Last Friday we began our series on not breaking faith with God by looking at Moses and Aaron. Today, we look at Ezra. He was a priest and a teacher of God's laws to the remaining Israelites when they were a conquered group scattered within the Persian Kingdom. His experience teaches us that when we speak about the goodness and power of God, we will need to back it up with our actions and words.
As a leader of his people, Ezra had the task of bringing some of them back to Jerusalem. Although he was respected by the Persian King and could have requested soldiers to accompany him and his people during the four month journey, he didn't. This, despite the fact that they would be traveling with precious gold, silver, and other items that had been carted off from the Temple when Jerusalem fell decades before. Ezra explained why he couldn't request an armed escort in Ezra 8:22 - I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” What did he do instead? He called for the people to fast and ask the Lord for a safe journey. We are told that God answered the petition, keeping the group of travelers and their possessions safe from marauding bandits (Ezra 8:23).
Ezra had spoken highly of God to the king and when the time came, he had to prove that he believed all that he'd said. He couldn't speak about how powerful his God was only to then ask a man, albeit a king, for soldiers to provide protection. No, he had to put his mouth where his money was - as the saying goes - and show through his choices and not just his lofty words that he trusted in this God he'd spoken so highly of.
God expects those who believe in Him to do the same. Remember, the scripture taught us that breaking faith with God means to dishonor Him in what we say and do in the presence of others. Therefore, we must honor the Lord by standing in our faith and even when everything looks wrong. We can't forget that the choices we make can influence how others see our God. This is why Paul said of believers in 2 Corinthians 5:20 - We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Additionally, the Lord has said of His people in Isaiah 43:12 - First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD. (NKJV).
We are to attest to His might and power. We do this by sharing our testimonies, fellowshipping with believers and by sharing the Gospel with non-believers. And when in the midst of unbelievers, we are to speak about the Lord with the reverence He deserves - no matter how others bash Him. Even when we have some gripes of our own, we are to respectfully carry them to the Lord, laying them at His feet because He has instructed each of us in 1 Peter 5:7 - "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
It's not easy to share our worries with Him without becoming disrespectful. People have been conditioned by the world to talk recklessly about people and God is no exception, unfortunately. Yet, we must allow the Lord to build us up in Him where we learn how to honor Him in good times and bad. That's exactly what Ezra did. A potential challenge arose - the need for safe journey to Jerusalem over a span of months. He stood in his faith in God, understanding it would be a shameful thing to make God look small before the king. He understood that doing so would constitute relying on man instead of the Lord Almighty.
Let us learn from Ezra to make the choice that honors God and His personality. The Lord will help each of us to do so more and more so that we shall never break faith with Him in any way, IJMN, Amen.
FINAL MESSAGE
Thanks so much for joining in today, folks. I pray that you have learned a little something from the experiences of Moses, Aaron, and Ezra.
I also shared a little bit about how I recently made a mistake that revealed the enemy could create a sense of pressure that made me make a choice that seemed small but in truth, it broke faith with the Lord.
My experience has taught me to be ever mindful of remaining in a position of praise and prayerfulness. Of calling on the Lord to guide my steps - even those that seem insignificant.
I want to encourage all of us to do the same. This is why being seated at the well already is a crucial position to be in. I've mentioned this before and will keep saying it - set up shop at the well so you regularly draw from the living water. That way, when the drought comes, you're well put to keep drawing. Others may not be familiar but you'll be able to help them and yourself.
I have to thank God for His grace and mercy, that He took the time to point out to me what I did wrong. That He gave me the opportunity to repent - what if I'd passed away before this chance? I am grateful for the privilege to receive His forgiveness and share my error with others. We often only want to hear the beautiful testimonies but we must also learn from each other's mistakes. It is my prayer you will learn from mine and stand tall knowing that Your God is always able.
God bless you and do come back on Friday as we'll be learning from the experience of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego on this same topic of not breaking faith with our God.
Till then...