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The following quotes come from our current sermon series:
"The Eternal Remnant"
(The Post-exilic writings of the Old Testament)

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There has been plenty of political talk recently about our current president being a “messiah.” I’ve heard people complain that he has a “messiah complex.”
But none of this is new. In fact this is old, old language. Like 700 BC old, when Isaiah said of another world ruler
Isaiah 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his 'anointed,' to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:
Here in the Bible, God himself, through Isaiah, calls a pagan world ruler his “Messiah” (sound familiar?) –Cyrus is God’s “anointed” to accomplish something incredibly important in the plan of redemption – even though Cyrus wouldn’t even be aware of it.

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Nebuchadnezzar did in fact dominate Judah, and installs his puppet kings in the vassal state of Judah; But these puppet kings constantly thought they could refuse to pay tribute and rebel against his rule. This was never a good decision
ON August 16, 586 BC, after an 18 month siege, Nebuchadnezzar finally destroys the walls of Jerusalem, burns all the great residences of the city, plunders the treasures of the temple, and then reduces the temple to rubble.
This actually ends his 16 years of trying to work with Judah on his own terms. During this time, there are 4 separate deportations to Babylon of some 14,000 people, the earliest of which included people like Daniel. Several thousand also escaped to Egypt, among them was Jeremiah. The same Jeremiah who predicted 70 years of judgment against Judah, and so here in the beginning of Ezra, he references God’s sovereign control in fulfilling this prophecy.
So Nebuchadnezzar, by God’s plan, was raised up to judge and pillage Jerusalem. And nearly 70 years later, God’s plan was for Cyrus to restore and rebuild Jerusalem – according to the prophetic words of both Jeremiah and Isaiah…

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One of the greatest archaeological finds that mentions Cyrus is what has been called the ‘Cyrus Cylinder’ -- which documents the permission that Cyrus grants to all kinds of people under his dominion, giving them the right to observe their religious convictions in their own way:
"I (Cyrus) caused them to dwell in peace in their sanctuaries, (in) pleasing dwellings. May all the gods I brought (back) to their sanctuaries plead daily before Bel and Nabu for the lengthening of my days, may they intercede favorably on my behalf." —Cyrus Cylinder, 30-34
Again, from Ezra 1:3 = Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel- he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." 5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.

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We Presbyterians know more than anyone else that God moves people toward reformation and revival, it’s just a shame that this same conviction does not lead us to more prayer and more places to see God stir spirits!
We’ve read it TWICE here (and we’ll read it again in Chapter 7). God moves people to accomplish HIS purposes! Now how does God do this? It seems that Cyrus just wanted to live long and prosper, so he was happy to have religious people be religious if it would help him personally.
For others, sometimes it is a simple conversation or act of kindness that leads to “stirring.”
We were reminded here one Sunday of how a local Orange County pastor was able to broadcast his church services throughout all of communist, atheistic Russia as a result of divine appointments and divine provisions.
I just read this week a story of a former president who, when visiting communist China in the 70’s, shared with the Party Chairman how his childhood Sunday school class had always prayed for and contributed to relief work in China. Upon hearing this, the communist leader immediately rescinded the prohibition against publishing Bibles in China. That simple conversation somehow led a brainwashed communist to conclude that Christianity was actually helping his country. It’s been noted by social observers that this one gracious conversation and the decision that followed prompted the explosion of the underground church in China – There are more Christians in China than in the US today!

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What is also interesting to me, is this desire to build a temple for the Lord.
It appears that those who are moved in their spirits are also moved to have a tangible expression of that spiritual reality.
I would love to build a temple, or a grand cathedral, something beautiful and dignified that represents the greatness of God – but I know that a building does not contain the glory of God, nor His presence, nor his blessings. But I do know that God happens to be gloriously displayed in the lives of people moved by His spirit! When people are moved by God to accomplish something that is bigger than they, THAT is when both the Church and outsiders become impressed by the communion of the saints.
NIV 1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit… (If people are ever going to see the Lord, they must see it in what and how we love, and by His spirit, we will love as Christ did! Notice how the outsiders helped the Jews in Ezra 6…)
6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.

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Thirdly, as the Church, knowing that only God alone is Sovereign, we must not be easily unsettled by the passing politics of our day. Yes, we must be educated and we must voice our vote; but what we must be most aware of is how God uses the decisions of political rulers to prepare his people for the building and arrival of His Kingdom!!! WE MUST NEVER TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD – and we will prove we realize it when we stop putting our faith in politicians and put our faith in the God who stirs hearts and minds! It is very tempting to think that every political defeat is another stripe of persecution on the backs of the Church (It most likely is!) Life in California, life in America, to those of us who have a Biblical worldview, seems to be flying off the rails of sanity and decency. (I can only imagine how the Amish are taking it right now! You know what, they probably aren’t that phased! Well, I don’t want to be reclusive as they are; but I do want some stability and trust in God.)
I’m not advocating the abandonment of engaging our society, we must confront the abuse of power and speak against evil; but I am prioritizing what this passage says about how God builds his kingdom, Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit says the Lord!

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What about our 'messiah?' Who has stated that he would meet Mahmood Achmedinajad without pre-existing conditions. Well, if that’s going to happen, we’d better be praying for the Lord to do some stirring! Let’s pray that our president can say something like this:
“Mahmood, Isn’t it fascinating that King Cyrus ruled all of Persia from your country, Iran!? Isn’t it fascinating that he had the greatest empire that had yet been established upon the earth. And isn’t also interesting that although the Jews were living under his domain, He gave them the freedom to return to THEIR LAND in Judah with the objects of their worship and he decreed their right to rebuild their temple and to pray to their God?! Wouldn’t it be revolutionary to have another ruler in Iran do the same thing today?”

