Ezra 7

“On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:9-10 (NKJV)

The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity came in stages.  First, Ezra came and restored the worship.  As worship was restored, Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, the place of worship.  Then, Nehemiah arrived and rebuilt the walls and gates of Jerusalem.  The wall acted as a barrier against attack and protected those living within the city.  Stability radiated outwardly.  It is not enough to fortify the walls and build a place of worship.  Is that really “revival”?  Revival begins with the individual’s heart before the community is strengthened.  That meant YOU.  

From the moment Ezra puts his suitcase down in Jerusalem, we learn why God had chosen him to rebuild worship.  Ezra had prepared his heart to 1) Seek the Law of the Lord, 2) do it (live according to God’s Word), and 3) teach statutes and ordinances.

Do you want to be used by God?  Would you like to have the faith to stand firm and commit to being a “kingdom builder”?  Then you also must SEEK God’s Word, discipline yourself to OBEY His Word, and be a disciple-maker, TEACHING others how to seek and serve the Lord.  Anything that falls short of (or adds to) that simple formula will not perpetuate and sustain discipleship.  That is because anything other than God’s prescribed pattern of discipleship will never develop a firm spiritual foundation from which to stand against the troubles and attacks of this World.  Consider Jesus’s words:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever COMES TO ME, and HEARS My sayings and DOES them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.” Luke 6:46-48 (NKJV)

The good news is that God does not leave the task of fulfilling that pattern of seeking, doing, and teaching entirely up to us.  Every follower of Jesus, at the moment of their belief in Him, is given the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the truth of God’s Word and enable believers to perpetuate the gospel effectively.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1: 8 (NKJV)

So, boldly seek God’s Word and commit to living faithfully and sharing it with others!