Ezra 5-6Haggai and Zechariah

Introduction• I. Jeremiah predicts a 70 year captivity (Jer. 29:10-

14)• II. Babylon conquers Judah (Nebuchadnezzar) • III. Babylon defeated by Medo-Persia (Cyrus)• IV. God tells Cyrus to build the Temple (Ezra 1:1-3)

after 70 years• V. Zerubbabel and Joshua lead the Jews• V. Adversaries weaken the Jews (4:1,4)• VI. Jews stop building the Temple (4:24)

Practical Application• Having lots of gifts and potential isn’t going to

get things done for Christ• Starting out well and having a great

foundation is nice but where are you now?• Obedience to the word of God (not our plans)

is the key!

Ezra 5• Vs. 1: Haggai and Zechariah start to prophesy

the name of God to them

• I Cor. 14:3 Prophets should instruct (“edify”), persuade (“exhort”), comfort

Haggai 1 and 2• Vs. 1 “word of God” came to Haggai• Vs. 2: Find out why the Jews stopped building– “The time is not come”– Not God’s will– Discouraged because of difficulties, opposition,

and fear

Practical Application• Sometimes the Lord’s will is hard and difficult– Abraham, Gideon, Jesus

• John 15:20 “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

• John 16:33 “In the world ye shall have tribulation.”

• I Thess. 3:3 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions; for ye yourselves know that we are appointed to these things.”

• II Tim. 3:12 “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Haggai 1• Vs. 3-4 Jews built beautiful paneled houses

and neglected God’s house

Practical Application• It’s easier to spend more on ourselves (time,

money, etc) than on the Lord• ($100 seems small at the mall, but big at the

church offering box)

• Matt. 6:33 (“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”)

Haggai 1• Vs.5 “Consider your ways”• Vs. 6-7 Nothing really good has happened

lately with all your efforts• Wages have been put in “bags with holes”• Vs. 9-11 God tells them He has caused the

droughts and lack of harvest because of their disobedience

Practical Application• Are we putting our time and energy into bags

with holes in them?• This world’s pleasures never satisfy, never

give full fulfillment, or have any eternal value.

Haggai 1• Vs. 8 Go up the mountain, bring wood, build

the house• Vs. 12 They obeyed God through the

prophets• Vs. 13 God said He was with them

Practical Application• When God tells us a command, we need to

obey. We need to work for the Lord!• How does He speak?– The Bible– The Church (the body)– Circumstances – Answered prayer

Haggai 2• Vs. 1 Next month• Vs. 3 Building was nothing in comparison to

Solomon’s• Vs. 4-5 “Be strong” and “work” “for I am with

you”

Practical Application• Not about the size of the assignment that God

gives us. It’s about obedience and getting busy to finish the assignment.

• Eph. 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”

Zechariah 1• Vs. 3 “Turn ye unto me”-------Return!• Vs. 4 Don’t be like others who didn’t hear and

obey the commands of God• Vs. 6 The others eventually realized that what

God warned would happen did come true

Back to Ezra 5• Vs. 2 Zechariah and Joshua begin to build

with the prophets helping them (around 18 years later)

Practical Application• 18 years, 18 months, 18 minutes, 18 seconds

later, it doesn’t matter……………….Recognize your sin, confess it, repent, and get back to work!

• I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Ezra 5• Vs. 3-17 Opposition returns! Tatnai the

Governor of Samaria questions them• Vs. 3 Who told you to do this? • Vs. 9-10 What’s your name?

Practical Application

• Satan attacks us when we get busy for God.• He is “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev.

12:10)• I John 2:1 “If any man sin, we have an

advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Ezra 5• Vs. 5 Jews keep working this time• Why? – 1) prophets encouragement– 2) eye of God was on them– 3) enemies couldn’t stop the Jews (God would

accomplish His purposes)

– Luke 19: 40 “If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Ezra 5• Vs. 6,17 Tatnai writes letter to King Darius to

search for the command to build• Vs. 11 Jews said they were “servants of the

God of heaven and earth”• Bold about their faith. Why?– 1) they knew who they were following : GOD

ALMIGHTY!– 2) Cyrus told them to build too (Vs. 13)• Divine and legal authority

Ezra 6• Vs. 1 Darius searches• Vs. 2-5 Scroll is found• Vs. 6-12 Darius tells Tatnai– 1) let the work alone (vs. 7)– 2) tax money used to build the Temple (vs. 8)– 3) priestly animals be given daily (vs. 9)– 4) disobedience leads to death (vs. 11)

– Remember: the laws of the Medes and Persians couldn’t be broken (Dan. 6:8,12,15)

Ezra 6• Vs. 13 Tatnai obeys• Vs. 14 Jews build and prosper because of the

prophesying (words of the Lord) and finished the Temple in 4 years

• Vs. 16 Temple dedicated with “joy”• Vs. 17 offered sacrifices• Vs. 19-21 kept the Passover• Vs. 22 kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread

with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful

Practical Application• I Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

• Gen. 50:20 “Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.”