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I remember the awful images of 9/11, when the towers came crashing to the ground, that apart from the dust and debris -- what was scattered to the winds that day? 8X11 sheets of paper floating all around.
On those papers were not stories of brave young boys taking on tall giants with slings and stones.
There were not accounts of men sailing the stormy seas and fearing for their life.
There were not tales of down trodden peasants being won over by a traveling King…
Because they came from an office building, I’m sure they were mostly -- lists!
Those lists flying in the wind seemed rather trivial in light of the terror of 9/11. But they were important to someone at one time. They actually documented a part of the world that was important. It was a representation of mutual trust among associates. It was an accounting that spoke of at least two parties ? the person who made the list and the person who would read it! MOST OFTEN, those lists were an agreement between two parties so that if needed, a third party could officially declare that someone was in relationship with another. That list would serve as a witness to the world that historic arrangements were in fact, reality.

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THINK ABOUT IT FOLKS! In New York City, at the place known as Ground Zero, they are going to build a brand new structure in that very spot, but we all know what else is also going to be there – there is going to be a list. A list of nearly 3000 dead people. Will that list be important to anyone? YES, to all the people who were in relationship with those people, it will be very important! It will mark painful memories, and it will mark how life had to go forward.
But hypothetically speaking, a thousand years from now, will anyone care about a list of 3000 dead people? Maybe only Archaeologists & Historians! But that list will represent an important part of a people’s history – and that is what we have in Ezra, chapter 2.

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Ancient Israel had encountered their version of Ground Zero when Nebuchadnezzar terrorized and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. But a rebuilding campaign had been decreed. An entire nation which had been decimated will now assemble again with a band of pioneering colonists who are coming to rebuild, and these NAMES would make THE LIST.
Ezra Chapter 2 is a Looooong list. 70 verses. But there are some great details here in one of the most important lists of the Bible because Israel, because Jerusalem, the supposed Mount Zion of God was NO LONGER! But in an act of Divine providence, a foreign ruler was moved in his spirit to not just PERMIT the rebuilding of Jerusalem (And we all know how difficult the permitting process is!!) NO, this ruler actually decides that he will even FUND the work. And in response to the spirit’s work on a world ruler, a group of over 40,000 people decide to return to a wasteland to establish a dream that had been a nightmare for nearly 70 years.

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And that is why this list is important. We’ve established that this group of pioneers are among the hero status of Israel’s history. They are important reminders of a group of people who were willing to believe that however successful they could be somewhere else, and despite how challenging it would be to follow God, true life could only be found in the place of God’s promises and at the center of true worship!
And of all the lists to which we can belong, there is only ONE LIST that counts, and that is the list that says, I belong to God’s Kingdom. I am related to the tribe of Judah, I have been made a priest to serve God, I have been gifted by His spirit to build up the church, and my name is listed in the Lamb’s book of Life. That is the most important list of all isn’t it?

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There are just two huge problems related to an altar of sacrifice today. First, the early Christian church argued stridently that the Jewish sacrificial system was no longer required – why? Because Jesus Christ became the fulfillment for every Jewish reason for a sacrifice. Jesus had sealed all covenant promises, paid for sin and guilt, and demonstrated God’s rule as redeemer and King. The Jewish sacrificial system pointed to the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross so that worship for the Christian was not through an activity; but through a person who had brought true communion to the worshipper that was only dreamed of in the OT.
Secondly, the Protestant church went ballistic on the Roman Catholic Church when they propagated the dogma that the Mass was the re-sacrifice of Christ’s body for the purchase of additional merit for the atonement of sins. This type of teaching fostered the Reformation. I know some recent RCC apologists are trying to argue differently about what the Mass represents; but the Reformation and the Counter Reformation with the Council of Trent states that is what the Mass is.
In 1521 Martin Luther (Reformation peace be upon him) wrote a tract entitled, ‘On the Misuse of the Mass,’ where he insisted, that we are called to “eat and drink” only, NOT sacrifice.
So NO WHERE in a properly historic Protestant church are you going to find an Altar (as you have in a RCC); only a table where the sacrifice of Christ is remembered, not performed, and where we are called physically sense the reason for our communion with God while acknowledging the twin conviction to be in communion with others.

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And what does communion mean? Sharing, participation, contributing, fellowship. These are all words the Christian church uses to define salvation based upon the gracious work of Christ! These are words used to define spirit filled worship that is recognized as being both vertical between God and man, and horizontal between the members of the church. After all, Jesus taught us to leave our gift at the altar if we know that we are not reconciled to our brother. Proper worship in the vertical will have the corollary on the horizontal – meaning, people in communion with God, seek communion with their church family, and here they share, participate, contribute, and fellowship!

