Ezra's Prayer

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you a prayerful person? Do you pray earnestly?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show the model of New Testament Grace Prayers that gets answered.

IV. TEXT:

Ezra 7:27-28 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem!

And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.

V. THESIS:

The model of New Testament Grace Prayers that gets answered.

VI. TITLE:

Ezra's prayer

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: unknown. Ezra might have been the compiler

B. Date written: 450 B.C.

C. Purpose: To document GOD's faithfulness, keeping His promises, sovereignly protecting His People and returned them to their own land.

D. To whom written: Jerusalem's restored remnant and future generations.

E. Main theme: Return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity

F. Keywords: Word of GOD, Power of the Word of GOD in human life, Word of the LORD

G. Key verses:

Ezra 1:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!

Ezra 7:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Praises to GOD

"Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors"

Ezra is GOD's man of the Old Testament who is grace conscious and his faith is shown in his prayers like a man of the New Covenant.

Prayers should fill you with joy.

Ezra 6:22 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 56:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

B. GOD has put the desire into the king's heart

"who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem"

1. New Testament Grace Prayers:

a. Thanksgivings

Romans 1:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.

1 Corinthians 1:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.

As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

b. Faith

Romans 1:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Hebrews 11:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

2. Positive prayers

a. not long

b. no more begging

c. no more show of human words of wisdom

d. it's just a simple declaration of faith and victories from GOD, instead of crying

Philippians 1:3-4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

C. GOD has extended His Good Favor on him

"And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king"