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Exposition Of Ezra
Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 12, 2010 (message contributor)
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1. The Decree Of Cyrus
Contributed on Jul 12, 2010
Sermon 1 in series. Israel ignored the Sabbath rest principle for the land. God declared that they would spend one year in captivity for each year the Sabbath rest was not kept. Add to this the wickedness and false worship of Judah. God keeps His word and
The Book of Ezra Study #3 (Ezra 1:1-4) The Decree of Cyrus Introduction • Israel ignored the Sabbath rest principle for the land. • God declared that they would spend one year in captivity for each year the Sabbath rest was not kept. • Add to this the wickedness and ...read more
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2. Headed Home!
Contributed on Jul 12, 2010
Sermon 2 in series. In our last message, God used Daniel to get to the king. The king, at God’s bidding, issued a decree. There were two parts to his proclamation: 1. A Call to Go 2. A Call to Give. In our text this evening we see the response to both
The Book of Ezra Study #4 (Ezra 1:5-11) Headed Home! Open It 1. How do you think your view of the church is different from your grandparents’? * 2. When was the last time you felt there was something you “just had to do”? 3. What’s something you have rebuilt, restored, refinished, or ...read more
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3. A Jewish Homecoming
Contributed on Jul 12, 2010
Sermon 3 in series. 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable. ALL scripture includes the genealogies and lists. At first, one may be tempted to overlook these passages and move on. You will be shocked at the tremendous
The Book of Ezra Study #5 (Ezra 2:1-70) A Jewish Homecoming! INTRODUCTION: • 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: • ALL scripture includes the genealogies and ...read more
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4. Rebuilding The Altar
Contributed on Jul 12, 2010
Sermon 4 of the series. The Jews are now back in their land. They have built cities, built houses and raised crops. Now it is time to get busy in the work and worship of the Lord!
The Book of Ezra Study #6 (Ezra 3:1-7) Rebuilding the Altar! INTRODUCTION: If given the chance, would you return to your home place to rebuild it, even if it lay in total devastation? What are some of your earliest memories of church? What buildings come to your mind? What ...read more
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5. Rebuilding The Foundation!
Contributed on Jul 12, 2010
Sermon 5 in the series. The Jews have settled into their cities, built homes, raised crops. Now it is time to get busy in the work of the Lord. In last week’s lesson, we saw that the people put a priority on worship! Even without a Temple, they returned
T The Book of Ezra Study #7 (Ezra 3:8-13) Rebuilding the Foundation! INTRODUCTION: OPEN: If you knew that a murderer were on the loose in your city, what would you do? Buy a gun, read your Bible, pray, or tithe? QUOTE: Why was the Lord’s temple begun first, even before ...read more
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6. Opposition: Part 1
Contributed on Jul 13, 2010
Sermon 6 of the Series. Chapter 4 is the sudden storm that interrupted what seemed to be clear sailing. The Jews knew that true worship of Jehovah could not be fully enjoyed until the Temple stood again! Satan knew this too. And he rears his ugly head to
The Book of Ezra Study #8 (Ezra 4:1-5, 24) Opposition: Part I INTRODUCTION: * 1. What comes to your mind as an example of an offer that seemed “too good to be true”? 2. When have you distrusted an offer of help or favor? SUMMARY STATEMENT: • Chapter 3 told us of the ...read more
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7. Opposition: Part 2
Contributed on Jul 13, 2010
Sermon 7 of the series. Ezra is very quick to remind us of the truth that ... 2 Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. While Ezra is recording the opposition to the rebuilding of the temple, he adds materia
The Book of Ezra Study #9 (Ezra 4:6-23) Opposition: Part II INTRODUCTION: 1. In what ways does Christianity go against the flow of society today? 2. What sacrifices do you think Christians have to make for their faith today? 3. What would you do if it were illegal to go to ...read more
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8. The Building Resumes
Contributed on Jul 13, 2010
Sermon 8 in the series. God, in His providence, allows the construction to resume. But it is not long before the opposition resumes. The Christian walk will always be a fight. It is truly warfare!
