1. Facing your Past
I’m not who I was
Ezra 4:6-24

2. When does your past no longer matter?
Statute of limitations
USA – 1 to 10 years (never for some crimes)
China – 1 to 4 years for civil cases
UK – Never (for Criminal cases)
Letter about Mr x (your name) from 1 year ago…. 5 years ago….. 10 years ago…. 25 years…

3. Ezra 4:6-24
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, & the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, & translated into the Aramaic language. 8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:

4. Why do the adversaries’ bring up the past?
Seeing your progress (v1)
Feeling guilty because of your change (v2)
Feelings of rejection (v3) ‘You may do nothing with us’
More of this story in a few weeks

5. Ezra 4:6-24
9-10 ​From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia & Erech & Babylon & Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, & the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive & settled in the cities of Samaria & the remainder beyond the River—and so forth. 11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him)

6. The Letter verse11-16
Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 
 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,  that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers
. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. ​
16 ​We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth: ​Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious & evil city, and are finishing its walls & repairing the foundations.

7. Ezra 4:17-24
17 The king sent an answer:
To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River:
Peace, and so forth.

8. Ezra 4:17-24
18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. And I gave the command, & a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. 
There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, & custom were paid to them. Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

9. Ezra 4:17-24
22 ​Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? A

10. Ezra 4:17-24
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

11. The Accusation Rebellious and evil (v12)
Rebellious, harmful, seditious (v15)

12. Lesson 1 – Conflicting Priorities leads to conflict in relationships
WHAT THE KING WANTED A) They won’t pay tax – MONEY v13 B) It’s not proper to see the king's dishonour– HONOUR/FAME v14 C) You will have no dominion – POWER v16

13. Lesson 1 – Conflicting Priorities leads to conflict in relationships
WHAT GOD WANTED A) Worship – Ezra 1:3 God commanded me to build a house B) Obedience by faith – Ezra 1:5 All those whose spirit God had moved arose to go up C) Courage – Ezra 4:4 Their adversaries tried to discourage them

14. Lesson 2 - God’s work is ‘hindered’ when we let our past determine our present.
God’s work was hindered v 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, (until…)
V19 ‘They were mighty in the past’ We don’t want them to become mighty again.
V12 ff ‘They are rebellious’ They will never change

15. APPLICATION

16. I Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

17. Lesson 3 – dealing with injustice from or about your past needs an eternal perspective
Sometimes you just have to wait for God’s time (v24) ‘until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.’
Non violence (for the rest of Bible history there are no more of ‘God’s wars’)
The practice of non-violence requires a belief in divine vengeance. When we know that the torturer will not eternally triumph over the victim, we are free to rediscover that person’s humanity & imitate God's love for them. - Miroslav Volf
Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30 “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

18. ‘Injustices’ from your past
Bullying
Sickness
Rejection
Broken homes
Physical or domestic violence
Absent parents (death or other reasons)
Natural disasters
Sexual abuse
Disability
War
Sin
The boy who feared the Light (Patricia St John)

19. Nick Vujicic 

20. SHINING THE LIGHT requires leaving your darkness behind

21. Conclusion I’m not who I was! I will set my priorities straight.
(I might still be judged by/for my past)
When faced with accusations, I will respond with eternity in mind
(Non violence is the way of Christ)
I’m not who I will be
(So I will not let my past determine my present or ruin my future)

22. SHINING THE LIGHT requires coming to the Light