Podcasts about in ezra

Tell us what you think about this podcast!Offerings are an act of faith, obedience, and sacrifice. In Ezra 1, those who couldn't physically rebuild the temple were still expected to support the work through freewill offerings—the first biblical example of a building fund. God's people are called to give willingly and consistently, as shown in Exodus 36, where the people gave so much that they had to be stopped.Offerings should reflect how God has blessed us (Deut. 16:10)—not based on pressure, but from a grateful heart.For more lessons and sermons, follow our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@GBT

In Ezra 3, we see the rebuilding of the altar and the laying of the temple's foundation after the exiles returned to Jerusalem. The people, unified and humbled by their experiences, prioritized worship over construction, reestablishing sacrifices to address sin and draw near to God.

In Ezra 3, we see the rebuilding of the altar and the laying of the temple's foundation after the exiles returned to Jerusalem. The people, unified and humbled by their experiences, prioritized worship over construction, reestablishing sacrifices to address sin and draw near to God.

ADDRESSING THE DISSONANCE OF TODAY'S PROPHETIC VOICEThe Confusion of Sound: Joy or Warfare?In Ezra 3:13, we encounter another revelation that speaks directly to our time: "The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off." This scripture unveils a critical spiritual discernment challenged, distinguishing between sounds of authentic celebration and sounds of mourning or conflict.How many voices today proclaim "peace and prosperity" when foundations are crumbling? The cacophony of media, political rhetoric, economic forecasts, and even religious proclamations creates a confusion of sound. What some herald as progress and breakthrough, others rightly perceive as warning sirens of impending judgment.This spiritual dissonance manifests in our inability to correctly interpret the times. Many celebrate economic indicators and technological advancements while remaining deaf to the weeping of broken social structures, fractured communities, and spiritually malnourished souls. The prosperity gospel that has infected much of Western Christianity has created a generation unable to discern between the sound of authentic revival and the noise of materialistic fervor.The Lord is calling for prophetic ears in this hour—those who can distinguish between the shout of true victory and the clamor of self-deception. Genuine prophetic insight requires this discernment, to hear beneath surface celebrations and detect the true spiritual condition.The Golden Calf MomentPerhaps most revealing is the parallels between our time and the events described in Exodus 32. Moses had ascended the mountain to receive divine instruction, leaving Aaron and the people in a period of waiting. Impatience and uncertainty led to the construction of the golden calf—a human-fabricated deity fashioned from the people's own resources.When Moses descended in verses 15-18, we read: "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' But he said: 'It is not the noise of the shout of victory, nor the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear.'" Again, we encounter the theme of misinterpreted sound—what Joshua perceived as warfare, Moses identified as idolatrous celebration.In verse 7, God had already pronounced judgment: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves." This divine assessment captures our current condition, a corruption of values, priorities, and spiritual allegiances.The Western world, particularly America, has crafted its own golden calf—a prosperity-centered, self-determined version of Christianity that bears little resemblance to the cross-centered covenant established by Christ. This idol worship happens not around literal gold statues but in the materialistic pursuit of wealth, power, and comfort that has been baptized with religious language.

ADDRESSING THE DISSONANCE OF TODAY'S PROPHETIC VOICEThe Confusion of Sound: Joy or Warfare?In Ezra 3:13, we encounter another revelation that speaks directly to our time: "The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off." This scripture unveils a critical spiritual discernment challenged, distinguishing between sounds of authentic celebration and sounds of mourning or conflict.How many voices today proclaim "peace and prosperity" when foundations are crumbling? The cacophony of media, political rhetoric, economic forecasts, and even religious proclamations creates a confusion of sound. What some herald as progress and breakthrough, others rightly perceive as warning sirens of impending judgment.This spiritual dissonance manifests in our inability to correctly interpret the times. Many celebrate economic indicators and technological advancements while remaining deaf to the weeping of broken social structures, fractured communities, and spiritually malnourished souls. The prosperity gospel that has infected much of Western Christianity has created a generation unable to discern between the sound of authentic revival and the noise of materialistic fervor.The Lord is calling for prophetic ears in this hour—those who can distinguish between the shout of true victory and the clamor of self-deception. Genuine prophetic insight requires this discernment, to hear beneath surface celebrations and detect the true spiritual condition.The Golden Calf MomentPerhaps most revealing is the parallels between our time and the events described in Exodus 32. Moses had ascended the mountain to receive divine instruction, leaving Aaron and the people in a period of waiting. Impatience and uncertainty led to the construction of the golden calf—a human-fabricated deity fashioned from the people's own resources.When Moses descended in verses 15-18, we read: "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' But he said: 'It is not the noise of the shout of victory, nor the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear.'" Again, we encounter the theme of misinterpreted sound—what Joshua perceived as warfare, Moses identified as idolatrous celebration.In verse 7, God had already pronounced judgment: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves." This divine assessment captures our current condition, a corruption of values, priorities, and spiritual allegiances.The Western world, particularly America, has crafted its own golden calf—a prosperity-centered, self-determined version of Christianity that bears little resemblance to the cross-centered covenant established by Christ. This idol worship happens not around literal gold statues but in the materialistic pursuit of wealth, power, and comfort that has been baptized with religious language.

