Ezra 1:1-4

Ezra 1:1-4

Israel has been a sitting empty and without rule, with most of its Jewish population in exile.  Babylon took the people away then when the conquer Israel.  Persia will defeat Babylon and takes over Israel.  Cyrus king of Persia makes the proclamation that the Temple be restored.

The work would start under the rule of Cyrus, then Darius, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes.  Ezra is the priest, Nehemiah is the politician, some others who figure into this time are Daniel, Ester.

Cyrus’s proclamation could have come from his encounters with Daniel.  But in the first year of his reign he honored the one true God.

The people start a rebuilding project that will cover the reign of three Persian kings. 

1.  TO FULFILL THE WORD OF THE LORD

            A. SPOKEN BY JEREMIAH (JER 25:11)

            B. 70 YEARS IN EXILE  (JER 29:10-14)

            C. THE TIME FOR BABYLON  29:10

2.  GOD MOVES THE HEART OF CYRUS

            A. NO MILITARY CAMPAIN, WAR OR REVOLT

            B. THE LORD USES NEHEMIAH OR DANIEL

            C. CYRUS FEELS CALLED BY GOD TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE AND RETURN THE PEOPLE.

            D. THEN THE PEOPLE GET EXCITED

3.  GOD’S PLANS WILL BE FULFILLED

            A. PLANS FOR THE WORLD (its JUDGEMENT AND END)

            B. PLANS FOR OUR NATION (IT’S PART IN HISTORY)

            C. PLANS FOR THIS CHURCH (TO REACH THE PEOPLE IN OUR AREA)

            D. PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE (TO HONOR GOD, BE A WITTNESS TO HIS FORGIVENESS)

            E.  PLANS TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE YOU SHARE LIFE WITH.

            F.  NOT BECAUSE OUR STRENGTH, POWER, RIGHTOUSNESS.

            G. NOT BY MIGHT AND NOT BY POWER ( Zec 4:6)

Conclusion :  God has great things to do in the life of this church and in your personal life.  We may not see it today.  Perhaps we feel like exiles, broken and powerless.  But God has a plan for this church and for you personally.  We have been Gow Memorial, Loomis, Middle inlet, Faith Presbyterian, and now Faith EPC.  All through our history of ups and downs and transformations, God has been at work to change our lives and the lives of the world around us.  God has amazing things ahead for you, and for our church.