:29.479 --> 00:14:32.039 having his way in the Word. 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:35.559 And so remember, Passover, the sacrificial lamb, 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:40.199 it represents Christ being our atoning sacrifice. 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:44.799 You also have John chapter 1, verse 29, 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:48.399 which says that, behold, the lamb of God, who 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.919 takes away the sin of the world. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:52.719 So it's just a really wonderful connection there. 00:14:52.719 --> 00:14:54.599 So this is where the people were celebrating 00:14:54.599 --> 00:14:59.039 how God worked in their life, much like how when we celebrate 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:03.079 communion, we are remembering and reflecting on Christ's 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:06.200 sacrifice for us and how much he has done for us 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:09.720 and continues to do for us. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:12.840 God keeps his promises and protects his own. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:17.759 Psalm 145, 13 says that the Lord is faithful in all his words 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:21.360 and kind in all his works. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:25.440 And finally, at the end, if you want to turn to verse 22, 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.000 they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.240 with joy, and that's fine. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.560 The Lord had made them joyful. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:35.319 It's that last section there where 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:41.759 it says that the heart of the king of Assyria, 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.599 and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, 00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:47.279 so he aided them in the work of the house of God, 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.879 the God of Israel. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.839 And what we see here is that it's 00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:55.639 this working of the Holy Spirit of those who are in authority. 00:15:58.599 --> 00:16:02.319 For us, we have to think of how we as Christians today 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:05.520 can pray for those who are in authority, those who 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:10.200 serve in the community, those who are in political office. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:15.280 We should pray for them, that the Holy Spirit would convict them 00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:17.040 and move them. 00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:19.560 I know that's a very harsh thing, a very difficult thing 00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:22.879 for us to think about, but the same God that 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.360 had the Holy Spirit stir the heart of the king 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.600 can stir our own hearts, the hearts of our friends 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:31.080 and our families, but also those who 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.800 are in the community, the leaders in the community, 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:35.680 those who are in political office. 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.840 So what a wonderful encouragement for us 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:43.360 to pray for those who are in such leadership capabilities. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:47.120 I know we can talk all day about bashing one person 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.960 from the next who's in political office, 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:52.320 but what we can do is pray for them. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:56.560 Pray that their hearts and their minds will be changed. 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.759 What a wonderful story that we see here 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.559 in Ezra of three kings. 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:06.240 And here, the contextually King Darius turning to the Lord. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:10.319 It's just a wonderful thing that we are to take to heart. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:13.640 And in all of this, we're supposed to think, OK, 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:16.839 what can we learn from this? 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.759 What can we interpret from these verses? 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.279 And there's three things here. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:23.160 The first thing is that Darius searched the records 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:25.039 to verify the claim. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:27.640 You'll see why I'm saying that in just a moment 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:29.400 in our application. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:31.440 The second thing is that the Holy Spirit 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.800 worked in the heart through the heart of the king. 00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:36.720 And the third one is that the people of God 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:41.680 celebrated Passover, celebrating God's faithfulness. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.840 That's a big reason why we come together as the body of Christ. 00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:47.160 And we sing praises. 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.360 We partake in communion. 00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:51.000 We come together because we're saying thank you, God, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.960 for how awesome you are. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.360 And what a good God that you are. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.759 And we may not always understand everything about God, 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.439 but we know enough that he sent his son for us, 00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:06.319 that he made a way for salvation for us. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.919 And at this moment, I want to share a real quick story. 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:14.479 So when I was on vacation, I got to go to a wedding. 00:18:14.479 --> 00:18:18.839 And it's a good friend of mine that I've known for about seven 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.679 years, give or take. 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:24.399 And he finally got married to his bride. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:28.440 And something that was so beautiful to see 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:31.920 was how when you're celebrating marriage, 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.560 it's the two becoming one. 00:18:35.560 --> 00:18:40.120 As a unit, as a marriage unit, a man and a wife together 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:45.519 in marriage, they decided once they got married, 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:49.120 they partook in communion together. 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:50.840 And that was something I had heard about. 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:53.440 I have never actually seen that in a wedding. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:56.200 But that was something that was really, really different. 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:58.880 But it was really beautiful to see. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:03.160 It's a time where they celebrated their wedding together 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.640 and they celebrated communion together. 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.279 It's just like how we're seeing in here, 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.600 the completion of the temple, the dedication of the temple, 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:13.759 and the time of celebrating the Passover. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.480 I'm like, man, things can be so connected 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:20.559 in such a very remarkable way. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.400 And so in all of this, we have to think 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:25.600 for ourselves, what do we do with this? 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:28.240 This Ezra chapter 6, there's things we've observed 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.200 and there's things that we've learned. 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:33.720 What can I do with this information? 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:40.720 Well, the first thing is to search the word, to find Christ. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:44.960 And how God is faithful to us today. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:48.400 I'm reminded of 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:50.360 Many of you know that. 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:56.159 All scripture is breathed out by God, the breath of life, 00:19:56.159 --> 00:19:57.959 so to speak, in His word. 00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:59.719 Usually when we think of the breath of life, 00:19:59.719 --> 00:20:01.799 we think of us being born. 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:05.399 We think of us having life, but yet He gives life to His word, 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:08.079 His word being living and active. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.159 And so in the same way that Darius 00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:12.479 searched the records to verify the claim, 00:20:12.479 --> 00:20:16.159 I tend to think, look, you had Governor Tatini who was saying, 00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:17.879 hey, look, you've got to search these records. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:19.639 And he's probably searching. 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:21.960 And he finds the record, the scroll. 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:26.520 And somewhere in that, there was the moving of the Holy Spirit 00:20:26.520 --> 00:20:31.160 for him to have his heart changed to the point 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:33.920 where he's saying the Jewish people, the people of God 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:36.640 are going to finish this temple. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:37.920 Talk about conviction. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:41.200 Talk about how the word in this case 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:45.000 can speak, spoke to him, and how the word of God 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.080 can speak to us, that we are to search the word of God 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:51.159 diligently, that we are to not be afraid of what 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:53.399 the word of God has to say. 00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:55.720 For many of us, we open the word of God, 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.000 we read one verse, we don't understand it. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.519 And then later on, you read it again. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.679 Oh, I understand it. 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:03.279 God is revealing truth and inspiration 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.960 because God is going to work in and through our lives 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.879 every single day. 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:10.599 And what better way to be molded by the Lord 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.879 than to open His word and to study it. 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:16.480 And think of this in your mind. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:19.000 The intentionality, the amount of effort 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:23.759 that Darius had to do to search the records. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:28.120 Think of how we are to search with such intentionality 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:30.000 in the word of God. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.680 So search the word to find Christ. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.880 If you're not a Christian, you'll 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:37.079 learn about who Jesus Christ is. 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:39.839 Learn the gospel story, the death, the burial, 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:43.400 and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:45.759 And find how God is faithful to us even today 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:49.559 because I am here to tell you the same God that is so good 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:53.119 that fulfills all of His promises and His prophecies 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.680 is faithful to us. 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:58.440 God continues to speak to us today. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:02.079 He continues to work through our lives. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:06.200 There's some remarkable things that the Lord has done in my life. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:10.279 But in many of you, I'm sure for many of us, 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.359 we can think of a time where God has worked in our life, 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:16.319 where we have been transformed, where we're not 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:21.079 the same person we were a year ago, five years ago, 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.279 10 years ago. 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:25.279 Do you remember your life before you were a Christian? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:28.599 Do you remember your life when you became a Christian? 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:34.479 Think of how much of a journey you have been on in Christ. 00:22:34.479 --> 00:22:40.279 The second thing is to ask the Holy Spirit to begin a work in you 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.359 and see it through to completion. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:47.639 I'm reminded of Philippians chapter 1 verse 6, which says, 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:50.359 it says, He who began a good work in you, 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:53.279 I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:58.199 will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ, amen. 00:22:58.199 --> 00:23:02.559 It's asking the Holy Spirit to work in and through you, 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.639 transforming you, molding you. 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:07.559 Think of the imagery of God being the great potter 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:12.279 and we being the clay, the work of God's hands. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.879 Right? 00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:14.879 When you make a decision for Christ, 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:16.920 it is not the end of your life. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.279 It is the beginning of your new life in Christ. 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:23.879 And what a wonderful journey you can be on by trusting 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:27.720 in the Lord, but also obeying His word, right? 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:30.000 Listening to what the Word of God has to say, 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.079 and listening to the call that God has for your life. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.480 Maybe you have been feeling a tug from the Holy Spirit 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:42.000 to speak to a family member or a friend. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.279 Maybe it's a phone call or a text message. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.680 Have you ever felt that before? 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:48.480 God just pulling at your shirt and you're like, 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.960 I don't know about this, but you end up doing it? 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:54.319 Or if you don't do it, how it bothers you when you don't do it? 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.680 If you think about it? 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:00.079 So asking the Holy Spirit to begin a work in you. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:03.799 I'm reminded of Zechariah chapter 4 verse 6, 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.359 where contextually Zechariah is speaking to Zerubbabel, 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.880 right? 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:10.000 Zerubbabel, he's not sure how the temple is 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.119 going to be completed, right? 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:13.399 This is all connected to Ezra. 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:17.679 The prophet says to him that it is not by might nor by power, 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.359 but by my spirit. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.399 So think about that. 00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:22.839 The Holy Spirit working in the people of God 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:25.199 to complete the temple, and in the same way, 00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:28.199 the Holy Spirit working in and through us 00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:33.239 to become the men or the women that God wants us to be. 00:24:33.239 --> 00:24:36.519 Putting on the new self, being that new creation, 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:41.359 exhibiting the love of Jesus Christ, showing kindness 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:45.000 and compassion to other people, being an ambassador for Christ, 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:48.200 speaking truth, but dealing in love. 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.759 There's so much that's from that. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:53.599 And we are all a work in progress. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.960 Don't let this overwhelm you. 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:58.440 Just know you should have that intentionality. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.519 Look, I want to be changed by the Lord, 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:04.799 and you should have that desire as well to be transformed, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.119 to be more like Jesus Christ. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:09.480 Because quite honestly, there is no name that 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:13.079 is higher than the name of Jesus Christ. 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:16.200 And thirdly, celebrate milestones. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:19.919 This is a huge thing that I was mentioning at the beginning. 00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:21.079 The people of God, right? 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:25.960 They returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.919 They celebrated that. 00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:29.839 They were so excited that they rebuilt the altar 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:32.759 so that they could partake in their services, 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:35.200 offering their birth sacrifices to the Lord, 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.960 and celebrating in their feasts. 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.680 Think about that. 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.480 They celebrated. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:41.879 They celebrated with the laying of the foundation 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:44.079 of the temple, and they celebrated 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.839 the completion of the temple. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:48.279 Much like how we as Christians today, 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:52.400 we should celebrate when someone becomes a Christian. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:54.440 We should celebrate that. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.680 That's why we should celebrate when someone decides 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:59.160 to get baptized, the public proclamation 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.839 of an internal decision. 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:04.639 That's why we should celebrate when there is a Christian marriage 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:06.359 or why we celebrate communion. 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:10.359 Now we celebrate communion a little bit differently. 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:15.519 It's more reverence, but it's still a celebration nonetheless. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.079 Rededication is a huge one. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:21.359 Some of us, life happens. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:23.399 We go through trials and tribulations, 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:26.119 and we feel distant from the Lord. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:30.119 When someone comes back into the presence of the Lord 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:34.279 or comes back to God, that is a cause for celebration. 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:36.279 For many of us, we may know someone 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:41.199 who walked away from the faith, someone who left the faith. 00:26:41.199 --> 00:26:42.319 Pray for them. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:45.359 Pray that God will intervene in their life, 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:48.159 that they'll come back to have that relationship 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.959 and to be fully restored. 00:26:49.959 --> 00:26:51.399 And that's the other thing. 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:55.119 Reconciliation, renewal, and this isn't all of the things 00:26:55.119 --> 00:27:01.039 that we should celebrate, but these are some of the things. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:06.399 When a marriage is once broken, but is healed, 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:10.039 or someone who was lost and now found, 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:13.399 or when there has been healing, that's a praise. 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:16.159 We praise God for miracles that happen, 00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:19.159 or when people are healed and there's restoration 00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:21.079 and transformation. 