Our Sovereign God still speaks through His Word to ignite the weary and dull hearts of his people to refocus on a life of worship.

Our Sovereign God still speaks through His Word to ignite the weary and dull hearts of his people to refocus on a life of worship.

The Jews returned to Jerusalem with a clear purpose: to reestablish worship of the Lord, to rebuild the temple, and to reaffirm the nation’s relationship with God, but opposition formed almost immediately. The people of the land rose up against the Jewish exiles and continued through successive monarchs.

Judah’s leaders rejected an offer by the “people of the land” because they recognized the compromise involved. This led to opposition.We need to learn that obedience to God does not guarantee that life will be fair or just.

The Jews returned to Jerusalem with a clear purpose: to reestablish worship of the Lord, to rebuild the temple, and to reaffirm the nation’s relationship with God, but opposition formed almost immediately. The people of the land rose up against the Jewish exiles and continued through successive monarchs.

Judah’s leaders rejected an offer by the “people of the land” because they recognized the compromise involved. This led to opposition.We need to learn that obedience to God does not guarantee that life will be fair or just.

Have you ever felt forsaken by God? How do we trust God in the valley's of life? Ezra shows us that God is always at work, even when we can't see Him.

Have you ever felt forsaken by God? How do we trust God in the valley's of life? Ezra shows us that God is always at work, even when we can't see Him.

God is sovereign - absolute and incomparable. His absolute authority and man's capacity for choice exist together. His purposes will be accomplished. It is up to individuals and communities to cooperate with Him. In chapter one of Ezra we see God's prophecy of Israel returning to Jerusalem fulfilled as "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus" to proclaim a decree inviting the Jewish people to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple and worship God there. We see their response in verse 5: "everyone whose spirit God had stirred " moved back to rebuild the temple. Again, we see God's sovereignty and man's choice. Our choices should reflect God's sovereignty and goodness; our response should be to worship God and to trust him with our lives.

God is sovereign - absolute and incomparable. His absolute authority and man's capacity for choice exist together. His purposes will be accomplished. It is up to individuals and communities to cooperate with Him. In chapter one of Ezra we see God's prophecy of Israel returning to Jerusalem fulfilled as "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus" to proclaim a decree inviting the Jewish people to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple and worship God there. We see their response in verse 5: "everyone whose spirit God had stirred " moved back to rebuild the temple. Again, we see God's sovereignty and man's choice. Our choices should reflect God's sovereignty and goodness; our response should be to worship God and to trust him with our lives.

Reasons for making deposits in the First (and only) Bank of God's Eternal Kingdom … and how to do it.

Reasons for making deposits in the First (and only) Bank of God's Eternal Kingdom … and how to do it.