King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Chapters: Ezra 4-6, Psalm 137
Message: When The Just Fall Jesus Picks Them Up
Hello My Friend,
Sometimes it is not easy being a faithful Christian, we face constant criticism, not only from the world, but fellow Christians, especially when we faithfully serve God. You can be sure that once you start serving God obstacles will come your way to try your faith and get you to stop serving. The amazing thing is, we do not have to worry about a thing because everything is in God’s hands. When God allows these obstacles to hinder His work, He is often proving us. Are we going to continue in His work, no matter the obstacle, or are we going to buckle under pressure, and give up. The wicked may have their time of fun and glory in having knocked God’s faithful down, but it is God who will pick us back up to victory. “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” – Proverbs 24:15,16.
“For a just man falleth seven times,” This past Sunday, we heard a message from this passage, we are going to fail at many things, but God’s faithful will always get back up because they have Christ’s back. Is it not comforting and encouraging to know the Jesus has your back? Let me tell you, there are times when I get up discouraged and depressed, wondering why I do all this when it seems I am not getting through to anyone. Then I try to convince myself, or rather the devil does, that I am being too bold, that I need to lighten up and not be so strong in my words. This is what was happening when the Jews were rebuilding the temple, they did everything to try and stop them.
“Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” – Ezra 4:1-5.
“to frustrate their purpose,” Frustrate; To break or interrupt. These people did everything they could to get them so frustrated that they would quit. The world despises the church and will do anything to hinder or even shut it down. But the world fails to realize just how resilient the faithful Christian is, and it is not by our own power, it is by the power of God. Amen! And let me tell you, God will never place any temptation before us that we cannot get out of by our faith. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – I Corinthians 10:13.
“who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;” Sometimes temptation has nothing to do with something sinful, it has to do with how we handle a situation, as I said earlier, are we going to remain faithful, and continue His work when the temptation comes to quit, or are we going to buckle under pressure and give into the temptation to quit? Now, since they could not stop the Jew from working even though they did everything to frustrate them, they sent a letter to the king, convincing him that rebuilding the temple would endanger the revenue.
“Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.” – Ezra 4:13-15,17,20-21.
“and that this city be not builded,” Do you see what is happening here? Corrupt politicians want their people to live in such poverty that the city never prospers. I am going to say it, this is the socialism that we deal with today, and the majority of the democratic party. Their districts are overrun with people living on the streets, crime, drugs, disgusting immorality, and yet they keep them there with high taxes and regulations that make it impossible for them to better themselves. And what is worse, there is no sign of God whatsoever. A city, state, or nation where God is prominent is blessed, but He cannot help those who will not help themselves by turning to Him. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” – Psalm 33:12.
Well, the king did listen to their lies and ordered them to cease, and for a little while the work stopped. Then with the help Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, they began to rebuild again, and they did not care if the king said no.
“Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.” – Ezra 5:1-3,7-8,11,17.
“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth,” We serve God! No one has the right to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. And no one has the authority to stop us from living the way God wants us to live. They cannot force us to stop preaching that homosexuality is sin, abortion is killing a life, or there are only two genders. Oh, they will try to stop us, and many will cease the work of God because they will cave under pressure, but we serve the one and only living God, we get back up, and we keep going in the power of the Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives in us. Amen! “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” – I Peter 3:15-17.
All the opposition and discouragement can truly trouble our heart, but we we cannot let the world stop us from doing what God has called us to do. Yes, we are going to have opposition and set backs all the way, but we must never be afraid to get back up. For fourteen years the temple remained unfinished while the Jews attended to rebuilding the city, but once Zechariah and Haggai got them going there was nothing stopping them from completing the temple. Their attempt to get the king, now Darius, to stop them did not work this time, in fact, he made a decree that they even had to pay them for the work they were doing, and provide them with everything they need.
“And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.” – Ezra 6:2-3,6-8.
“forthwith expenses be given unto these men,” God always takes care of His faithful. And there really is no greater joy than doing God’s work, and seeing it finished. When life troubles our heart from doing the things that even God wants us to do, we cannot buckle and give up, we must keep going. God is with us, He really is, and the times you think that He is no where to be found, that is when He is preparing you for something great. Never forget that the things we do for God today have nothing to do with what we are getting on earth, it has everything to do with what we are getting in His Kingdom. Never let obstacles take away your joy in knowing that one day, it will all be over, and we will be with Jesus. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” – John 14:1-4. Amen!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” – Ezra 6:22.
Today’s Prayer: God, I know that You have work for me to do, but I also know that obstacles can trouble my heart to keep me from doing that work. Lord, I will not let my heart be troubled by the constant opposition that comes my way, I want all of Your blessings, I want to serve You according to Your Word. Lead me, guide me, and give me Your power to learn, discern, and endure all those who oppose me. Keep me safe, protected, and uplifted so that I can finish Your work as I know that none of it is vain. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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