Who is there among you of all His people? his GOD be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD GOD of Israel, (He is the GOD,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of GOD that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit GOD had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. (Ezra 1:3-6)
Our journey through Mark now complete, we turn our attention to the history in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Ezra was a faithful scribe who collected many of the books of the Old Testament after the books of the Law and the books of wisdom and gathered them together, though not the same way we know them, into the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. He begins his chronicle with the command and proclamation by Cyrus for the Jews to go back to Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild the temple which Babylon had torn down when Jerusalem was overthrown and the Jews were captured. The captivity of the Jews is drawing to a close and GOD has moved to return His people to their land and build a new temple that they may worship Him in spirit and in truth.
When GOD moves, we must strengthen ourselves to the work, not in our own strength, or relying simply on our talents, abilities, strengths, and knowledge, but resting in His power, gifts, wisdom, and direction, to accomplish His will and do His work in this lost and dying world. Whatever GOD has called us to do for Him, we must do His work as His ambassadors and servants in this broken and sinful world He has called us to serve in for as long as we are here. He will strengthen us to whatever He brings us to do, and provide all our needs that He may be glorified in the work He does in us, just as He did with the Jews that He sent to build a new temple for Him in Jerusalem.
Then the Jews who were obedient and faithful focused their worship on the Law and the sacrifices, so they needed a temple, the priests, and all the instruments of their worship to meet GOD. Today, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within us, and we worship all the time, the GOD who redeemed us from the Law and from sin when we repented of our sin, that we might serve Him whom we have received by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Though a new temple is coming, and GOD will call back the Jews to Himself, and all nations will worship in that temple for a thousand years, and Christ Himself will be there as He rules and reigns on this earth, that is a future still to come.
Until that day, we are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit where He sends us, and as we go, to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
When GOD moves, we must strengthen ourselves to the work, not in our own strength, or relying simply on our talents, abilities, strengths, and knowledge, but resting in His power, gifts, wisdom, and direction, to accomplish His will and do His work in this lost and dying world. Whatever GOD has called us to do for Him, we must do His work as His ambassadors and servants in this broken and sinful world He has called us to serve in for as long as we are here. He will strengthen us to whatever He brings us to do, and provide all our needs that He may be glorified in the work He does in us, just as He did with the Jews that He sent to build a new temple for Him in Jerusalem.
Then the Jews who were obedient and faithful focused their worship on the Law and the sacrifices, so they needed a temple, the priests, and all the instruments of their worship to meet GOD. Today, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within us, and we worship all the time, the GOD who redeemed us from the Law and from sin when we repented of our sin, that we might serve Him whom we have received by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Though a new temple is coming, and GOD will call back the Jews to Himself, and all nations will worship in that temple for a thousand years, and Christ Himself will be there as He rules and reigns on this earth, that is a future still to come.
Until that day, we are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit where He sends us, and as we go, to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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