Question: What are Lean Times for you?
Jeremiah 29:10-11 "For this is what the LORD says: "When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you"--this is the LORD's declaration --"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (HCSB)
Ezra 1:1-11
To Fight for the Future we must:
1. Understand the Lean Time are Painful!
Ezra 3:12-13
Key: We must not get stuck in the pain!
John 10:10 "A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance." (HCSB)
2. Remember the World Leaders are under God's Control!
Ezra 1:1b "The LORD put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:" (HCSB)
3. Realize that the number 1 issue to deal with is Sin!
Ezra 3:1-2 and Ezra 8:35
ATONEMENT= "at one with God"
1 Peter 3:17-18a "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all," (HCSB)
4. Trust and obey the Lord's instruction!
Question: How will you react when difficult times come?
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 "My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, for give their sins, and heal their land. My eyes will now be open and My ears attentive to the prayers from this place." (HCSB)
Until the Pain to Change becomes greater than the Pain to Stay the Same we will never Change!
Question: Are you ready to Fight for the Future?
