WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:09.339 Located in Ontario, 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:11.279 Oregon, Pastor Patrick Daly 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.800 preaches 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 --> 00:00:19.679 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:23.600 All right. Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.600 It's great to be here with you as today we are finishing 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.360 our sermon series through the book of Ezra. 00:00:30.360 --> 00:00:31.200 Can you believe that? 00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:34.679 It's been 15 weeks that we have been going through 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:37.719 the depths, the truth, the wisdom, 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:39.280 the things we can observe, 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:40.679 the things that we can learn, 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:43.960 and the things that we can apply to our very lives 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.520 in this wonderful book of Ezra. 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.280 We have gone over so many different things. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.600 The main idea of Ezra being that 00:00:52.600 --> 00:00:57.560 the Holy Spirit moved the heart of kings and the people of God. 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:01.960 Ezra is about the return of the people of God from 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:05.400 exile from Babylonia to Jerusalem. 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:07.760 There was the rebuilding of the temple. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:09.960 There was the rebuilding of the altar, 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:13.240 the adversaries that try to stop the process, 00:01:13.240 --> 00:01:16.200 the progress that was being made from the people of God. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:19.159 Then there was the prophet speaking. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.560 You had Haggai and Zachariah who were 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:24.200 prophesizing that, hey, 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.400 you've got to keep the progress going. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.080 There was the completion of the temple. 00:01:29.080 --> 00:01:31.400 Last week when we were in chapter 8, 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:37.080 we were talking about how there was the search for the Levites. 00:01:37.080 --> 00:01:39.400 There was the finding, there was the call, 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:45.640 the invitation, 38 Levites responded along with 220 servants. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:48.320 It was a wonderful thing that was happening. 00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:52.200 There was the prayer and the fasting for protection, 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.160 and the traveling of the vessels. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:59.079 Last week we went over how vessels are a representation, 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:01.200 just like how there's sheep. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:03.759 That we as the people of God, 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:05.679 as the church, as the local body, 00:02:05.679 --> 00:02:08.599 we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.919 and that we are to be transported when we believe in Jesus Christ, 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:16.000 his death, his burial, and his resurrection. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.599 We are transported spiritually speaking from 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.719 the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light, 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:27.280 and that we go on this journey together in Christ. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.199 That leads us to today, 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:30.960 where we are finishing off with, 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:35.919 if you go to page 465 in your ESV Pew Bible. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:38.520 There's a lot that's going on here. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:42.919 There was the return of the vessels and the Levites, 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:47.120 all of these people that were traveling and returning. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.759 Here is where we're going to see 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.639 that Ezra is going to pray a prayer of repentance. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.560 Then in chapter 10, 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:59.039 the people responding, 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:01.719 they are going to repent as well. 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.359 It's a wonderful ending for this wonderful book. 00:03:04.359 --> 00:03:06.479 Before we go any further, let's pray together. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:08.680 Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:10.560 the Creator of the heavens and the earth, 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:14.840 we are grateful that we are here today, 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:16.560 here in this place. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:18.159 We know that you are with us. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.560 And Father, we ask that truth is spoken here, 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.520 that lives are transformed, 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.439 that there are things that we observe, 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:29.639 things that we learn and things that we can apply. 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:33.280 And we ask that the Holy Spirit will stir our hearts 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.319 to know you, to grow in you, 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:38.000 and to do good in your holy name. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.879 May we learn from these final chapters, 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.800 and may we go out and do the work of ministry 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:46.879 that you have set before us. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.759 It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:50.759 And we all say together, amen. 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:53.599 Amen. So we're going to be in Ezra chapter nine here. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.639 So the first two verses here, 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.719 this is the sin of intermarriage. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:02.000 Now, when we hear that, 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.400 we might get a little, what is that? 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.919 What in the world is going on here? 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:08.000 So I want to read these first two. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:09.719 And after these things had been done, 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.560 the officials approached me and said, 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.199 the people of Israel and the priests and the Levites 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:15.879 had not separated themselves 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:19.159 from the peoples of the lands with their abominations. 00:04:19.159 --> 00:04:20.600 It goes on in verse two. 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:22.159 They have taken some of their daughters 00:04:22.159 --> 00:04:25.759 to be wives for themselves and for their sons. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:27.240 Key point here. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.159 So that the holy race has mixed itself 00:04:30.159 --> 00:04:32.120 with the peoples of the lands. 