Longview Heights Sermons

The Hand of God and Man’s Secret to Success

Ezra 7:1-10

I’ve learned that whenever anyone is successful, people want to know the secret.

Talk show hosts, podcast, books ask successful people the “secret” of their great achievements, the answers they get are varied and sometimes contradictory. Some successful people will give credit to their talents or personal discipline, while others will boast in family support or access to superior training.

If we had interviewed Ezra and asked him the secret of his successful life, he would have said humbly, “The good hand of the Lord was upon me,” a phrase that’s found six times in Ezra 7 and 8 (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31).

Nothing but the blessing of God can explain how an obscure Jewish priest and scholar, born in Babylonian Captivity, could accomplish so much for God and Israel when so much was working against him.

God’s good hand was upon this man doesn’t minimize the importance of his personal faithfulness or his great ability as a scholar, nor does it ignore the great help King Artaxerxes gave him. God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His will, but if God’s hand isn’t at work in us and through us, nothing will be accomplished. It’s the principle

Jesus taught His disciples, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

The Secret of Ezra’s Success

Ezra was a great man—one of the all-time heroes of the faith. He had the will to lead; he had a heart for holiness; he had a mind for biblical truth. If we want to follow his example, we should ask what made him so great and so good.

What was the secret of Ezra’s spiritual success?

In one sense, it was the grace of God, of course, and the Bible is careful to point this out.

• Why did Ezra found favor in the eyes of the king? “The hand of the Lord his God was on him” (7:6).

• How was he able to make his journey back to Jerusalem? “The good hand of his God was on him” (7:9).

• Where did he find the courage to lead the people of Israel? Ezra speaks of God’s “steadfast love” and testifies, “the hand of the Lord my God was on me” (7:28).

Ezra was a man under the hand of God.

It is the hand of God that gives courage for spiritual leadership, humility for corporate repentance, and wisdom for teaching God’s Word. Praise God for the hand of guidance that has brought you to your present place of service, for the hand of providence that will supply all your needs, for the hand of discipline that will train you in righteousness, and for the hand of comfort that will sustain you through trials. The hand of God is on you for blessing.

Yet, there is another side to all this. Ezra had the hand of God on him, but at the same time he had to be faithful to his calling. He was not a marionette, dangling uselessly until God pulled his strings. He was a human being, with a mind, a heart, and a will that was made to glorify God. Therefore, he needed to be faithful to the sacred trust that God had given him. He needed to train his gifts for ministry and then put them to good use.

Ezra did that. This is obvious from all the good that he accomplished. But the Bible also shows us what was inside the man, giving us an intimate glimpse into Ezra’s approach to life and ministry. Do you want to know what enabled him to exercise such an influential ministry?

Look again at Ezra 7:10: “Ezra had determined in his heart to study the Law of the Lord, obey it and teach it’s statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

Studying, Doing, and Teaching the Law

This verse is one of the Bible’s best summaries of what it means to be a faithful servant of God’s Word. It is a wonderful verse for pastors, for seminary students, for theology professors—really, it is a wonderful verse for everyone. I know this from experience because I sought to embrace this verse early in my ministry.

• Picture of verse hanging in my study

The logic of this verse is impeccable. There were three things that Ezra was committed to doing, and he had them in the proper order, like “A-B-C” or “1-2-3.” In fact, Ezra had them in the only order that makes any sense: he had his heart set on studying, doing, and teaching the Word of God. This was his heart commitment, the direction of his life, the settled intention of his soul.

1. Studying God’s Word

Start with studying. Before we can do what God wants us to do, or teach anyone else what God wants them to do, we need to know what God wants us to do, and that means studying God’s Word. Ezra had committed himself to doing that. We do not know his study habits, but we know that he was skilled in the Law of Moses. His “delight was in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditated day and night” (Ps 1:2). The unrelenting ambition of his life was to know the Word of God.

2. Living by God’s Word

But Ezra did not stop there. He did not want merely to learn the Bible; he wanted to live it. So the Scripture says that he set his heart to do the law that he had studied. This meant loving the Lord his God with all his strength and loving his neighbor as himself. It meant keeping the Ten Commandments. It meant following all the regulations for priestly holiness and public worship. It meant doing everything he could to live by God’s law. Ezra understood that the only true theology is applied theology.

