AM: “REVIVAL BRINGS GOD’S PEOPLE BACK TO GOD’S PRIORITIES”

TEXT:  EZRA1

  1. God keeps His promises     Ezra 1:1-3
    1. God records His promises in His Word for our benefit
      1. Last week it was Daniel in Daniel 9:1-2
      2. Today it is Cyrus reading the prophecies of God
        1. Jeremiah 25:11-14; 29:9-14; 33:1-9
        2. Isaiah 45:1-3; 46:9-13
        3. Daniel 2:16-26, 31-49; 5
    2. God uses His Spirit to work in hearts to fulfill His promises
      1. Exodus 14:8;  Deuteronomy 2:30;  II Chronicles 30:12;  Proverbs 21:1;  Colossians 1:15-21;  Hebrews 1:1-3;  Romans 8:28
    3. God gives people opportunities to trust & obey His promises     Romans 1:16-17;  John 1:11-13;  Matthew 27:21-26;  Genesis 12:13
  2. We need leaders to be stirred up by God     Ezra 1:2-4
    1. National leaders like Cyrus
    2. Spiritual leaders like the priests & Levites
    3. Leaders who will listen to God & see themselves as His tools
  3. We need God’s people to heed God’s call     Ezra 1:5-8
    1. Beginning with God’s spiritual leaders
    2. Continuing with God’s people being supportive with physical help
    3. Including God’s people willingly giving to help financially
    4. God’s people being part of God’s plan for His work on earth
      1. To be done by His people
      2. To be funded by His people
      3. To be blessed by His blessings