SCRIPTURE
Ezra 8:22 "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him..."
There are several things through the book of Ezra that Ezra attributes to the “hand of God”. Much of this centers around Ezra’s initial trip from Babylon to Jerusalem.
1st thing : Ezra was given everything he requested to the king because the hand of the Lord was on him.
Ezra 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God on him.
2nd thing : Ezra enjoyed supernatural protection because the good hand of his God was on him
Ezra 7:9 For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.
3rd thing : Ezra was granted supernatural favor in the eyes of the king and his counsellors and his mighty princes because the hand of God was on him.
Ezra 7:27-28 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: And has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
4th thing : Ezra was supernaturally granted competent and relevant collaborators because the hand of God was upon him.
Ezra 8:18 And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; 19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; 20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
What moves the hand of God?
The interesting thing about the hand of God being on Ezra was that Ezra didn’t just think this was some sovereign move of God of which he had no part in. He realized that there were certain keys that move God’s hand.
1st key : A prepared heart
Ezra 7:10 KJV "For Ezra had prepared his heart …"
What does it mean "prepared" ? It means to establish, to set up, to accomplish, to do, to make firm; to fix, to make ready, to prepare, to provide, to direct toward (moral sense); to arrange, order.
It all starts with your heart. If your heart is not prepared for the move of the hand of God, the hand of God will not move in your life.
The question today is : Is your heart prepared?
2nd key : Studying God's word
Ezra 7:10 KJV "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD..."
Ezra 7:10 NASB "For Ezra had set his heart to study …"
Ezra 7:10 NLT "This was because Ezra had determined to study …"
Ezra 7:10 NIV "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study …"
What does it mean "to seek"? The verb "to seek" comes from the Hebrew Word – darash – and means "seek with care", "enquire"; "study", "follow", "seek with application".
Ezra wanted to know God’s Word. By doing so, God’s hand was stretched toward him because the hand of God is tied very closely with the Word of God.
God’s hand is connected to His Word. You and I need to spend time daily in God’s Word.
The question today is : Do you study the Word of God?
3rd key : Applying God’s Word
Ezra 7:10 KJV "…Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it"
What does it mean "to do it". The verb "to do" comes from the Hebrew word – ‘asah – which means to do, to fashion, to accomplish, to make.
Ezra knew enough that it wasn’t enough just to know God’s Word. He had to live it as well. If we think it’s just enough to read or learn about God’s Word, yet we don’t let it affect our behavior, we are fooling ourselves as the Apostle James declares in James 1:22,
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
We need to learn to obey what God says.
The question today is : Do you put the Word of God to work?
4th key : Sharing God’s Word
Ezra 7:10 KJV "…and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."
What does it mean "to teach"? To teach comes from the Hebrew – lamad – and means to learn, to teach, to exercise in
Ezra’s relationship with the Word wasn’t just about living a better life for himself. He knew He needed to share God’s Word with other people. We have a message to share.
The question today is : Do you spread and share the Word of God with others?
God loved this world so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. We have been washed from our sins by the blood of Jesus. God wants to work in people’s lives. We need to share.
5th key : Fasting and prayer
Ezra 8:21-23 KJV "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. {22} For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. {23} So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us."
God’s hand is moved when His people pray. God’s hand is moved when His people fast.
Fasting is not about twisting God’s arm. The value in fasting comes when we learn to say “no” to the flesh for a period of time and replace the feeding of the flesh with spiritual things, like praying and reading God’s Word.
Do you have a need for God’s hand to be moving in your life?
The question today is : Do you fast and pray?
PERSONAL SUPPLICATION . . .
What is your personal supplication to make toward the Father today?
JESUS IS LORD !
 |
Pastor T.D. KASUKU K.K.
The Word Of Life Church International
Nairobi/Kenya
|
No comments:
Post a Comment