YouTube: https://youtu.be/avM_aDnX1ac

ONE THING  God can transform any heart, at any time, when He wills it. 

Ezra 6:21-22

CONTEXT  A transformed heart seeks the mind and fulfills the will of God, like Jesus, as the Holy Spirit leads. 

We all need our heart transformed by God because His way, is the only right way to true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   

Also we can’t win against sin, Christ alone has conquered sin & death, we must be in Christ to be more than conquerors. 

Here we see God doing what only He can do but we all need, a transforming a heart. 

Here we see and learn the evidence of a heart transformed is driven to fulfill the will and mind of God. 

How can we know when a person’s (your) heart is changed by God?

   You will want to do ALL of God’s will. 

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

GOD TRANSFORMING OUR HEART IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Pray: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

COMMUNITY Don’t Stray: Be a man after God’s own heart, who will do all His will.’ Acts 13:22

SERVICE  Be Joyful: Remember God has put more joy in your heart, Christian, than when grain and wine abound in the world. Psalms 4:7

MULTIPLICATION  Abide In God: Speak from the heart of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s salvation.  Psalms 40:10 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/aHwZvUAlBMs

ONE THING  We remember and return to God to be purified.

Ezra 6:19-20

CONTEXT  We are purified by God to show those around us the glorious Jesus Christ.

How do people know that their motives and action are pure?

Purify themselves in preparation of Passover from sin, ungodly intentions, draw their gaze and focus of deeds toward the mind and will of God.

Part of our response to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To love other Christians till the end of life and help share the biblical truth in brotherly love with those who are not yet a part of the family of God.

As Christians, how can we know our motives and actions are pure?

   We first deal with our sin with God then we gladly submit to follow Christ in each moment by the Holy Spirit’s leading.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

BEING PURIFIED TO POINT TO CHRIST IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Go to God in worship to have your heart, mind, soul and strength purified.

COMMUNITY Let others know that why you do what you do is to honor God and follow Jesus.

SERVICE  Invite others to do what they do when they do it to honor God, as a Christian, by the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

MULTIPLICATION  Biblically love others like Jesus till the end, both in the kingdom of and into the kingdom of God. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/y-3lltUUAqQ

ONE THING  Don’t hesitate to dedicate this day to God.

Handle the day in a God honoring way.               

Let the Holy Spirit guide you.

Ezra 6:17-18

CONTEXT  Dedication to God must have devotion and commitment.

Help others to see God is number one to thee.   

Let the Holy Spirit guide you.

At the dedication (devotion, commitment) they dealt with sin, celebrated God delivering them and putting people in place to serve so others can draw close to God.

Before we become Christian we are dead in our trespasses / sin, by grace through faith in Jesus we can be saved from death.

Dedication is to God and away from sin that has been forgiven so others may be served to do the same.

Biblical deeds that honor God are the evidence, fruit, of devotion to God.

Biblical deeds that help others to see and have a commitment to God. These together and you have dedication to God

How can we know when our dedication to God is right and true?

   We have repented of our sins, draw closer to God and perform deeds keeping with our repentance.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

DEDICATION TO GOD IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Find out what pleases God, do and give that to Him.

COMMUNITY Commit to believe, think and act in a Biblical way to every situation you face today.

SERVICE  Help others to see that God is rich in mercy and makes us alive together with Jesus Christ

MULTIPLICATION  In successes and failures respond to God in a devotion filled honoring way. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ik0gRRkiQ9U

ONE THING  When God does something great we should celebrate.

   Publicly and with joy.

CONTEXT  Since God only does great, we should celebrate more.

   In small ways and extravagant ways we point to His magnificence. 

As in all things in life, there is a wrong way and the right biblical way to celebrate.

The focus of our joyful celebration should be God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

   Our celebrations should be public with others so other will know the greatness of God.

How do we celebrate God with joy well? 

(Many methods to this truth in the context of relationships)

  By demonstrating through calm delight integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting, assured of salvation, content with our earthly lot of whatsoever sorts.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

CELEBRATING GOD WELL IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP In small ways and extravagant ways we point to His magnificence.

COMMUNITY Make a big deal about God and the great things He has, can and will do. Temple story

SERVICE God front and center with you pointing the way through Jesus Christ.

MULTIPLICATION Make a place for others to celebrate God with you. 

Video: https://youtu.be/b9d1mBI7H1U

ONE THING  Opposing God is always a consequence filled bad idea.

Ezra 6:11-13

CONTEXT  We oppose God when we believe, think and act against His Sovereign will.

Scripture Background…In the midst of opposition to God they spoke the word of Life, that we know as the Gospel, Bible.

Presented with the hardships of our faith we must remember that God, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit will not ever be overthrown! 

It is good advice for us to never be found opposing God’s will to biblically seek, save and mature us all. 

(The temporal and eternal consequences can / will be disastrous)

Who are we opposing when we go against God’s will? 

God in His Sovereignty, the Saving Grace Filled Authority of Jesus Christ and the Guiding Strength of the Holy Spirit.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

Not Opposing God IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Ask God to help you remove any opposition in you toward Him.

COMMUNITY Believe, think and act in accordance with His Sovereign will.

SERVICE Invite others through explanation and action to gladly submit to God.

MULTIPLICATION  Only affirm, support and stand with what is God’s will as found in the Bible. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/4E4ChzRvmcU

ONE THING  Pleasing sacrifices to God are a daily part of the Christian life.

    Now that we know it, daily we should do it.

Ezra 6:8-10

CONTEXT  Each day, there will be a way, to sacrifice in a God honoring way.

Now that we do it the goal is without fail.

In this verse we have the thankful grateful acknowledgment which the apostle makes of the kindness of the Philippians in sending him a present for his support, now that he was a prisoner at Rome. – M. Henry

Sacrifices are fragrant in offering, acceptable and pleasing because through faith it advances the will of God in lives. 

   It is going to cost you something for the good of the kingdom of God and you may not immediately benefit. 

How do we know what to daily sacrifice? Ezra 6:9

      Anything and everything that will help to bring the kingdom of God into the lives of us all. (person, place or thing)

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

Offering God Daily Pleasing Sacrifices IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Ask God to make known to you the pleasing sacrifice you can offer this day.

COMMUNITY Daily offer God pleasing sacrifices in faith through deeds as the Holy Spirit leads.

SERVICE In relationship help others offer pleasing sacrifices to God in faith through deeds.  

MULTIPLICATION  Proper sacrifices please God, draw people closer to Him and strengthen the faith of Christians. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/0dbULxHyfQA

ONE THING It is always the right time to return to God.

Ezra 6:6-7   

CONTEXT Return to the Lord in faith and to fulfill His will.

We can all head in the wrong direction but we can get back on the right path.

Peter denies Jesus three times / Peter restored by Jesus at campfire / Peter shares Jesus for God’s glory

A good confession made in Christ, a re-turning to God and a glad submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading is the way forward.

What can a person do when they realize their life is headed away from God?

      Repent, Be Baptized, Fulfill God’s will like Jesus Christ

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

Returning to God through Jesus IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Make sure you are moving toward God not away from Him.

COMMUNITY Follow Jesus this day faithfully even if you didn’t yesterday.

SERVICE Help others to repent and publicly share their already inner faith in Jesus.  

MULTIPLICATION  Like Jesus, daily return to the fulfillment of God’s will. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/9iFAz1dSfNQ

ONE THING Bring people back to God to live for Him.

    Invite them to return to the house of God

Ezra 6:3-5

CONTEXT To live for God is to be ready for every good work He has for us.

Invite them to discovery in the house of God

We see in v5 the importance vessels have to play in the worship of God, they bring a fulfilling purpose to others.

2 Timothy 2:21  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 

God has made it so everyone can be an anyone set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house Jesus Christ.

   They simply need to be brought back to God, returned and a part of the house of God, the body of Christ.

How are people brought back to God?

      They are invited to join, shown the way that leads to reconciliation through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

Bringing people back to God IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Worship God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a local church.

COMMUNITY Invite them to worship God with you in a local church.

SERVICE Help others to turn away from what draws them away from God’s good purpose.  

MULTIPLICATION Remind others that God’s grace and mercy waits for them if they will return to Him

YouTube: https://youtu.be/2o_ynhn9uLo

ONE THING The Bible has no equal when it comes to truth.

It is they only without error truth for life.

Ezra 6:1-12

CONTEXT Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of God’s truth.

We should do all we can to love like Christ and live like Jesus

Psalm 119 a highly concentrated source for how great the Word of God is, how great the Bible is, Jesus is.

Psalm 119:160  The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

The Word of God, made flesh in Jesus, upheld through the Holy Spirit is the only eternal, right truth.

   No hope to have truth (natural, moral, legal) or to live rightly apart from believing and doing what the Bible says.

Psalm 119:11  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Having God’s word in our heart, can keep us from sinning against God, when we look, learn and lean on it.

   Read the bold words on the second page

What should we do every day with the truth of God’s word?

   Filter every word, thought and deed through it before it takes root and bears fruit.   

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

Living out the truth of God’s word IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Store up the word of God in your heart so that you might not sin against God.

COMMUNITY Obey God’s righteous rules in everyday situations.

SERVICE Show and tell others that God’s word is the only inerrant truth.  

MULTIPLICATION   Do all you can in word, thought, deed to love like Christ, live like Jesus.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/bkOoH3nj6Pc

ONE THING Your daily created purpose is to please God.

Ezra 5:15-17

CONTEXT God is pleased when we respond to life with faith-filled biblical words and deeds.

First and foremost you should not be first and foremost in your life.

Give and generate praise and credit to God by doing what is biblically good, by sharing generously your time, talents and treasures.       

The Holy Spirit will guide you in this endeavor.

How can we know if what we are doing is pleasing to God?

   The Bible says so, God is glorified, Jesus Christ is exalted, the Holy Spirit followed and others are closer to God.

Why should we please God first and foremost before all others, including ourselves?

   1 Thessalonians 4:7  For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

We exist to bring God glory and make disciples.

 Living to please God IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO WHY WE EXIST

Based on this message what can we do to become more like Jesus?

Gospel-Centered = 

WORSHIP Draw near to God by faith then believe and confess that He exists.

COMMUNITY Offer up a sacrifice of praise to God and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

SERVICE  Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 

MULTIPLICATION  What you discover in Bible study, live out as a case study for God’s glory and to make disciples.