EZRA 3EZRA 3God will never Let us DownGod will never Let us Down

Pastor DonPastor Don

Encounter 3Encounter 3• Enlarged Faith

• Expanded Vision

• Engaged in Ministry

Our Core ValuesOur Core Values

• We are a We are a Christian Christian people.people.

• We are a We are a HolinessHoliness people. people.

• We are a We are a MissionalMissional people.people.

The Key Text: Ezra 3:1The Key Text: Ezra 3:1

““the people assembled as the people assembled as oneone man in Jerusalem.” man in Jerusalem.”

-Ezra 3:1-Ezra 3:1

1.God has never failed us, because He is a personal God.

1.God has never failed us, because He is a personal God.

•He brought them out of their bondage. –Ezra 3:1•He brought them out of their bondage. –Ezra 3:1

They Believed in their GodThey Believed in their God.

• They were unitedunited.

• They had undividedundivided hearts.

• They had an uncommon uncommon commitment.

• They were usedused by God.

“Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed

burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both morning and evening

sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written,

“Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed

burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both morning and evening

sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written,

they they celebratedcelebrated the Feast of the Feast of Tabernacles with the Tabernacles with the

required number of burnt required number of burnt offeringsofferings prescribed for prescribed for

each day.”each day.”- Ezra 3:3- Ezra 3:3

they they celebratedcelebrated the Feast of the Feast of Tabernacles with the Tabernacles with the

required number of burnt required number of burnt offeringsofferings prescribed for prescribed for

each day.”each day.”- Ezra 3:3- Ezra 3:3

““they brought they brought freewillfreewill offerings to the LORD…they offerings to the LORD…they

began began to offer burnt offerings to offer burnt offerings to the LORD…” –Ezra 3:5-6to the LORD…” –Ezra 3:5-6

2.They were a peoplepeople of prayer and the Word.

• They built built an altar

• They believedbelieved the Word of God.

2.They were a peoplepeople of prayer and the Word.

• They built built an altar

• They believedbelieved the Word of God.

3.3. They were a people They were a people who who praised praised God.God.3.3. They were a people They were a people who who praised praised God.God.

• They were a They were a worshippingworshipping people.people.

•They were They were willingwilling to give to give what they had.what they had.

• They were a They were a worshippingworshipping people.people.

•They were They were willingwilling to give to give what they had.what they had.

““they brought they brought freewill freewill offerings offerings to the LORD.”to the LORD.” v.5 v.5

…”…”they began to offer burnt they began to offer burnt offerings to the offerings to the LORDLORD, ,

though the though the foundationfoundation of of the the LORD’sLORD’s temple had not temple had not

yet been laid.” v.6yet been laid.” v.6

•THEY REALIZED THE THEY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING GOD FROM THE GOD FROM THE HEART.HEART.

•THEY REALIZED THE THEY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING GOD FROM THE GOD FROM THE HEART.HEART.

1. Be ENCOURAGED:Your PRAYER has been

heard!

1. Be ENCOURAGED:Your PRAYER has been

heard!

…your prayer has been heard…

Why?

•They built an “altar”

…your prayer has been heard…

Why?

•They built an “altar”

Note: Prayers of FAITH are FILED in heaven, and are not FORGOTTEN. Prayers made when we were young…

Note: Prayers of FAITH are FILED in heaven, and are not FORGOTTEN. Prayers made when we were young…

… and coming into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world.

- Matthew Henry

… and coming into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world.

- Matthew Henry

2.2.Be Be EXPECTANTEXPECTANT::God’s God’s WORD will not WORD will not

failfail!!

““Do not merely listen to the Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” - yourselves. Do what it says” - James 1:22James 1:22

2.2.Be Be EXPECTANTEXPECTANT::God’s God’s WORD will not WORD will not

failfail!!

““Do not merely listen to the Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” - yourselves. Do what it says” - James 1:22James 1:22

3.Be EXCITED:The BEST is yet to

come!With praise and thanksgiving they sang to

the LORD: ‘He is good; His love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” –Ezra 3:11

3.Be EXCITED:The BEST is yet to

come!With praise and thanksgiving they sang to

the LORD: ‘He is good; His love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” –Ezra 3:11

Life holds nothing within it which Christ has not

conquered.

- E. Stanley Jones

Life holds nothing within it which Christ has not

conquered.

- E. Stanley Jones

““But many of the older priest and But many of the older priest and Levites and family heads, who Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, had seen the former temple, wept wept aloud when they saw the aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted laid, while many others shouted for for joyjoy.” – Ezra 3:12.” – Ezra 3:12

•Don’t say, Look what the world has come to!

• Do say, Look at what our God can do!

•Don’t say, Look what the world has come to!

• Do say, Look at what our God can do!

1.Reestablish the Family Altar in your Home.

2.Remember God keeps His promises.

3.Read and obey the Word of God from your heart.

1.Reestablish the Family Altar in your Home.

2.Remember God keeps His promises.

3.Read and obey the Word of God from your heart.