1. The Return Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011 Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission

2. Isaiah 45:13I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty." A 150 year old promise

3. Jeremiah 29:10This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.

4. Jeremiah 29:10 This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. God is bigger BIG message of the exile

5. Ezra 1:1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing. BIG message of the exile God is sovereign God can use anyone God can turn anything around

6. Ezra 1:5Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites--everyone whose heart God had moved-- prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Called to be pilgrims not settlers 1. “I’m too settled!”

7. Ezra 3:4Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. 1. “I’m too settled!”

8. Hebrews 11:8-9By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. Called to be pilgrims not settlers 1. “I’m too settled!” Made for another world

9. Ezra 2:1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 2. “I’m setting out!”

10. Ezra 2:64-67The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort 2. “I’m setting out!”

11. Ezra 3:3Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort 2. “I’m setting out!” - fear

12. Ezra 3:10-11When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests...with trumpets, and the Levites with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord,... 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. - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort - it was hard - took a long time - required a lot of effort 2. “I’m setting out!” - fear THE GOD MOMENTS!

13. Ezra 4:1-2When the enemies of... "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

14. Ezra 4:4Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 3. “I’m stopping!” Discouragement & fear

15. Ezra 4:24Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Two prophets: Haggai & Zechariah 3. “I’m stopping!”

16. Ezra 6:8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Two prophets: Haggai & Zechariah 3. “I’m stopping!” - work carries on - paid for by the King’s treasury - work carries on - paid for by the King’s treasury

17. Ezra 6:14So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. They prospered under the word of God