Ezra 4: 17 – 24
In Ezra 4, the people of God faced
various means of persecution in their commitments to building the temple of the
Lord. They refused to be interrupted but focused on their faith as they worked for
God. They stood firm and united in the power of the Holy Spirit until the enemy
gained entrance into their midst through their leaders.
Two letters arranged by the enemy:
Ezra 4:6-16... (the letter from the Samaritans and their
companions)
- Nations wrote a letter of accusation against the builders and there
was great enmity against God and His people. The enemy was swift in
stopping the work. (Proverbs 1:16)
- They reproached the city of God (Jerusalem) and the subtlety of the devil was in full force.
- The king fell for the falsehood in the first letter and gave order
against God's work.
- He connived with the enemy to achieve their evil
intentions against the builders.
But...God will give us men that will rise
above the confusing instructions of the leaders around the; men with righteous
concerns for the things of God who are always ready to resent anything that brings
dishonour to the work of God in their hands.
Revelation 12: 10-11
- Men that will rise above false accusations
- Men that will see through God's eyes
- Men that will hear through God's ears
PRAYER
- Lord, please give us men with deep integrity in You. Help them not to exchange their God-given integrity for the selfish instructions of the leaders around them. Establish them in having righteous concerns for You at all times.
- Lord, help our men not to depend on, or build, based on the words of others or the revelation of others. Let them see things as they are, in You. Let Your truth always prevail in their decision to arise for You.
- Lord, strengthen our men so that they will not be discouraged by their past mistakes or weighed down by the shame of the past. Expose whatever form or shape discouragement wants to take, in order to stop them from rising up to God's call in their lives.
- Lord, please do not make our men and Your work in their hands targets for the enemy. Shield them against the evil plot of the enemy so they will not fall prey or become victims of the plans of the devil as they build for You.
- Lord, help our men not to be distracted by those above them in every area as they get to work for You. Make them deep in all matters of the TRUE GOSPEL. Let our men develop DUE AFFECTION for Your work and make Your strength perfect in their weaknesses.
- LORD, PLEASE MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF ALL OUR MEN IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TASK YOU HAVE CALLED THEM TO DO FOR THIS GENERATION AND GENERATIONS TO COME.
