1. If you were to make a 900 mile foot journey, what would you be sure you had?
Ezra was convinced God wanted him to do this, and he had the full support of the king as well. This came as He sought God. We’ll learn in today’s lesson that when a man has a heart for God, he has God’s hand on his life.

3. Your Heart, God’s Hand
Ezra 7-8

4. Outline Devote your heart to God’s word
Entrust your life to God’s hand
Steward all God’s Entrusted
See God’s hand on your life

5. Devote Your Heart Ezra had a devout Lineage (7:1-6) Heart (7:10)
Method (7:10)
Study Do
Teach
Read 7:1-10 Boldly he asked the king (son of Esther?)
Your heart comes from somewhere. Your lineage might explain it.
Lineage doesn’t guarantee where you’ll place your heart (How far back in your lineage do you find love for Jesus? How far out would you have it go?)
You choose where your heart will be set by treasures. (matt 6:21)
Only the heart set on God’s Word and will has His blessing (8:22)
Time in God’s word + ACTION = Real Discipleship
Real Disciples make real disciples—Who are you bringing along? Your family? Friends? Students? Neighbors? Participate in Bible study, daily reading

6. Jeremiah 15:16
16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.
Remember the New Year’s challenge? Give another 11 minutes to God. It’s 1.1% of your day!
Reading the Word invites the activity of God (Heb. 4:12). You’ll be startled with the scripture speaking a timely word. Have you had it come to you twice? On the radio or message after reading in a devotional or Bible reading? These are your encouragements that God is speaking to YOU.

7. Psalm 1:2-3
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Some believe Ezra wrote this

8. Entrust Your Life He followed God’s will (7:14,18,20,26)
He refused the King’s protection (8:21-22)
He begged God’s protection (8:23)
Your life is a gift. God made us, not we ourselves (Psa 100:3).
Your trust is an act of devotion to God: Without faith it’s impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6)
God will respond. Call & I will answer (Jer. 3:33; Ez 8:22)
We will do this corporately 3/20/11.
Prayer and fasting shaped our decision to build.
Corporate prayer and fasting saved our job in Nov. 1992

9. Steward all God’s Entrusted
Be Faithful (8:26-30, 33-34)
We will all give an account (1 Cor 3:13-15)
Remember Jesus story of the talents? Remember the Spirit is said to give gifts as He wills?
They were entrusted tons of silver and gold worth millions of dollars!

10. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

11. See God’s Hand Ezra’s unique theme Ezra believed & stated it
God’s provisions (7:6,9,27-28)
God’s people (8:15-18)
God’s protection (8:22, 31)
God’s hand only spoken of through these 2 chapters! Do you speak of God’s hand on your life? Do you see God’s hand on your life? Use the outline to note how He has specifically provided your needs, key people, and special protection.
At TCF PEOPLE, PROVISION & VISION (outreach events Left Behind, Mexico, Alaska, Leadership Conference with Strauch), PROPERTY & PROTECTION when thought might be terminated, protection from unhealthy alliances,
Personally in providing opportunities (to know Him, study the Word, be mentored, preach & counsel), in providing people (who taught, mentored, encouraged, and supported me); in protecting from dangers (through sickness, job cutbacks, emotional attacks, a lawsuit).

12. and lay your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5
You hem me in,
behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

13. And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
1 Chronicles 4:10
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

14. Psalm 32:4
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

15. Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

16. Commitment I will Set my heart on God’s Word
Place my life in God’s hand
Steward all’s God’s entrusted
Watch for God’s hand on my life