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 Daley 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 --> 00:00:19.920 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.719 I hope good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.839 It's really great to be here with you. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.839 Today, we're going to do 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:33.200 a congregational public reading of the book of Ezra. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:37.439 This is an opportunity for us as the body of Christ, 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:41.519 as believers, to come together in unity, 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:43.600 and to become familiarized. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.200 Maybe it's been a while since you've read Ezra, 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.439 or maybe you haven't read Ezra before. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:50.799 It's to become familiar with the book, 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.560 this specific book in the Bible. 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:56.079 We're going to be reading selected passages 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:57.799 from the book of Ezra, 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:03.039 and you are invited to follow along with your sheets. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:05.359 If you've picked one up already, 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:07.840 you are invited to follow along here, 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.319 or you can follow along in your mobile device, 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:13.879 your Pew Bible, or Bible of choice 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.879 that's entirely up to you. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.239 You know, the public reading of Scripture, 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:23.120 it has a biblical foundation. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.920 It's found in Nehemiah. 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:27.719 It's found where Ezra is reading the law 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:29.519 before the assembly. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:31.599 It's also found in 1 Timothy, 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.200 where the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.400 to devote his time to publicly reading Scripture. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:40.359 And even in Revelation, 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:43.359 there's a call for reading aloud. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.439 So there's this wonderful connection 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.560 that we find in Scripture. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:49.200 And you know, as Christians, 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.320 we believe that the Word of God is living and active. 00:01:52.320 --> 00:01:54.000 Amen. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.640 It has power. 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:58.760 And when we gather together in Jesus' name 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:00.879 and we read His Word, 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.519 remarkable things can happen. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.519 Perhaps God wants you to be here this morning 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:08.719 to reveal something to you. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:11.080 Perhaps God wants you to read this book 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:15.599 and to be together with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.159 This practice of congregational reading, 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:20.360 of the public reading of Scripture, 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:25.360 it also aligns with who we are as Ontario Community Church. 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:30.120 We encourage, equip, and engage lives for Christ. 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:33.560 This helps people to come to know the Lord in faith, 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.280 to grow in Him through discipleship, 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:40.720 and to be moved to do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:02:40.720 --> 00:02:45.240 By reading the Word together, we arm ourselves, right? 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:49.600 We know biblical truth, we learn biblical truth, 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.359 and there's strength that comes against the evil one. 00:02:53.359 --> 00:02:56.079 What a wonderful way for us to be equipped 00:02:56.079 --> 00:02:59.280 when it comes to spiritual warfare. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.719 And it's like iron-sharpening iron, 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:05.719 or it's like rallying the troops for God, so to speak. 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:09.879 We are stronger in Christ when we are together. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.759 And this is a practice that is both found in Scripture, 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:15.840 like I was mentioning with Nehemiah, 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:19.640 and also with 1 Timothy and in Revelation. 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:21.080 But it's also been a practice 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:23.759 that's been done throughout history. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.719 By having many people read Scripture together, 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.840 we are growing together. 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.360 We are being familiarized, and being empowered, 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:36.280 and continuing this remarkable biblical practice 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.560 established by those before us. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:41.240 There is such power in the Word of God. 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:44.520 There is such power when we read personally the Word of God. 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:48.480 And there is such power when we read the Word of God together. 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:50.880 So let's pray together before we begin. 00:03:50.880 --> 00:03:52.160 Will you pray with me? 00:03:52.160 --> 00:03:54.360 Let's bow our heads. 00:03:54.360 --> 00:03:59.160 And Father God, we ask that you send down your Holy Spirit 00:03:59.160 --> 00:04:01.640 to move in and through our lives, 00:04:01.640 --> 00:04:03.879 and through this church today. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.400 Let lives be changed and transformed. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:09.280 Let minds be changed. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.160 Our souls are saved by faith. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:14.639 Where believers grow in discipleships. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:18.040 And disciples are moved to do good 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:19.560 in what they say and what they do. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.680 We ask, Father, that you are with us 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.719 as we read together this book of Ezra. 00:04:25.719 --> 00:04:28.120 We ask that you're here with us. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:32.240 We pray for those who may be hurting, 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:33.279 let there be healing. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.279 We pray for those who may not believe in you yet. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:38.480 Maybe they're new to Christianity, 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.839 or they're new to the Bible. 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:43.799 We ask for that call. 00:04:43.799 --> 00:04:46.560 There will be a response to your calling, 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.159 to believe in you, to trust in you, 00:04:50.159 --> 00:04:56.279 and to have you, to have Jesus Christ as the firm foundation. 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:58.120 And we pray for those of us as well, 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:04.079 that we will be moved to live out this faith that we hold here. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:06.919 We say all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:05:06.919 --> 00:05:07.839 Amen? 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:08.519 Amen. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:09.559 So we're going to go ahead and get 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:11.160 started with our first reader. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:26.040 I'm not sure where that's going to be. 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:27.040 Can you hold on? 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.040 No. 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:29.040 I just wanted to. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:36.040 Thank you. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:44.360 Ezra, chapter 1, verses 1 through 4, the decree of Cyrus. 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.879 In the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.840 that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah 00:05:51.840 --> 00:05:55.320 might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up 00:05:55.320 --> 00:05:58.360 the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia, 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:02.840 so that he made a proclamation to all of his kingdom 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:06.359 and also put it in writing. 00:06:06.359 --> 00:06:12.759 Thus says Cyrus, King of Persia, the Lord, the God of heaven, 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.479 has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, 00:06:16.479 --> 00:06:21.439 and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:23.319 is in Judah. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:27.439 Whoever is among you of all his people, 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:32.120 may his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem, which 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:37.079 is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:38.399 of Israel. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:43.000 He is the God who is in Jerusalem, 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.800 and that every survivor in whatever place he sojourns, 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:53.160 be assisted by the men of his place, with silver and gold, 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:59.600 with goods and with beads, besides free will offering 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:04.280 for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. 00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:06.680 The congregational response. 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:09.879 Prayers, the Lord for his faithfulness, 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:12.360 his plans for us are good. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.439 Good morning, folks. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.360 My name is Sandra Boxdale, and I'm here visiting with you. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:38.800 As for chapter 1, verses 5 to 11, the return of Shesh Bazar. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:42.959 Then rose up the heads of Father's houses of Judah and 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:46.120 Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:51.240 everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:53.879 the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:58.159 And all who were about them, aided them, with vessels of silver, 00:07:58.159 --> 00:08:02.879 with gold, with goods, with beads, and with costly wares. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:05.839 Besides all that was freely offered, 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.360 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.800 of the Lord that, I know who's me, never came as a, 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:17.959 had carried away from Jerusalem, and placed in the house 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:19.240 of his gods. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:22.519 Cyrus came in pleasure, brought these out 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:26.759 in the charge of Meredith, the treasurer, who counted them out 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:30.319 to Shesh Bazar, the prince of Judah. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:32.879 And this was the number of them. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:39.799 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censors, 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:46.799 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:51.360 All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:55.039 All these dig ships of gold bring up 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:59.680 when the exiles were brought out from Babylonia to Jerusalem. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:04.600 Congregational response, God provides for all our needs 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:07.759 with trust in His presence. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:15.800 Ezra 3, verses 1 through 6, the offering to the altar. 00:09:15.800 --> 00:09:18.519 When the seventh month came, the children of Israel 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:23.240 were in the town, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:27.720 Then arose Jeshew, the son of Joseph, 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:34.240 with his fellow priests and Zerubel, the son of Sheveth. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:38.159 With his kingsmen, and they built the altar of God of Israel 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.720 to offer burnt offerings on it. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.720 As it is written in the Laws of Moses, the man of God, 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.120 they set the altar in his place. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:51.320 For fear was on them because of the peoples of the land. 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.720 And they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.279 burnt offerings morning and evening. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:00.919 And they kept the beast of booths, as it is written, 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.799 and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.159 according to the rule, as each day required. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:10.039 And after that regular burnt offerings, 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:15.120 the offerings at the new moon and all the appointed feasts 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.960 of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a free will 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.320 offering to the Lord. 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.039 From the first day of the seventh month, 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:27.240 he began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.960 But the foundation of the temple of the Lord 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:32.240 was not yet laid. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.480 Congregation, in response? 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:50.159 We worship together immunity, God's presence and promise. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:53.240 As we're chapter 3, verse 7 to 13, 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:55.440 the foundation of the temple. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.320 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.440 and food and drink and oil to the Sidonians and the Tirans 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:04.279 to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:07.600 to Jobah, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.919 of Persia, now in the second year, 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:12.600 after they're coming to the house of God at Jerusalem 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:16.240 in the second month, Zubedel, the son of Shiteo, 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.720 and Jesuo, the son of Joseph that made a beginning, 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:22.439 together with the rest of their kingsmen, the priests, 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:25.679 and the Levites, and all who acclaimed to Jerusalem 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.279 from their captivity. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.600 They appointed the Levites, from 20 years old and upward, 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.559 to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:36.279 And Jesuo and his sons and his brothers, 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:39.239 and Caidemiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, 00:11:39.239 --> 00:11:42.119 together supervised the workmen in the house of God, 00:11:42.119 --> 00:11:45.119 along with the sons of Hennadah and the Levites, 00:11:45.119 --> 00:11:46.799 their sons and brothers. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.559 And when the builders laid the foundation 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.519 of the temple of the Lord, the priests and their vestments 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:53.919 came forward with trumpets and the Levites, 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.479 their sons of Asif, with the symbols to praise the Lord, 00:11:57.479 --> 00:12:01.599 according to the direction of the king, David King of Israel. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:04.279 And they sang responsibly, praising and giving thanks 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:08.240 to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:10.720 endures forever towards Israel. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.200 And all the people shouted with a great shout 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.399 when they praised the Lord, because the foundation 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:17.680 of the house of the Lord was laid. 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:19.680 But many of the priests and Levites 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:22.080 and head of father's houses, old men, 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:24.240 who had seen the first house wept, 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:27.440 with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of his houses 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:31.360 being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.399 so that the people could not distinguish 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:36.320 the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:39.480 weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:44.159 and the sound was heard far away, congressional response, 00:12:44.159 --> 00:13:05.679 for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.159 Ezra, chapter 4 and 1 through 6, the rejection 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:13.679 of the Samaritans and the consequence of the rejection. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.079 Now, when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin 00:13:16.079 --> 00:13:19.559 heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:22.359 the God of Israel, they approached the realm of love 00:13:22.359 --> 00:13:25.159 and the heads of the father's houses and said to them, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:28.079 let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do. 00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:29.759 And we've been sacrificing to him 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.319 ever since the days of Sir Hathedon, 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:36.000 king of Assyria, who brought us here, but it's the realm of love. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.479 Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the father's houses 00:13:38.479 --> 00:13:41.479 in Israel said to them, you have nothing to do with us 00:13:41.479 --> 00:13:43.439 in building a house to our God. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:46.400 But we alone will build to the Lord the God of Israel, 00:13:46.400 --> 00:13:49.680 as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us. 00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:52.480 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:55.360 and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:58.640 against them to frustrate their purpose, 00:13:58.640 --> 00:14:00.920 all the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, 00:14:00.920 --> 00:14:04.200 even until the reign of Darius, king of Persia. 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:09.600 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.960 they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.560 and Jerusalem. 00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:16.800 Congressional response. 00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:19.280 The Lord of the times is evil. 00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:23.120 God is our refuge and our strength. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:27.320 Ezra chapter 5, verse 1 through 2, the voice of the prophets. 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:30.720 Now the prophets Hegai and Zachariah, the son of Edo, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:34.519 prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:37.560 In the name of the God of Israel, who is over them, 00:14:37.560 --> 00:14:41.160 Ben Israel the above, the son of Sheetel and Jeshua, 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:43.279 the son of Joseph the Act rose and began 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:46.639 to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:50.079 And the prophets of God were with them supporting them. 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:52.679 Congressional response. 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:58.399 Justice of God is totally the end of the firm in God's word. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:03.039 Ezra chapter 5, verse 3, and 5, the governor's inquiry. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.959 At the same time, Tatanai, the governor of the providence 00:15:05.959 --> 00:15:08.679 beyond the river, and Shealtesarboz and I, 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:11.319 and their Shealtes associates, came to them 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:13.279 and spoke to them thus. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.159 Who gave you a decree to build this house 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.120 and to furnish this structure? 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.239 They also asked them this, where the names of the men who 00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:21.919 are building this building. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.519 But the eye of their God was on the elder of the Jews, 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:27.519 and they did not stop them until the report should 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.399 reach Darius and then an answer be returned 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:39.519 by David concerning it. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:43.759 I'm reading Ezra chapter 6, verse 1 through 12. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.639 Then Darius, the king, made a decree, 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.439 and search was made in Babylonia in the house of the archives 00:15:50.439 --> 00:15:52.559 where the documents were stored. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:57.120 In Ekvatana, the citadel that is in the province of media, 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:01.120 a scroll was found on which was written a record in the first 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.840 year of Cyrus the king. 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:06.200 Cyrus the king issued a decree concerning the house 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:09.600 of God at Jerusalem, that the house be rebuilt, 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.879 the place where sacrifices were offered, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.679 and let its foundations be retained. 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:18.519 Its height shall be 60 cubits and its breadth 60 cubits, 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.399 with three layers of gravestones and one layer of timber. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:25.360 Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury, 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:29.320 and also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:33.159 which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:35.800 and brought to Babylon, be restored, 00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:38.960 and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.600 each to its place. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.320 You shall put them in the house of God. 