God Gives Favor to His People

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” (Ezra 7:6)
      Passage: Daniel 1:1-21

      King Artaxerxes was not a believer in Jehovah as the only God, but he had recognized that the God who was worshiped by the Jews was powerful and he also had come to trust and rely upon Jewish people as advisors in his kingdom. Ezra had become one of those advisors, so he knew that the king might not allow him to go to Jerusalem, but the king did. Ezra pointed out that not only did the king allow him to go, but he gave Ezra everything Ezra asked. Ezra then acknowledged the reason he did it. The hand of the Lord was on him and gave him favor with the king.
       After God sent His people into Babylonian exile as discipline for their sin, Jeremiah gave them a message from Him to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7) Praying for the city and seeking to be blessing does not insulate a believer or church from facing opposition at times, but when they are obedient to do it, they have the hand of God on their lives and He can give them favor with city leadership to let them do what God wants them to do.   

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