http://www.calvaryhillsboro.org/

Thank you for supporting Calvary Hillsboro. Donate Online: https://www.calvaryhillsboro.org/members/online-giving

Subscribe To Watch More: https://www.youtube.com/@CalvaryChapelHillsboro

Thank you for watching. God bless you and your family!
We would love to hear your comments and please like and share this video.

The book of Ezra is the story of God’s rebuilding and restoring Israel. They had been defeated by the Babylonians and exiled to Babylon for 70 years. Finally, Babylon itself was defeated by the Persians and Cyrus the Great came into power.

One of the first things Cyrus did was to issue a decree that any of the Jews who wished could return to Jerusalem to rebuild and restore the holy city and the holy Temple.

Not all of them wanted to return, some had grown quite comfortable there in Babylon. What’s not to like? It was a wealthy city with many worldly comforts. There were restaurants and theaters. The Babylonian Hanging Gardens were considered one of the wonders of the world. In Babylon, you could buy the world’s finest Persian rugs. Everything a person could desire was found in Babylon.

But there were those who knew in their heart that Babylon was not enough. This world is not enough. There are deeper places for the soul’s desire.

As I mentioned before, the pleasant things of the world are certainly pleasant. There’s a difference between worldly things that are sinful, that are poison to the soul, and those things which are not necessarily sinful of themselves, but which are pleasant and enjoyable; caramel macchiatos, dinner with friends at Red Robin, watching football, snacking on Doritos.

These things are pleasant, but they’re not enough. These things cannot satisfy the soul that desires glory. There were Jews who longed for more than anything Babylon had to offer. They longed for Jerusalem, that city where God had placed his name. That city where God’s glory dwelt above the mercy seat in the holy Temple.

There is a great longing in the soul for something more, something far greater than this world has to offer. The soul longs for revival, for more of God’s glory.

Ezra came to Jerusalem in the second wave of exiles returning to the city. The king of Persia issued a decree that any of the people of Israel who were willing to go to Jerusalem could go with Ezra. The king even sent gold and silver and abundant provisions as a gift and offering to God.

But all was not well in Jerusalem. After Ezra arrived, some of the princes of Israel approached him with concerning news. “The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.”

God sent them back to Jerusalem for revival, for restoring and rebuilding Israel as a people of God. This was a tragedy of epic proportions. The people had sinned, and Israel was at risk of a great tragedy.

Ezra’s response and his prayer for revival are filled with life lessons and spiritual applications even for us today.

I. God Calls You a Holy People

 Verse 2 – “The holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands.”

 Israel was God’s chosen people, a holy race; He calls them holy as unto the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:6, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; for He has chosen you to be a people for His own possession of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

 Is there a modern equivalent? Yes, in a similar way, God calls you who are followers of Jesus Christ a holy people…

1 Peter 2:9, You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…

A. Holiness is received and fills the soul
 You probably don’t think of yourself as a royal priesthood, or a holy person. Most people are very much aware of their sin and cannot comprehend the idea that they are holy.


Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Pastor Jean Marais
Rich Jones Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
Calvary Chapel Hillsboro
Calvary Chapel Oregon
Calvary Chapel Beaverton
Calvary Chapel Portland

Tags:
Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Pastor Jean Marais
Rich Jones
Matthew Dodd
Jean Marais

Rich Jones Church, Rich Jones Christian, Rich Jones Christian Church, Rich Jones Bible Study, Pastor Rich Jones Faith, Rich Jones Teaching, Rich Jones Bible Teacher, Rich Jones Bible Verse, Rich Jones Salvation, Rich Jones Truth, Rich Jones Sermons, Rich Jones Calvary Chapel, Calvary Chapel Worship Center, Calvary Chapel Hillsboro, Calvary Chapel Beaverton, Calvary Chapel Portland, Calvary Chapel Oregon