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.200 Therefore, Tantanai, governor of the province 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:51.320 beyond the river, Shathar, Bosanai, and your associates, 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:54.000 the governors who are in the province beyond the river, 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.240 keep away. 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:57.840 Let the work on this house of God alone, 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:00.360 let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.720 rebuild this house of God on its site. 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:05.880 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:08.319 you shall do for these elders of the Jews, 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.279 for the rebuilding of this house of God. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.000 The cost is to be paid by these men in full and without delay 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.480 from the royal revenue. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:19.440 The tribute of the province from beyond the river, 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:22.960 and whatever is needed, bulls, rams, or sheep 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.160 for their offerings to the God of heaven. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:29.440 Wheat, salt, wine, or oil as the priests of Jews 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.519 whom require, let that be given to them day by day 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.000 without fail. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.400 That they may be offered pleasing sacrifices 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.600 to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:42.000 and his sons. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.440 Also, I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:48.759 a beam shall be pulled out of his house, 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.000 and he shall be impaled on it, and his house 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.279 shall be made a dung hill. 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:57.519 May the God whose cost is made to dwell, therefore, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.839 overthrow any king or people who should put out a hand 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.839 to alter this or destroy this house of God that 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.359 is injurious to him. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:10.279 I, Darius, make a decree, let it be done with all diligence. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:13.680 In the congregational response, may God's well 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:26.120 be done in our church and community. 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.360 I'm not complaining. 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:29.360 I'm just asking for your patience. 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:31.720 Patrick seems to find the verses. 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:36.600 We have kings who, parents, were very creatively named them. 00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:40.880 So I'm reading, as we're 6, 13, to 22, 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:46.840 the temple completed and dedicated the Passover celebrated. 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:50.440 Then according to the word sent by Darius the king, 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:53.080 Patrick and I, the governor of the province beyond the river, 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:57.080 and Sheethar, Boz and I, and their associates, 00:18:57.080 --> 00:19:01.120 did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:03.800 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered 00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:07.400 through the prophecy of Hegei, the prophet and Zachariah, 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:09.200 the son of Edo. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:13.080 They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel 00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:18.680 and by decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Adorexus, of Persia. 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:21.240 And this house was finished, and on the 30th of the month 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:25.240 of Adar, in the sixth year reign of Darius the king, 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.680 and the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:30.120 and the rest of the returned exiles, 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:33.880 celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:36.000 They offered at the dedication of this house 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:41.559 of God 100 bowls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:45.240 and as a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male ghosts, 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.880 according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:51.079 And they set the priests in their divisions, 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:53.400 and the Levites in their divisions, 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:56.279 for the service they've got at Jerusalem, 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:58.920 as it was written in the book of Moses. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:01.200 On the 14th day of the first month, 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.920 the returned exiles kept the Passover. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.519 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:09.200 together, all of them were clean, 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.120 so they slaughtered the Passover lamb 00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:13.960 for all the returning exiles, for their fellow 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.759 priests and for themselves. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.560 It was eaten by the people of Israel 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:20.039 who had returned from exile, and also by everyone 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.360 who had joined them, and separated himself 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:25.120 from the emptiness of the people of the lamb 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:28.160 to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:30.120 And they kept the feast of the unleavened bread 00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:33.080 seven days with joy, where the Lord had made them 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:36.399 joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria 00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:39.919 to them, so that heated them in the work of the house of the 00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:42.639 God, the God of Israel. 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:45.799 Conflictation response, we celebrate the God of the 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:48.119 goodness, he does our hearts with joy. 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:59.119 This is Ezra 7, 1 through 10, Ezra's genealogy 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:02.839 and arrival at Jerusalem. 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:05.839 Now for this, in the reign of Arthaserses, 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:09.559 king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraia, 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:14.119 son of Azaria, son of Helikiah, son of Shalom, 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:18.359 son of Zedek, son of Atib, son of Amaria, 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:23.159 son of Azaria, son of Marrioth, son of Zarahiah, 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:27.599 son of Uzi, son of Buki, son of Abishua, 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:31.919 son of Phineas, son of Eliezer, son of Aaron, 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.800 the chief priest. 00:21:33.800 --> 00:21:37.400 This Ezraia went up from Babylonia. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:41.080 He was ascribed, skilled in the law of Moses, 00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:45.120 that of the Lord, the God of Israel had given, 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:49.600 and the king granted him all that he asked 00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:53.400 for the hand of the Lord, his God was on him. 