3. Teaching God’s Word

Then there was a third step: teaching God’s statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra would have taken issue with the famous advertising slogan: Just Do It! “No,” Ezra, would have said, “I can’t just do it. If I want to learn how to do it, I have to study it first, and then if it’s worth doing, I will be compelled to teach other people how to do it, too.” His slogan went more like this: “Don’t just do it! Study it, do it, teach it.”

Notice as well the scope of Ezra’s vision for ministry. He wanted to teach God’s law “in Israel.” He wanted to reach his entire nation with the Word of God. He saw that he had a responsibility to the wider spiritual community. It was his calling and privilege to spend long periods of time studying God’s Word. But this was not for his benefit alone; it was for the edification of the people of God. Eventually God granted Ezra his heart’s desire. When he read the Book of the Law to all the people in Jerusalem, he was teaching God’s statutes and rules in Israel–the Bible teacher for the kingdom.

But all of that came later. Ezra did not begin as a teacher; he became one. Sometimes people feel called to a teaching ministry, and they get right into teaching before they have done the hard work of really mastering the Bible. Then all they have to offer is their own spiritual experience; they cannot share the deepest riches of God’s Word. Or sometimes–and this is especially tempting for seminary students and pastors–they go right from studying to teaching without having the Word of God really transform their lives. It goes from the mind to the mouth without ever passing through the heart.

Application:

All of this is easy to apply. Like Ezra, you are called to be a student of God’s Word. We are all called to study God’s Word, and to do it, and as we have the opportunity, to teach it to others. This means spending time reading the Bible every day—not in an academic way, but in a devotional way, nurturing our love relationship with Jesus Christ. It means meditating on Scripture and memorizing it. It means devoting the very best of our powers to learning what God has said in his Word.

It also means paying special attention to new areas of personal obedience. We want to do more than study the Bible; we want to live by it. So what is God saying to you today that you need put into practice in your daily life? What will he say to you tomorrow and the day after that? Do not be content with what you have already attained, but strive to grow in godliness. Experience the fresh power of the Word of God.

Then once you start living the truth, then and only then can you be trusted to teach it to others. But bear in mind that this is the goal of all your studies. You do not study God’s Word for your own benefit, but for the sake of others. The knowledge you gain is a sacred trust that God has given you in order that you might give it away. So set your heart to study the Word of God, and to do it, and to teach it to wherever God calls you.

Scripture text: Proverbs 3:1-12

Proverbs shows us how God designed us to live. Proverbs 3 teaches us to "Submit our whole lives to God and He will take care of the rest."

As we walk through this life God gives us the gift of confidence in him–that if we submit to him and his ways, he will make it worth it.

In this passage the Father is saying, "Pay attention to me... Only my teaching will lead you into shalom, wholeness, peace."

1. Submit Your Personality (Heart) (vv. 3-4)

See also: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Shema

The Shema ties loving God with loving and knowing God's Word. You can't love someone without listening to them. Love takes time. The more time you spend in God's Word the more you will grow to love Him.

2. Submit Your Preference (Will) (vv. 5-6)

It all comes down to trust. Do we trust God, who made us and created us and knows how we work, or do we trust ourselves?

When faced with decisions like, "What job does God want me to have? Where does He want me to live? Where will I go to school?" God rarely tells us what to do but He always tells us how to do it. That's what it means to walk in the way of wisdom.

3. Submit Your Perspective (vv. 7-8)

Avoid thinking that you are wise and therefore forgetting that the Lord is the source of wisdom. Submit your whole life to God and He will take care of the rest.

4. Submit Your Possessions (vv. 9-10)

When we start to worry about the future what's one of the first things we doe? We close our wallets and our generosity dries up. We cling to our money.

If we trust God will provide for all our needs, even in want we can still find ways to be generous and give to the Lord and others. We can give confidently and joyfully that He will take care of us.

5. Submit Your Pride (vv. 11-12)

Godly parents don't withhold loving discipline from their children. The more you love, the more you correct what is wrong and train in what is right.

The Father loves us so much that He was willing to discipline His one and only Son in whom He delighted so that You and I can be forgiven. The Father allowed His perfect Son, a Son who had done no wrong, a Son who always submitted to his Father's will, to be punished as a guilty sinner so that you and I can be counted as righteous. The Father sees us through red colored glasses because of the blood of Jesus.

Your faith has practical applications. As a follower of God you cannot separate your spiritual life on Sundays, with your practical life the rest of the week. Genuine faith produces good works and will yield tangible fruit.