ADDRESSING THE CONCEPT OF THE PROCESS AND ORDER OF THE RETURN The Confusion of Sound: Joy or Warfare?In Ezra 3:13, we encounter another revelation that speaks directly to our time: "The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off." This scripture unveils a critical spiritual discernment challenged, distinguishing between sounds of authentic celebration and sounds of mourning or conflict.How many voices today proclaim "peace and prosperity" when foundations are crumbling? The cacophony of media, political rhetoric, economic forecasts, and even religious proclamations creates a confusion of sound. What some herald as progress and breakthrough, others rightly perceive as warning sirens of impending judgment.This spiritual dissonance manifests in our inability to correctly interpret the times. Many celebrate economic indicators and technological advancements while remaining deaf to the weeping of broken social structures, fractured communities, and spiritually malnourished souls. The prosperity gospel that has infected much of Western Christianity has created a generation unable to discern between the sound of authentic revival and the noise of materialistic fervor.The Lord is calling for prophetic ears in this hour—those who can distinguish between the shout of true victory and the clamor of self-deception. Genuine prophetic insight requires this discernment, to hear beneath surface celebrations and detect the true spiritual condition.The Golden Calf MomentPerhaps most revealing is the parallels between our time and the events described in Exodus 32. Moses had ascended the mountain to receive divine instruction, leaving Aaron and the people in a period of waiting. Impatience and uncertainty led to the construction of the golden calf—a human-fabricated deity fashioned from the people's own resources.When Moses descended in verses 15-18, we read: "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' But he said: 'It is not the noise of the shout of victory, nor the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear.'" Again, we encounter the theme of misinterpreted sound—what Joshua perceived as warfare, Moses identified as idolatrous celebration.In verse 7, God had already pronounced judgment: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves." This divine assessment captures our current condition, a corruption of values, priorities, and spiritual allegiances.The Western world, particularly America, has crafted its own golden calf—a prosperity-centered, self-determined version of Christianity that bears little resemblance to the cross-centered covenant established by Christ. This idol worship happens not around literal gold statues but in the materialistic pursuit of wealth, power, and comfort that has been baptized with religious language.

Daily Dose of Hope February 17, 2025 Day 2 of Week 47   Scripture:  Ezra 3-4; Psalm 92; I John 1   Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Happy Monday!  I do hope you are getting off to a great start this week.   Our Old Testament Scripture reading for today is Ezra 3-4.  In chapter 3, we see the new Jewish arrivals begin the process of rebuilding the Temple.  It's going to be a major undertaking.  They begin by rebuilding the altar and they sacrifice burnt offerings.  They even celebrate the Festival and Tabernacles.  The Scripture says that even though they are scared of the local residents, they do these things anyway.  They feel that God has called them to rebuild and fear is not going to get in the way.  How often does fear get in our way of doing what God has called us to do?   The other interesting thing in this chapter is that the older priests and Levites cry when they see the Temple's foundations.  They remember the grandeur of the earlier Temple and they are incredibly distressed.  But the younger ones, those who don't remember, praised God and shouted for joy.  The older Jews remembered the extravagance of the old Temple, but did they remember the idolatry and extreme disobedience of the people?  There was a reason that the exile happened.  There was a reason that God lifted his hand of protection.    How often we idealize the past.  “Those were the good ole days!  When the pews were filled, when we only sang hymns, when all my neighbors attended church.”  And yes, there were some wonderful things about those days.  But there were also some aspects that weren't so wonderful – cultural Christianity and all that brought with it, segregated churches, among other things.  Whether in Ezra's time or ours, God is always ready to do something new right now.  We can remember certain aspects of the past with fondness but we can't get stuck there.  We have to be ready for a new movement of the Holy Spirit.  To me, it's exciting.  What are your thoughts on how God is at work now?   In Ezra 4, work on the temple has begun and there is much opposition. The chapter begins with the enemies of God's people saying they wanted to help with the building. But their motives were not genuine. They may have acknowledged the Lord God but they also worshiped many other gods. Zerubabbel, Joshua, and the heads of the other families declined their offer of “help.” Then, the enemies of God's people began to do all they could to discourage the building of the temple. The rest of the chapter lists the many ways, under several different kings, that the people tried to thwart the temple progress.   Whenever spiritual work is being done, wherever God's Kingdom is being advanced, there will be opposition. That is guaranteed! The enemy likes nothing better than to try to stop the forward progress of God and his people. But God is faithful, powerful, and will always prevail! Maybe you are going through a spiritual battle right now; I think many of us are. Keep in mind that opposition is inevitable but discouragement is not. God is with us, friends.   Today, we begin John's letters for our New Testament reading. These were written by the apostle John when he was much older, probably in Ephesus (some scholars think that John himself may not have written the letters but rather a community of believers who formed around his name and teachings; there is no real way to know). Regardless, the letters communicate important truths of the faith, especially to those with a non-Jewish background.   Today's chapter starts off by stating that God is light and in God, there is no darkness. Another way we might think of this is that God is truth or that what is true can only be seen in light of Almighty God. Think about what light (or truth) does. It helps you avoid danger, it helps things become clearer, it helps you see, and it provides a path for your journey. In God, there is no darkness. Darkness is typically seen as being foreboding and scary. In God, there is no evil, no manipulation, no hidden agenda, nothing at all deceptive. When we walk closely with God, we walk in the light of his truth. If we are engaging in activities that fall short of that, then we are lying to ourselves. To elaborate, if we are gossiping, if we are lying, if we are manipulative, if we are hypercritical, if we are deceptive in any way, then we are not walking in God's light. That's all darkness, all sin.   It sounds almost impossible for us messy human beings, doesn't it? Well, it is only possible to walk in God's light because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of the blood of Jesus, God sees our sin no more and we can walk closely with him. Only because of Jesus. But claiming Jesus is no excuse for continuing to willfully and knowingly sin. We must partner with the Holy Spirit to allow God to transform us from the inside out. This is a daily, hourly, and sometimes minute by minute project, friends.   Whenever I sense that sometime dark or deceptive is going on (in my family, at church, etc.), I lean on this verse in my prayer life. Since God is only light and truth, I ask God to bring to the surface anything that is dark, anything that is deceptive, anything that is sinful, so that it can be brought to the light. In the light, it can be dealt with. In the light, the truth can be exposed. In the light, we can figure out how God wants us to proceed. In the darkness, things simply fester. I've found it is a powerful prayer. God often answers it almost immediately and something comes up, usually when I least expect it. If we claim to have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, then we believe a lie. God wants the truth to win out.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

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In Ezra 4 the people of God are given permission to return home and to start rebuilding the city. However, they are met with a major issue that would halt their progress. Andrew and Robert go over the history behind Ezra 4 and really look at the deeper message that can be learned from this situation and how to handle obstacles in our own lives.Support the showQuestions or Comments? Please reach out to us through email at questions@truewisdom.info or on twitter @truewisdom_podGive instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:9-10We encourage you to download our primary Bible Study resource called “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study” from http://bit.ly/17vs3LU, and listen to the associated explanatory podcasts that Andrew has provided at https://BibleStudy.asbzone.com/357512/8572886.We pray that this resource will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies overall.