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:34.360 And in this faithlessness, 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:37.639 the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost. 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:39.399 So those first two verses, 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.959 this is what is known as the sin of intermarriage. 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.120 And when we're hearing this, 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:45.159 what in the world is that? 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:47.640 It has to do with the lineage. 00:04:47.640 --> 00:04:49.840 It has to do with the bloodline. 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:52.280 Because God had a promise, 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:55.280 the promise of the inheritance of Jesus Christ. 00:04:55.280 --> 00:04:57.200 I want you to turn really quick 00:04:57.200 --> 00:04:58.880 so that you can see what I mean. 00:05:00.320 --> 00:05:04.280 Go to verse 12 in Ezra here. 00:05:04.280 --> 00:05:07.160 Let's go to verse 12 of chapter nine really quick. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:09.800 Don't give your daughters, right? 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.760 Don't intermarry so that you may be strong 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.360 and eat the good of the land and leave for it a what? 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:20.439 An inheritance for your children. 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:23.159 And that is the key thing that helps us 00:05:23.159 --> 00:05:26.920 with our understanding of what intermarriage is. 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:30.319 It is the mixing of the bloodline, right? 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:35.079 The mixing of the royal race, so to speak, the holy race. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.759 We know that Jesus Christ is going to come from the lineage 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:42.879 and he is going to be born, right? 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:45.240 So here in this moment we're seeing, 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:50.240 well, you're tampering with what God has set in motion. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.480 And so by you marrying other people 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:55.800 that's outside of the bloodline, 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:59.519 well, that's going against what God had in store 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:00.560 for the people of God. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.360 And I wanna make this very clear just from the get go. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:07.439 This is not saying we can marry essentially 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.199 whoever we want, but we certainly have to be mindful 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:11.879 of who they are as people. 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.319 What are their morals, right? 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:14.240 Are they a Christian? 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.759 Those kind of things. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.120 You can easily see how this verse can be taken in a very, 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.959 it can go in many different ways, 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:27.959 but we're talking specifically for the holy race 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.759 to allow for the inheritance, right? 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:32.519 Because think about this. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.759 Ephesians chapter one, verses 11 through four, 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:40.759 in him, in Christ, we have received the inheritance. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:43.839 Does that make sense? 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:46.279 Do you all understand what I'm saying? 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:49.480 That the reason why you're seeing this 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:53.039 intermarriage thing happening is to allow for Christ 00:06:53.039 --> 00:06:56.079 to be born through the lineage. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.759 So that Christ can be born. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.240 Christ can be born in the manger, right? 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:04.199 You have the royal lineage. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:08.279 And so that salvation can come through him. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.199 That's very powerful. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:13.000 You might not see it when you first read that, 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:15.719 but that's what is going on here. 00:07:15.719 --> 00:07:19.000 And so they have to, and you also see in Deuteronomy 7, 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.360 three through four, you shall not intermarry. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.480 There's another reason, and it's that when you're marrying 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:29.240 people from foreign lands, very often in Deuteronomy 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:34.079 and in Ezra, they can turn the children away from the Lord 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.240 to serve other gods. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:36.919 That was the other warning, right? 00:07:36.919 --> 00:07:39.039 That there's this risk that can happen 00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:42.479 where they might influence you in a negative way. 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:44.839 So that's the warning that we see here. 00:07:44.839 --> 00:07:47.000 We then go into verses three to five, 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.599 and this is where the prophet Ezra is tearing his cloak. 00:07:50.599 --> 00:07:53.159 And we see this often in scripture. 00:07:53.159 --> 00:07:56.199 Verse three, as soon as I heard this, 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:57.919 I tore my garment and my cloak, 00:07:57.919 --> 00:08:02.519 and I pulled, now this is some graphic imagery, right? 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.000 I pulled hair from my head. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.000 Well, we do that sometimes when we're frustrated, right? 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.439 But the specific language where it says, 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.039 this for those of you who have a beard, right? 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:17.000 I pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled, right? 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.159 It's the seriousness, it's the grieving, right? 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:23.479 It's that Ezra, the prophet here is saying, look, 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:26.719 there's a sense of repentance, 00:08:26.719 --> 00:08:27.919 because the tearing of the cloak, 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:32.279 it represents what breaks one's heart, sorrow and grief. 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.240 So in this, verse four, right? 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.159 You have people who are gathering around, 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:42.759 verse five, at the evening sacrifice I arose for my fasting, 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:45.680 he goes on to pray, right? 00:08:45.680 --> 00:08:49.039 Verses six through 15, this is very similar 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.000 to the many prayers of repentance. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.600 This is Ezra praying for the people of God. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:57.560 Oh my God, I am ashamed and blushed 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:58.519 to lift my face to you. 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:02.119 My God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads. 00:09:02.119 --> 00:09:04.239 And our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 00:09:04.239 --> 00:09:06.319 Doesn't that sound like sin anyways, right? 