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Today is Friday June 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 8-9. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-4

Bible Study: The Power of God

At times it can be a little discouraging to be a Christian, even though you are faithful to God and live your life for Him, some people, including our very own family members, want nothing to do with God and even try to discourage you from doing what He calls you to do. This is when the power of God is needed to keep us encouraged and motivated as well as be that spiritual guidance and example the unfaithful need to see how a life can be beneficial and changed through our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ezra was a prophet born in Babylon, since he knew the Scriptures he decided to be responsible for leading about five thousand men, women, and children on the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. “And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God....And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” - Ezra 8:15-18,28-31. Shortly into their journey Ezra realized that out of all the people traveling with him none were priests of the Levites, which were needed to minister and accept the offerings offered to the Lord. So, he called for them and gave them the task of delivering the priceless Temple treasures to the House of God. During this journey they would face many dangers and difficulties, including possible attacks by nomadic robbers. Furthermore, Ezra said to those who were with him that God could protect and provide for His people and He did, they arrived safely into Jerusalem four months later. God is always with us and will protect us, whether we are doing His work at home or two thousand miles away, through all the dangers and difficulties along the way. It may feel as though He is not with us at times, but those are the times when He is with us more than ever.

When Ezra and the people arrived in Jerusalem they expected the people to be worshiping, praising God, and giving them some hope of a God filled life. However, it was just the opposite, the moral and spiritual condition in Jerusalem was terrible and it grieved Ezra to the point that he fell on his knees, pread out his hands to the Lord, begging for forgiveness of the people. “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” - Ezra 9:1-6. Ezra. Ezra saw godly men living in sin and he was ashamed to of them, godly people are to set examples of a moral and uncorrupted life, but when they live as the world all they are doing is telling them it's God, big deal, nothing changes if we know God. When we see people living in sin we are ashamed and God forbid we let other Christians know we are with them. However, God is a forgiving God and we must pray for them and forgive them.

When Jesus was on the cross and the people were crucifying Him He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34. Those who live in sin, are lost or have been away from God so long that they have forgotten that they too can be forgiven. They truly have no idea what they are doing and need our prayers and forgiveness just as much as everyone else. After all, if we do not forgive them God will not forgive us for our sins. Jesus Said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14,15. I know that some people are more wicked than others, but we are all sinners and sin is sin in God's eyes, He is not a respecter of persons, He just wants everyone to seek Him and accept Him. We need to beware though, that we can not take advantage of God's good graces, He will not be mocked and if He finds anyone abusing His love He will put a stop to it.

We are all under the loving care of the hand of our heavenly Father and nothing can touch us except with His permission. Since this is true, outbursts of fright, unforgiving, complaint, or anger over our circumstances are evidences of our failure to recognize the presence and power of God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” - Romans 13:1.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a good and awesome weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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