Today's readings.. (Ezra 3,4), (Hosea 6), (Acts 23,24)  People promise to say the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in a court of law!   The fullness of that wording is interesting as it tries to counter the common human tendency to bend the truth, this is done sometimes to the extent that it really becomes an outright lie. It has been said that “half-truths” are more dangerous than lies. When a human being declares to others, “Be it known to you …” certain ‘facts' – it is always as they want to see the facts.  We have examples of this in both our Old and New Testament readings today. In Ezra we are reading of the struggles of the first contingency of Jews who returned from captivity to Jerusalem with the purpose of rebuilding the temple.  Nebuchadnezzar, in destroying it, was so thorough that even the foundations were wrecked.  The non-Jews who, were transported to the area from Assyria, (Ezra 4 v.20) take offence when the Jews decline their offer of involvement in the work.  The result is they try to stop the work.  When a new King comes on the Persian throne they write a letter to him saying, “Be it known to the king that the Jews … are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city … if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished they will not pay tribute, custom or toll and the royal revenue will be impaired …” [v.12,13] This was a total distortion of the facts, really a lie.  It is astonishing how often money is made an issue – it was a most important factor in human decision making then and now.  Now in the New Testament we read that after Paul's arrest by the Romans in a riot that the Jews provoked, they allege before the Roman Governor  that Paul is “one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world … he even tried to profane the Temple, but we seized him.” [Acts 24 v.5,6]   Testimonies as to the true cause of a situation are so often distorted through prejudice.  Paul refuted these claims (v.12,13) and says, “I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man” [v.16].     Do we “always take pains” to have a clear conscience?  God knows whether we bend the truth, even slightly! Do we have a clear conscience in the way we teach what God's word says?  Paul tells Timothy, in the last letter he wrote, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” [2 Tim. 2 v15] The most dangerous thing of all for people to do is to bend God's “word of truth.” 

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Ezra 5-6; Psalms 138; Luke 16 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome back, dear listeners, to the Daily Radio Bible. It's October 3rd, 2024, and we are on day 277 of our journey through the Bible. I'm your host, Hunter, and today, we immerse ourselves in the transformative power of God's Word. Join me as we explore the book of Ezra, chapters 5 and 6, Psalm 138, and Luke's Gospel, chapter 16. In Ezra, we witness the renewed efforts to rebuild God's temple despite opposition, inspired by the prophetic voices of Haggai and Zechariah. We'll see how God's favor and the decree of King Darius empower the people in their holy work. In Psalm 138, David pours out his heart in gratitude and praise, recognizing God's unfailing love and faithfulness. Finally, in Luke 16, Jesus challenges us with a parable that speaks to the heart, contrasting the fates of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus, urging us to remain faithful and not blinded by worldly riches. Prepare to be inspired and challenged as we reflect on these passages. Let's dive in, allowing the scriptures to point us to the living Word of God, guiding us to a deeper understanding and a renewed spirit. So grab your Bible and join me by the fires of God's love—let's explore His eternal truths together. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In Ezra 5, we will be considering leadership principle number six from the Book of Ezra, operate with help from your friends. Who are your friends? Can you rely on their advice when you are in a battle?

In Ezra 4, we will look at two more leadership principles from the Book of Ezra, operate with God's provision and operate despite the enemy. From where does your provision come from? Do you take credit or give God the glory? Who are your enemies? Are they inside or outside your camp? Are they winning?

In Ezra 3, we will consider the third leadership principle of our Twelve Practical Principles of Leadership from the Book of Ezra, operate with priorities. What is the most important thing, or who is the most important person, in your life? Do you spend the most time on it, or with that person? Are you living according to your priorities?

In Ezra 2, we will uncover leadership principle number two, operate with God's chosen helpers. Who is in your inner circle? Who has influence over you? Are they godly?

In Ezra 10:18-44, in the ensuing work of the commission to deal with Israelite marriages, several more issues emerge.

In Ezra 10:18-44, in the ensuing work of the commission to deal with Israelite marriages, several more issues emerge.

In Ezra 10:1-17, God caused His people to confess their sin and urges the removal of sin through the combined effort of a unified body of people committed to live for God's glory no matter what the consequences

In Ezra 10:1-17, God caused His people to confess their sin and urges the removal of sin through the combined effort of a unified body of people committed to live for God's glory no matter what the consequences

In Ezra 9:1-15, Ezra is appalled at the mixed marriages of the people of Israel and so makes a prayer of corporate confession of sin to God

In Ezra 9:1-15, Ezra is appalled at the mixed marriages of the people of Israel and so makes a prayer of corporate confession of sin to God.

Once we have trusted Christ as our Saviour, our Christian life is only beginning. We must share with others that we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb. In Ezra 6, the remnant that returned to rebuild the temple were faithful to continue obeying the Lord by observing the Passover. As they obeyed, the Lord strengthened them and filled them with His joy!

In Ezra 1:1-11, King Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish his will, even though he was not a Jewish believer, but a foreign king. God blessed him greatly, and stirred up his heart to repatriate the scattered Jews, who were in exile in Babylon. Not only did Cyrus allow the Jews to repatriate back to Jerusalem, he also facilitated the rebuilding of the temple destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar. Sometimes, we struggle to understand God's ways in our lives. But this prophetic story shows us that God uses whom he wills, and even blesses and equips them to accomplish his will.