00:09:06.319 --> 00:09:08.759 That our sin can seem overwhelming. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:10.599 That's why we have Christ though. 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:13.319 From the days of our fathers to this day, 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:15.079 we have been in great guilt. 00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:18.000 So he's talking about we are guilty just like our fathers. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.039 If you remember, in the beginning of Ezra, 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.159 right before there was the spirit of Cyrus 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.679 who was issuing a decree that the people of God 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:29.239 would return from Babylonia to Jerusalem, 00:09:29.239 --> 00:09:31.319 the whole reason why they were exiled 00:09:31.319 --> 00:09:34.399 was because of disobedience to the Lord. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:38.159 And yet in that, there was the moving of the spirit, 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.359 the stirring of hearts of kings, right? 00:09:40.359 --> 00:09:43.359 The return of the vessels and the people of God. 00:09:43.359 --> 00:09:46.620 God had been good to them and they were still sinning. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.839 That's what Ezra's talking about here. 00:09:50.839 --> 00:09:53.399 We're guilty like our fathers. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:55.000 You then go further on. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.000 But now in verse eight, now for a brief moment, 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.600 favor has been shown by the Lord our God 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:02.879 to leave us a remnant and secure hold 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:05.840 within this holy place that our God might brighten our eyes. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.320 And I love what Ezra's saying. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.639 Grant us a little what? 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:12.799 A little reviving, right? 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:15.519 Just, you know, the whole thing that happened in Ezra 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.879 with the rebuilding of the temple was a little reviving, right? 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.639 But God was being good to the people of God. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:25.360 You have given us revival, right? 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:27.799 And it's basically saying you have been good to us 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:30.120 when we don't deserve it, right? 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:31.519 It's showing the love. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.000 It reminds me of how God is good to us 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.799 that Christ gave us Jesus, 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.199 or that God gave us Jesus Christ 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:39.799 despite the fact that we are sinners. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:42.120 There's a parallel that we can see there. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.559 Verse nine, we are slaves. 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:45.720 Our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.319 but has extend to us his steadfast love 00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:49.799 before the kings of Persia 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:53.399 and grant us some reviving to set up the house of God 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.559 to repair its ruins. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:57.479 It goes on in verse 10. 00:10:57.479 --> 00:11:00.279 We have forsaken your commandments, right? 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:01.639 It goes verse 12, right? 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:05.559 Don't, they're recognizing the wrong that they have done. 00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:08.399 And after all of this, right, 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:12.359 it's they are, he is confessing to God, 00:11:13.199 --> 00:11:14.759 the sin of intermarriage, 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:18.199 the wrong that the people had done. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.200 This then leads us into chapter 10 then. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.759 If you go to chapter 10, 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.720 while Ezra prayed and made a confession, 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.480 weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.920 a very great assembly of men, women and children 00:11:30.920 --> 00:11:33.040 gathered to him out of Israel. 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:36.360 And for the people, they wept bitterly. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.800 They recognized what was going on. 00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:41.480 They recognized that Ezra was confessing, 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:44.220 that he was praying, that he was grieving. 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:48.120 So here's another powerful thing that's happening, right? 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:49.440 It then goes into, 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.639 so they're recognizing what's going on, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.299 verses two through five. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.560 You see here, we have broken faith with our God 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:57.940 and we have married foreign women 00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:59.360 from the people of the land. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.519 But even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:05.200 Therefore, let us make a covenant with our God 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.159 to put away all these wives and their children 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:08.840 according to the counsel of my Lord 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:12.279 and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:14.000 Isn't that rededication? 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.980 They're recognizing the wrong that they have done 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.659 and they're saying, you know what? 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:23.019 We wanna come back to the Lord. 00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:24.820 We're recognizing what's been going on 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:27.980 and we are ready to make a covenant with our God. 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:31.220 Arise at verse four, it is your task 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:33.980 and then we are with you, be strong and do it. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:37.519 So what's happening here is that in verses six, 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:41.899 you see that Ezra is calling for the assembly to gather, 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:44.779 right, it says here, 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:47.819 Ezra withdrew before the house of God went to the chamber. 00:12:48.819 --> 00:12:50.699 Verse seven, a proclamation was made 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:52.259 throughout Judah and Jerusalem 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.819 to all the returned exiles 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:56.299 that they should assemble at Jerusalem. 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.860 If anyone didn't come in three days, 00:12:57.860 --> 00:13:00.779 well, there's a consequence for that. 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:04.259 Then verses nine, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:07.079 assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. 00:13:07.079 --> 00:13:08.779 It goes on in verse 10, 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:10.899 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:13.659 you have broken faith and married foreign women 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:15.980 and so increase the guilt of Israel. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:18.100 Now make the confession to the Lord, 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.220 to the God your fathers and do his will. 00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:24.699 It is the separation from sin, the wrong that they had done. 00:13:24.699 --> 00:13:27.779 And then in verse 12 through 17, 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:29.659 this is where it's saying, 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.179 it is so we must do as you have said, 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:35.360 the people are many and the time is of great heavy rain. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.100 We cannot stand in the open. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.939 Let our, verse 14, let our officials 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:40.299 stand for the whole assembly. 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:42.620 Let all the cities who have taken foreign wives 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.740 come at a point in times, 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:45.859 basically saying there's so many people who are sinning, 00:13:45.859 --> 00:13:46.979 there's gonna be a long line here. 00:13:46.979 --> 00:13:48.859 It's gonna take some time here. 00:13:48.859 --> 00:13:50.779 That's basically what's happening here. 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:54.659 And then verse 15, this is an interesting one. 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:58.899 Only Jonathan, the son of Aschile, right? 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:01.339 It's saying he opposed this. 00:14:01.339 --> 00:14:03.179 There's only a couple of people that actually opposed 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:05.939 this declaration by Ezra. 00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:08.620 And then we go into verse 16, 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.940 then the returned exiles did so, 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:15.779 Ezra the priest selected men's heads of father's houses, 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.740 according to their father's houses. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:20.580 Verse 17, the first day of the first month, 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:23.379 they had all come to an end of the men 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:25.440 who had married foreign women. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:29.179 Then we have the last verses 18 through 44, 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:31.620 where we have yet another list here. 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:34.139 Verse 18, there were some, 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:37.340 now there were found some of the sons of the priests 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.419 who had married foreign women. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:40.500 And it gives a list here. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:43.459 Verse 19, they pledged themselves to put away their wives 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:46.059 and guilt offering was made. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:50.419 And then verse 44, all these had married foreign women, 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:51.860 some of them even bore children. 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:53.699 So it's talking about once again, 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:56.379 the mixing with the holy race. 00:14:56.379 --> 00:15:01.379 And that is chapter nine and chapter 10 here. 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.219 And it makes us think then for a moment, 00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:06.539 well, what can we learn from these? 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:08.699 The first thing that we can learn here 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:10.299 is that the people of God, 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:14.019 they were called to separate themselves from sin. 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:18.099 As I mentioned, it was to allow for the lineage to happen 00:15:18.099 --> 00:15:20.719 so that Jesus Christ would be born. 00:15:20.719 --> 00:15:24.219 And so that we here today can receive 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:27.279 in the inheritance that is from Christ. 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:31.939 So we receive the inheritance that was set long ago in Christ. 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:34.899 And the only other time we see something about marriage 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:38.179 in this type of context has to do with 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:40.899 who we associate with and who we marry. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.980 If you're marrying a believer, 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:44.419 you have some people who are very big on saying, 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:46.539 don't marry non-believers. 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:51.059 And when we're talking about 2nd Corinthians 614 through 17, 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.860 that's the famous verse that talks about 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:55.659 not being unequally yoked. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.659 And so that's another time where you'll see it, 00:15:57.659 --> 00:16:02.019 but it's not as heavy as what once was in Ezra. 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:05.379 The second thing then is that we can learn is that 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:08.659 Ezra prayed to God and he used his leadership 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:10.659 to stand for righteousness. 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:15.659 And so Ezra, if you picture the scene, 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:19.620 the vessels and the Levites and the servants are coming, 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.980 and Ezra is there and people are coming to him 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:25.579 and saying that the people have not changed their ways. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:28.179 They have not separated themselves from sin. 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:33.179 He is using himself as a leader to pray before the Lord, 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:37.859 praying to God and asking for forgiveness 00:16:37.859 --> 00:16:41.139 on behalf of the people of God. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.179 Now previously you've heard me talk about 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:47.539 how important it is for us to pray for our leaders, 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:49.819 to pray for politicians. 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:51.139 I know we're on the eve, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.019 we're getting very close to an election 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:58.019 and we pray for the Spirit of God to work in whatever 00:16:58.019 --> 00:17:00.620 administration comes in, because I believe, 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:02.299 just as we've seen in Ezra, 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:05.500 that the Spirit of God can work in our leaders, amen. 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:07.019 So that's a very powerful thing. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:09.539 And in the same way, if you are a leader 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:12.940 and you are a Christian, you are a godly man or a woman, 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:15.819 you should pray over the people who you lead, 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:19.339 who you minister to, or if you're running a corporation, 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:22.220 your employees, if you're working at a nonprofit, 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:26.059 you're a volunteer, if you're a teacher, you're students. 