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:57.360 And there he went up to Jerusalem for the seventh year 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:02.359 of King Arthaserses, seventh year of Arthaserses the king, 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:05.079 some of the people of Israel and some of the priests 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:08.159 and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:10.079 and the temple servants. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:13.559 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:16.119 which was the seventh year of the king. 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:18.599 For on the first day of the first month, 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:20.839 he began to go up from Babylonia, 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:22.839 and on the first day of the fifth month, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:26.559 he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:31.279 was on him, for Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:37.039 Lord and to do it and to teach his statues and rules in Israel. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.119 Congregational response? 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:43.879 God's word guides us, and we follow his direction. 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:48.399 Ezra 7, 11 through 13, which is Ezra's commission 00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:50.599 from Arthaserses. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:54.359 This is a copy of the letter that King Arthaserses gave 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:58.159 to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned 00:22:58.159 --> 00:23:00.919 in matters of the commandments of the Lord 00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:03.359 and his statues for Israel. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:07.599 Arthaserses, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:12.119 the scribe of the law of God of heaven, peace. 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:16.479 Now I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel 00:23:16.479 --> 00:23:20.199 or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely 00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:24.000 offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.920 Congregational response? 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:29.920 We are grateful for God's favor, His grace, His promise. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:44.079 Diana should have an applause after all those names. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.579 Bye. 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:53.960 OK, I'm reading Ezra chapter 7, verses 25 to 28. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:56.680 Commission and Thanksgiving. 00:23:56.680 --> 00:24:00.240 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:04.279 that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:07.000 who may judge all of the people and the providence 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:11.759 beyond the river, all such as we know the laws of your God, 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.759 and those who do not know them, you shall teach. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.480 Whoever will not obey the law of your God 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.200 and the law of the king, that judgment 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:28.600 be strictly executed on you, whether for death or for banishment 00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:33.360 or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment. 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:36.319 Blessed be the Lord the God of our fathers, 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:39.960 who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:43.640 to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:47.840 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king 00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:49.559 and his counselors. 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:52.559 And before all the king's mighty officers, 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:57.440 I took courage for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:02.200 and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:04.879 Congregational response? 00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:09.200 Blessed be the Lord, his love sustains us. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:14.079 Ezra chapter 9, verses 1 through 5, addressing the sin 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:16.159 of intermarriage. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.600 After these things had been done, the officials approached me 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:24.000 and said, the people of Israel and the priests and the Levites 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:27.960 have not separated themselves from the people of the lands 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:33.200 with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:40.320 the Parasites, the Gemusites, the Amunites, the Mohambites, 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:43.600 the Egyptians, and the Amorites, for they 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:48.159 have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves 00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:53.639 and for their sons so that the holy race is mixed itself 00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:55.879 with the peoples of the lands. 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:59.839 And in this faithfulness, the hand of the officials 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.839 and the chief men has been slimmers. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:07.359 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:12.879 and pulled my hair from my head and beard and set appalled. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:16.480 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:22.760 because of the faithfulness of the returned exiles, 00:26:22.760 --> 00:26:25.400 gathered around me while I set appalled 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:28.040 until the evening sacrifice. 00:26:28.040 --> 00:26:31.960 And at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my fasting 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:36.200 with my garment and my cloak torn and fell upon my knees 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:39.560 and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:44.559 Converterational response, we repent and believe in Christ, 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.000 your grace is sufficient. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:56.159 I'm reading from Ezra chapter 9 verses 6 through 15, 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:59.279 the sorrow and prayer of Ezra. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.759 Oh my God, I am ashamed and blushed to lift my face to you, 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:08.039 my God, for our inequities have risen higher than our heads 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.879 and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:13.119 From the days of our fathers to this day, 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:15.440 we have been in great guilt. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:19.359 And for our inequities, we, our kings and our priests, 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:22.680 have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:26.079 to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:29.399 and to utter shame as it is today. 00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:31.920 But now for a brief moment, favor has 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:34.399 been shown by the Lord our God. 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:36.399 To leave us a remnant and to give us 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:39.840 a secure hold within His holy place, 00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:42.440 that our God may brighten our eyes 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:45.759 and grant us a little reviving in our slavery, 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.840 for we are slaves. 