The Book of Ezra Study #10 (Ezra 5) The Building Resumes! OPEN 1. Under what circumstances do you find it difficult to persevere in doing what is right? 2. When have you faced opposition from others for doing the right thing? 3. When have you experienced God’s protection in ...read more
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9. The Temple Completed
Contributed on Jul 13, 2010
Sermon 9 in the series. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without opposition. Remember, these locals worshiped Jehovah, but only as ONE of their many gods. When the Jews would not join with them, then they tried to harass them, both locally and leg
The Book of Ezra Study #11 (Ezra 6) The Temple Completed! OPEN: * 1. What do you think is valuable about studying history? 2. When have you discovered something about the past that has helped you in the present? • I remember when I learned that no great thing has ever been ...read more
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10. The Building Resumes
Contributed on Jul 29, 2010
Sermon 10 in the Series. (Ezra chapter 5) After the locals first attempted to stop the work on the Temple, they then tried to compromise the work on the Temple. "Let us build with you" was their cry. When Jerubabbel and Jeshua refused, they harrassed them
The Book of Ezra Study #10 (Ezra 5) The Building Resumes! OPEN 1. Under what circumstances do you find it difficult to persevere in doing what is right? 2. When have you faced opposition from others for doing the right thing? 3. When have you experienced God’s protection in your ...read more
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11. The Temple Completed
Contributed on Jul 29, 2010
Sermon 11 in the series (Ezra 6) We must refresh ourselves on the background of this chapter. You will remember that in 4:1-5, the locals began the opposition to temple construction. They first tried to cause the children of Israel to compromise. Remember
The Book of Ezra Study #11 (Ezra 6) The Temple Completed! OPEN: * 1. What do you think is valuable about studying history? 2. When have you discovered something about the past that has helped you in the present? • I remember when I learned that no great thing has ever been ...read more
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12. Ezra The Man
Contributed on Jul 29, 2010
Sermon 12 in the series. Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. We now find ourselves at a point of transition. Although the people had
The Book of Ezra Study #12 (Ezra 7:1-10) Ezra The Man Introduction: • Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. • The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. • We now find ourselves at a point of ...read more
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13. The Preaching Pagan: Artaxerxes
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 13 in the series. God simply cannot be placed in a box. When He so chooses, He can use pagan kings to accomplish His will and His plan for Israel. In a letter preserved for us, not in Hebrew, but in the Aramaic, we have the word for word decree of
The Book of Ezra Study #13 (Ezra 7:11-28) The Preaching Pagan: Artaxerxes Introduction: • Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. • The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. • We now find ...read more
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14. The Return Of Ezra
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 14 in the series. Artaxerxes has granted Ezra's request to return to Jerusalem. And not only that, but provision is made for the journey to be financed by freewill offerings, official government contributions, and tax revenues from the Trans-Euphra
The Book of Ezra Study #14 (Ezra 8:1-36) The Return of Ezra Introduction: • Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. • The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. • We now find ourselves at a point ...read more
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15. Response To Sin (Part 1 Of 2)
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 15 in the series. Having boasted to the authorities that they would not need a military escort, then suddenly realizing the imminent danger, they have a season of repentance and prayer for the safety of their treasure and their children.
The Book of Ezra Study #15 (Ezra 9:1-15) Response to Sin (Part I: The Iniquity of the People) Open: How much influence do you think your friends have on you? Introduction: • You remember that between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period ...read more
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16. Response To Sin (Part 2 Of 2) The Intercession Of The Priests
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 16 of the series. When Ezra returns in 458 b.c., the king has decreed that all temple expenses will be covered by the government of Transeuprhates. Sadly, while God has arranged for their every need, the people have not prepared their hearts. The l
The Book of Ezra Study #16 (Ezra 9:6-15) Response to Sin (Part II: The Intercession of the Priest) INTRODUCTION: • By the time we come to Ezra chapters 7 -10, we must reorient ourselves as to what is the situation of the Jews. • By the time we come to chapter 7 ...read more
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17. Getting Serious About Sin
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 17 of the series. In Chapter 9, Ezra discovered that the people, all the way up to the leadership, had committed the sin of mingling with the nations around them, mimicking their actions, and marrying their daughters.
The Book of Ezra Study #17 (Ezra 10:1-8) Getting Serious About Sin REVIEW: • In Chapter 9, Ezra discovered that the people, all the way up to the leadership, had committed the sin of mingling with the nations around them, mimicking their actions, and marrying their daughters. • His ...read more
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18. A National Repentance!
Contributed on Jul 30, 2010
Sermon 18 of the series. Influenced by leaders of this new community, the priests and Levites, along with others in Jerusalem, had intermarried with the pagan population they had found living in the land. When Ezra learned this, he ripped his garments and
The Book of Ezra Study #18 (Ezra 10:9-44) A National Repentance! • The marriage problems in Ezra 9-10 began in this way. • In the seventh year of Artaxerxes (458 b.c.), Ezra led a second group of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, only to learn that a serious problem ...read more