Ezra - God's Standard for Rebuilding

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra 1: 1 – 7

The rebuilding done by the Israelites, following their return from Babylon after 70 years was remarkable. Operating in sorrow and joy, they were able to gather in one accord to build unto the Lord; following the standard of God.

1. On their return, their hands were full of businesses to provide for themselves and their families; but these were not excuses for them to refrain from building as commanded.
2. Their holy zeal for the things of God, made them see all other areas of their lives as secondary to the paramount call of heaven. Matthew 6:33
3. They could not build a temple immediately, but they could not be without an ALTAR! They made good use of their fears in building an altar as a matter of urgency.
4. They built on the same foundation, at the same place and on the same bases in order to follow God's requirements, in meeting the standard of Heaven. 1^st Corinthians 3:11 and1^st Corinthians 10:1-4

Prayer:

• Lord, increase the zeal of our men for the things that pertain to God. Deliver them from all forms of excuses (no matter how genuine), that are taking them away from heeding the call of heaven in their lives. Let them trust in Your supernatural provision.
•  As the life of Jesus is an Altar made ready for us, Lord please help our men to make “an altar” ready through their lives as “one man” for their generation and generations to come. Let them build on the same foundation as laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ. Release a fresh spark, that will fire them up for the service of God into their lives.
•  Lord, please open the eyes of our men to the urgency in building with You for their generation and generations after them. Let the fear of God drive them into purposeful building for Your Kingdom. Help them to put the glories of this world behind, and set the CROSS of Jesus before them at all times.
•  Lord, let the lives of our men meet Your requirements at all times. Make Your standard their daily code, and help them to obey the instructions of heaven without delay. Grant them divine ability to approach You faithfully and to perfect holiness in the fear of God always.

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra - Rebuilding the Altar

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra 3:2-6

Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. ³ 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 the morning and evening sacrifices. ⁴ Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. ⁵ After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. ⁶ On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

• The proclamation of God through King Cyrus was for men to arise and build a temple for HIM in Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem was desolate, abandoned, the men were fearful of the people around; the city walls and gates in ruins; notwithstanding that the first action for the men was to build an altar. The natural man may have focused first on rebuilding the city walls to protect themselves.
• They searched the scriptures and found what was written in the Law of Moses.  Leviticus 1-8 & 23
• They not only returned to the land, they also returned to the Law of Moses.
• The Bible was their final authority so that neither the ideas nor opinions of individuals factored into their decision on how to build the Temple.
• The focus must never first be how to protect and nourish our lives- the first port of call ought to be the ALTAR- the place of sacrifice; the place of communion; the place of rededication and repentance. The Word of God (JESUS) ought to be the final authority that dictates all we do.

 Prayer Points

• Let the hearts of our men return both to JESUS and HIS Word.
• Let JESUS (the Word) be the final authority in the lives of our men.
• Make our men those who search the scriptures, to find out what is written concerning them and help them pursue that instruction to the end.
• Open their eyes to see that putting their spiritual lives in order is of higher priority than national defence.
• Let our men enjoy the blessing of YOUR protection as they seek to put CHRIST first.
• Notwithstanding the fears; threats; logical sense; lack etc., help them focus on standing on the altar of the FULL GOSPEL.
• The altar symbolises sacrifice; a place of repentance, re-dedication & de-cluttering; and a place of communion. Bring these virtues to bear in a definite way in our men. The altar must not just become a formality for them.
• Cause the Word of God (JESUS), to dwell richly in their hearts such that HE prevails over the decision on how to build instead of individual ideas or opinions.
• In accordance with what is written, let our men arise and build- step into their labour and inheritance.

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra - Oneness, Prerequisite for Revival

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra 3:1

And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.

All of the men who arose must have been:

·         Confronted with uncertainty as they returned to Jerusalem

·         Exposed to myriad challenges whilst in Babylon that could have easily marred them

·         Different ages, tribes, status and experiences (Ezra 2:2-68).

Despite their differences in background; challenges or experiences; they all had a common thread that set them apart- ONENESS.