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:50.880 Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:54.120 but has extended to us His steadfast love 00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:57.640 before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving, 00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:01.640 to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:05.840 and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:09.839 And now, oh our God, what shall we say after this? 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:12.519 For we have forsaken your commandments, 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:15.279 which you commanded by your servants, the prophets, 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:18.279 saying, the land that you are entering, 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:20.720 to take possession of it, is a land 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:24.599 impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:27.679 with their abominations that have filled it from end 00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:30.279 to end with their uncleanness. 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:33.519 Therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:36.639 Neither take their daughters for your sons, 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:40.839 and never ask, and never seek their peace or prosperity, 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:44.319 that you may be strong and eat the good food of the land, 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:47.519 and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:50.759 And after all that has come upon us, 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:53.559 for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:57.359 seeing that you, our God, have punished us less 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.160 than our inequities deserved, 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:01.879 and have given us such a remnant as this, 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:04.160 shall we break your commandments again, 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:06.680 and intermarry with the people who practice 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:08.320 the abominations? 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:12.240 Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:17.000 so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:20.600 Oh Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:24.680 for we are left a remnant that has escaped as it is today. 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:27.680 Behold, we are before you in our guilt, 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:30.960 for none can stand before you because of this. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:34.400 Congregational response, through belief in Christ, 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:38.559 you give us, may we be restored into your presence. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:54.240 I'll be reading Ezra 10, 1 through 6, 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:56.440 the repentance of the people. 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.240 While Ezra prayed and made confession, 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:01.799 weeping and casting himself down 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.240 before the house of God, 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:07.559 a very great assembly of men, women, and children, 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:09.720 gathered to him out of Israel, 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:12.519 for the people wept bitterly. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:15.920 And Shekinah, the son of Jahil, 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:18.920 of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra. 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:21.120 We have broken faith with our God 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:25.920 and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:30.000 But even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:33.320 Therefore, let us make a covenant with our God 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:36.519 to put away all these wives and their children. 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:39.240 According to the counsel of my Lord 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:42.880 and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:46.200 and let it be done according to the law. 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:50.640 Arise for it is your task and we are with you. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:52.960 Be strong and do it. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:57.720 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.600 and all Israel, 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:03.519 taken oath that they would do as they had been said. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.120 So they took the oath. 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:09.079 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:13.360 and went to the chamber of Jehoonam, 00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:15.440 the son of Elia Shim, 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:18.640 where he spent the night neither eating bread 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:20.480 nor drinking water, 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:25.160 for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:27.000 Congregational response. 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:32.000 We make sure our system may turn back to the Lord. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:37.000 Chapter 10, 7 through 17, 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:42.000 the assembling and the ending of intermarriage. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:51.920 An approximation was made throughout Judah 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.960 and Jordan, 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.000 and the end of the year, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.960 and the end of the year, 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.920 and the end of the year, 00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:03.120 an approximation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:06.320 to all the returned exiles 00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:09.440 that they should assemble at Jerusalem. 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:13.840 And that if anyone did not come within three days 00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:18.080 by order of the officials and the elders, 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:21.440 all his property should be forfeited 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:26.440 and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles. 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:31.440 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:36.039 assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:40.279 It was the ninth month on the 12th day of the month, 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:43.160 and all the people sat in the open square 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:45.200 before the house of God, 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:49.039 trembling because of this matter 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:51.840 and because of the heavy rain. 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:56.599 And Esra, the priest, stood up and said to them, 00:32:56.599 --> 00:33:00.559 you have broken faith and married foreign women, 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:04.559 and so increase the guilt of Israel. 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:09.919 Now then, make confession to the Lord, 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:13.279 the God of your fathers, and do his will. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:16.639 Separate yourself from the peoples of the land 00:33:16.639 --> 00:33:19.240 and from the foreign wives. 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:23.440 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:28.440 it is so we must do as you have said, 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:33.039 but the people are many and it is a time of heavy rain. 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:36.240 We cannot stand in the open, 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:40.079 nor is this a task for one day or for two, 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:44.200 for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:48.599 Let our official stand for the whole assembly. 