God work in Ezra/Nehemiah
Ezra/Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Ezra 1:1a Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia
We have been learning that the Bible story is God’s story of promise and redemption. This is certainly the case with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. God has set the stage and made promises for the purpose of his great Story.
God Anoints
God Anoints
God works in History
Cyrus becoming the king of Persia and the Babylonians was not a matter of chance
Many decades before God had determined that Cyrus would become king and that he would be charged with delivering Israel back to Jerusalem
Isaiah 44:24-28, Isaiah 45:1-13 Cyrus shall perform according to God’s pleasure
Cyrus’ appointment was according to the timeline of God (70 years from the time that Israel was brought out of their own country)
Cyrus could not have been appointed one year earlier or later but exactly when God decided.
70 years of rest for the land of promise, God’s land that had been defiled and forsaken (Jeremiah 25:12-14, 29:10)
God Speaks and Fulfills
God Speaks and Fulfills
God works from without
Decades before the anointing of Cyrus, God had been anointing prophets to establish his plans
God worked through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah to state the plan of God so that all would know that he is the one who speaks and fulfills
God’s prophecy is what moved Cyrus to send and build the house of the Lord
God charged Cyrus with his work and showed himself true through his prophecies
Cyrus had to confess that the God of Isaiah was the God of Heaven
Cyrus looks to others that have also been charged by God (vs 3) men like Ezra and Nehemiah
God Stirs up
God Stirs up
God works from within
God stirs up the spirit of Cyrus to prepare the work
He understood that God had put him in this place for this reason and was willing to do the work
God also stirs up leaders and priests to accomplish the work (vs 5)
God works in mens hearts and draws them and prepares them
God is not bound outside the hearts of man but through his spirit and his word he reaches inside man to accomplish his plans
His Spirit draws and convicts the hearts of man (John 16:8-10)
The Word pierces into our heart (Hebrews 4:12)
Why is this so important for God to work through history and from within and without of Cyrus?
God always keeps his promises
God is preparing the way for his Messiah to come unto the scene
God is teaching us how he works and moves in our midst as well
Are you trusting in God’s work in your life?
All around you and even in you, god is at work
Do you see God’s amazing work to bring salvation to his people and all people?
This is not a work of man but only the work of God
Do you realize God did all of this to draw you to himself?
God’s Spirit and God’s Word are speaking with you today!
God has worked through history, he has called you from without through the work of Beginnings Baptist Church, and he is calling from within you by his Spirit and his Word that you might be reconciled with him