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:28.259 So it's this mutual thing when we're talking 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.500 about the power of prayer, 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:33.500 pray for those that you oversee. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.180 I know that's very military language, 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:37.539 but it's also even in the church, 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:40.660 something that I as a pastor am called to do 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:43.220 is to pray for the congregation. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:47.140 And you see that in leadership, and that's what Ezra did. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:49.860 He used his leadership and he stood up for righteousness. 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:53.859 He took his platform and he used his power 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:56.859 to speak to the people of God saying, you need to repent. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:59.299 And now I understand that may not always be possible 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:02.379 nowadays, but we can still appreciate 00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:04.939 what had been done in that time period. 00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:08.379 The third thing then is that God's goodness 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:11.299 remains even during sin. 00:18:12.459 --> 00:18:15.379 In Romans chapter five, verse eight, 00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:19.539 it reminds us that while we were sinners, 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:22.500 Christ died for us. 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:24.299 Isn't that incredible? 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:29.299 We think about with Ezra how God was still working 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:35.460 through the people of God, through leaders, 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:39.859 revival was happening despite them being sinners. 00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:45.099 We have to think about us that despite all of the sin 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:47.220 that we have done in the eyes of God, 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:49.940 Christ still died for our sins. 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:52.579 It's a wonderful connection that we can see 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:56.299 from a historical and a biblical account. 00:18:56.299 --> 00:19:00.420 So despite the people's sins, God's mercy allowed, 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:05.420 he gave the people the opportunity to repent. 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:09.140 And he gave them this chance to realign. 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:11.339 I mean, isn't that powerful where the people of God 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:15.100 are saying we're going to rededicate ourselves to the Lord? 00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:19.539 I mean, I can't think of how many people there were, 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:22.500 but thinking of gathering of people coming together, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:26.099 we're going to realign ourselves with the living God 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:28.019 is absolutely powerful. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.419 I'm reminded of Psalm 103, 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:36.459 which mentions that the Lord is merciful and gracious. 00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:39.219 He is slow to anger, right? 00:19:39.219 --> 00:19:44.059 You had, I also think of the prayer 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:47.179 that David prayed in Psalm 51, 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:51.019 creating me a clean heart, oh God, 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:53.460 and renew a right spirit within me. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.500 I know there's different variations of that. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:57.579 You might be, that's a different translation, 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.059 but you get the idea here. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:01.740 And so God is good to us, 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:04.339 even despite the fact that we are sinners. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:08.179 He extends an invitation for us to believe in him 00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:09.179 through faith. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:14.180 There's God's grace, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.060 Our God is good. 00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:18.980 And then also the other thing we can learn 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:23.980 is that the people of God responded to unity, in unity. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:27.860 The community together repented together. 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:30.700 They heard the message of Ezra, 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:33.779 and they were showing the sense of accountability. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:35.420 And you know what this reminds me of? 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:40.420 What I gave a message series about Jonah, right? 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:45.779 You had Jonah the prophet who resisted God 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:49.900 and he got eaten by the big fish, right? 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:52.539 Well, he finally goes and he proclaims 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:54.660 that the city of Nineveh needs to repent 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:56.340 and the people respond. 00:20:57.220 --> 00:21:00.860 And just like in Jonah, the people are responding, 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:03.180 recognizing their sin, and it's much like 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:05.779 what we're seeing here, Ezra the prophet 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:10.299 is seeing the magnitude of the sin that's happening 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:12.820 and saying, you guys have got to repent. 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:15.580 You've got to have a changing of the mind, right? 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:18.860 You've got to turn from your sin. 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:20.660 You've heard me mention many times before, 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:23.500 and I'll mention it again, repentance, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:26.820 the changing of the mind, right? 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:29.820 It is the turning, right? 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:33.339 The changing the trajectory of our lives 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:36.700 and to think of that as the people together, 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:39.659 restoration and accountability. 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.460 How wonderful is that we're ready 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:43.179 to rededicate our lives to God. 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:46.019 We're ready to follow the Lord wherever he will lead. 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:51.299 And so the difference with Jonah and Ezra 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.819 is that one was talking about impending judgment. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:58.000 If you don't change, there's gonna be judgment. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:01.539 In Ezra, it's look at the good 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:04.579 that God has done for us. 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:07.019 And it makes me think of nowadays how 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:09.940 when we think of evangelism and sharing in the word of God 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:12.619 or we're thinking of repentance, 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:15.099 many of us may come to the Lord in bad times. 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:18.420 How many of us come to the Lord in good times? 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:20.500 It's just as important that people come 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:22.019 to the Lord in good times. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:26.460 And I think very often we forget 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:31.460 how many blessings we have here in America. 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:37.380 Will you come to the Lord even when you have a lot of good 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:41.299 compared to other cultures, other countries? 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:43.700 And so in all of this, this then comes to the question 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.420 then, well, what do I do about this? 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:48.220 All right, you're talking about pastor 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:51.100 that Ezra prayed a prayer of repentance 00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:53.420 and the people of God responded. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:55.340 You talked about the sin of intermarriage 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:57.939 and how there's the need of separation of sin. 00:22:57.939 --> 00:23:01.980 Well, how can I apply this to my own life? 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:05.819 What can I specifically do in my own walk with the Lord? 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.459 This is why it's so important for us 00:23:07.459 --> 00:23:09.919 to observe the text, what's going on, 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.939 to interpret and learn the lessons. 00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:14.699 And then finally, what is the application? 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:16.579 What can we do about that? 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:19.419 And the first thing is to respond to God's call 00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:23.539 for salvation through belief in Jesus Christ. 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:30.500 Because you see, God was good to the people of God and in Ezra. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:35.740 And God is good to us by sending his son Jesus Christ, who 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:41.259 changed the course of history, offering the free gift 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.819 of salvation through belief. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:48.539 And what we must do as people, if we don't believe in the Lord, 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:54.299 let this be a call for you to respond to salvation through faith, 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:57.659 believing in the death, the burial, 00:23:57.659 --> 00:24:00.460 and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:04.299 It is acknowledging that we believe in the Lord. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:07.659 We believe in who Jesus Christ is. 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:10.859 Have you responded to that? 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:15.139 And if you haven't, you definitely should do it. 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:18.620 In John chapter 6, verse 29, the work of God 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:21.580 is this, to believe in the one that he 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:25.540 has sent, which is referencing Jesus Christ. 00:24:25.540 --> 00:24:29.860 The second thing then is to put away sin, the former life, 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:32.220 and to put on the new self. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:35.140 Ephesians chapter 4, verses 22 through 24, 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:40.460 is to put off your old self, to be renewed in the spirit. 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:44.420 Be renewed in the spirit and to put on the new self created 00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.539 to be like God. 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:48.940 Do you realize that God is holy, that God is good, 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:52.060 that God is just and righteous? 00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:54.539 Think of the opposite of that. 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.900 Unrighteousness, right? 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.940 Evil, darkness. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:01.259 I don't know about you, but I don't want to be in darkness. 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:03.700 I don't want to live a life that's a lie. 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:06.300 I want to live in the truth. 00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:09.100 I want to live in the light. 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:12.180 And so when we think about becoming a Christian, 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:17.180 just as I mentioned the imagery of vessels being transferred 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:20.620 from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of light, 00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:25.060 we are called to become more like the Lord. 00:25:25.060 --> 00:25:26.220 It's a constant thing, right? 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.860 We are saved by grace through faith, 00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:29.820 and we become more sanctified. 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:31.539 We become more holy. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:34.539 We are to be on a journey to be more like the Lord. 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:37.380 Whenever I see this language, maybe you might agree, 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:39.980 maybe you might not identify. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:43.099 When I think of putting on and putting off your old self, 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.539 I always think of it's like you're 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:48.140 putting on new clothing as it were, right? 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:51.660 You have a new identity that exists in Christ. 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:54.220 When we're thinking about putting on the new self, 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:59.620 exhibiting compassion, love, the grace of God, exhibiting 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:02.740 patience, I mean, when we went through clotions, 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:06.059 we talked about what the new self looks like 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.500 and how powerful that is. 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:14.180 Look, all of these things, doesn't the world need transformation? 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:18.019 Doesn't the world need the love of God? 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:20.299 Doesn't the world need so much of this 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:23.380 to be renewed in the spirit? 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.500 That's wonderful. 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:26.700 Let's forget about former life. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.700 Let's put it aside. 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:30.019 I don't want to think about where I was, 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:33.660 except the fact of this is where God changed me. 