Rebuilding is a process. There is often joy that comes with the effort, but there can be sorrow, too. One thing we can count on for sure, is that there will always be challenges to face, including the fact that there will be opposition. Let’s see what we can learn from Ezra 3-6.
I. THERE WILL BE JOY – Ezra 3:8-11
A. Four Parallel Lessons from V8:
1. God has us! (Hebrews 10:26-27)
2. His ! (Acts 17:30; 2 Thess. 1:8)
3. God keeps (2 Peter 3:9).
4. He expects us to ! (James 1:22-25)
B. What was the Israelite’s reaction to seeing the foundation laid (Ezra 3:11)?
C. We desire God’s ! That is why we are here!
Scripture references: Jeremiah 29:10-14; Isaiah 44:28; Amos 5:23; 6:5
Notes:
II. THERE WILL BE SORROW – Ezra 3:12-13
A. Why did the old men weep?
B. Some people get so caught up in that they cannot get excited about what ! Others are so willing to embrace that they forget about what !
C. The church will no more than will allow it to .
D. Application: Here is what we can and must do – we can the Lord, we can to Him, we can us to do, and we must today.
Scripture references: 1 Kings 6:1-6, 8:43, 9:3; Haggai 1:1-5, 1:12-15, 2:3; Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17
Notes:
III. THERE WILL BE OPPOSITION – Ezra 4:1-6
A. Any time God’s people are led to do a great thing for God, such as seen here in rebuilding His Holy Temple, there will be opposition.
Scripture references: Nehemiah 8:3,4
Notes: