EZRA PREPARED HIS HEART
EZRA PREPARED HIS HEART
The Jewish people spent seventy years in Babylonian captivity. At the end of this time, the Persians and Medes conquered Babylonia. It was at this time that the Jewish people were allowed to return to their homeland to rebuild the Temple, the wall, and the city. The leadership for this reconstruction, this revival, fell upon a number of men, one of whom was Ezra.
The verse of Scripture above tells us that Ezra had prepared his heart to do the work and will of God.
We will look at Ezra as an example of what “a prepared heart” looks like to carry a burden for revival by looking at the characteristics of Ezra's prepared heart.
Topic: The Ezra Principle for Spiritual Growth
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
X Ezra's preparation of his heart, as described in Ezra 7:10, is a powerful example of spiritual dedication.
X He not only studied the law of the Lord, but he also actively lived it and taught it to others.
X THIS VERSE HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH GOD'S
That is the way to prepare to leave Babylon and come back to the land of God
What is better than to see other people grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord?
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
WHEN YOU PREPARE YOUR HEART, YOU FIRMLY ESTABLISH OR DETERMINE WITHIN YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING!
IT IS TO LOOK FORWARD WITH DETERMINATION.
PLEASING GOD DOES NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. IT TAKES DILIGENCE AND DETERMINATION ON OUR PART.
DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES DETERMINED CHOICES DRIVEN BY PRINCIPLES LEARNED.
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL DEMANDS A DETERMINED DECISION TO SERVE GOD.
PREPARATION OF THE HEART HAS TO COMBINE ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, LOVE OF GOD, AND HUMILITY TO SEEK GOD
Application:
Satan has a desire to sift us, separate us from God
The phrase "Satan desires to sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31) refers to Satan's attempt to test and potentially destroy someone's faith through trials and temptations, much like a farmer separates wheat from chaff through sifting.
It's a metaphor for spiritual warfare where Satan seeks to shake a person's belief in God, leading them to doubt and potentially falter.
Just hearing and knowing God’s word does not mean we automatically grow and mature in the faith.
Let’s be encouraged by Ezra and set our hearts to study God’s word, to strive to live it, and share with others the good news of Jesus Christ.
We prepare our hearts by putting off the old life, and beginning the new life.
To the Ephesians Paul wrote: "That you put off concerning your former manner of living the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Paul instructed the Colossians in 3:1, "If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
Set your affections on things above, not on the things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.
Therefore put to death the fleshly desires of your body such as fornication, sexual impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry.
The wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience because of these things.
You did these things when you were living a worldly life. But now also put off these things, anger, wrath, malice, cursing, and dirty jokes.
Do not lie to one another, because you have put off that old life and its deeds, and you have put on the new man which has been renewed in the knowledge of Him who created him."
We must “prepare our hearts” or focus our minds and determine to present the Gospel to a lost and dying world