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:23.399 It's not something that we should just hide and just be like, 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:25.840 no, you made a decision for Christ's cool. 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:28.000 No, you celebrate that. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:31.000 That's something that's remarkable for us. 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:34.280 Luke chapter 15, verse 10, and I love this verse so much, 00:27:34.280 --> 00:27:39.480 tells us, just so I tell you, it always gets me, 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:42.600 even as a kid, I remember hearing this from my mother, 00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:48.000 there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.120 who repents. 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:53.120 Think about that. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:56.039 If the angels are celebrating, so should we, 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:59.479 someone who repents, someone who is coming to the Lord, 00:27:59.479 --> 00:28:02.159 and then of course, 2 Corinthians 5, 17, 00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:04.679 if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:07.759 The old has passed away and the new has come. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:11.119 And in all of this, as we close here, 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:16.879 the same God that worked in the heart of kings loves you. 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:21.559 The same God who moved the people of God out of exile, 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:26.839 back to where they belong, desires a relationship with you. 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:30.399 Jesus Christ loves you, and this is a call for you 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:35.599 to come to Christ, to believe in the Lord and to be saved. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:38.399 I think of 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 4, 00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:41.879 which is the simple gospel, that Christ, 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:45.960 he died for our sins, that he was buried, 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:49.159 that he was raised on the third day in accordance 00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:50.879 with the scriptures. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:53.160 That is the most simplistic way that we can explain 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:56.040 the gospel message, especially if you know someone who's like, 00:28:56.040 --> 00:28:58.640 hey, can you explain what you believe in? 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:02.320 Hey, well, there you go, 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, 00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:04.280 verses 3 to 4. 00:29:04.280 --> 00:29:05.400 This is what I believe in. 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:07.960 Now, of course, there's other parts of the story, right? 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:12.360 Jesus being born in a major, performing miracles, right? 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:16.000 Turning water into wine, healing the sick, 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:18.520 raising people from the dead, the teachings that he told. 00:29:18.520 --> 00:29:19.880 There's so much more to that. 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:22.480 The fulfillment of prophecy, but if you were to explain it 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:25.640 in a simplistic way, that's how you would do it. 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:29.800 And so the same God that worked in the heart of kings 00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:32.600 and in the people of God and in everyday people 00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:38.120 calls for you to have a relationship with you. 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:41.400 And if you are distant, let this be a call for you 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:43.400 to come back to the Lord. 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.440 Or maybe the Lord is pulling your shirt 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:50.720 to have a discussion with a friend or a family member. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:53.960 Know that Jesus Christ loves you. 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:56.559 We are called to enter in that relationship, 00:29:56.559 --> 00:30:00.160 to believe in him and be saved, to grow in the faith, 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:03.000 and to do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.880 Let's pray together. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.559 Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, the creator 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:11.120 of the heavens and the earth, we thank you 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:13.519 for giving us this time and this opportunity for us 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:19.680 to go into the book of Ezra chapter 6, where we are seeing 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:24.119 that there's this decree of Darius who is responding. 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:26.680 He verified the records. 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.839 And he says to let the people of God 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.079 do what they need to do. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:34.319 Father, we've learned about the completion and the dedication 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:39.839 and the celebration that came with this temple. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:42.319 May you stir our hearts. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:46.039 May you be with us. 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:50.119 May we search the word to find Christ, 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:52.279 to believe in you that our hearts will be changed, 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:55.000 our minds will be transformed. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:58.119 May your Holy Spirit work in and through us, 00:30:58.119 --> 00:31:01.720 making us more like your Son, Jesus. 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:05.559 And along the way in this journey together, 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:09.480 may we celebrate those milestones, the decisions 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:13.920 for Christ, baptism, communion. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:18.120 May we not be afraid of who you are. 00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:20.279 Father, we love you. 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.200 We thank you for giving us this chance 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:25.480 to open your word, to read from it, to learn from it. 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:30.799 May we be moved to act upon what we have learned today. 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:33.519 It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:36.440 And we all say together, amen. 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:39.120 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.439 sermon podcast. 00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:43.199 For more about our church and how you can get involved 00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:45.359 or support our mission, please visit 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:48.399 OntarioCommunityChurch.org. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:32:09.920 May God's blessings be with you.