It's impossible for us to perfectly submit to God, but Jesus did. When we surrender to Christ, He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to walk the path of wisdom and gives the gift of confidence.

SUBMIT YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO GOD AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

When we become complacent in our walk with God we all need, repeatedly, for God's Spirit to blow fresh upon us in spiritual renewal.

1. Renewal with God is possible, no matter how spiritually low you've gone.

2. Renewal with God must focus on His cross.

In Ezra 3, the first thing they did was to rebuild the altar. Why did they begin with the altar? Because our fundamental need, if we want to draw near to God, is forgiveness of our sins.

If you are a believer who has strayed from the Lord, the cross is still the place for a new beginning.

3. Renewal with God must focus on obedience to His Word.

They knew to set up the altar because is was written in the law of Moses. (Ezra 3:2) The standard we need to evaluate everything is to ask the question, "Does it line up with Scripture and properly glorify God as He is revealed in His Word? Does it promote holiness in God's people, in line with His Word?"

If you want a renewal with God, it is available. Begin at the cross and then walk in obedience to His Word.

4. Renewal with God must focus on building up His House

A. Building up God's house requires the courage to stand together against this hostile world.

Some have focused on building a strong and well-armed militia, but these men knew that help from man is in vain if the Lord is not in His rightful place.

B. Building up God's house requires giving our time, talent, and treasures.

Your willingness to give, and the proportion that you give, are perhaps the best indicators that Jesus is Lord of your heart.

C. Building up God's house requires working in unity under godly leadership.

Unity was essential because of the enemy that would shortly threaten and shut down the work.

When the enemy wants to stop such a work, often he disrupts the unity.

D. Building up God's house requires an emphasis on corporate worship.

Both personal and corporate worship focus on God and affirm by faith His goodness and covenant love.

E. Building up God's house requires a spirit of cooperation between the different generations within the church.

We need all ages in God's church, and we should learn from one another.

Renewal with God is always possible and must focus on the cross, on obedience to His Word, and on building up His house.

Remembering God's faithfulness when you're having trouble believing it.

What advantages are there to being a follower of Jesus? is Christianity really worthy it? Aside from the promise of eternal life, how will it help me here and now?

What would the results be if we think of Christianity only in terms of our future reward in heaven?

- Dangerous delay - people will delay faith as long as they can, then sign up for their heavenly insurance policy before the end

- Half hearts - People will not pursue Christ or holiness with vigor because there's no immediate advantage

- Clinched teeth - Christians adopt a "grin and bear it" approach to the Christian life. We just must put up with present losses in hope of eventual future gain.

- Cold legalism - We instruct our children to do things merely because they are commanded.

- Spiritual blindness - We don't see the glory and beauty of Christ, only commands to follow with little reason why.

As we look at Proverbs 2 we will see that Christianity IS worth it, not only for future rewards but because of present advantages.

As we practice seeking wisdom we will experience her productive benefits.

Wisdom defined: The skill of Godly living so that a life of lasting value is produced.

1. The Practice of Seeking Wisdom (2:1-4)

- Must Be Receptive (2:1)

- Must Be Responsive (2:1b-3)

- Must Be Resolute (2:4)

- "Seek" emphasizes the earnestness required–the sincere desire of the heart for wisdom.

- "Search" emphasizes the diligence required to gain wisdom. The diligence to stay with the task is the fruit of the earnest desire.

2. The Products from Seeking Wisdom (2:5-22)

Benefits:

- Delight in the Lord (2:5-10)

- Deliverance by the Lord (2:11-22)

- From Devious Men (2:11-15)

- From Dangerous Women (2:16-19)

- From Destructive Paths (2:20-22)

True wisdom is found in Christ alone. He is the very embodiment of wisdom.

The road to life begins at Calvary with the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. When we believe in Christ and accept His gift, we receive everything He has to offer, everything that comes with Him. This includes God's wisdom for living. There is only one way to heaven–only one road that leads to life–and that way is Jesus.

Maybe you've heard the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, "Simple Man". The theme of the song is a mother pleading with her son to not forget what she has told him. She wants him to remember the simple things in life as the central things.

Lyrics:

""Mama told me when I was young, Come sit beside me, my only son. Listen closely to what I say, and if you do this, it will help you some sunny day. --Take your time, don't live to fast, troubles will come and they will pass. You'll find a woman and you'll find love. And don't forget that there is someone up above. --Forget your lust for the rich man's gold. All that you need is in your soul. --And you can do this if you try, all that I want for you my son is to be satisfied."

