Ezra 5 A

THEME: GOD WHO RULES AND OVERRULES ALL.

Sermon Title:

"God rules over opposition, and overrules delay"
Text: Ezra 4:1–5:1 (background), Haggai 1 & 2
Series: God Who Rules and Overrules All.

Sermon Goal:

To show how God sovereignly overrules delay, discouragement, and disobedience by stirring His people through His Word and Spirit to accomplish His redemptive plan—even when they had stopped building.

Introduction.

Sometimes in our walk with God—individually and as a church—we start strong, but somewhere along the way we slow down, get distracted, or even stop altogether. That’s what happened to the Jews who returned from exile. They had a clear mission from God: rebuild the temple. But opposition came, discouragement set in, and the work stopped for 16 years.

But God never stops working, even when we do. Ezra 5:1 tells us that the work began again, and what was the turning point? The Word of the Lord came through the prophets—Haggai and Zechariah—and God stirred His people.

Today we turn to Haggai’s message to learn how God rules and overrules, not only nations and enemies, but also our apathy, discouragement, and delay.

Outline:

1. God Confronts His People. 

Haggai 1:1–11
Theme: The God who overrules excuses...


“This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.”  (Hag. 1:2)

"Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?” (Hag. 1:4) 

Teaching Points:

  • We easily forget God's work when life becomes hard or busy.
    The people had stopped rebuilding the temple because of fear and opposition (Ezra 4). But instead of praying and persevering, they settled into comfort. Their focus shifted to building and decorating their own homes while the temple of the Lord remained in ruins.

  • God sees when we put our lives before His will.
    They said, “It’s not time to build God’s house,” but they found time to build their own beautiful houses. That was not laziness—it was misplaced priorities.

  • God allows frustration to wake us up.
    God confronted them—not with hatred, but with holy love. He said, “Consider your ways.” He let their labor become frustrating;  their crops failed, their money disappeared, and their work brought no satisfaction, not to destroy them, but to wake them up from their self-centeredness.

Application to the Church:

  • As individuals, have we become too comfortable while God’s mission lies unfinished? Are we so busy with our own success, families, careers, and houses that we’ve neglected the work of God?
  • Has our energy gone to things that won’t last while the gospel ministry waits?
  • God is not angry, but He is calling. He’s saying: “Consider your ways.”
  • He say His kingdom must come first—not just in words, but in action (Matthew 6:33).
  • When life feels dry and unfruitful, it may be God’s gentle rebuke, calling us back to what truly matters.

2. God Awakens His People

Haggai 1:12–15
Theme: The God who overrules apathy

“And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel... and of all the remnant...” (Hag. 1:14)

“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts. According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not..." (Haggai 2:4-5).

Teaching Points:

  • The turning point began with the Word of God.
    When Haggai preached, people hearkened and feared the Lord, not terror, but reverence. God spoke not with anger, but with love.

  • God encourages before He commands.
    “I am with you, saith the LORD” (v.13). "Be strong," (2:4)." "so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not." (2:5). This simple promise gave them strength. He didn’t just tell them what to do—He reminded them who He is.

  • True revival comes when God's Spirit moves through preaching. 
    God Himself stirred their spirits. The people didn’t just return to work out of guilt or pressure. They responded from hearts touched by grace. The same God who confronted them, now encouraged them. And they obeyed—not by strength, but by the Spirit of the Lord. True revival is divine in origin.

Application:

  • Revival in the church begins with the Word of God—preached, read, and believed.
  • When God stirs people's hearts,  he expects obedience. 
  • Don't wait for judgment when God speaks, just obey (Eccl. 11:4).

3. God Encourages His People. 

Haggai 2:1–9; 2:20–23
Theme: The God who overrules discouragement

“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Hag. 2:9)  

“In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, ...and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee...” (Haggai 2:23).

Teaching Points:

  • God understands when we feel discouraged.
    The new temple didn’t look like Solomon’s temple. It was smaller, less impressive. Some of the older people wept because the new temple looked like a failure. But God reminded them: what matters is not how the work looks—but that He is in it. He told them: “Be strong... I am with you... My Spirit remains among you.” That’s the promise we all need, when we feel discouraged in God’s service. 

  • God points them to a future glory—something even greater.
    God gave them a promise far greater than a building: “The Desire of All Nations shall come.” He pointed them to Christ (v.7). That points to Jesus Christ, the true and greater temple.

  • Zerubbabel becomes a sign of hope.

  • And in the end, God chose Zerubbabel—a weak governor—and made him a sign. He said, “I will make you as a signet ring.” Zerubbabel is a shadow of Christ—the chosen King who would come, not to build a temple of stone, but to build a living temple of people. (v.23).

Application:

  • Church, don’t look down on what seems small and compare.
  • Our work may look small, our church may seem weak, but God is with us—that’s what matters.
  • We are the temple now, Jesus is building His church through us now—and the gates of hell shall not prevail.
  • One day, His glory will fill the earth. For now, we work in hope.

Conclusion:

  • Though the work had ceased for 16 years, God ruled over opposition, and overruled their delay.
  • He sent prophets not to condemn but to restore and revive.
  • In Christ, the temple is living stones (1 Pet. 2:5)—you and I.
  • Let us rise, not in fear or comparison, but in faith and obedience, for He is with us.

Call to Action:

  • Examine your priorities – What are you truly building in your life?
    → Return to building God's work.
  • Is God calling you to restart something you’ve abandoned?
  • → Respond to the Word.
  • Are you discouraged that your service feels small?
    → Trust in the promise.
  • Are you waiting for better times?
    → Respond now.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6)

By Kenneth Malenge

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