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
