Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, (Ezra 4:1-4)
As often happens when God begins to work, whether in redemption, revival, or restoration, the enemies of God and the people also begin to work in opposition to the work of God. The enemies of Israel who had settled into the lands around Judaea were deeply opposed to the return of the Israelites and to the rebuilding of the temple. They first attempted to join in that they might corrupt the work, but the leaders saw through their feint and exposed their treachery. Those who troubled Israel continued to oppose the work and eventually gained the ear of the king of Persia and caused the work to stop.
Though the work stopped for a time, God was not defeated in His work of bringing the people back to Himself and to the land that He had promised unto this remnant. His continued work of redemption and restoration would not be halted for very long by the works of men neither did this opposition catch God by surprise. He is Sovereign and has all things under control, but works in His own time, He Himself being outside of time, and for His own purposes.
Israel had to come to a place where they trusted in the God they worshiped and obeyed in all things. That is the work which God was doing here, and which He continues to do in those of us who are His. Conformed to the image of His dear Son, He is sanctifying us unto Himself as His Holy vessels and for His purposes. He has elected those of us who have believed in Him and His finished work unto adoption, and determined before we even knew Him that He will do the work in us to make us holy and righteous in and through Christ who is our life until He glorifies us in His presence or He returns for His own.
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 those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are 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.
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 faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary 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
Though the work stopped for a time, God was not defeated in His work of bringing the people back to Himself and to the land that He had promised unto this remnant. His continued work of redemption and restoration would not be halted for very long by the works of men neither did this opposition catch God by surprise. He is Sovereign and has all things under control, but works in His own time, He Himself being outside of time, and for His own purposes.
Israel had to come to a place where they trusted in the God they worshiped and obeyed in all things. That is the work which God was doing here, and which He continues to do in those of us who are His. Conformed to the image of His dear Son, He is sanctifying us unto Himself as His Holy vessels and for His purposes. He has elected those of us who have believed in Him and His finished work unto adoption, and determined before we even knew Him that He will do the work in us to make us holy and righteous in and through Christ who is our life until He glorifies us in His presence or He returns for His own.
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 those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are 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.
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 faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary 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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