•   Different men but ONE in their responses- God moved on their spirits and they arose to go up and build (Ezra 1:5)
• Oneness in vision and mission- To build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem
• Gathered together as one man- Regardless of whether one man was a slave and the other a representative of heads of families; Israelite by Family origin vs. Unknown origin; Forgotten ones vs. Leaders.
• One in Faith- Trusted in God for provisions, skill set and know-how to start and complete the assignment

Revival inevitably breaks forth and the heavens are opened when men who respond to God’s call to build ‘gather together as ONE- e.g., Disciples in the Acts of Apostles; John Knox; Rees Howells; Watchman Nee. It is in this unity of Spirit that God commands His blessing (Psalm 133; Acts 2:1; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:23-31)

Possible delays in Revival

• A man cannot be a tool for revival if he is not first ONE with Christ.
•  Delays in any man’s obedience can cause a ripple effect delay on all the lives he’s suppose to impart.
• Men who bypass God’s call will only attempt to artificially gather together other men- this does not result in revival even though lives may have been blessed as a result.
• The devil tries to stifle the gathering together of men who have responded to God and are one in vision, faith and end goal.

Prayer Points

• We bring all our Ezra’s before YOU- make them rooted, grounded and established inside CHRIST.
• Cause them to be one with YOU.
•  Disrupt every journey to Damascus and divert them to JERUSALEM- THE CITY OF OUR GOD.
• Lord, accelerate Your work in the heart and lives of our Ezras so that revival will not tarry any longer on their account.
•  Remove any obstacle in the heart of our Ezra that promotes disobedience; undue hesitation to respond to God; remove every veil that makes them not embrace JESUS; fear of lack or unknown; short sightedness and coldness in spirit.
• Move on the heart of my Ezra and cause him to arise and build like YOU did for others who have gone ahead of him - Ezra 1:5
•  Cause our Ezra to follow the example of their BIG brother Jesus – who was one with God and the HOLY SPIRIT. Make my Ezra, one in passion, vision, mission, faith, love like Jesus  
•   Let us see in our days the exponential effect of all our Ezras' coming together as one man for the cause of Christ.
•   Let ACTS 2:42-47 become our reality.
•   Grant us the privilege of seeing our Ezra’s stand out as God’s representatives.
• Rebuke every attempt of the enemy to sow discord as our Ezra gather together as one man

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra - Men who Heed the Call

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)

Ezra 2:1

• Responding to God’s call to arise and build is a call to follow Jesus and come up and out of captivity.

Ezra 2: 2 - 68

• Men, who arose and returned to Jerusalem and Judah to rebuild the temple, gladdened the heart of God.
• Those men knew they were never to return to Babylon.
• God is particular and deliberate in His dealings with each of our Ezra’s which is why He allowed and allotted 64 verses to list their names.
• God’s call to arise and build is extended to all men - no clan, tribe, tongue or class is exempt.

A look at the diversity of men who arose

Ezra 2:2  Leaders – Pastors; Bishops; Clergy; Prophets; Teachers; Governors; Senators; Commissioners; Chiefs; Princes; Princesses; Mayors; Queens; Kings; Prime Ministers & Celebrities

Ezra 2: 3-20 Israelites by families of origin - Spiritual adoption (gentiles whether born again now or not) or Jews by birth

Ezra 2: 21-35  Israelites by places of origin- Men from all nations, tribe or tongue

Ezra 2: 36-39 Priestly families

Ezra 2: 40 Levites

Ezra 2: 41 Singers

Ezra 2: 42 Porters; Gate keepers; Security guards.

Ezra 2: 43-54 Temple support workers- workers & ministers in different denominations

Ezra 2: 55-58 King Solomon’s official/servants-professionals; business men & civil servants

Ezra 2: 59-60 Ethnic minorities - Foreigners and  Refugees

Ezra 2: 61-63 Priests who naturalised as citizens via marriage & illegal or unknown origin

Ezra 2: 64-65 Slaves; Prisoners; forgotten ones & persecuted

Ezra 2: 68 Heads of families

Prayer Points

• Let there be a tangible effect to all our men, who will heed the call to arise and build.
• Please do not allow any of our Ezra’s quit half way. Help them go all the way- Holy Spirit, walk with them till the very end.
• Do not let our Ezra forsake Jesus like Demas, or betray Him like Judas or even despise their birthright like Esau.
• We do not want the names of our Ezra to be erased from God’s list
• Lord, send us Ezras' from all walks of life as seen in Ezra 2. Let none be too big to respond to You. 

Come Die, Come Live (If anyone wants to come after me)

If anyone wants to come after me  

Let them say 'no' to their own way
If anyone wants to be my disciple  
Let them say 'no' to their own way

Come die, come live 
This is true freedom 
Come die, come live 
Lay down your own life and follow 
Lay down your own life and follow

Whoever fights for the rights to their own life  
Will lose it both now and forever
Whoever lays down their own life for my sake
Will find it and keep it forever

Graham Kendrick

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Tuesday 11.30am-2.30pm (UK time)