"And be a simple kind of man, oh won't you do this for me son, if you can."

Written by: Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington

This passage in Proverbs 1:20-33 helps us today to show us the call of wisdom- to LISTEN and LEARN to respond to it.

"Wisdom is everywhere, yet it is found in someone."

Wisdom, a definition: The skill of Godly living so that a life of lasting value is produced.

Wisdom is results from the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the Lord is a reliance upon God; the realization that we were created to be wholly dependent recognizing the obligation we have in delighting in the God who created us for his glory. It is the whole of life through the eyes of the Creator.

We see wisdom in this passage personified as a lady. She represents a personification of a right relationship to a God who knows all things.

LISTEN:

- Listen to Her Calling (Vv. 20-23)

- She is vocal. She shouts out to everyone, "Be wise! Do the right thing! Do exactly what you should do!"

- Wisdom is not hard to find. It is intentional and it is everywhere. The problem, however is that not everyone who hears it heeds it. People willingly reject it. It calls loudly to us to fear the God who created us, but we have made a habit of ignoring that call.

- Listen to Her Critique (Vv. 24-32)

- She publicly and directly confronts:

1. The simple

2. The mockers

3. The fools

Observe wisdom's attitude toward those who do not know the fear of the Lord. She...

- calls (v. 24)

- stretches out her hand (v. 24b)

- Offers her counsel (v. 25)

- corrects (v. 25b)

Observe the contrasting attitudes of sinful people. They...

- refuse her (v. 24a)

- pay no attention to her (v. 24b)

- ignore her counsel (v. 25a)

- refuse to accept her urgent, loving correction (v. 25b)

Our problem is that we look for answers to our problem in all the places except where God has already reached out and provided an answer for us.

- Listen to Her Comfort (v. 33)

- We can lay claim on the promise that has been proclaimed by Lady Wisdom by listening.

In Proverbs, Lady Wisdom called out and no one turned. In the Gospel, Jesus, the one who Isaiah (ch. 11) said would be filled with the Spirit of God's wisdom did more than callout to us. He came down for us.

Jesus' message doesn't call for us to do better or try harder, instead Jesus grabs the heart of the sinner and brings us back to the cross. If you want this heart change it requires a turning which only Jesus can do. A turning which might seem painful because it admits what you have rejected your whole life. But if you would be changed by this Jesus and turn by the power of his grace away from your sins and towards the God who redeemed you, then you will finally find peace and dwell securely.

LEARN:

- Learn the Tendency of Human Nature

- Learn the Tenderness God Has for the Wayward

- Learn That the Time to Respond is Long but Limited

We can safely say that throughout life we go through a strange cycle in estimating our parents' intelligence:

> When we are little, we ask lots of questions because we think our parents know everything

> When we become teenagers, we think our parents know little to nothing; they are "out of touch".

> When we're adults we finally realize that our parents were smarter than we gave them credit for.

The first nine chapters of Proverbs include the instruction of parents to their children, as well as a primer for parents. It could be viewed as an instruction manual on how to rear children. Parents who learn to apply the lessons in these chapters will see these life-shaping truths sown into the young, fertile hearts of their children.

"The person you will be in five years is determined by two things: the books you read and the people you surround yourself with." ~Dr. Howard Hendricks

Solomon's wisdom for us points to the things and people which influence us. The people who determine "how we think" will always determine "how we act.

Sooner or later everyone must choose which influence we will follow.

Proverbs 1:8-19

Notice 3 main points:

1. The Pleas by Parents (vv. 8-9)

God's plan is that parents are to be the primary teachers of wisdom. See Deuteronomy 6:6-9

> Their instructions will prosper you

- Listen to their knowledge

- Learn from their experiences

2. The Persuasion by Peers (vv. 10-14)

> Their pressure will destroy you

- Hide (v. 11)

- Hurt ( vv. 11-12)

- Have (vv. 13-14)

3. The Peer Pressure Response Plan

> Avoid the people

> Avoid the paths

Why? (vv. 16-19

Going along with peer pressure is self-destructive. Peer pressures ambush themselves. If you join them in their practices, you join them in their plight.