In Ezra 9:1-15, Ezra is appalled at the mixed marriages of the people of Israel and so makes a prayer of corporate confession of sin to God.

In Ezra 9:1-15, Ezra is appalled at the mixed marriages of the people of Israel and so makes a prayer of corporate confession of sin to God.

In Ezra 8:21-36, Ezra called a time of fasting and prayer before he and the Jews set out on a journey of faith to Jerusalem; upon safe arrival, they delivered the gold and silver into the temple treasury and then they worshipped God by offering burnt offerings.

In Ezra 8:21-36, Ezra called a time of fasting and prayer before he and the Jews set out on a journey of faith to Jerusalem; upon safe arrival, they delivered the gold and silver into the temple treasury and then they worshipped God by offering burnt offerings.

In Ezra 7-10, we see Ezra return and rebuild the Torah and the community, but at the end of Ezra we see a decision that we aren't sure is the best decision. What do we do to make the best decisions possible? www.impactchurchmd.com

In Ezra 8:21-36, Ezra called a time of fasting and prayer before he and the Jews set out on a journey of faith to Jerusalem; upon safe arrival, they delivered the gold and silver into the temple treasury and then they worshipped God by offering burnt offerings.

In Ezra 8:21-36, Ezra called a time of fasting and prayer before he and the Jews set out on a journey of faith to Jerusalem; upon safe arrival, they delivered the gold and silver into the temple treasury and then they worshipped God by offering burnt offerings.

In Ezra 8:15-20, Ezra assembles those, who would return with him to Jerusalem, at the river that runs to Ahava, and sends out leading men to Iddo at Casiphia to address the shortage of Levites in the group.

In Ezra 8:15-20, Ezra assembles those, who would return with him to Jerusalem, at the river that runs to Ahava, and sends out leading men to Iddo at Casiphia to address the shortage of Levites in the group.

In Ezra 8:15-20, Ezra assembles those, who would return with him to Jerusalem, at the river that runs to Ahava, and sends out leading men to Iddo at Casiphia to address the shortage of Levites in the group.

In Ezra 8:15-20, Ezra assembles those, who would return with him to Jerusalem, at the river that runs to Ahava, and sends out leading men to Iddo at Casiphia to address the shortage of Levites in the group.

In Ezra 7:1-10, almost sixty years after the second temple's dedication, Ezra and a group of priests, Levites, temple gatekeepers, singers, and servants return to Jerusalem.

In Ezra 7:1-10, almost sixty years after the second temple's dedication, Ezra and a group of priests, Levites, temple gatekeepers, singers, and servants return to Jerusalem.

January 07, 2024 SS, Ezra 10:10ff.In Ezra 10:1-44, Ezra advises the Israelites to put away their pagan wives. Israel responded appropriately to this counsel.

December 31, 2023 AM, Ezra 10:1ff.In Ezra 10:1-44, Ezra advises the Israelites to put away their pagan wives. Israel responded appropriately to this counsel.

Were you ever put in timeout as a child? In Ezra 1-2, the people of Israel are coming off a 70-year “timeout” in Babylon. Because of their unrepentant sin, God sent Israel into captivity for 70 years. Yet, they did not remain in Babylon forever. God had promised to, “visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place (Jer. 29:10).”

I love the way the Bible begins in Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters (1:1-2). On the sixth day of creation, God made mankind, in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (v. 27). The three commands given to the first couple were simple: 1) Have lots of children and fill the earth with people who worship me, 2) manage creation and subdue it, and 3) do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because, on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die (2:16-17). Eden was the very first temple that Adam and Eve, as the people of God, were able to worship and enjoy God both as His children and as His royal priesthood. This is why Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden after they sinned against God. This is why the very last verse of the infamous third chapter in Genesis ends with these words: So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life (v. 24). But before they were expelled from the Garden, God made this promise to the first couple and the serpent who deceived Eve: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (3:15). Israel Enjoyed an Ancient Glory There is nearly 2,500 years separating Adam from Moses, and all that history is crammed in between Genesis 4 and Exodus 2. Within those 2,500 years, God honored His promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants into a nation of people who would experience 400 years of slavery in Egypt, only to be miraculously liberated as His people. As a freed people, God spoke through Moses to all of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel (Exod. 19:46). God gave Israel the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law; He also instituted a sacrificial system to address their sins, religious feasts to remind His people of His faithfulness to them, and the plans for a Tabernacle that would eventually be used to build a Temple. Its design would serve to remind them of the Garden and what Adam and Eve enjoyed, and it would serve as the place where the presence of God would be known, experienced, and seen, so God told Moses: Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall construct it (Exod. 25:89). The Tabernacle, and eventually the Temple, would serve as the center of worship for Israel as a people. In the wilderness as pilgrims journeying to the promised land, God would lead them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the presence of God moved, Israel moved; when the presence of God rested, Israel rested. At the center of the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant where it would sit in the place known as the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant is the container where the broken tablets of the 10 commandments were placed among a few other things, it is also symbolic of the presence of God. Nearly 500 years after Moses died and Israel finally entered the land God promised Abraham, David was anointed as King over Israel. Even though most of the psalms that are in the Bible were written by David, because he was a man of war, he was not permitted to build a Temple modeled after the Tabernacle. However, God did allow Solomon (a son of David) to build the temple in Jerusalem where the presence of God would be known, experienced, and seen. The Temple would forever be known as Solomons Temple not because it was dedicated to Solomon, but because of the great care that Solomon invested into the building of it. When it was finally completed and dedicated before the people of Israel, God spoke to Solomon: if you turn away and abandon My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight; and I will make it a proverb and an object of scorn among all peoples. As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, Why has the Lord done these things to this land and to this house? And they will say, Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods, and worshiped and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them. (2 Chron. 7:1922) Solomon started off so well, but his life ended so tragically. Solomons life did not end well, for he loved many foreign women (1 Kings 11:1). Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines he was the Hugh Heffner of his day. The thing is, Solomon knew his Bible well, he knew what Exodus 34:16 said, You shall not enter into marriage with foreign women, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomons heart turned away from God and participated in the worship of other gods that included child sacrifice, rampant sexual immorality, and set the entire nation on track to do the same. So, the thing that God warned Solomon and Israel would happen if they turned from Him, happened. After the death of Solomon, all of Israel would eventually become known not for the nation that worshiped Yahweh, but the nation that worshiped the gods of the other nations. God judged the nation of Israel and eventually they were handed over to a foreign nation. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were driven from the presence of God, but in the wake of Solomons idolatry, the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and left the place He promised Israel (Ezek. 10:18). Not long after the glory of God departed the temple and Israel, Solomons Temple was destroyed by Babylon. Israel Pursued a New Glory After hundreds of years in exile and the desperate prayers of those who truly loved and worshiped Yahweh, God allowed a small remnant of Hebrew men and women back into Jerusalem. The two things that were in ruins were the temple and the walls of Jerusalem; Ezra would eventually oversee the building of the temple, while Nehemiah would manage the building of the walls of Jerusalem. The first six chapters of Ezra give us the back story for Ezras role in overseeing the construction of the temple. The first three chapters tell us about the very initial planning for a new temple; I only want to focus on the first three chapters and the very last verse in the book of Ezra. The only thing that happens in Ezra 3 is the exiles set up the altar where the sacrifices could be made, then the people began to celebrate the different festivals that were designed to remind them of Gods faithfulness, then hired masons and carpenters, and then laid the foundation of the temple. It would take another 20 years before the new temple would be completed. The best illustration I can come up with the kind of frustration the exiles in Jerusalem must have experienced, is to think of I-25 from Fort Collins to Denver. Just so you know, it was not because the workers were part of the Union or that they worked for the federal government that it took so long to build the temple. There were legitimate obstacles the people faced by real adversaries. God stirred and moved King Cyrus to make a proclamation that bore the authority of any of the laws of Persia. The very first sentence in Ezra begins: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1). So, the king proclaimed that the Hebrew exiles could return and rebuild their temple (vv. 2-4). King Cyrus would not live to see the day when his proclamation was finally fulfilled. Just after the foundation of the temple was laid, a group of people in Jerusalem who did not want the temple built, frightened them from building, and bribed advisers against them, to frustrate their advice all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia (v. 5). For ten years the building of the temple was put on hold. In Ezra 3, with the laying of the foundation of the temple, the people celebrated, but before they could begin, Ezra 4 happened! In chapter 5, the work began in the second year of a new king (Darius) and four years later, it was finally completed (Ezra 6:15ff). When it was finally finished, the people rightfully celebrated: And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered for the dedication of this temple of God a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their sections for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. (vv. 16-18). What I find most startling about the book of Ezra is that the people seemed to have been in a really good place spiritually in their lives. As soon as they entered the land, they set up the altar before anything else so that they could worship God. They celebrated the feast of booths, which was also known as the Feast of Tabernacles as a way to celebrate the ways God preserved Israel in the wilderness and how his presence dwelled among them. They also celebrated all the other important days such as the Day of Atonement, and so much more. And, just after the new temple was dedicated, they celebrated Passover together! Everything was going so well until we come to Ezra 9 and learn that the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites did the same thing Solomon did that led to great evils in Israel they married the same type of women Solomon married who turned his heart away from God, and so the very last verse in Ezra serves as the epitaph of a story that began so good but ended so badly: All of these men had married foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children (10:44). Israel Missed a Better Glory I believe we are given a clue as to why Ezras book ends tragically. Notice how the people respond to the new temple in Ezra 3:10-13, And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever. And all the people shouted with a great shout of joy when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. This is so easy to miss if you are not paying attention! Out of joy the people sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever (see also 2 Chron. 7:3). The people sang the same thing the people in Solomons day sang when the first temple was completed; this is how I know they were expecting the glory of God to return: Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lords house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, Certainly He is good, certainly His faithfulness is everlasting. Everything the people practiced in Ezra 3 was good. But the reason why the old men wept was because they could not get past the beauty of Solomons temple and failed to appreciate the point and purpose of the temple in the first place. I also believe the younger men missed the point of the new temple for the same reasons the old men wept. The point was not a building for Gods glory to dwell in, but to know and worship the God whose plan has always been to dwell with His people face to face! The reason why the men turned to foreign women is the same reason Solomon turned to foreign women who worshiped other godsthey failed to appreciate that there was a greater glory than the lie Adam and Eve believed, the wisdom and women of Solomon, and the illusion of the past that what is gone was better than what God is doing today. Conclusion Now, there was no way for Israel to understand all that God was doing in the world, but what He was doing was more beautiful than Eden, greater than Solomons temple, and more permeant than the blood of bulls and goats (see Hebrews 10:4). The greater glory they missed was the promise of a deliverer who would remedy their sin. The greater glory they missed was the One the Passover and all the feasts pointed too. The greater glory was not the history of the Davidic kingdom or Solomons Temple, but a better and greater Son of David whose kingdom will know no end and will endure forever (2 Sam. 7:14). He is the greater glory who lights up the darkness (Isa. 9:2-7). We have the benefit of being able to look back to Ezra with New Testament eyes and see that the greater glory Israel missed was the glory that would come in the form a person who was fully God and fully man. The glory eventually returned to Israel, but not in the way Israel ever saw coming. The glory came and it was heard in the sounds of an infants cry; see if you can hear the overtones of what we explored through scripture in the words of the Gospel of John concerning Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us; and we saw His glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5, 14). Here are some of the things we learn from the first three chapters of Ezra and the promise of the greater glory, who is Jesus Christ: God is faithful on His terms, in His ways, and according to His character. While Israel was experiencing the just and severe discipline of God, it was God who promised that the discipline was for a season and not the end of their story. In Jeremiah 29:10, God made the following promise: For this is what the Lordsays: When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:1011). Unbeknownst to those in exile and those in Jerusalem, overwhelmed by the ashes of what once was, God was working and moving in one of the more powerful men in the world: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1). Just because you cannot see or understand what God is doing, does not mean that He is not working out His purposes for His glory and your good. The best way to fight fear, is through faith in the God who is bigger than your problems. I believe this is the reason why Israel built and installed the alter and worshiped God even though they were terrified of the people who surrounded them. Remembering the ways God delivered their forefathers from the great and tyrannical power of Egypt enabled them to fight against the terror they experienced. The people fought their fear by remembering who God was, the problem is that they were nearsighted and failed to see a greater glory existed for their good. The safest place to be is in the will of God. The story of Gods people is a lesson on this principle. The reason why there was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that guided His people was so that they moved only when He moved and that they stayed only when God remained. Anytime the people of God moved when God was not moving or stayed when God was moving, they found themselves in trouble. If you are a Christian, the glory we follow is Jesus, and we are to go where He goes and stay where He stays. If you are not a Christian because you have not surrendered your life to Jesus as the one who died for your sins and conquered the grave by raising from the dead, then you need to run to Him who stood in your place to bear the wrath of a holy God that you deserved.

I love the way the Bible begins in Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters (1:1-2). On the sixth day of creation, God made mankind, in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (v. 27). The three commands given to the first couple were simple: 1) Have lots of children and fill the earth with people who worship me, 2) manage creation and subdue it, and 3) do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because, on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die (2:16-17). Eden was the very first temple that Adam and Eve, as the people of God, were able to worship and enjoy God both as His children and as His royal priesthood. This is why Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden after they sinned against God. This is why the very last verse of the infamous third chapter in Genesis ends with these words: So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life (v. 24). But before they were expelled from the Garden, God made this promise to the first couple and the serpent who deceived Eve: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (3:15). Israel Enjoyed an Ancient Glory There is nearly 2,500 years separating Adam from Moses, and all that history is crammed in between Genesis 4 and Exodus 2. Within those 2,500 years, God honored His promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants into a nation of people who would experience 400 years of slavery in Egypt, only to be miraculously liberated as His people. As a freed people, God spoke through Moses to all of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel (Exod. 19:46). God gave Israel the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law; He also instituted a sacrificial system to address their sins, religious feasts to remind His people of His faithfulness to them, and the plans for a Tabernacle that would eventually be used to build a Temple. Its design would serve to remind them of the Garden and what Adam and Eve enjoyed, and it would serve as the place where the presence of God would be known, experienced, and seen, so God told Moses: Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall construct it (Exod. 25:89). The Tabernacle, and eventually the Temple, would serve as the center of worship for Israel as a people. In the wilderness as pilgrims journeying to the promised land, God would lead them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the presence of God moved, Israel moved; when the presence of God rested, Israel rested. At the center of the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant where it would sit in the place known as the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant is the container where the broken tablets of the 10 commandments were placed among a few other things, it is also symbolic of the presence of God. Nearly 500 years after Moses died and Israel finally entered the land God promised Abraham, David was anointed as King over Israel. Even though most of the psalms that are in the Bible were written by David, because he was a man of war, he was not permitted to build a Temple modeled after the Tabernacle. However, God did allow Solomon (a son of David) to build the temple in Jerusalem where the presence of God would be known, experienced, and seen. The Temple would forever be known as Solomons Temple not because it was dedicated to Solomon, but because of the great care that Solomon invested into the building of it. When it was finally completed and dedicated before the people of Israel, God spoke to Solomon: if you turn away and abandon My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot you from My land which I have given you, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight; and I will make it a proverb and an object of scorn among all peoples. As for this house, which was exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, Why has the Lord done these things to this land and to this house? And they will say, Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods, and worshiped and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity on them. (2 Chron. 7:1922) Solomon started off so well, but his life ended so tragically. Solomons life did not end well, for he loved many foreign women (1 Kings 11:1). Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines he was the Hugh Heffner of his day. The thing is, Solomon knew his Bible well, he knew what Exodus 34:16 said, You shall not enter into marriage with foreign women, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomons heart turned away from God and participated in the worship of other gods that included child sacrifice, rampant sexual immorality, and set the entire nation on track to do the same. So, the thing that God warned Solomon and Israel would happen if they turned from Him, happened. After the death of Solomon, all of Israel would eventually become known not for the nation that worshiped Yahweh, but the nation that worshiped the gods of the other nations. God judged the nation of Israel and eventually they were handed over to a foreign nation. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were driven from the presence of God, but in the wake of Solomons idolatry, the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and left the place He promised Israel (Ezek. 10:18). Not long after the glory of God departed the temple and Israel, Solomons Temple was destroyed by Babylon. Israel Pursued a New Glory After hundreds of years in exile and the desperate prayers of those who truly loved and worshiped Yahweh, God allowed a small remnant of Hebrew men and women back into Jerusalem. The two things that were in ruins were the temple and the walls of Jerusalem; Ezra would eventually oversee the building of the temple, while Nehemiah would manage the building of the walls of Jerusalem. The first six chapters of Ezra give us the back story for Ezras role in overseeing the construction of the temple. The first three chapters tell us about the very initial planning for a new temple; I only want to focus on the first three chapters and the very last verse in the book of Ezra. The only thing that happens in Ezra 3 is the exiles set up the altar where the sacrifices could be made, then the people began to celebrate the different festivals that were designed to remind them of Gods faithfulness, then hired masons and carpenters, and then laid the foundation of the temple. It would take another 20 years before the new temple would be completed. The best illustration I can come up with the kind of frustration the exiles in Jerusalem must have experienced, is to think of I-25 from Fort Collins to Denver. Just so you know, it was not because the workers were part of the Union or that they worked for the federal government that it took so long to build the temple. There were legitimate obstacles the people faced by real adversaries. God stirred and moved King Cyrus to make a proclamation that bore the authority of any of the laws of Persia. The very first sentence in Ezra begins: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1). So, the king proclaimed that the Hebrew exiles could return and rebuild their temple (vv. 2-4). King Cyrus would not live to see the day when his proclamation was finally fulfilled. Just after the foundation of the temple was laid, a group of people in Jerusalem who did not want the temple built, frightened them from building, and bribed advisers against them, to frustrate their advice all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia (v. 5). For ten years the building of the temple was put on hold. In Ezra 3, with the laying of the foundation of the temple, the people celebrated, but before they could begin, Ezra 4 happened! In chapter 5, the work began in the second year of a new king (Darius) and four years later, it was finally completed (Ezra 6:15ff). When it was finally finished, the people rightfully celebrated: And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered for the dedication of this temple of God a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their sections for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. (vv. 16-18). What I find most startling about the book of Ezra is that the people seemed to have been in a really good place spiritually in their lives. As soon as they entered the land, they set up the altar before anything else so that they could worship God. They celebrated the feast of booths, which was also known as the Feast of Tabernacles as a way to celebrate the ways God preserved Israel in the wilderness and how his presence dwelled among them. They also celebrated all the other important days such as the Day of Atonement, and so much more. And, just after the new temple was dedicated, they celebrated Passover together! Everything was going so well until we come to Ezra 9 and learn that the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites did the same thing Solomon did that led to great evils in Israel they married the same type of women Solomon married who turned his heart away from God, and so the very last verse in Ezra serves as the epitaph of a story that began so good but ended so badly: All of these men had married foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children (10:44). Israel Missed a Better Glory I believe we are given a clue as to why Ezras book ends tragically. Notice how the people respond to the new temple in Ezra 3:10-13, And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever. And all the people shouted with a great shout of joy when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. This is so easy to miss if you are not paying attention! Out of joy the people sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His favor is upon Israel forever (see also 2 Chron. 7:3). The people sang the same thing the people in Solomons day sang when the first temple was completed; this is how I know they were expecting the glory of God to return: Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lords house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, Certainly He is good, certainly His faithfulness is everlasting. Everything the people practiced in Ezra 3 was good. But the reason why the old men wept was because they could not get past the beauty of Solomons temple and failed to appreciate the point and purpose of the temple in the first place. I also believe the younger men missed the point of the new temple for the same reasons the old men wept. The point was not a building for Gods glory to dwell in, but to know and worship the God whose plan has always been to dwell with His people face to face! The reason why the men turned to foreign women is the same reason Solomon turned to foreign women who worshiped other godsthey failed to appreciate that there was a greater glory than the lie Adam and Eve believed, the wisdom and women of Solomon, and the illusion of the past that what is gone was better than what God is doing today. Conclusion Now, there was no way for Israel to understand all that God was doing in the world, but what He was doing was more beautiful than Eden, greater than Solomons temple, and more permeant than the blood of bulls and goats (see Hebrews 10:4). The greater glory they missed was the promise of a deliverer who would remedy their sin. The greater glory they missed was the One the Passover and all the feasts pointed too. The greater glory was not the history of the Davidic kingdom or Solomons Temple, but a better and greater Son of David whose kingdom will know no end and will endure forever (2 Sam. 7:14). He is the greater glory who lights up the darkness (Isa. 9:2-7). We have the benefit of being able to look back to Ezra with New Testament eyes and see that the greater glory Israel missed was the glory that would come in the form a person who was fully God and fully man. The glory eventually returned to Israel, but not in the way Israel ever saw coming. The glory came and it was heard in the sounds of an infants cry; see if you can hear the overtones of what we explored through scripture in the words of the Gospel of John concerning Jesus: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us; and we saw His glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5, 14). Here are some of the things we learn from the first three chapters of Ezra and the promise of the greater glory, who is Jesus Christ: God is faithful on His terms, in His ways, and according to His character. While Israel was experiencing the just and severe discipline of God, it was God who promised that the discipline was for a season and not the end of their story. In Jeremiah 29:10, God made the following promise: For this is what the Lordsays: When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:1011). Unbeknownst to those in exile and those in Jerusalem, overwhelmed by the ashes of what once was, God was working and moving in one of the more powerful men in the world: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1). Just because you cannot see or understand what God is doing, does not mean that He is not working out His purposes for His glory and your good. The best way to fight fear, is through faith in the God who is bigger than your problems. I believe this is the reason why Israel built and installed the alter and worshiped God even though they were terrified of the people who surrounded them. Remembering the ways God delivered their forefathers from the great and tyrannical power of Egypt enabled them to fight against the terror they experienced. The people fought their fear by remembering who God was, the problem is that they were nearsighted and failed to see a greater glory existed for their good. The safest place to be is in the will of God. The story of Gods people is a lesson on this principle. The reason why there was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that guided His people was so that they moved only when He moved and that they stayed only when God remained. Anytime the people of God moved when God was not moving or stayed when God was moving, they found themselves in trouble. If you are a Christian, the glory we follow is Jesus, and we are to go where He goes and stay where He stays. If you are not a Christian because you have not surrendered your life to Jesus as the one who died for your sins and conquered the grave by raising from the dead, then you need to run to Him who stood in your place to bear the wrath of a holy God that you deserved.

Introduction Shem Phillips is a board game designer from New Zealand. He founded Garphill Games in 2009 and is known for his medium to medium-heavy Euros such as the medieval trilogies (North Sea, West Kingdom, South Tigris) and Ancient Anthology series. He often works with S. J. (Sam) Macdonald. The use of trilogies in game design In your sermon online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXUfbhP20Iw&t=1258s), you mention how game testing is like prayer: “look for feelings not suggestions.” How do you relate today to the loss of your father? In Ezra & Nehemiah, you explore your first explicitly Biblical theme. What went into the decision to design a Bible-themed game? Why Ezra and Nehemiah? You mention a kind of “leap of faith” moment for yourself when you decide to go into board gaming. It was so encouraging. Would advice or encouragement would you have for any listeners who are maybe facing their kind of “leap of faith” moment? the place of music and lyrics You think about life and faith a lot through lyrics (you're in church band, and you describe yourself as a “lyrics nerd”). What are some bands or artists that you think especially excel at good lyrics? The facing of personal tragedies How did religion help you grieve the loss of your dad? CALL TO ACTION Subscribe to our newsletter (https://buttondown.email/BoardGameFaith) Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/boardgamefaith/) Interact with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith/) Discord us Discord (https://discord.gg/MRqDXEJZ) Chat with us on Wavelength (iOS and MacOS and iPadOS only) (https://wavelength.app/invite/AGSmNhIYS5B#ABhy7aXOO04TO6HTS4lelw--)

What does a list of unfamiliar names in the midst of an unfamiliar book have to teach us about God's faithfulness? In Ezra 2 we consider how these names testify to the way God works through families, the way God cares and provided for a whole community, and how God works with or without a king.

In Ezra and Nehemiah, we see the people of Israel beginning to return from exile in Persia. Leaders emerged from them, such as Ezra and Nehemiah, who guided them through the process of rebuilding and restoring the city that was lost. In their story we can also find our story as God guides us all through processes of rebuilding and restoring. This teaching is part of our 2023 series, "Dwell: Abiding in the Shelter of the Most High.” In 2023, we will take another journey through the Scriptures, looking for the God-sightings in each book and seeing how we can learn to dwell in God's presence. This episode was recorded on March 26, 2023, during our 10:30am worship service. Today's speaker: Elliott Johnson Audio Engineer: Oliver Kaufmann Theme Music by: Giancarlo Cordon Produced by: William Hartz ========== Christ Fellowship of Elizabeth is a Christian community whose mission is to love God, make disciples, and change the world. We hope you enjoyed this week's message. Make sure you subscribe in Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, or your favorite podcatcher so you never miss an episode. Follow us online: Website: https://cfofelizabeth.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/cfofelizabeth Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfofelizabeth Facebook: https://facebook.com/cfofelizabeth YouTube: https://youtube.com/ChristFellowshipofElizabeth Subscribe to our other podcasts at: https://cfofelizabeth.com/podcasts You can join us in person every Sunday. We gather for worship at 10:30am at The Liberty Center at 1121 Elizabeth Ave, Elizabeth, NJ. You can also join us virtually on our livestream by visiting cfofellizabeth.com/live or visiting our YouTube page. To give your tithe or gift online, you can visit: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithe or text "Give" to 856-317-6679. To contact the church by phone, call 908-289-6322. If this is your first time with us or you just want to learn more about our church, please visit: http://www.cfofelizabeth.com/im-new ========== ©2023 Christ Fellowship of Elizabeth Love God. Make Disciples. Change the World.

Ezra 7:1-28 | Faithful to Fulfill, Part 18 | 3/26/2023 | Pastor Matt Jones. Sometimes the LORD demonstrates His power by turning the hearts of pagan foreign powers so that they do His work more zealously than His own people do. In Ezra 7, we see the non-Jewish government of Persia freely giving massive amounts of funding to the Jews - and also granting tax-exempt status to the worship of the LORD. How does this relate to our current day as Christians in America?

As the Lord readies His Bride for the Rapture, and the “last things” continue to unfold on the earth in preparation for His Second Coming, it has become more important than ever for the legitimate children of God to take heed to the Holy Spirit's leading into all Truth – especially when it concerns Satan's counterfeits and the deceptions he orchestrates to lead the many into destruction.  The Living Word has turned up the Fire in His work of Sacred Sanctification as He separates the Holy from the profane, and the wheat from the tares.God's called out and sanctified people have been made separate unto Him even as the Light has been separated from the darkness.  Separation and Holiness go hand in hand in the mind of God; for to Him they are one in the same.In the Hebrew language, the word used for “holiness” is “kodesh” and means “separateness, sacredness, and set-apartness.”In Ezra 10:11, Jehovah God gave this command to the Israelites: “Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from foreign wives.”The Hebrew word for “separate” in that passage is “badal.”  By definition it means: “to disjoin, to separate oneself, to sever, divide, and make a difference; to select out of a group.  The word is used in the sense of a “ban” communicating the understanding of consecration.As His consecrated and Holy offspring, let us consider the practice of Halloween under the sacred scrutiny of the Holy Spirit and I believe we will find that it is an abhorrence to the Lord and something His true children should have no part in.Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

In this episode Nathan and Jim discuss the end of the historical narrative. In Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther we learn same very valuable leadership lessons as well as practical christian living principles. Join us as we learn all this and more!

 Tyler and Arlo try to make sense of how CF97 lost in Toronto. Arlo is furious over the referee's penalty decision (3:49). Mueller-Shaqiri-Torres get their first start together (6:32). In Ezra, we trust is the motto right now (9:44). Will there be movement in the Summer transfer window (15:42)? A recap of the Champions League Final has Tyler ready to quit the podcast (23:51). International break outlook (35:23). Follow Arlo & Tyler!Twitter:https://twitter.com/arlowhite https://twitter.com/TNTerens

When God's people follow God's will, we can overcome any enemy – even if we have to build with one hand while holding a sword in the other. But first, we have to overcome our own tendency toward selfishness. In this week's reading of Ezra and Nehemiah, the 70 years of exile are over, the people start to return, and a whole lot of time passes in a short number of chapters. The reasons for that, and the problems created by it are what we cover in this episode. Also note: In Ezra, the Israelites are called Jews for the first time Our church buildings are NOT the New Testament parallel to the Old Testament temple After this time, idolatry will never be a problem for the Jews again Links From This Episode: Link to Outline  Link to Transcript   Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Ezra & Nehemiah, the Israelites gave into discouragement over the community and city they were working to rebuild, so God said he would fulfill the role of restoring his people and world. In the same way, when you feel discouraged, know that God is at work in your work! God is using your efforts and redeeming them. He's weaving them together in his plan, in ways you can't even see or comprehend now.