I. EXORDIUM:
Is GOD Gracious to you?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To prove GOD's graciousness 4 ways using this text: Ezra 9:8
IV. TEXT:
Ezra 9:8 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
“But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.
V. THESIS:
GOD's graciousness 4 ways found in Ezra 9:8
VI. TITLE:
GOD is Gracious
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. GOD left us a remnant
"for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant"
The word "remnant" came from the Hebrew word that sounds like "deliverance." Our GOD delivered us from everything that we need deliverance to and we know in our hearts that we don't deserve any of His Goodness and Kindnesses to us, but it's His Grace at work for us. The more we get away from Him, the more He ran to save us.
Obadiah 1:17 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
“But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance.
Joel 2:32 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.
Genesis 45:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
B. GOD gave a firm place
"He has given us security in this holy place"
In the Hebrew, it's stated "to give us a nail" sounds like "nail, paddle, pin, stake" so it won't topple it's firmed nailed in it's place.
"firmly in place like a nail in the wall"
Isaiah 22:23 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.
Isaiah 54:2 (Amplified Bible)
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes,
"lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes"
Only GOD can do this, to assure you of a safe, sturdy, reliable, strong place with Him.
Ezra 9:8 (New King James Version)
And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
"to give us a peg in His holy place"
C. GOD gave light to our eyes
"Our God has brightened our eyes"
I remembered my uncle before He died without accepting the LORD GOD as His own LORD and PERSONAL SAVIOR, he always boasted of his own strength, intelligence and his bright eyes. We can't do this, everything we have and even the brightness of our eyes came from GOD.
Malachi 1:5 (New King James Version)
Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, 'The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'
We only boast in the LORD not on the things LORD GOD gave to us as a consequences of us finding our joy only in the LORD.
Isaiah 2:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.
Nehemiah 6:16 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
Realization and opening of our eyes can only be done by GOD. Don't ever approach GOD's Words with our own eyes and ears and our own human wisdom and guaranteed you will not be able to understand it, approach GOD's Words with faith, approaching spiritual things with spiritual ways and spiritual methods.
D. GOD gave us little relief in our bondage.
"granted us some relief from our slavery"
GOD is the Only GOD who can revived, give us relief. Stop looking in the wrong places for revivals or reliefs, it can only be found in GOD.
Ezra 9:8-9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
“But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery.
For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
1 Timothy 1:12-13 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,
even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Rely on GOD's Grace for you and He will see you thru.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
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