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So here in Ezra 3, we see this classic recapitulation of the Exodus story. The Jews have again left captivity and they are going to mark the faithfulness of God by worshipping Him in the wilderness.
As we remember the results of Jesus' life and ministry, in our conversion and regeneration, we relate to the OT allusions of being led out of sin and misery through an exodus of a spiritual kind. And the work of Jesus as a sacrifice for us prompts us to recall some important aspects of OT sacrifice.
First: The whole sacrificial system (of which we read just a portion from Numbers 29) reminds us of the great cost to achieve forgiveness and restoration of communion with an utterly holy God.
As Paul says, ‘we are not our own for we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20 and 7:23).’ The principle of costliness is clearly evidenced in the covenant of redemption. Even King David says, 1 Chronicles 21: I will not …offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
Christ, who was in himself sinless, perfect, priceless: became sin for us, was cursed for us (Gal. 3:13)! Was rejected and despised – INSTEAD of us! Christ pays the ransom price for our sin. Christ covers our debts. He bore the wrath of God in our place. Only his precious blood, more costly than silver and gold, can atone!
Secondly, we are also reminded in these sacrifices that God will not turn a blind eye to sin or pretend that sin has no consequences. These returning exiles observed in the seventh month, on the 10th day, THE DAY OF ATOMENMENT. It is on this day that a future High Priest would make his once-a-year trek into the Holy of Holies to anoint the Ark of the Covenant with blood. It was on this day that corporate sins were to be regarded as offensive to God with the requirement to repent and seek covering from God’s wrath.
But by providing a sacrifice, God is able to maintain his integrity, upholding his justice and his mercy. Our Day of Atonement occurs when we confess that the Son has absorbed the wrath of God intended for us as Christ becomes the sacrifice for those who know they need salvation from the consequences of their sins – which is the wrath of God. God himself provides the lamb who will take on our punishment, and we put our faith in his substitution and mediation to apply his precious blood to cover our sins; but even more powerfully, to wash them away from our body and soul, so that God will never act upon them in us because He acted upon them in Christ – we are therefore, no longer under condemnation, and have peace with God!
Finally, The Old Testament sacrificial system was initiated to prepare the people of God to understand the significance of the Son's sacrifice.
My main problem today is that I could go on and on about the many aspects of what Christ has accomplished for us in his sacrifice: Imputation, propitiation, expiation, reconciliation, substitution, mediation, and justification - - there is much to remember when we “Do this in remembrance of him!”
But Ezra 3 clearly captures the priority of Jewish worship, which speaks to the atoning and costly nature of the sacrificial system – all fulfilled in Jesus, all for those who believe! As we conclude let’s consider our priorities in what we do each week when we gather.
I want to quote John Calvin (Happy Birthday be upon him) who said, 'We have in the sacraments another aid to our faith related to the preaching of the gospel.' The observance of the sacraments is needed, not because God's word is lacking in any way, but because the sacraments also instruct us and establish us in the faith that makes the person of Jesus Christ the center of worship!
Imagine Jeshua the priest of Ezra gathering all the exiles to Jerusalem to announce that he was going to do a seven part sermon series on, ‘How to Regain Your National Heritage!’ Hey, that might be encouraging and all; but if their priest didn’t offer a sacrifice, they would have concluded that Jeshua had either missed his calling, or was up to something subversive.
This is why when we gather, we not only read the word, pray the word, sing the word, recite the word, and preach the word – we also grasp the Gospel clearly announced and portrayed in the sacraments each week! It’s a focus of our worship to remind us of our true identity, sinners whom God regards as saints! And to keep subversive types like me on track; forbid it Lord, if I should not announce the gospel each week! So we preach to the table, we preach to the font, for there is where God in Christ, meets his Bride and reminds them of their engagement! Reminds them of their future glory!
Yes, we want to build a church here, we want to provide a ‘rewarding worship experiences;’ but if we don’t proclaim the gospel and confirm the truths of it in the sacraments, we could very well forget our true identity and subvert our true need for a savior.
Ezra was concerned about re-capturing an earthly inheritance that Israel had lost; we are concerned about reminding ourselves of our true and spiritual inheritance that has been purchased for us; And since Christ has left us with word, water, bread, and wine to remember our spiritual inheritance, may we worship Him for these great gifts.

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KNOCK KNOCK
"Do you have a regular weekly meeting in your home?
Do you sing?
Do you say 'amen'?"
Do you say, 'Praise the Lord'?"
A San Diego pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a county official and warned they will face escalating fines if they continue to hold "religious assemblies" in their home without obtaining a Major Use Permit from the county -- a permit that involves traffic and environmental studies, compliance with parking and sidewalk regulations, and may cost them thousands of dollars. If they fail to pay for the MUP, the county official reportedly warned, the couple will be charged escalating fines beginning at $100, then $200, $500, $1000, "and then it will get ugly."
This account reported by WND: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98895
Now as Americans, we immediately think of our First Amendment rights: the freedom to peaceably assemble, and that we are protected from government prohibiting the free exercise of religion. That is of course, your car bumper is suspended over a public sidewalk – then my friend; you forfeit these lofty freedoms!
What is laughable is that this Home Bible study is comprised of about 15 participants.
The report did not indicate this, but is seems to me that some neighbor got a little snitchy. Someone must have contacted the officials because of some concern about the Bible Study group. I don’t know if they are a loud group or they all drive SUV’s but if they are just plain decent folks – what is the problem?
Well I’ll tell you the problem, as a pastor who leads two very strategic home Bible studies, I will tell you very plainly that these studies are essentially training camps! We are training people to be disciples of Jesus, and with the influence of Jesus’ Spirit and teachings, we are attempting to CHANGE THE ENTIRE WORLD! Yes we can! We gather first to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord of our life and this entire earth, and we pray for each other to always trust in Jesus, and then we read words in the Bible like this:
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Phil . 3
Now that’s extreme language isn’t it? If you are not a Christian, what are you? An ENEMY of the cross, and your end is DESTRUCTION! As an unbeliever, is it comforting to know that Christians consider you an enemy and bound for destruction? Is it reassuring to know that the Christians don’t even consider their citizenship to be here on earth; but in heaven? Is it comforting to know that Christians believe that some alien is going to come out of heaven and transform our bodies?
OK, I’m trying to be a little provocative; but I understand why those who live only for this life are interested in distracting, intimidating, frustrating, humiliating, and restricting the efforts of Christians. Christians are implementing a global campaign to persuade people to worship and obey Jesus as Lord – AND that’s a bit threatening if you don’t want to do it!
This story of this San Diego pastor and the global objective of the church is a perfect backdrop for what we encounter in Ezra 4. The neighbors of Israel know what the Jewish scriptures say – filled with commandments and prophecies for control over everyone in their land, they know the history of Israel and their former days of rule and domination; and here they come again, returning to their favored city and with plans to build the temple to the God who demands total allegiance, and destruction of foreign gods.
These neighbors don’t like any of this. So what do good neighbors do in a situation like this? The snitch to the guvment!

