⏩ COVENANT MONTH OF DIFFERENCE ⏪ DAY 4 "THE HAND OF DISTINCTION"

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..."

KEY STATEMENT

Ezra was a "scribe" who led the second body of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459. He is the author of the book of Scripture which bears his name. He was the son, or perhaps grandson, of Seraiah (2 Kings 25:18-21 ), and a lineal descendant of Phinehas, the son of Aaron ( Ezra 7:1-5 ).

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 distinction 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 distinction 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 of distinction 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 DOES IT TAKE TO SEE THE HAND OF DISTINCTION? 

1) Ezra was a seeker of God

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..."

2) Ezra was preparing his heart

Ezra 7:10 KJV "For Ezra had prepared his heart …"

3) Ezra was a student of 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 …"

4) Ezra was applying God’s Word

Ezra 7:10 KJV "…Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it"

5) Ezra was a teacher of God’s Word

Ezra 7:10 KJV "…and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

6) Ezra was a man of 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."

DECLARE AND CONFESS ... 

😔 The same way the hand of distinction of the Lord on Ezra caused him to be given everything he requested to the king, the same hand will distinguish you in this season IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST !

😔 The same way the hand of distinction of the Lord on Ezra caused him to enjoy supernatural protection, the same hand will distinguish you in this season IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST !

😔 The same way the hand of distinction of the Lord on Ezra caused him to be granted supernatural favor in the eyes of the king and his counsellors and his mighty princes, the same hand will distinguish you in this season IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST !

😔The same way the hand of distinction of the Lord on Ezra caused him to be supernaturally granted competent and relevant collaborators, the same hand will distinguish you in this season IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST !

SO SHALL IT BE!

JESUS IS LORD! 

Pastor T.D. KASUKU K.K.

The Word Of Life Church International