What instantly comes to mind when you think of the word, confession? 
I wonder how many of us would pair power and confession together, for I believe the enemy may have warped our view just a bit. Confession doesn't seem pleasant at the time,and I don't think any of us relishes that time, yet it is freeing and incredibly powerful! 

Take the example found in Ezra 9:1-10:4   

The seventy years of exile had ended, and the people of Israel had been returning in groups over a number of years. One of these groups was lead by a man named, Ezra. Only upon his arrival, Ezra learns that many in Israel have broken the Laws of God and have intermarried with the pagan tribes among them and have adopted their forms of worshiping false gods.  

Ezra's reaction to this news prompts the people to confess that they have once more damaged their standing with God, for the sorrow and prayer of Ezra following this revelation is powerful, and there are key points found here that can benefit all of us.

First, Ezra identified with the sins of the people. Did you notice that even though he was not guilty of this sin he still says, "our sin" as he prays?

Second, Ezra (and the people) experienced great sorrow over this sin. Ezra admits, "I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.  From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great" (Ezra 9:6-7a)

Third, Ezra based his awareness on Scripture and not just the traditions of the day, for he quotes Scripture back to God in his prayer, "you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other.  Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’ (Ezra 9:11-12)

Forth, Ezra affirms the righteousness and mercies of God by telling Him, "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this." (Ezra 9:13)

Finally, following Ezra's prayer there was action taken to correct the situation, which is a picture of repentance, for repentance is more than simply expressing sorrow over our sin, but turning from it! And it often isn't easy as we can see here. Families were torn apart in order to bring Israel back into a right relationship with God and His Word. 

We all see the need in our country, community, church and families and if you're like me I'm sure you too wonder just what one person can do. Ezra proves just one person, in right standing with God can do a LOT as His word tells us in James 5:16; 



Don't give up! Keep praying for the needs you see before you!

Blessings!
sue

Sunday, April 22, 2018

We hear a lot about the need for revival among God’s people today, but do most of us truly know what revival looks like? Found in the Book of Ezra is one of the greatest revivals recorded in the Old Testament and Ezra was very instrumental in helping to bring it about.

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah document the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. First, Ezra was sent to restore the worship among the Israelites. As worship was restored, Zerubbabel arrived to rebuild the temple, the place of worship, and finally Nehemiah arrives and rebuilds the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The wall acted as a barrier against attack and protected those living within the city, but it’s not enough to fortify the walls and build a place of worship. That’s not really “revival”? Revival begins in the hearts of each individual (you and me), before the community can be strengthened. And only God’s Spirit is able to do the work in the hearts of each person, but He does use people like Ezra along the way.

 “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. For we were slaves…” – Ezra 9:8-9

The first step to revival is recognizing that we’re in bondage.

 It isn’t hard to find others in bondage around us. There are those who are in bondage to addictions such as drugs, alcohol, sexual perversions, etc. But there are other bondages that are less recognizable, especially when it comes to ourselves, unless we begin looking within and asking, “Am I in any kind of bondage and in need of revival?”
So let me ask you:
·         Do you have a sense of incredible joy? If not, then you could very well be under the bondage of sorrow, depression, disillusionment, or even unconfessed sin?
·         Do you have indescribable peace within? If you don’t have peace then are under the bondage of dread, or anxiety?
·         Are you filled with faith? Or are you wrestling with the bondage of doubts.
·         Are you filled with incredible hope? If not, are you wrestling against despair? Is your glass suddenly half empty?
·         Do you have assurance? Or are you fearful and worried?
·         Do you possess a strong sense of self-worth? Or are you struggling with the bondage of shame?
Do you love digging into God's Word? How's your prayer life? Are you seeing God answer your prayers? Has God been speaking to you personally lately, or has He seemed distant?
Any of these symptoms may be signs that we're not free to live the way God has called us and created us to live!

Once we recognize that we are dealing with some form(s) of bondage, the next step to revival is to begin to cry out asking God to deliver us, for there has never been freedom without first a cry to be free!

We can see why God chose Ezra to rebuild Israel’s worship in Ezra 7:10, For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to practice it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Emphasis mine)  Ezra had set his heart to

1) Seek the Law of the Lord,
2) do it (live according to God’s Word), and
3) teach others to do the same.

Let me ask you, would you like to be used by God? Would you like to have the faith that stands firm and is commited to helping build God's Kingdom? Then, we too, must do exactly as Ezra "set his heart" to do. Anything that falls short of this simple formula would never work. Did you know that many theologians today credit Ezra with writing Psalm 119?
Here’s just a few quick verses, but I'd encourage you to prayerfully read the rest for yourself:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119: 1-2, 10-11

Is this your heart's cry as well?

Also consider  the words of Jesus:
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not DO the things which I say? Whoever COMES TO ME, and HEARS My sayings and DOES them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.” Luke 6:46–48 (emphasis added)

Don’t we all want to build our faith on an unshakable foundation? The great news is that God doesn’t leave us solely with the task of seeking, doing, and teaching completely up to us. All of us, at the moment we placed our faith in Him, were given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us, by revealing the truth of God’s Word to us, helping us to live it out, and to teach others to do the same!

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

And this amazing journey begins simply by looking within!

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Ezra 7:10...

Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. (NIV)

Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!