The Aftermath of God’s Faithfulness

 Sermon: Series Three

Title: The Aftermath of God’s Faithfulness

Text: Ezra 4–6
Theme: God Who Overrules and Rules All

Introduction. 

God’s faithfulness does not exempt His people from opposition. In fact, often after great displays of God’s faithfulness, resistance follows. This was true for Israel after their return from exile. Just as they began rebuilding the temple, opposition arose to discourage them. However, God, who overrules and rules all, ensured that His plan prevailed.

This pattern is not new. After God delivered Israel from Egypt with great miracles, they immediately faced the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14). When Nehemiah sought to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, opposition came from Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 4). Even in the New Testament, when Jesus was revealed as the Messiah, He faced opposition from religious leaders (Luke 4:28–30).

Today, we will examine Ezra 4–6 and see three key truths about what follows God’s faithfulness, drawing applications for our own lives.

1) Resistance to God’s Work (Ezra 3:10-12,4:1–16)

After Cyrus’ decree allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the temple, their enemies immediately sought to hinder the work. And this how Satan works, Whenever God begins a great work, he will cause opposition, because he hates progress in God's kingdom and will use different tactics to hinder it.
  • Discouragement from Elders.
When the foundation of the temple was laid, the younger generation rejoiced, but the older men who had seen Solomon’s temple wept. They compared the new foundation with the former glory and felt discouraged, (Ezra 3:12–13). Their sorrow discouraged the younger generation from rebuilding the temple.  

Application: Sometimes, the greatest discouragement comes from within the church. Older believers may criticize, saying, "The past was better!" But God is doing a new work in each generation.

Also, comparison leads to discouragement. Many believers today hesitate to serve because they feel their efforts are too small. However, God honors faithfulness, not size (Zechariah 4:10).
  • Deceptive Alliance.
The enemies of Israel offered to "help" with the rebuilding, claiming they worshiped the same God. But their intention was to infiltrate and disrupt the work.

Application: Not every offer of help is from God. The church must discern between genuine support and hidden opposition.


  • Distorted Truth.
Israel’s enemies wrote letters to Persian kings, falsely accusing them of rebellion. They twisted history, claiming that Jerusalem was a city of troublemakers (Ezra 4:12–16).
  • Delay By Royal Decree.
Israel’s enemies wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes, falsely claiming that the Jews were rebellious and would stop paying taxes. This led to a royal decree to halt the work.
Application: 

2) Repercussions of Resistance (Ezra 4:17–24, 5:1–2)

  • Rebuilding Ceases.
Fear and legal implications caused the people to abandon the temple project for about 16 years. They started focusing on themselves and their houses.
  • Religious Stagnation.
Instead of rebuilding, the people focused on building their own houses. They became spiritually complacent.
  • Reproof by Prophets.
God sent Haggai and Zechariah to rebuke and encourage the people. Haggai confronted their misplaced priorities, and Zechariah gave visions of God’s faithfulness.

3) Revival Through God’s Sovereignty (Ezra 5:3–6:22)

  • Rebuilding Resumes.
Despite opposition, Zerubbabel and Jeshua obeyed God’s word and continued rebuilding.
  • Relentless Accusations.
Opponents wrote another letter to King Darius, hoping he would stop the work.
  • Royal Reaffirmation.
However, after searching the archives, Darius confirmed that Cyrus had commanded the rebuilding (Ezra 6:1–12).
  • Resources Provided.
Instead of stopping the work, Darius commanded the enemies to help the Jews by funding the rebuilding and providing animals for sacrifices.
  • Reconstruction Protrcted.

  • Restoration and Rejoicing.
The temple was completed, and the people celebrated Passover joyfully.

Application Points

  • Expect Opposition – Just as Israel faced resistance, believers will face opposition when doing God’s work (John 16:33).
  • Trust in God’s Sovereignty – Even when the enemy tries to hinder us, God overrules and fulfills His purposes (Romans 8:28).
  • Stay Faithful Despite Delays – The temple was completed because the people persisted in faith. We must also remain faithful even when progress seems slow (Galatians 6:9).
  • Listen to God’s Word – The encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah rekindled the people's zeal. We should also seek guidance from Scripture and godly counsel (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
  • Celebrate God’s Victories – The Israelites rejoiced after overcoming opposition. We, too, should praise God for His faithfulness in our lives (Psalm 126:3).

Final Challenge:

Is there a work you have abandoned due to fear, criticism, or discouragement? Like the Jews in Ezra’s time, return and rebuild! God who overrules and rules all is with you.

~Kenneth 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

English and Swahili Teachings on Christ

  Summary: The Person and Work of God the Son (Jesus Christ) Jesus Christ, God the Son, is fully God and fully man— the God-Man . Hebrews 1:8 and John 1:1-14 affirm His eternal deity and incarnation. As man, He was born of a woman, experienced human growth, temptation, and death—yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). As God, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of a virgin, and bears titles and attributes that belong only to Deity (Col. 2:9). His Divine Sonship is affirmed by the Father, angels, prophets, apostles, devils, and Christ Himself. His deity is irrefutable to any who accept the authority of Scripture. His Sevenfold Mission : The Son of God and Son of Man – sent to save the world (John 3:17; Luke 19:10), and to share His inheritance with the redeemed (Rom. 8:17). Saviour and Redeemer – to save His people from their sins and redeem them by His blood (Matt. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Our Example – in holiness, prayer, love, humility, obedience, and overcoming temptation ...
Read more

Apostle’s Creed: I believe.

Image
I believe in God, the Father almighty,  creator of heaven and earth. 1. The Doctrine of Faith (“I believe”) This opening phrase is more than a declaration; it’s a confession of trust and a personal commitment. The word believe  goes beyond intellectual agreement; it involves faith that transforms the heart and life (Romans 10:9-10). This faith rests not on feelings or human wisdom but on the revelation of God’s Word. In saying “I believe,” the believer aligns himself with the truth of God, submitting to His authority and staking his life on His promises (Hebrews 11:1). It involves both trust and obedience (James 2:17). This emphasizes  personal faith:  Not merely intellectual agreement, but a deep trust and conviction.  2. The Doctrine of God (“in God”) The creed immediately centers belief on God; not just any god, but the one true and living God revealed in Scripture. This declaration echoes the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteron...
Read more

The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Authority and Reflecting God’s Order

Image
The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Authority and Reflecting God’s Order "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long..." — Exodus 20:12 (KJV) The Meaning and Scope of the Fifth Commandment The fifth commandment calls us to honor our parents, but its meaning extends beyond biological relationships. It establishes a broader principle of respect for all God-ordained authority in the home, church, and society. This commandment is unique because it comes with a promise: long life and blessing. It reflects God’s design for order, where submission to rightful authority brings peace and stability. While “parent” primarily refers to biological and adoptive parents, it also includes other authority figures God has placed over us: spiritual leaders (1 Corinthians 4:15), civil authorities (Romans 13:1–2), employers (Ephesians 6:5–7), and older, wiser individuals who provide guidance (Leviticus 19:32). These figures reflect God’s structure of authority in different are...
Read more