Let No One Frustrate Your Purpose

You were created for a purpose. Purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. Myles Munroe said, When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. We should live purpose driven lives.

God is a planner, and has good plans for us.

He created us for a purpose, and when we read from the scriptures in 1 cor 2:9&10 the things God has prepared for those who love him, these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. In the amplified: For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ezra 4:1-5 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Jews are returning to rebuild the temple, as the Lord had impressed in the heart of King Cyrus/moved the heart of the king/stirred up the spirit of the King, to make a proclamation in support of rebuilding the House of the Lord in Jerusalem (ch1:1).

When they arrive to rebuild from the Babylonian, the men of the land, that composed largely of the descendants of peoples settled there by Esarhaddon king of Assryia – (2Kings 17:24 - And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.) became their adversaries. They were half-casts, called Samaritans. They heard. And opposed. One of the easiest way to know that you are quickly becoming an adversary, or a witch, is when good news start hurting you, and bad news make you happy!

They were telling Zerubabel, Joshua and the leaders that they worship the same God as the Jews, but that was not true, as they had other gods (2Kings 17:29 - But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived.)

Zerubabel and Joshua the priest and leaders of the fathers houses of Israel refused their support. They received wisdom from God that the men of the land would infiltrate their plans and sabotage them.

Sometimes when God tells you to do something, do not seek others to assist you, if the Lord has not said so. But trust in the Lord. They may have other gods, and there is a danger of mixed multitude.

Bible tells us that when Zerubabel refused the offer, the men revealed their true colors. Their actions confirmed that they were out to sabotage the plans Zerubabel had. Vs 4 tells us that the people tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, hired/bribed counsellors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus King of Persia, till the reign of King Darius. This opposition continued for 20 years. They were very determined.

If you read from vs 7: there were four main threats in the letter they wrote to King Artaxexes. They indicated that the Jews were rebuilding ‘rebellious and evil city, rebuilding its walls and repairing its foundations’

The devil knows God has good plans for you. He wants to give wrong information to those that matter, and even to you, so that you can be discouraged. But today, we are not ignorant of devils devices, every evil report the enemy is preparing for any of us, we nullify it in Jesus Name.