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:36.220 This is where God moved in my life. 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.539 But you let it go. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:41.579 You move on and you move forward in the Lord. 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:45.740 And the third thing, then, is to follow God's specific call 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:47.500 for your life. 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:53.100 God calls us into salvation, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:55.259 to be on a path of growing in the Lord. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.299 The Lord wants us to have a relationship with Him, 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:04.220 and God certainly calls for each and every one of us 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:06.900 for a certain calling. 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:10.380 If you don't know God's calling for your life, that's OK. 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:13.420 See to it that you ask the Lord. 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.380 You pray to the Lord. 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:18.259 And sometimes I found very often, 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.940 your brothers and sisters in Christ 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:23.140 will acknowledge a lot of things. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.940 They'll acknowledge. 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:27.539 They'll affirm God's calling for your life. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:30.460 So where is God moving in your life? 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:33.860 Is God calling you to take a specific position, 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:36.699 or to take a certain class, or maybe not 00:27:36.699 --> 00:27:39.259 take a specific class? 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:43.819 Maybe God wants you to start having conversations 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:46.339 with a family member or a friend that you haven't 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:49.339 talked to in a while. 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:52.219 There's many things that God can call for us specifically. 00:27:52.219 --> 00:27:55.179 And I put up Ephesians here. 00:27:55.179 --> 00:28:00.299 Now, many of you know Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 9, 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:02.379 for by grace you have been saved. 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:05.060 It is not by works, lest any man boast. 00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:06.740 We know that verse. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:09.540 A lot of us forget the following verse. 00:28:09.540 --> 00:28:12.260 And I've always come to appreciate it, 00:28:12.260 --> 00:28:13.980 that because we believe in the Lord 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:17.660 and we're saved by grace through faith, it's not by works. 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:20.380 We are His workmanship. 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:24.660 That we are created in Christ for good works. 00:28:27.540 --> 00:28:31.140 We're not saved by good works. 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:33.700 We are created for good works. 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:36.580 Salvation comes first. 00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:39.340 Works come after the fact. 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:42.259 In which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:47.220 And so God's plan and intention is for us to be saved. 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:50.940 And God calls us for our specific calling. 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:54.860 And the next thing then is to step up and call for others 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:56.180 to respond to God's call. 00:28:56.180 --> 00:29:00.980 And I think of Matthew chapter 5, verse 14 through 16. 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.660 Doesn't it remind you of the song, 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:04.019 This Little Light of Mine? 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:06.299 I'm going to let it shine. 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.579 This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:11.220 Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:14.620 Many of you may know that verse in the song. 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:16.900 Hide it under a bushel. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.700 No, right? 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:19.220 Ah, you guys did it, right? 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.339 I'm going to let it shine. 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.900 Hide it under a bushel. 00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:24.380 No, I'm going to let it shine. 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:26.860 It's kind of hard speaking it without singing it, right? 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:31.179 But in that, it's a great reminder of a biblical truth 00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:35.219 that we are to let our light, the light of Christ, 00:29:35.219 --> 00:29:37.579 shine before others. 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:40.179 Not to hide it under a bushel, right? 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:42.859 Not to hide the light, but to let it shine 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.139 for that others could see. 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:48.579 And so there's a call for us as we are Christian, 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:53.899 as we grow in the faith to share our faith in Christ 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.859 with other people. 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:58.459 That certainly can look like having a conversation 00:29:58.459 --> 00:30:01.859 with others, but also how equally important 00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:05.500 is it for us to walk the walk, right? 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:09.539 We talk the talk and we also walk the walk. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:12.500 Because if we're not exhibiting love and patience 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:17.579 in our everyday lives, some people might say, hey, 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.099 are you really a Christian, right? 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:21.819 It happens all the time. 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:24.699 And so call for others. 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:28.299 What does that look like for you specifically? 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:31.980 Does it look like having more conversations? 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:37.180 Does it look like living it out better? 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.660 That's between you and the Lord. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.900 But certainly there is a call. 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:42.779 And don't let your light. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:44.380 Let it shine. 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:46.740 Don't hide it under a bushel. 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:48.660 But let it shine. 00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:53.940 And the fifth thing, finally, is that we pray for revival 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:57.620 in this land and to move hearts. 00:30:57.620 --> 00:31:02.299 And this is the powerful thing that we learn in Ezra. 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:05.539 There was a moving of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:09.259 Just as Ezra was saying, I think Ezra 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.779 was being serious when he said there was a little reviving. 