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Haggai is not a “life coach.” He is God’s divinely appointed mouthpiece. And in chapter 1 of his book He speaks plainly to four matters:
#1 - God’s truth is more important than misplaced hopes,
# 2 – God has a Jealous zeal to protect His rightful place as the # 1 priority and passion of His people,
# 3 - He speaks to the leadership of God’s people about their ordained responsibility to fulfill their calling, and
# 4 - Haggai speaks about the power and presence of God’s Spirit.

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Again, we can see the classic 3 offices of Israel: Prophet, Priest, and King. The Kings of Israel were called to obey the words of the prophets, and they were to be instructed in the law by the priests. When this tri-partite division of government worked properly – spiritual and physical blessings upon the land would result. When the king rejected spiritual counsel; when the prophets only spoke in a way to garner favor from the king, when the priests neglected their role to serve the people – troubles ensued. IT is not coincidental that our American government has 3 branches of government, precisely because our founders were greatly impacted with a Biblical, indeed, a Presbyterian form of government – we too know that when one branch of our government exceeds their scope of power and authority, society suffers for it.

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Haggai has the right to say to the returning exiles: Is this the reason you have come back to Israel? To take care of your personal agenda? Or are you back in Israel to establish a lighthouse to the world? Isn’t it the fact that the TRUE God dwells in your midst, and your devotion and worship of Him is what transforms your culture?! AND that is supposed to impact the entire world??

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The remnant is participating in the stealthiest sin of all – the sin of omission! It’s not that they are overtly committing acts of injustice or evil upon their neighbors. It is that they are not doing what ought to be done. They are leaving undone what SHOULD be done. It is directly in line with the first 2 commandments of the 10 Commandments; replacing the proper and first place of God in our life with the idolatry of my needs, my plans, my ideas, before God’s glory.
I know the routine! Everyday, we have so many assignments to complete! Work projects, raising children, paying bills, doing chores, advancing to the next level on our computer games; important duties of life! But when the Lord said, “Be fruitful and multiply;” it was not intended to be at the expense of maintaining a relationship with God! In fact, Haggai is going to point out, we will NEVER be fruitful nor multiply unless God IS THE first priority of life! And priorities are revealed simply by what we cherish with our time and attention. And what we DO NOT attend to…

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Look at your life, remnant! I brought you back to fulfill the promises of my covenant people, and you went straight for the rat race again! And what is it getting you? The answer is always the same: NEVER ENOUGH! How gracious of God to warn the remnant that this is always the sum of life when God is not in the equation! It is never enough to satisfy, it is never enough to fill, it is never enough to share, it is never enough because it neglects the only One who makes life fruitful!

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Haggai must be preached today because inflation, rising interest rates, empty coffers, are going to continue to challenge our culture! And we have the right to say; God predicted THIS! And if His redeemed people do not recall that they exist to build his temple, and for us as New Testament Christians, that means communing with spirit indwelt believers who are graciously sharing their lives and testimony with others! ----- IF YOU ARE NOT A part of that kingdom, if you are not a part of that communion, THEN I have a sure prophetic word for you! You WILL NEVER have enough, you will NEVER be satisfied with life – I predict!
Now, I’m I SATISFIED? No. But I do have enough! I have everything I need, and I have been blessed beyond measure – thank you, Jesus! But I won’t be satisfied until I awake with His likeness. But until then, I know that the MOST satisfying place to be is in communion with the Lord and His saints as we long for His kingdom and His will on earth as it is in heaven.

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We’ve talked about this concept numerous times. Today, we are in a different economy – God does not send animals to attack when we ignore His commands; (maybe an occasional mega shark or giant octopus!) but those who walk away from God KNOW what spiritual famine and spiritual attack is! God graciously uses these measures to discipline us so that we might repent from our sins and seek His fatherly pleasure.

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This is the Spirit inspired joy that we know on Pentecost Sunday. This OT feast that was to take place 50 days after Passover and really was a curious observance for the Jews because it is not associated with any Jewish symbols or significant event of Israel’s history. It is the day that the Jews claim that Moses came down Mt. Sinai with the law. That’s all well and good, but did that warrant a mandatory pilgrimage to Jerusalem? And as we’ve said before; God intended for this feast to take place so another prophetic voice in the Apostle Peter could proclaim with the full force of the Spirit’s conviction that Jesus Christ had come to expand the courts of God’s temple to include every nation, tribe and tongue and to bring everyone that the Lord our God would call under the rule and redemption of Jesus Christ! And it would be significantly demonstrated that Christ was indeed with his people by demonstration of the Holy Spirit! His conviction, His gifting, His leading of God’s people to worship Him in spirit and truth!
So we see a Pentecostal moment in Haggai 1:14: And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

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When the saints of the future recall the remnant of Orange County, 2009; Will they see a church that looked scorched by her enemies; in fear of her neighbors; or awaiting a court decision; but still living in vast personal estates? Or will they look and find that even though they didn’t build something earthly glorious; it was still filled with the Spirit of God? After all, have we been asked to build something huge, or something holy? Have we been asked to build something popular, or something pure? Have we been asked to build something enticing? Or something established on proper priorities?
Closing thought: We build for what we worship, and if we worship the praise of men, we will build something that garners the praise of men. If we worship the conversion of souls; then we will build something that converts souls! If we worship the intellect; then we will build something that educates and instructs.
Honest, probing question: What, or who do we truly worship here? A tradition? A period of history? A particular theologian? What is it? From Haggai 1, we learn that God is a God of truth.
We learn that God is Jealous about his place and reputation
We learn that God calls for a particular kind of leadership.
And lastly, God is Spirit – He moves people by spiritual means to build His spiritual kingdom – may we learn to live out these priorities as a faithful remnant of God’s church.

