JOINING GOD AT WORK - God Works Through People

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, . . .” (Ezra 1:1a)
          Passage: Psalm 18:1-3; 46-50

        Ezra was a scribe and priest who lived in the 5th century B.C. He was born and raised in Babylon, during the period that it was under Persian control. God raised him up and placed him in a position to be a trusted advisor to King Artexerxes of Persia and in 458 B.C., he moved to Jerusalem with the king’s permission. His purpose in going to Jerusalem, where he had never lived, but which was the homeland of God’s people, was to call the people of Israel back to God and help usher in period of revival and reformation. His ministry was the precursor for the work of Nehemiah, who came to Jerusalem about ten years later to lead in the rebuilding of the walls around the city.

Ezra’s book tells a story of how God worked in history to end the exile of the Jewish people and allow them to return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. to rebuild the Temple and live in the land. Jeremiah had prophesied it and Daniel and his friends had been used by God to lead to it. God had a plan then. He has a plan now. He uses people to accomplish His plan and He wants to use you. Be available to Him and let Him use you in special ways in 2026.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)