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:15.820 But I think it's kind of a fun play on words, right? 00:31:15.820 --> 00:31:19.420 If that's a little reviving, what does a big reviving look 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.580 like? 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:25.419 What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to move 00:31:25.419 --> 00:31:30.299 in the hearts of our friends, our families? 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:34.579 What does it look like for revival? 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:39.500 Ezra teaches us how the Holy Spirit can move 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:43.779 in the hearts of the people of God through pagan kings 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:46.659 and through sinners. 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:51.060 And that is remarkable, and that should encourage us 00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:53.860 to pray to God. 00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:55.259 That revival will happen. 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:58.420 That there will be a stirring, a moving of our hearts, 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:02.380 but also those who are yet to believe in Jesus Christ. 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:06.740 For the vessels that are still in darkness. 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:10.580 For the ones that are like the lost sheep, so to speak. 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:15.340 The ones that are yet to follow the great shepherd in Jesus 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:17.699 Christ. 00:32:17.699 --> 00:32:23.099 We've got to pray that there will be change in this city. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.859 Right? 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:27.500 In the same way that I've said, we've got to pray for this election 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.779 that the Holy Spirit will move in the heart. 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:33.899 And whoever wins, I'm more concerned about the Holy Spirit 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:38.579 moving in the next administration, regardless of who it is. 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.579 I'm more concerned about that. 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:43.500 I'm certainly concerned that we've got to pray 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:46.460 that the Holy Spirit will move in our community, 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:49.019 in our leaders within the community. 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:53.940 And look, the fact that we are a border town, we have Oregon 00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:56.819 and we have Idaho, very different states. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:59.619 We've got to pray for both sides. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:02.539 That's a responsibility for us. 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:05.980 We've got to pray that we balance the grace and the love of Jesus 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:09.339 Christ and the truth of God's word. 00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:15.459 And that the Holy Spirit will move for repentance, for change, 00:33:15.459 --> 00:33:19.139 for the coming to know who Jesus Christ is. 00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:22.819 And that that same spirit that is moved in what we find in Ezra, 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:26.220 we also find in throughout scripture. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:31.220 We know that our God is living inactive, much like the Word of God 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.579 is living inactive. 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:37.579 And we know that transformation comes from our Lord. 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:40.539 And that is why I am a Christian. 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:43.099 It's because there is salvation in him. 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.139 There's new life that's in him. 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:49.460 There's renewal and restoration and transformation 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:52.099 that comes from the Lord. 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:57.579 And I encourage all of you as we conclude this sermon series, 00:33:57.579 --> 00:34:03.179 as we finish off this Ezra series that we ask God, 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:07.620 that we pray that God will awaken our hearts, 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:11.340 that the Holy Spirit will move in our lives, 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:13.300 in this area, in this land. 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:15.059 Let's pray for healing. 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.860 Let's pray for revival. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:19.099 Let's pray for people to come to the Lord, 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:22.019 to leave the former self. 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:28.139 Leave it behind the hatred, the sin, the nastiness. 00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:30.780 And come to the Lord and put on that new self. 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:33.540 Let's pray together. 00:34:33.540 --> 00:34:36.220 Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, we 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:39.940 thank you for this time together, as we have just 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:44.700 concluded this wonderful book of Ezra. 00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:51.060 But just as we conclude one book that doesn't mean 00:34:51.060 --> 00:34:56.420 that we are to stop growing in you, we pray, Father, 00:34:56.420 --> 00:35:00.100 that truth, the truth that was spoken here, 00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:03.900 may stir our minds and our hearts and our spirits. 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:06.059 We pray for transformation in our lives, 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:09.619 but also that your love will flow out. 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:11.659 You have poured your love into us. 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:14.739 You've poured your Holy Spirit into us. 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:19.059 We ask that we can pour it out to others. 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:23.460 And as we sing this last song, Because He Lives, 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:26.739 I Can Face Tomorrow, may we be reminded 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:30.659 of the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus 00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:36.859 Christ, that because He lives, yes, we can face tomorrow, 00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:40.219 that you are with us, that you will not abandon us, 00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:44.139 you will not forsake it, you will not forsake us, 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:47.779 and that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:53.779 And so we pray, Father, for a little reviving in our lives, 00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:57.180 in our friends, our family, our church, our community, 00:35:57.180 --> 00:35:59.820 and in our nation. 00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:02.100 We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.820 We pray together. 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:04.060 Amen. 00:36:04.060 --> 00:36:05.019 Amen. 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:07.740 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church 00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:09.100 sermon podcast. 00:36:09.100 --> 00:36:11.860 For more about our church and how you can get involved 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:17.019 or support our mission, please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:26.460 May God's blessings be with you.