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...and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
Haggai is telling the remnant to build this house not because it had a FORMER GLORY. Absolutely not, that is so YESTERDAY!! God is telling them to build because there will be a FUTURE GLORY! A future glory that will exceed all the wealth and might of the nations!
What is glory BTW but WEIGHT & HEAVINESS – it is the impressive nature and character of God whose very presence forces a person to bow before His majesty!
So the remnant know of a former glory – a level of impressiveness associated with the former temple. But what made the former temple glorious? The ark? The priestly breastplate? The Urim and Thummim? All the things that they presently didn’t have? NO! The former temple was glorious because God’s glory would descend upon the very place and announce his presence. A presence so weighty that people could not move!
NOTHING physical made that place TRULY glorious – only God’s presence could confirm that!
The Lord can make a burning bush glorious, He can make a still small voice glorious, he can make a baby in a manger glorious – IT IS only glorious when He is there – so therefore in our day – do you know how glorious YOU CAN BE? Doesn’t the Lord dwell in you by His spirit?

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Is God pleased with our religious activities if during the rest of our time, we are living hypocritically, living selfishly, living in a way that denies that we care about purity before God? IS God looking for religious acts of devotion, or is he looking for devotion that produces religion acts? Even when church is not in session?
Somehow, Haggai picks up that the renewed work on the temple, though commanded by God, is not accompanied with a true love of God and neighbor with daily thoughts, words, and deeds.
We don’t need God right now, telling the remnant words similar to this as he spoke through Isaiah: I hate your temple building because you sacrifice to build this structure; but everywhere else, you neglect my law, you take advantage of the weak, you do not defend the poor, you break my covenants of faithfulness – I am not pleased with the buildings of un-believers!

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30 years ago, those of us who were alive, witnessed an Islamic Revolution in Iran. There was regime change. The Shah was out, and Ayatollah Khomeini was in. The man who currently leads Iran as a political leader TODAY, was a prominent advocate of the Islamic Revolution 30 years ago. And TODAY, another revolution has come to oust his leadership. The tactics that brought Iran’s current rulers to power may be the same tactics that run them from office. What comes around, goes around. (This is why as the church, we must bless and not curse! We must depend on preaching and not on politicians! We must seek God’s kingdom first because it will never be supplanted; in fact, it is the only kingdom with which we must seek to align because it will never perish!
Why bring this up? Because the background of our passage today from Ezra 5 is similar to today. Regime change was happening in Persia! In Iran!

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Let’s not get confused: There are 3 Darius’s in the OT. Darius the Mede, who throws Daniel in the Lion’s Den, although under duress. Darius from Ezra, and another Darius whom we will learn about in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s Darius is the great-grandson of Ezra’s Darius – Ezra’s Darius is mostly famous for sending a reconnaissance force to Greece which are defeated at the battle of Marathon. Nehemiah’s Darius will contend with Alexander the Great some 150 years later.

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4 They also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are building this building?"
Now in a Hebrew way of thinking, getting a person’s name means taking control of them. Adam names the animals because he rules over them. So notice that the Jewish leaders sort of avoid naming anyone directly because they don’t want anyone ruling over them – except God!

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The Biblical point is clear – when God looks upon His people with compassion; he defends them and prospers them. This is abundantly true in Christ. God the Father always looked upon Jesus with favor. And yet, this did not necessarily translate into Jesus having a life of bliss and prosperity! In fact, we regarded him as stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted, wounded and crushed – it appeared even to him, that God had forsaken him. So it might be the case that just as Israel had been disciplined for a greater glory; and just as Jesus Christ endured suffering so that He might receive a greater glory – so too might the church, in the midst of our present trials and misfortunes (lack of fortunes) might actually be on track for a glorious blessing that we have not yet imagined. Well, we ought to imagine it a little if we are promised that all things work out for good, for those who love him and are called according to his purpose!

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Now, I spoke earlier of Darius the administrator, and this speaks of how God has a man in charge of a human government for such a time as this! The search for an historical document is made in Bablyon, but the file is eventually found some 300 miles away in Ecbatana! Darius, by God’s design, was thorough, and found what was needed to advance God’s kingdom!

