3. d

5. God’s Hand upon you 1 Samuel 4:8; 5:6, 7, 9, 11; 6:3, 5, 9- the Philistines Exodus 7:5; 9:3- Egypt Acts 13:11- Elymas Ps. 32:4-5 Ps. 38:2 Job 23:2

6. f

7. d

8. EZRA 7-10

9. History of Israel: Carried away to Babylonian captivity for 70 years (606-536 b.c.) -- II Chronicles 36 Led home by Zerubabbel, and eventually rebuilt temple in 516 b.c. -- Ezra 1-6 60 years after that, in 457 b.c., Ezra wanted to leave Babylon and go home and help – Ezra 7- 10

10. Ezra finds incredible Success: Found Great Favor with the King of Persia – 7:11-13, 15-16,18, 24 – They got MAJOR support from the Persian King! – Why? 7:6 – “…The king granted him all that he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon Him”

11. Ezra finds incredible Success: Encouraged to Leadership – 7:27-28 – Ezra feels the presence of God and shares that message. – Important leading men from Israel are inspired to go with him.

12. Ezra finds incredible Success: Gathers the Levites – 8:15-20 – Ezra sees they will need Levites to properly worship in Jerusalem. – Sadly, worship had not been good there for quite some time. God sent him many!

13. Ezra finds incredible Success: Blessed Ezra with Safe Travel – 8:21-23 – Ezra is really catching on to how much of this is because of God. – 8:31-32 – God has one hand on Ezra and the other holding back the enemy!

15. Why God Blessed Ezra: Ezra prepared himself for success – Ezra 7:9-10 – Not, “if you do this for me, then I’ll do this for you.” – “Why isn’t God directing me”– have you chosen a direction? – Give God a reason to put one hand behind and one hand ahead.

16. Why God Blessed Ezra: Ezra constantly sought God – Ezra 8:21-23 – Great men and woman of faith didn’t just offer a great prayer. They spoke to God all day long! – 9:5-6; 10:1

17. Why God Blessed Ezra: Ezra Stepped out in faith – Ezra 8:31 – Great men of faith just…went!!! Abraham Nehemiah Paul – Most blessing come after people GO!!!

18. Why God Blessed Ezra: Ezra Persevered in Difficult Times. – Traveling was just the beginning. – More difficulties arise (Ezra 9:1-2) – That’s enough to stop most people not Ezra (Ezra 10:10-12) – Many things take time!!!

19. What We need: Ezra’s: 1)Preparation 2)Prayer 3)Progress 4)Persistence GOD’S HANDS ARE READY– ARE YOU?