Carrying God's Treasures In A Dangerous Land

Carrying Precious Treasures In A Dangerous Land.

Ezra 8:21

21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

It is often the case that we overlook the great spiritual nuggets that are contained in the Old Testament. We devote most of our study time to the Gospels, or to the Epistles. To neglect the Old Testament is very limiting to the growth of the Christian. God speaks to us today through the applications set forth in His Word, His entire Word.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We fight among ourselves as Christians concerning the Law of Moses. Some say that we have no part with the law and refuse to even study the Old Testament scriptures as having any application to us in this day. My friend even Paul, the great author in the New Testament, reminds us that without the law we have no understanding of sin. To say that the law does not apply today is to say that the 10 commandments do not apply. My brethren we are not judged by the law, we have been given the imputed righteousness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But we can not live haphazardly and not observe the commandments of God!

In the Old Testament we find countless records of God’s instruction to fallen man. We can see ourselves in the lives and circumstances of the children of Israel. Such is the case with a man named Ezra and his quest to re-establish the house, and worship, of God after years of captivity in the hands of the Babalonyians.

After years of exile the Lord has, in mercy, released the people through the new King. Not only have they been delivered, they have been given the challenge to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They were also given the utensils of God that were taken in the captivity so that the worship of God could begin again in the land he had given unto Israel. We pick up the story just as Ezra and the first men to come back into Israel are about to pass through some dangerous territory. For the Lord has indeed provided us too great treasures that we are to bear through this dangerous world. The treasures that the Lord has given us must be guarded carefully for Satin seeks to destroy the joy and victory of the Christian by stealing our heavenly treasures that have been entrusted to us. If the Enemy should manage to steal those treasures we certainly will be of no use to our God and many will suffer the second death because we could not deliver the treasures to the Lord on His return.

Now let us look at Ezra 8:21-30 to learn how to

"Carrying precious Treasure In A Dangerous Land."

Substance Of The Lord: 8:21

KJV: Ezr 8:21

21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Ezra and people of Israel were overwhelmed with the responsibility of carrying the things of God, and His house, through dangerous lands in order to return them to the Lord. The way was long and filled with the pitfalls of this world. Each new land they must pass through held unknown perils, evil people, and things never imagined in the darkest dreams of night. The Nation had passed this way before, only then they were beaten, poor, and enslaved to the Babaloynian kings and under his protection. Now they were free from their bondage, rich in the Lord, entrusted with His treasures, and facing the return trip without the protection of an earthly power. Their natural instinct was to ask the King for soldiers to protect them from the enemy but they were ashamed, to ask for help would be a sign of weakness of faith in the God who had freed them. Realizing the magnitude of their circumstance they did the correct thing in turning to the Lord for guidance, Oh if we could only learn from Ezra.

Realizing Our Situation:

In our own power we can do no good thing concerning Holy matters, It must be done through the power of Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 We are as the third man on the crosses, he realized his position and knew he could not save himself, therefore he cried out to the one who could save him.

Resorting To Prayer:

When you seek direction from the Holy Ghost, and then wait for His reply, the journey will be made in His complete will. Notice I did not say the journey would be easy, for the way is hard, but I would rather face great peril knowing that I was in the will of God than to travel unmolested and have no assurance of His presence. The same man who cried out a desperate prayer for forgiveness received his answer immediately Luke 23:43. We must be in constant prayer for guidance and direction that we may make to our journey’s end.