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Now I often think tempted to think that Human government is the tool of the devil to corrupt society, inhibit the advance of the Church, and to tax us of money that could be better spent at church; but Romans 13 tells us that the ruling governors are God’s ministers! Hear that? Ministers! That should shock us like it should have shocked the Jews to hear that a Pagan King was their Messiah in the Persian King Cyrus! And now a great administrator named Darius.
So we should never forget that all of life is occurring before the “Eye of the Lord.” It appears that our own Country’s Founding Fathers believed in this concept; that everything they did was before the eyes of God, and if He would choose to bless it, the mission would not fail – the symbol on our money of the eye in the capstone of the pyramid is supposed to communicate that while we build; God would take note and bless with His favor if we acknowledged that we lived always before his face. On Father’s Day, this is a perfect reminder for how all our Dad’s should live as elders of their communities in service and faithfulness.
As we witness the results of elections and demonstrations in Iran, I am more keenly aware as a result of our current Series of the Eternal Remnant that God is at work in both spheres of the religious and the political! I have seen horrific videos on the internet of people dying for the cause of freedom and regime change in Iran. I have so often questioned what God is doing with our world by the type of leaders who get elected and by the type of legislation that gets passed. But I have also witnessed faithful pastors and elders take a stand against the shifting sands of our culture in order to build upon a foundation, and in time, I know from the testimony of Scripture, from the faithful promises of Christ, that he is orchestrating his glory, even if at times, we must suffer. May we faithfully confess our trust in the God who rules not over entire governments, not over all of his church, but also our own lives as well.

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A young child; living in the home of a “passionate” Father can be a life of inner turmoil.
Imagine the thoughts of a young child when they hear from their father, “I am upset with you! Come here right now!”
“ Now if he’s upset at me, and I get anywhere near him, I am going to get disciplined in some way… Why would I go to him?”
Why would any of us go toward the God of the universe, of whom we’ve read in Psalms 7; “feels indignation everyday!?”
Why would a child go to a father who is upset? Because there is a greater bond between a child and father than between a policeman and a criminal. A child who is the source of a father’s indignation, can also trust that coming to him in obedience, humility, and repentance will be the trigger of a father’s compassion and mercy. The coming to a father in repentance, though he is upset, will be the action that begins to restore a fragmented relationship and will contribute to a fruitful relationship of deeper love and trust.

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And while the rebuilding of the temple is actually happening; both Haggai and Zechariah discern a devastating quality of even the returning remnant, and it is summed up in the following question: You’ve returned to the Land, and you’ve returned to work; but have you returned TO ME?

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Beginning a worship service with the practice of confession communicates a value: the value that we actually DO seek to please God in our worship by recognizing that our daily lives – which are an extension of that worship – has not reflected our true desire to have Him above all other Gods.
Now we take confidence in this confession because we have an advocate who stands in our defense – Jesus the Just. And we appeal to God’s mercy on account of the saving work of Christ – So our initial coming to God in salvation never would have happened unless our relationship changed from Cop to Criminal TO Father to Son! When we realized that the God of the Universe who was upset with us had actually made us his Son in Christ – we knew exactly to whom we should bring our confession and lack of righteousness – to the Father who loves obedient sons, even if we had lived like criminals! The Father welcomes us and adorns us with his love and favor because we admit that we had not lived up to our true calling – but desire to do so because He loves us!

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God is # 1; and must be regarded as our # 1 authority and priority. If we are making all kinds of life decisions without properly considering what God’s word and commandments say – and sometimes that requires wrestling long and hard with what we ought to do; but if we reach conclusions and decisions about what to believe and how to live without considering God’s word on it – that comes with a guarantee: we will soon be in competition with God rather than advancing his kingdom. The very reason for God’s sending the prophets to us, the reason why we have an extended library of books called the Bible is because God is very gracious in teaching us about consequences of decisions.

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I think there is an interesting apologetic related to the phrase, “the prophets.” We receive God’s word from different voices and from different settings, BUT they all speak of maintaining faith with God, keeping His commands, walking in His ways, observing His statutes. We don’t just have one single OT prophet claiming to be divine in anyway – they always point consistently and always direct attention to God singly – to the Lord of Hosts -- and finally to Christ.

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There is something else we can say about TIME here that is important to Zechariah. It has to do with God’s faithfulness to keep his covenant and Israel’s consistency to wander from her commitments to God.
“DO NOT be like your fathers!” Meaning your forbearers, your ancestors. Don’t be like Joseph’s brothers, don’t be like those who rebelled against Moses, don’t be like those who didn’t enter the Promised Land, don’t be like those who rejected Samuel as prophet, don’t be like those who chose a King like Saul, don’t be like those who divided the kingdom of Israel, don’t be like those who didn’t respond to Jeremiah ---- that’s a lot of people who they should not be like!
Those folks constantly forfeited the blessings of God, -- yeah, you ought to avoid that. Try obedience to the law, try protecting the weak, try welcoming the alien, try being a peculiar people instead of being a predictable people.
So here we have the angry God, speaking through a faithful prophet, calling a returning remnant to not only return to the land – and I can imagine them saying – “How much closer do you want us to get to You? We are on your holy hill, we are building your holy place, we’re about as close as we can get to you – what else do you want?” Well, God wants more than proximity – He wants the type of returning that acknowledges past faults, and a humble dependence upon His rule.
Can we stop right here and make direct application to the Prodigal Son? That’s what the God of Israel wants for His people! Children admitting that they have squandered grace and privilege but still want to return simply to serve in the lowest place possible if it is just under the covering of God’s love and care. That is how we all return to the Lord, and this is how He returns to us! Don’t be like the older brother! Be like the repentant son who really knows the value of being close to the Father.

