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Lessons From Ezra

Ezra 1:2 (7/13/17)

July 13, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* CYRUS - The first words we hear from him was his recognition that the God of the Jews was the One who had given him the kingdoms of the earth. * Where do you think he got that idea? * He came into power when Daniel was alive. * Daniel 4:25 - Cyrus knew of the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that Daniel interpreted and how he lived like an animal for 7 years. * Daniel 5:20-21 - He knew of Belshazzar’s pride as well. * On both occasions both kings were warned by God to see Him as sovereign over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to whomever He wishes. * God used the testimony of faithful Daniel and two faithless kings to guide another man in making a decision to bless His people. * ARTAXERXES - Ezra 7:12-19 - Where do you think he got the idea to bless the people of Israel and present an offering to God? * He was the son of Xerxes, who was the Ahasuerus married to Esther. * He probably remembered well the situation with Haman and how that worked out for him when he stood against the Jews. * He probably looked up to Mordecai. * vs 19 - He specifically mentions cups, then in vs 23 he mentions the wrath of God. * He probably knew very well what King Belshazzar had done with the cups and the handwriting on the wall that predicted his death. * God uses testimony to bless His people.

Ezra 1:3 (8/14/14)

August 14, 2014 • Benham Brothers

Israel was once the leading power in the world, and the only way they would fall was from within. They rebelled against God so they lost their power and were exiled to Babylon. God mercifully restored the Jews to Jerusalem, but this time it was different. They were no longer the governing authority - they were subserviant to other nations. They could worship as they saw fit but they couldn't govern their city (because of their rebellion). This was about 400+ years before Jesus came - so when He came they were under Roman rule. The Jews were waiting on the Messiah to come from God and re-establish their kingdom (governing authority). Jesus came to bring God's Kingdom (His rule) to the earth but spiritually and not physically. This is why the Jews rejected Him. Jesus came to govern the hearts of men, and from this it would express itself among his fellow man. So now we rule our individual lives under God's rule, thus influencing our realms. Collectively as the church we "legislate" God's rule in our in our culture / society

Ezra 2:61-62 (7/10/19)

July 10, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* Because these priests couldn’t trace their ancestry they were disqualified to do their job. * Heritage was extremely important to the Jews because only certain family lines could do certain jobs, especially in regards to the Temple service. * Only descendants of Aaron could be high priests. * Only descendants of Levi could be priests. * Without a genealogy they couldn’t be certain they were pleasing God. * Identity was tied to their work. * They couldn’t complete their work if they didn’t know who they were. * Acts 17:28 - If you don’t know who you are in Christ you won’t be able to complete the work He’s called you to do. * KEY - Knowing your identity as God’s kid gives you the PULL rather than the PUSH. * When you’re “pushed” to do something you do it because it’s right and you know you should be doing it - born out of guilt and fear. * When you’re “pulled” to do something you can’t help but do it because it’s fueled by your nature - you were born to do it, so it’s fueled by gratitude and faith. * Ask yourself - “Do I feel more energized the more I do the thing?” * If not, you’re operating out of the push and not the pull. * There may be a time for that, but ultimately you should be in the pull. * Being pulled means you’re operating out of your identity.

Ezra 3:1-6 (7/7/16)

July 7, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• vs 1-2 - The Jews were back in Jerusalem bc Cyrus of Babylon was compelled by God to let them go. • Their first task was to rebuild the temple. • vs 6 - But before they worked on the temple they rebuilt the altar. • This would be like building a kitchen before building the house. • All too often we jump out and start doing something out of a sense of duty without a heart of worship. • When worship fuels our work then grace fills our ministry. • Testimony of writing Living Among Lions.

Ezra 4:3 (11/22/23)

November 22, 2023 • Benham Brothers • Ezra 4:3

* When it comes to relationships, Christians have to maintain distance from those who are not like-minded in Christ.     * Not that you can't be friends, but you should not have intimate friendships, partnerships, or marriages with those who are not of the same spirit.     * This isn’t just about believers and non-believers.    * It’s about Biblical thinkers.  * Backstory - The Israelites were back in Jerusalem and began to rebuild the Temple.    * Certain Samaritans lived there, who were secretly enemies of God.    * They offered to help.  * Vs 3 - “But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”   * Why didn’t they accept their help?    * Because they understood a powerful principle - Mixture Corrupts.     * Just one drop of poison in a gallon of water and the entire gallon is ruined.       * These people didn’t truly honor God w/their lives.    * Those who are not of like-mind will negatively affect you, and not the other way around.     * If you throw a white glove in the mud the glove gets muddy, the mud doesn't get glovey.   * Law of Exposure - what you expose yourself to dramatically shapes how you think, feel, and act.    * Our mind is receptive by nature and hence every exposure leaves its imprint on mind.    * Our mind then starts thinking about it, and gradually shapes our thinking, feeling and behavior accordingly.    * And we are not even aware of this subtle programming. * Jim Rohn - “You are the average of the five people you are keeping company wth.”  * Exercise - take the next week, and ask yourself how you feel after hanging around certain people.    * Did they energize you or suck the life out of you?    * If they exhaust you, that’s not your inner circle. 

Ezra 4-6 (7/10/19)

July 10, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* King Cyrus issued a decree to let the Israelites go back to Jerusalem and paid to have the temple rebuilt. * Enemies arose and stopped the work. * They sent letters to the new King Darius to have him stop the work - it backfired and he ended up continuing to pay for it. * Who was in office at that time? DANIEL! * We get a chance to see how a faithful man had a tremendous influence on the lives of countless people 500 miles away.

Ezra 6 (7/11/19)

July 11, 2019 • Benham Brothers

Ezra 7:9-10 (7/11/13)

July 11, 2013 • Benham Brothers

Learn about God - spend time with Him Do what He says - obey what you've read Teach others - give what you know to others (help them) This is the formula for God's hand being on you

Ezra 7:9-10 (7/9/20)

July 9, 2020 • Benham Brothers

Ezra 7:24-25 (7/14/16)

July 14, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• King Artaxerxes of Persia gave tax exempt status to the Levites thousands of years ago! • He saw such value in “the church” and Ezra its representative that he gave him authority to appoint all the governing officials in Israel. • That would be like the president asking Franklin Graham to appoint the congress and supreme court. • The church was valuable and the government of Persia recognized it as such. • The Bible was the most quoted source by the founding fathers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. • They saw the church playing a valuable role in society and in the development of a new nation. • Why? Because their new form of civil gov was based on self gov - the church was the one who would teach people to properly govern themselves. • In the preamble - “promote the general welfare” - people were to “provide” their own welfare and the church helped them do it. • States started passing tax-exempt status’s for churches, and they were using the extra $$ to build hospitals, schools, community centers, and to help the poor, etc. • But the church started using $$ to build big buildings for itself, government took over - it now “provides” welfare. • We need the church to be more valuable to society once again.

Ezra 8:22 (7/16/15)

July 16, 2015 • Benham Brothers

Ezra 7:9 - Ezra left Babylon and traveled to Jerusalem, 900 miles away. Ezra 7:26 - The pagan king wanted to force Jews to worship their true God. This isn't the way of Christ today - He did not come to set up a theocracy. Ezra 8:22 - Ezra was going to leave and proclaimed a fast for God's provision and protection. He refused to ask the king for an escort. Why? Because God's honor was at stake. The king knew Ezra to be a man who trusted in God, so he wanted to give God a chance to prove that He was faithful. Ezra's faith intersected with God's faithfulness At the intersection of the two, change takes place. There are things we can say yes to, but we need to always recognize that God's honor is at stake.

Ezra 9:1(7/16/15)

July 16, 2015 • Benham Brothers

The leaders of the Jews were marrying foreign women, which was forbidden. Mixture is always a contaminate of purity. Take a glass of water and put one drop of poison in it - it's no longer pure. We are not to allow mixture into our hearts, nor into our nation. Ezra tore his clothes, not because he mixed with pagans, but because the leaders of his nation did. God judges people when they die. He judges nations here and now. National sin is preceded by personal sin. We repent of personal sin first, then we repent of national sin. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Ezra 9:1-7 (7/14/16)

July 14, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• The Jews had intermarried with the other nations, which was direct disobedience to God. • When Ezra found out about it he called for public repentance. • Why? Because it was a sin taking place in his nation and it wasn’t being dealt with - it was seen as “ok” in the culture. • Nehemiah 1:4-7 - the walls were broken down and Jewish culture was a disaster. • He saw the condition of Jerusalem as God’s punishment for the nation of Israel. • Nehemiah and Ezra prayed, “our sins….” they recognized there are two sins that require repentance - personal sin and national sin. • How do you know it’s national sin? When what God calls sin is tolerated and/or celebrated. • God deals with national sin by national punishment - enemies rule over us, justice trampled in the streets, bloodshed follows bloodshed, violence of unprecedented order, etc. • We need to do three things: • 1) Repent personally. • 2) Repent as a nation - starts in the house of God. • 3) Tear down the high places - the things that are abominations to God.