Jesus can rescue you from your foolishness. As he, a completely righteous and innocent man, hung on the cross between two robbers we see:

- He took the punishment that thieves deserve so that thieves like us could be forgiven

- He took the punishment for our greed, our cravings, our violent hearts, so that we could be set free

- He gives his Spirit to his followers to empower them to walk in his wisdom.

- He empowers us to avoid easy money, to be content, and to use our money to help others instead of using others to help us get more money.

- He gives us a new community–the church–a community that does not entice us to sin but spurs us on to love and good deeds.

The reward of wisdom is far greater than any allurement from peer pressure or ill-gotten riches that shimmer and fade and ultimately destroy you. They're not worth it.

Remember:

> Parental instruction will prosper you.

> Peer pressure will destroy you.

> Jesus will save you.

Movements of Worship

Isaiah 6:1-9

What is Worship?

- Worship is an encounter with God that results in lifestyle change

Movements of Worship:

1. Worship begins upward (vs. 1-4)

- We see God as Sovereign

- We see God as Majestic

- We see God as Holy

- We see God as Powerful

2. Worship continues inward (vs. 5)

- We see ourselves unclean (vs. 5)

- We see others unfit (vs. 5)

3. Worship always leads outward (vs. 6-8)

- We are prepared by the Gospel (vs. 6-7)

- We are propelled by the Great Commission (vs. 8)

"Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you." ~John C. Maxwell

Sometimes we face important choices in life that are incredibly important but may not have clear answers. Choices like:

- Where should I go to college?

- Should I look for a new job or stick with this one?

- How do I handle the coworker who drives me crazy?

- What should I do with my money?

- Is it time to break up with this boyfriend/girlfriend?

The Bible, God's Word should be our "go to" resource for seeking wisdom and application for the nitty-gritty, daily details of our lives.

Ephesians 5:15-16, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

As we begin this series on proverbs we will see how to walk wisely, to make the most of our time, and how to make the best decisions in a day filled with evil.

What is a Proverb? “a short saying that expresses a general truth for practical, godly living.” The purpose of a proverb is to present wisdom in a short, memorable format, think zingers/axioms. Proverbs are simple yet profound. Many deal with the commonplace yet clarify the deepest realities of life.

Why Proverbs?

1. Because of the Person (Prov. 1:1)

Solomon sought wisdom from God and it was pleasing to God that he asked for wisdom so God granted his request. (see 1 Kings 3:9-14; 4:29-31)

Even though Solomon was "wiser than anyone..." he himself made some very unwise and sinful decisions in his life. This does not change the credibility of the Proverbs but goes to show that it is easier to preach a sermon that to practice it.

Yet, the truth should still be taught and proclaimed.

2. Because of its Purpose (Prov. 1:2-4)

- Teaching wisdom, discipline, and understanding

- Building a wise and disciplined life

"A price has to be paid for anything of value, and nothing is more valuable in life than wisdom."

- Instructing the inexperienced in discernment and equipping the young in decision making (Prov. 1:4)

3. Because of the People (Prov. 1:5)

- Wise people have teachable spirits

- Wise people continue to grow and learn

- Wise people seek counsel when making decisions

Ask yourself:

1.) Do I have a teachable spirit?

2.) Do I pursue opportunities to grow and to continue to learn?

3.) Do I seek the counsel and advice of others?

4.) Do I actively seek to understand truth and those things that will increase my wisdom?

5.) Do I exercise my mental faculties and sharpen my ability to think? Do I stretch myself to understand new or difficult things?

6.) Do I ask questions and seek the help of others in learning and understanding truth?

4. Because of the focal Point

The right key to genuine wisdom or knowledge is: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."

How do I gain this wisdom?

- Posture/Willingness

- Practice

- Priority

Take the Daily Proverbs challenge: Read a chapter of Proverbs each day corresponding with the day's date. Ex., June 6=Proverbs 6, June 7=Proverbs 7, etc.

1. Running From God (Jonah 1)

It is impossible to run from God. (Jonah 1)

What keeps us from following God? What happens when we don't follow God?

2. Running to God (Jonah 2)

We are never far from the presence of God; He always hears the prayers of His people.

3. Running with God (Jonah 3)

God is one of second chances, He forgives the repentant

4. Running Ahead of God (Jonah 4)

God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love

The greater Jonah: Jesus our substitute (Jonah 1:12-16)

- God's wrath (v. 12)

- Man's attempt (v. 13)

- Submission (v. 14)

- Obedience (v. 15)

- Peace (v. 15)

- Worship (v. 16)