MEN
OF COURAGE!-Ezra
1
Ezra 1:5: "Then rose
up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the
Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house
of the Lord which is
in Jerusalem..."
There was good response from some: Judah, Benjamin, the priests, Levites
and individuals whose hearts God moved. They heard the voice of God beyond that
of King Cyrus. Only those who hear God's voice above that of man can
successfully arise. They knew that once they left captivity to build, they were
not to come back no matter the challenges that came their way. Their decision
to arise could not be reversed.
Those who arose did not confer with others to see their opinion. They
heard the challenge and they arose. Yet they did not look down or critcise
others for not arising with them. When God's call comes on us, ours is to
arise. Our arising might be what God will use to encourage the fainthearted and
fearful until they too can hear God. Our arising must never depend on another
brother who is still considering whether to arise or not.
- Make our men of the stock that hear Your voice loud and clear, above the voices of those You use to mobilise them like Cyrus. Deepen their communion with You; let them trace Your dealings.
- Count them among those who respond to Your need and call once they hear You.
- Make their decision to arise and build be firm and irreversible, come what may. Let them look up always, not around. Not even to King Cyrus. Good as he was, he could not sustain in the days of challenges because he too was a man needing to look up.
- Help them depend on Your faithfulness rather than on man's mobilisation. Demas could not continue like Luke because his arising probably depended on Paul's mobilisation rather than on Your faithfulness. Once Paul became a prisoner of Rome, Demas forsook him and went back to love this present world in Thessalonica.
- Don't let them compare themselves with others but to know that Your dealing with them is unique though under a corporate umbrella. Rather, let them pursue Your plans for their lives knowing that each of their lives is meant to contribute something to the global move. United yet Unique.
- Don't let them look down on or criticise others for not hearing Your call yet; rather help them encourage others while they stay focused on their own call and arising. The call of Peter as a disciple and an apostle was different from that of Joseph of Arimathea, who also was a disciple. He fulfilled destiny- provided Jesus' grave. "And he made his grave... with the rich in his death;" (Isaiah 53:9).
Ezra 1:6. "And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with
vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious
things, beside all that was willingly offered."
When they arose, they found much encouragement from the others. There was
much release of provision and freewill giving for the labour. The fear of lack
was thrown out.
- Enlarge the hearts of our men. Open also their hands and make them an encouragement by being able to release Your resources in their hands for the labour of building lives.
- For some of our men, part of their arising will be to make resources available for the labour, like the owner of the upper room. Make this unusual call clear to as many as You are calling thus. Help them know that the resources in their hands belong to YOU so they can let it go when needed.
- Forbid it that there will continue to be shortage of labourers because of narrow hearts and tight fists among some of our men. Make them liberal and cheerful givers. Don't let them wait to be asked or pushed before they give. Let them see giving as Your calling on their lives too.
Even king Cyrus was moved to release all the loot of his predecessors. He
returned everything that was stolen from the temple in Jerusalem. These were
definite treasures, numbered and weighed. Nothing missing, all accounted for.
- Cause everyone who is holding something concerning the destinies of our men to graciously release. Give them favour before the good men (Cyrus), the leaders and disciplers that are holding things of God in trust, to bless them and release them into destiny as they arise.
- Cause the wicked one that looted from their destinies to release also. Give the command from heaven upon the lives of our men. "It is time to release My men. They have decided to arise!"
- Lord, let nothing be lost or withheld in the release of their destinies. Every grace, every training of life, etc... Lord, please bring a release to all. Make abundant provision to our men as they arise.
- Thank YOU for our men as they commit to arise, go up, and build. Cause them to follow YOU all the way, come what may.
The Voice Of The Master Calls Me
"Take thy cross, come follow me."
I reply, "My
faithful Saviour,
Here I am, I am for
Thee."
All the way, I'll follow Thee Lord
Come what may, what ere betides
While I live and when I'm dying
I am Thine forevermore!
2.
Though the way of Calv'ry's narrow
May
be painful to the flesh
Full
of trials and full of snares
It's
the only road to life.
3. The more I give up my own life
More of Thine will I possess.
Along with Thy endless riches
O Jesus, Thou art my own.
3. The more I give up my own life
More of Thine will I possess.
Along with Thy endless riches
O Jesus, Thou art my own.
4.
Give me Thy grace and Thy glory
To
follow Thee step by step.
Grant
me peace, joy and victory
Right from now, all through my days.
Right from now, all through my days.