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:53.279 Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:56.159 come at appointed times 00:33:56.159 --> 00:34:01.079 and with them the elders and judges of every city, 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:04.240 until the fierce wrath of our God 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:07.319 over this matter is turned away from us. 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:12.400 Only Johnathan, the son of Asahel, 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:16.679 and Jacch, Jossia, the son of Tikva, 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:21.679 opposed this and the Shalom and Sabbath High, 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:24.279 the Levites supported them. 00:34:25.359 --> 00:34:28.679 Then the returned exiles did so. 00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:32.359 Ezra, the priest, selected men, 00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:37.159 heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:39.639 each of them designated by name. 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:43.279 On the first day of the tenth month, 00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:46.239 they sat down to examine the matter 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:49.039 and by the first day of the first month, 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.799 they had come to the end of all the men 00:34:52.799 --> 00:34:55.159 who had married foreign women. 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:57.479 Convergational response, 00:34:57.479 --> 00:35:00.759 we seek to do your will, O Lord, 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:02.759 guide us in your ways. 00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:09.159 All right, well, let's give a round of applause 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.399 to all of our readers. 00:35:10.399 --> 00:35:11.719 Thank you so much. 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:16.719 Well, we have just completed reading the book of Ezra 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:21.480 together and you'll see in your little note, 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:23.039 it's a little bit smaller, 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:26.399 there were some sections that we, for time sakes, 00:35:26.399 --> 00:35:30.039 did have to skip over chapter two 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:35.039 and then chapter eight and the ending of chapter 10. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:39.439 A lot of that has to do with the list of names. 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:43.079 And if we wanted to talk about having an entire chapter 00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:45.320 designated to listing of the names, 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:47.000 that not only would take more time, 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:49.519 but I wanna give some grace here. 00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:54.760 But it's very good, this is your outline for you to keep 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:58.119 and to just consider when we are going through 00:35:58.119 --> 00:36:00.639 the book of Ezra. 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:02.280 And in the coming weeks here, 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:04.960 we're going to be doing an exposition. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:07.119 We're gonna be going through line by line, 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:11.639 verse by verse of this book, of this Old Testament book 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:13.799 and discovering truths in it, 00:36:13.799 --> 00:36:18.000 finding the connections, the context and the connections 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.359 with scripture. 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:23.559 You know, the story of Ezra is about the return 00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:26.719 of the Jewish people from Babylon 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:30.679 and God's call to rebuild the temple. 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:37.679 God provided the mission, the people and the resources, 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:39.119 to accomplish this. 00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:43.359 How many of you have tried building something, 00:36:43.359 --> 00:36:44.759 let alone a house? 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:48.839 When's the last time you tried building a temple? 00:36:48.839 --> 00:36:49.679 Right? 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:53.000 The amount of resources it takes to construct anything, 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:55.359 let alone rebuild something. 00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:56.919 It takes a lot. 00:36:56.919 --> 00:36:59.399 It takes a great deal of people. 00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:01.599 It takes a mission. 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.880 It takes vision, so to speak. 00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:07.960 And despite sin that was happening, 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:12.960 despite adversity, this mission was completed. 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:17.840 And this story is a wonderful story 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:20.920 of seeing how all of these people came together 00:37:20.920 --> 00:37:23.720 in the rebuilding of the temple. 00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:26.760 But it's also applicable for us today. 00:37:26.760 --> 00:37:31.280 When we are considering the building of the church, 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:36.280 or in some cases, the rebuilding of the church. 00:37:36.520 --> 00:37:41.160 We are given the great commandment by Jesus Christ 00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:44.360 to love God and to love others. 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:49.040 And we are given the great commission to make disciples, 00:37:49.040 --> 00:37:51.480 right, and to baptize believers. 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:55.400 You see, every single book in the word of God 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:56.960 is important. 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:58.680 It may be difficult. 00:37:58.680 --> 00:38:00.519 There may be names that you're like, 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.519 who names their kid this? 00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:04.920 Right, there may be different towns here. 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:07.160 Who names their town that? 00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:10.360 And the reality is all of the books of the Bible 00:38:10.360 --> 00:38:14.680 have such significance that there's so many lessons 00:38:14.680 --> 00:38:16.400 that we can learn. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:19.440 And I'm sure that for many of you in reading this, 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:21.860 reading out loud or following along, 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:25.700 you might have learned something 00:38:25.700 --> 00:38:28.220 that you might not have learned before. 00:38:28.220 --> 00:38:30.700 And that's why we do this. 00:38:30.700 --> 00:38:33.620 It's giving us an opportunity to become familiarized 00:38:33.620 --> 00:38:37.220 or re-familiarize ourself with the text. 00:38:37.220 --> 00:38:39.380 Some of us, we might have read this five times, 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:41.820 well, maybe the sixth time the Lord might have revealed 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:43.620 something to you, or the seventh time, 00:38:43.620 --> 00:38:46.380 or the 20th time, whatever it is. 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:49.140 God will reveal something to you. 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:52.059 Truth, wisdom, insight. 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:55.779 And there's such powerful lessons that we can learn here. 00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:59.659 God's word is full of truth. 00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:02.579 As we are called to know the Lord, right? 00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:03.539 Believe in the Lord. 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:07.559 We are called to grow in Him in discipleship. 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:09.579 It's just like that analogy that you hear 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:13.539 throughout scripture to be a newborn infant, 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:16.279 spiritually speaking, right? 