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In review of the genre of Apocalyptic literature which we have treated here: It is a literary form employed by the Jews when they were being oppressed by foreign powers. It reveals how God is truly in control of the world – even though to the physical eye, that could be in doubt. Apocalyptic literature should be understood in light of the Jewish Eschatological Hope – in other words, the Jews were taught that in days of trouble, God would gather all people for judgment and salvation, a Messiah figure would arise to deliver the saints of God and establish an earthly kingdom of paradise, and finally God would dwell with his people. And finally, the visions of apocalyptic literature are confusing, non-linear, and rarely understood by the person witnessing the visions presented – so an angel is always at hand to help with the interpretation – with that…

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a moment of reflection. Are we really disconnected from an OT people because we are not building a literal structure to the Glory of God? Was that ever what God ultimately wanted? A building, a ministry, a program, a world wide evangelistic crusade? Or a people who would walk humbly, love mercy, and do justly? A people who live by faith, hope, and love? A people who repent and believe?
Listen, I’m a full time minister, I WANT to build a congregation that honors God, and lead a family that honors God, and establish ministries that honor God – but in the midst of all that working, and planning and dreaming and hoping to honor God through some program, I don’t need to be like our OT brethren substituting the desire to present some THING to God that will please Him – while all the while, avoiding the fact that God wants ME to honor him from my heart, soul, mind, and strength, so that what I whatever I devote myself to – I have started with a proper foundation – with Christ being the cornerstone.

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Pilgrim Pastor John Robinson wrote, "Now as the people of God in old time were called out of Babylon civil and were called to come to Jerusalem, and there build the Lord's temple -- so are the people of God now to go out of Babylon spiritual and to build themselves as lively stones into a spiritual house, or temple, for the Lord to dwell in." The Pilgrims crossed the vast ocean and entered an untamed wilderness to build a new community grounded in the principles of Christ. At no time since the Jews returned from their Babylonian captivity did a group of people have the opportunity to create an entire nation founded upon the true religion.
- The Pilgrims new persecution but they knew destiny. In a new land reserved for them, the Pilgrims would adopt the convictions of the remnant of Israel and establish a holy society. The pilgrims had the conviction that with their obedience to Jesus, they could build something great in America – and we’ve just celebrated another Independence Day far removed from the Pilgrims; much can be said of the high ideals they brought to these shores and how their devotion set a standard for an entire nation.
? This is what the returning remnant from Babylon wanted to do; but they needed encouragement and direction. The prophets of Haggai and Zechariah arrived on the scene to bolster their hopes.

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When the church remains faithful to her calling, the powers of this world will take notice of our mission; now depending on a variety of thing, they may either bless us or fear us for our effectiveness – but the vision is clear, ordinary people with ordinary callings are who God uses to build and advance his kingdom.

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So here we see more imagery of what Israel was to anticipate in a future “end times” reality. Those who have been scattered across the earth by persecution will return to the place that God has put His eternal favor – ZION – the OT codeword for the New Jerusalem restored by God.
? And how would this future remnant be regarded? As a singing and rejoicing daughter -- Not as a wandering harlot, which is a repeated description of Israel in other prophetic works, and not as a daughter of Babylon!
? The city of Babylon is forever preserved in Apocalyptic literature as the Anti-Jerusalem. The place that holds the power of attraction over faithless Israel. The place of earthly enticements devoid of the true beauty and purity of God. Sometimes even Jerusalem in her rebellious state is called ‘Babylon.’ It is the place associated with rebellion and pride and demonic powers in the face of God. It is the place that God will silence and condemn.

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Zechariah includes in his vision, as do other OT prophets, a PROFOUND conclusion of God’s final saving work in Zion; vs. 11 – Many Nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that Day and shall be my people! A massive reminder that Israel exists to be a light to the nations. It was Israel’s charter from the day God called Abraham – to be a blessing to all the nations – and an indication that God would not only transform the hearts of the descendants of Abraham; but also of a portion of Gentile humanity who would also long to dwell in the presence of Jehovah!

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4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments."
- This is a fantastic picture of how we define Christian salvation. We are soiled and sinful, disqualified from pleasing or serving God in anyway that is acceptable to Him – but then Christ declares that we will have our sins removed and we will be arraigned in new robes of righteousness:

1 Corinthians 6:11 … But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Colossians 3:10 (having) put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 1:12 (we are to give thanks) to the Father, who has qualified (us) to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

1 Peter 2:5 (we are) … a holy priesthood, (and we offer) offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image …

1 Peter 1:22 (we have) purified … souls …

Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

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In the two visions at the center of the chiasm, of the two anointed characters of Joshua and Zerubabbel, we witness the gospel of Christ and the work of the Spirit. Filthy clothes removed, and robes of righteousness are applied (Isaiah even related this truth and is the very text that Jesus reads as he inaugurates his public ministry). We also see an untended Menorah whose supply is the “anointed of the Lord.” This is God’s provision.
? The seven eyes of the Lord, His complete knowledge of the tiny work project on the temple will be the project, when completed, to remind the returning remnant that God has not given up on His promises to revive Israel again, and he will do so through faithful servants, of which, Joshua and Zerubabbel serve as previews to the true Messiah yet to come.

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Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Zechariah declare that a righteous ‘branch,’ a sprout from the root of King David will come to establish himself as the final messiah of the Lord. Zechariah informs us that a part of his mission is to ‘build the temple.’ This is unique to Zechariah but reminds us of our context: it’s nearly two decades, the work on the temple is only plodding along with the help of volunteers who have earlier returned from the captivity of Babylon. But someone important, someone who is the prophesied BRANCH, will build a temple! Who might this BRANCH really be?
? Well from the book of Genesis, from the earliest blessing from Jacob upon the tribe of Judah, we have been awaiting the one who would possess a ‘royal scepter and be a choice vine’ – we know that the one who truly builds a temple for the Lord, is the man who defended the true purpose of the temple in the gospels when he chased out the money changers and declared that this house would be a place of prayer for ALL NATIONS!
? It is Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah who is the BRANCH, and his building and influence surrounds the globe. No one is an alien to this New Temple, because we have all been joined together in Christ to become the new dwelling place of God!

