Advent: Joy
Reading by Curt and Halie Bougher
Sermon Notes
Review
- Ezra 1-3, Sent by Cyrus to start building, put up an alter, build the foundation, celebrate-ish, / Ezra 4, No, then opposed by the people of the north, the Samaritans, stop building for 10 years.
- They were discouraged from doing what God called them to do. But then the prophets, moved by God to RESTORE the people to the purpose that God had called them to, began to speak…
- Read Ezra 5:1-2
- Haggai asked us to “Consider our ways, repent, and build”
- The first part of Zechariah asks us to “Return to God because of who He is…
- Haggai seems to focus on outward actions and Zechariah seems to focus on the inward motivation of those actions but both are saying this-and really all throughout the biblical narrative, We got really lost and need help. Who will save us?
- Sunday school style…
- What’s the big idea of the bible? Jesus is the Hero
- Of Creation, Fall, Redemption, & Restoration
- How is Jesus the Hero of Creation? We find our purpose in him!
- So what happened? We got really lost and need help!
- Who will save us? Jesus will! He died and rose again to save us.
- You know what that means? I found my purpose again!
- What is it? to follow Jesus because he is my hero
“When God Restores…”
Read 5:3-4
#1. When God Restores, it’s risky…
- Context, how scary is this?
- Told to stop, could be military action
- What’s your name? Which means soon, everybody’s name on that list could die- He could say “Get a beam from his house, impale him on it and make his house a dung hill.”
- They start obeying God as soon as they are restored again to God’s purpose and “boom”, trouble.
- This seems to be common. And I need to point out the biblical common denominator we are seeing in the text is NOT an usual experience
- When the people of God, obey the purposes of God often they are opposed.
- When God Restores us, and restores us again, and we walk in obedience there is always risk.
- Jake and leading a young man to Jesus… What is the first encouragement? You will be opposed and you may be prone to be discouraged, but have courage for God is with you. We all know following Jesus is risky business.
- It’s the same process when God restores the Christian. Again and again we are always in the process of God restoring us to our purpose because we keep getting lost.
- Following Jesus isn’t safe, at least not in the way we deem safety, We are in the hands of God, safe, but our comfort isn’t safe, our entitlements aren’t safe, our possessions… To follow Jesus means
- Deny himself, take up his cross
- He who desires to save his life will lose it
- Following Jesus isn’t safe, at least not in the way we deem safety, We are in the hands of God, safe, but our comfort isn’t safe, our entitlements aren’t safe, our possessions… To follow Jesus means
- Its not crazy to say, “Ok God, I’m walking in obedience now, you have restore me again to my purpose of living for you… make it easy?
- Better yet, we bargain with God. If I do this…
- I give, where’s my pension / I am faithful, life should be better, etc.
- We live this tit for tat tension with Jesus
- Better yet, we bargain with God. If I do this…
- The problem is that he never promised that.
- He promised He will be our God, we will be his people and he will dwell with us, and that is enough.
- Like if God says, “Go do this” and we are like, “well, why?” He could in all justice say, “Well, because I am your GOD, and you are mine, and I have chose to dwell with you”
- WHy does God do this? Why is it that when the people of God walk in obedience to the purpose of God there is trouble???
- Because faith is of high value in God’s economy. (Address guests)
- Our economy- Gold, oil, water in the central coast. The more demand, the less supply the higher the cost. Things like faith, hope and love are high in God’s economy. High value in God’s kingdom. One way God increases the value of our faith in through trials. It refines us…
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6–9
#1. When God Restores, it’s risky… but have faith
When the exiles first faced this, they were discouraged. They stopped for 10 years, and just got lost.
#2. Overcome Discouragement
- Discouragement can kill a work of restoration. Hebrews 12:15
- that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
“Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.” Hebrews 12:15
- Discouragement can kill a church. Discouragement can stifle a christian.
#2b. Overcome Discouragement with Courage
- Read 5:5
- God doesn’t promise comfort, BUT HE DOES PROMISE HE WILL BE WITH US! Do you believe it? If not see point one.
- Read 5:6-6:12
- Did yo notice that? The have faith, they answer with courage, God provides!
#3. When God Restores He Provides
- “Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
- Read 6:13-15 THE TEMPLE IS COMPLETE!
#4. When God restores, HAVE JOY
- Read 16-22
- Tie in Passover to the Joy we have in the GOSPEL!
Benediction
May God restores this church. May we remember it’s risky but to have faith, to overcome discouragement with courage, and watch God provide to his glory and our JOY!