IN EZRA AND NEHEMIAH WE CAN SEE GOD'S PLAN FOR A STRONG PEOPLE AND A STRONG NATION

• Cyrus of Ezra 1:1 was named in Isa 44:28 150 years before his birth as rebuilder of Jerusalem
• Ezra was sent to Jerusalem by Artaxerxes to organize Jerusalem - 7:25-26 and make it a city.
• He searched to see what needed to be done, ch. 9, 10 to bring God's blessing to the land-

We need to search to see what we need to do to be in the center of His blessing, too.

THE PROBLEM - A LOSS OF SEPARATION TO GOD - EZRA 9:1

God was beginning to open an opportunity to the people for real revival; will they buy it up?

THE PEOPLE, PRIESTS, AND LEVITES HAVE NOT SEPARATED THEMSELVES (SEE I COR 5:9-11 - NOT ENTIRELY)

• They were intermarried with the pagans - 9:1-2, and perhaps we have married many strange ideas.
• God's purpose in a pure nation was to preserve the Christ-line - Satan tried to break it down!
• The N.T. is plain - not race - Gal 3:26-28 - but faith in Christ makes difference -

THE PEOPLE OF EZRA'S TIME WERE DOING THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE GENTILES AND PAGANS WHERE THEY LIVED

• There were gentiles in the lineage of Christ - but they were saved.
• Solomon with all his wisdom lacked the faith to stand - I Ki 11:4,6 - and was led to evil.
• The abominations were obvious - even then! Sex worship, perversions, murder, theft, filth, anti-God!

THEY WOULD SUFFER THE SAME JUDGMENTS OF THEIR FATHERS IF THEY CONTINUED IN THEIR FATHERS' SINS!

• The Lord was very angry with Solomon - I Ki 11:9 and judgement came - it took time, but was certain.
• The princes and rulers of Judah were chief in the sin - 2b and God is no respecter of persons.
• Ezra trembled, for he knew the penalty - v.7, why did the leaders not know - at ease in Zion!

Sinners of the worst kind receive an opportunity to repent - but we had better take it!

THE STRUGGLE, AND REPENTANCE - EZRA 9

Life is a struggle - the only ones who do not have to struggle are in sleep of death already.

EZRA RECOGNIZED THE TERRIBLENESS OF THEIR SIN, AND THIS HAD AN EFFECT UPON HIM

• God had given them a chance - v.8, but Ezra knew they would perish if they did not take it - 10
• Ezra blushed - v.6 (we have lost this ability), and tore his garments and wept - have you?
• He recognized that God had punished them far less than they deserved - v.13,14, what have we?

OUR PRIORITIES TODAY ARE CONFUSED, AND WE HAVE SLEPT BEYOND THE WAKING POINT TO THE DANGER

• There is no greater danger than being led to slaughter - through the chute - and kept blind.
• We are worried about economic and racial discrimination, and have lost our moral discrimination - sense.
• We have mixed our sins with the worst-down-morals, crime, pollution, education, credibility.

EZRA CALLED A CONFERENCE OF THE LEADERS, AND GAVE THEM A COURSE OF ACTION -

• He was deeply moved - v.10a, but we are educated not to get excited about terror of fear of God's judgment.
• The people wept sore - 10b, they believed what Ezra said, and were sensitive to the danger.
• How much more do we need repentance - or we perish - but our wealth sugarcoats the poison -

We have been desensitized - accept sin as life, tune out preacher - listen to hippy ecologists.

THE SOLUTION - SEPARATION FROM WORLDLINESS - CH 10

Something must be done - John 17:15 - we are to be in the world, but not of the world!

THEY DECIDED ON A COURSE OF ACTION, AND IT WAS PRAYED OUT, REASONED OUT, AND GOD-GIVEN - V.3

• The leaders took council - the leaders were the first to be willing to clean up their lives - 3a
• Their course of action was by law - 3b, not riot, or foolishness, but by God's law, and fair.
• They sought God's help - through prayer, fasting, and real heart searching - v6b - Wednesday night?

THE MEN OF THE LAND GATHERED IN A GREAT REVIVAL MEETING - AND GOD BLESSED THEM - V.9 - COME TO CHURCH!

• They made confession - 11a - have you confessed Christ as your Saviour?  Publicly?  Baptized?
• Pledged to do His pleasure - will  -11b - have you?  cf Eph 2:8-10, 19, - will you put God first?
• And to separate themselves - 11c - takes time - do it right - Eph 2:2,3, 4:17-20 & 5:1

THE CONGREGATION SAID, THIS WE WILL DO!  V.12 - AND THEY MADE OF THEMSELVES A NATION OF GOD

• No one was forced to join - they could leave - but no longer remain undecided sponges - v.8
• It was not easy - took judges - v.14 to do it by law v.4b - fair to all; but worth figuring out.
• Te blessed life is not easy - it takes a mind to work and not get discouraged - (come tonight).

But those who followed Ezra built a new Jerusalem, and founded a nation for God.

GOD IS SEEKING AND CALLING ME NOW TO HELP US CHANGE COURSE AND GET BACK TO GOD'S WAY

• Will you confess Christ?  Be Baptized?
• Will you do His will - pleasure - let your life be changed, take on new vibrancy to serve Him?
• Will you put away your sin - take counsel - do it lawfully?  This divorce I recommend!