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“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."
- What is this? These are expressions of the law of God. Something that resonates within us as being standards that any sane society should keep. But also, the very corners we would like to cut if they might bring us some advantage… after all, survival of the fittest!
- It is embarrassing to think that God would have to outline clearly for his covenant people how we should care and defend the weak and disadvantaged… but it is a repeated refrain in the OT! Israel forgot that they were a family intended to care for one another; but sinfulness would make them oppressive and merciless to those who needed it most – that’s sick!
- From the very Garden of Eden, ever before it had been codified on Mount Sinai, God had revealed a Moral Law! Ethics and behaviors and convictions we know to be true because we know that a God with standards exists! And though these laws speak volumes about the goodness of God and the protection of relationships; we are constantly tempted to ignore these laws, and in the end convinced they really restrict our pursuit of happiness.
- But as it has been said, you can’t break these laws – they serve to break YOU. And wanton disregard of Biblical morality brings destruction to every captain who thinks that a compass is too restrictive – it always leads to a shipwreck!

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Zech 9:1 The burden of the word of the LORD
- The burden of the word of the LORD is preaching through an extended section from Zechariah’s last chapters, of which, the material is impossible to outline! The most understandable sermons of this portion of Zechariah tend to dissect the thematic material and then bunch them together to reveal the repeated themes: The Destruction of Israel’s enemies, the Divine protection of Israel, Israel’s Spiritual cleansing, the Exaltation of Jerusalem, Israel’s Future prosperity, and the final Establishment of eternal holiness. But Zechariah’s material doesn’t come to us in such an orderly way. It’s all mixed together with layer upon layer of references to Israel’s history, geography, religious convictions, and their future eschatological hope.

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9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Here it is, the all time, #1 most quoted passage on Palm Sunday. Jesus riding into Jerusalem with the people cheering, “Save, we pray! Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
- And how does the King of Conversion ride on, into Jerusalem? On a humble donkey, announcing a new battle plan – (TWIST!!) THE elimination of Israel’s might!
- Listen to the King’s Battle plan for victory. It is FAR more humbling than Yelling CHARGE! On a lowly donkey!
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim (Plan A: Go to battle without chariots [Ephraim being another name for Israel]) and the war horse from Jerusalem (Plan B: disband the cavalry, which even today, is the true power of a land force); and the battle bow shall be cut off (Plan C: Disable the most powerful weapons of striking the enemy at a distance… Do you see what is going on here? Ronald Reagan would be rolling in his rotunda. This is not peace through strength, this is turning weapons into plowshares! This is confidently saying, ‘it is not by might, nor by power; but by My Spirit, says the Lord!’), and he (The Donkey Rider) shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
- The future humble King will reign by humbly establishing his peace over the whole earth. We might want to remember this every time we celebrate Palm Sunday (Anniversary) – Jesus is the King of Conversion, coming to make the impure enemies of God, the clans of Judah and residents of the New Jerusalem! He does it by judging what is wicked and taking it upon himself, on the cross; and transforming his remnant into everything that He loves! That is conversion!
- So when Jesus rides into Jerusalem in humble stature, it speaks of his plan to convert the nations with the weapons of ordinary means: words of hope, prayers for mercy, acts of grace for those who should be destroyed.
- On that first Palm Sunday, Jesus comes announcing peace and fulfilling this passage of Zechariah. And so we temper our own mission as a church with this knowledge of God’s humble means by which to convert those whom we might be tempted to raise imprecatory prayers. But our true prayer would be to see people changed by grace and included in God’s future kingdom!

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So we read repeatedly in the prophets of these wicked shepherds that they do not render true judgments in the city gates, they do not defend the poor and vulnerable, and do nothing to condemn idolatry in the homes of God’s covenant people! Whatever they DID DO, it was only to secure their positions as leaders of sheep!
- OK, we see this in politics rather clearly and regularly; but we’re talking about the Bible and applying it to our day…
- If I might bring this to a modern point of debate: Where would we find these kind of fleecing shepherds today? Could these be the traveling celebrities who fill giant stadiums with messages of wealth and success when at the end of their crusade, they are the only ones leaving wealthy and successful?! Who are today’s celebrity evangelists discipling? Event coordinators? Marketers? Publishers? What about those who are truly the sheep? Do the sheep really witness in these celebrities, faithful lives lived in obedience to God and His law? Do they witness sacrifice and love for sheep that are lost and in need of direction?
- This is just a discussion about shepherds and sheep! God found plenty of abuse in these relationships in times past. Should we not be alert to the same abuses today?
- Please ask this question of your shepherds: Who wields the power in this church, and for what reason? Is it about securing a position, or is it about serving the needs of the sheep who must mature into Christ-likeness?
- In our elder training series recently, we listened to a presentation from Mark Ross, who made the case that sheep will trust the voice of true shepherds. How do you know who a true shepherd is? It’s the one you know who cares for the integrity of the Gospel message, and it is the one who is willing to lay down their life to protect the sheep. These are the types of shepherds who should be leaders in the church!
- I say this all in order to publicly admonish myself to recall my priorities as a shepherd of God’s people – and to pray for more faithful shepherds to help to lead the flock of God! (And because we’ve had several weeks of Elder training and I needed an outlet to share what I’m learning!)
- Having said that, what do we say about the thousands of people filling stadiums to listen to celebrity shepherds? Are they really hearing the voice of the true shepherd? I pray somehow they are! Listen, they’re only sheep, after all! But if their supposed shepherd doesn’t even know they are wandering from the flock, if the sheep are lost and in need of help, if the mega-shepherd (OR ANY SHEPHERD) is not tending to the care of individual sheep – are they truly shepherds? Lord have mercy on me!

next-8/16

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