1. EZRA 3 God will never Let us Down Pastor Don

2. Encounter 3 Enlarged Faith Expanded Vision Engaged in Ministry

3. Our Core Values We are a Christian people.We are a Christian people. We are a Holiness people.We are a Holiness people. We are a Missional people.We are a Missional people.

4. The Key Text: Ezra 3:1 “the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.” -Ezra 3:1

5. 1.God has never failed us, because He is a personal God. He brought them out of their bondage. –Ezra 3:1

7. They Believed in their God They Believed in their God. unitedThey were united. undividedThey had undivided hearts. uncommonThey had an uncommon commitment. usedThey were used by God.

8. “Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both morning and evening sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written,

9. they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.” - Ezra 3:3

10. “they brought freewill offerings to the LORD…they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD…” –Ezra 3:5-6

11. people 2.They were a people of prayer and the Word. builtThey built an altar believedThey believed the Word of God. people 2.They were a people of prayer and the Word. builtThey built an altar believedThey believed the Word of God.

12. 3.They were a people who praised God. They were a worshipping people. They were willing to give what they had.They were willing to give what they had. They were a worshipping people. They were willing to give what they had.They were willing to give what they had.

13. “they brought freewill offerings to the LORD.” v.5 …” they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD’s temple had not yet been laid.” v.6

14. THEY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING GOD FROM THE HEART.THEY REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING GOD FROM THE HEART.

16. 1.Be ENCOURAGED: Your PRAYER has been heard! …your prayer has been heard… Why? They built an “altar” …your prayer has been heard… Why? They built an “altar”

17. Note: Prayers of FAITH are FILED in heaven, and are not FORGOTTEN. Prayers made when we were young…

18. … and coming into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. - Matthew Henry … and coming into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. - Matthew Henry

19. 2.Be EXPECTANT: God’s WORD will not fail! “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” - James 1:22 2.Be EXPECTANT: God’s WORD will not fail! “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” - James 1:22

20. 3.Be EXCITED: The BEST is yet to come! With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: ‘He is good; His love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” –Ezra 3:11 3.Be EXCITED: The BEST is yet to come! With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: ‘He is good; His love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” –Ezra 3:11

21. Life holds nothing within it which Christ has not conquered. - E. Stanley Jones Life holds nothing within it which Christ has not conquered. - E. Stanley Jones

22. “But many of the older priest and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.” – Ezra 3:12

23. Don’t say, Look what the world has come to! Do say, Look at what our God can do! Don’t say, Look what the world has come to! Do say, Look at what our God can do!

24. 1.Reestablish the Family Altar in your Home. 2.Remember God keeps His promises. 3.Read and obey the Word of God from your heart. 1.Reestablish the Family Altar in your Home. 2.Remember God keeps His promises. 3.Read and obey the Word of God from your heart.