00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:19.300 Well, when you're a physical infant, 00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:21.300 it makes sense to have milk. 00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:23.580 It makes sense to have formula. 00:39:24.540 --> 00:39:27.620 I mean, if you give a newborn a steak, 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:30.700 that's quite an image there. 00:39:30.700 --> 00:39:32.980 But as you progress and you get older, 00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:35.100 you start having other kinds of food. 00:39:35.100 --> 00:39:37.660 You might say, mom, I don't want milk anymore. 00:39:37.660 --> 00:39:40.320 I'd like mac and cheese, and then as you get older, 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:41.640 I don't want mac and cheese. 00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:44.500 I want a nice meal, whatever it is. 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:46.739 Chicken and potatoes or whatever, 00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:48.619 and greens and stuff, right? 00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:51.739 It's the idea of as you're growing physically, 00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:53.980 you start, your palate starts changing. 00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:57.619 And in the same way, spiritually, we mature. 00:39:57.619 --> 00:40:01.340 We're on this path of discipleship, right? 00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:04.460 Knowing the Lord, growing in Him, 00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:09.460 and in all of this, acting upon this faith, 00:40:09.460 --> 00:40:13.579 doing good in the name of Christ. 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:16.659 And that is an equal importance. 00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:19.059 We're called to build up the church 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:21.659 and to build up Christian community. 00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:26.219 Despite the adversities that may come our way, 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:29.299 to be a Christian is to have, 00:40:29.299 --> 00:40:32.619 to be a new creation is to have new life in Him. 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:37.619 Despite people who may object to your faith. 00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:42.380 There are people who will say they don't like Christians. 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:44.900 Maybe you've ran into one before. 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:46.940 Maybe online, maybe in person. 00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:52.420 Despite adversaries, despite adversity, 00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:55.180 we stand firm in the word of God. 00:40:55.180 --> 00:40:58.579 We stand firm in the truth of Scripture. 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:04.039 We continue to have that relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:41:04.039 --> 00:41:06.940 And even as we learn in Ezra, 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:08.700 there was sin that was happening. 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:13.539 And even though we are not perfect, 00:41:13.539 --> 00:41:16.139 we are sinners in need of a Savior. 00:41:16.139 --> 00:41:20.460 We must turn from that sin one way or another, right? 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:22.259 Whether you're beginning to build, 00:41:22.259 --> 00:41:23.980 or you're building the temple, 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:26.559 or building up the body of Christ, 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:29.419 one way or another, you're going to have to deal with sin. 00:41:30.299 --> 00:41:32.980 Isn't it interesting that at the end of Ezra, 00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:34.539 that's when they had to deal with it? 00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:39.179 You would think they'd have to deal with it first and foremost. 00:41:39.179 --> 00:41:41.900 But the idea is one way or another, 00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:43.219 sin will be addressed. 00:41:43.219 --> 00:41:44.460 And in the same way, 00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:46.980 we're called to put off the old self, 00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:49.860 just like I mentioned in Colossians, right? 00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:52.340 To set your mind on things that are higher, 00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:54.179 not things that are lower. 00:41:54.179 --> 00:41:58.340 To put off the old self, and to put on the new self, 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:01.820 leaving behind the sinful life, 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:04.700 and to put on the spirit-filled life. 00:42:05.740 --> 00:42:09.300 And in our coming exposition of Ezra, 00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:13.140 we will explore together this wonderful book together, 00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:15.780 discovering the truths, 00:42:15.780 --> 00:42:19.100 considering the context and the connections, 00:42:19.100 --> 00:42:22.260 and how in the world do we apply that to our lives today? 00:42:22.260 --> 00:42:24.620 That's a good question, isn't it? 00:42:24.620 --> 00:42:29.620 We ask God to bless us as we enter into this series, 00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:31.460 and as we go forth, 00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:33.900 we're gonna sing this last song together. 00:42:33.900 --> 00:42:36.299 And what I want you to do is, 00:42:36.299 --> 00:42:38.980 we close in prayer, we sing this last song, 00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:40.739 we'll do a benediction. 00:42:42.139 --> 00:42:44.500 Just to think about how, 00:42:44.500 --> 00:42:47.940 where you are at in your relationship with the Lord. 00:42:47.940 --> 00:42:50.179 What have you learned today? 00:42:50.179 --> 00:42:53.460 And how can you act upon what you have learned? 00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:54.619 Let's pray together. 00:42:55.980 --> 00:42:58.940 Father God, we thank you for this wonderful book 00:42:58.940 --> 00:43:01.340 that is found in Scripture. 00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:04.940 Just as you provided a mission to Ezra, 00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:07.700 you've given us a mission, 00:43:07.700 --> 00:43:08.940 to build up the body, 00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:11.980 to equip the saints, to make disciples, 00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:14.940 and to live and to love like you. 00:43:14.940 --> 00:43:17.740 May we together, may we be moved 00:43:17.740 --> 00:43:20.820 to enter in that relationship with you. 00:43:20.820 --> 00:43:23.539 May we be moved to follow you 00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:25.900 in the footsteps of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:43:25.900 --> 00:43:28.380 May we follow in the mission, 00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:30.780 that you've given to us. 00:43:30.780 --> 00:43:33.900 We ask that we can remain faithful to you, 00:43:33.900 --> 00:43:37.300 no matter what adversities, 00:43:37.300 --> 00:43:39.440 what conflicts may come our way. 00:43:40.660 --> 00:43:42.900 Father, if there's sin in our life, 00:43:42.900 --> 00:43:44.900 may we turn away from sin. 00:43:44.900 --> 00:43:47.740 May we turn to you, the light, 00:43:47.740 --> 00:43:49.980 and not the darkness. 00:43:49.980 --> 00:43:53.420 May we believe in your Son, Jesus the Christ. 00:43:53.420 --> 00:43:56.099 May we grow in Him in faith. 00:43:56.099 --> 00:43:59.019 And in all of this, 00:43:59.019 --> 00:44:01.819 may we not just be hearers of the word, 00:44:01.819 --> 00:44:03.259 but doers. 00:44:03.259 --> 00:44:05.980 May we be encouraged to do good 00:44:05.980 --> 00:44:07.699 in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:44:07.699 --> 00:44:10.139 and we all stay together. 00:44:10.139 --> 00:44:10.980 Amen. 00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:13.019 Thank you for tuning in 00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:16.019 to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:44:16.019 --> 00:44:17.539 For more about our church 00:44:17.539 --> 00:44:20.219 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:44:20.219 --> 00:44:23.940 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:44:23.940 --> 00:44:26.139 May God's blessings be with you.