SERMON - POST-EXILIC HISTORY SERIES
EZRA 5,6 AND 7
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord our God,
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
The only living and true God,
Creator of heaven and earth,
Maker of all things,
Sustainer of all life,
And Ruler over everything—
We bow before You.
You are holy, holy, holy,
Righteous in all Your ways,
Perfect in all Your judgments,
Gracious in all Your works,
And everlasting in Your love.
From eternity You are God.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Before time began,
You were God, and You are God still.
We praise You, O Lord,
For Your sovereign power,
For Your unchanging purposes,
For Your faithful promises,
And for Your steadfast covenant love.
We bless You,
For Your mercy that spared us,
For Your grace that saved us,
For Your patience that bears with us,
And for Your goodness that follows us.
We thank You for our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your only begotten Son,
Our perfect Savior,
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
O God,
Let Your Word govern Your Church,
Let Your Spirit sanctify Your people,
Let Your glory be our only aim,
And let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Rule in our hearts,
Rule in our homes,
Rule in our church,
Rule in this nation,
Rule in the world You have made.
Where we wander, bring us back.
Where we are cold, set us aflame.
Where we are proud, humble us.
Where we are weak, uphold us.
Where we are ignorant, teach us.
Where we are stained, wash us.
Where we are faithless, restore us—
that Christ alone may be seen in us.
Give us grace to love what You love,
To hate what You hate,
To obey what You command,
And to rest in what You have promised.
In Jesus name we pray trusting,
Amen.
First Hymn:
| Rejoice, the Lord Is King...275. |
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PASTORAL PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
We bow before You with thankful hearts.
You are the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
You rule over nations, kings, and hearts,
Your plans never fail,
And Your work cannot be stopped,
Lord, stir our hearts,
As You stirred the people in the days of Ezra,
Stir us to rise up and serve You with fresh obedience.
Forgive us for fear, for laziness, and for delay,
Give us willing hearts, ready hands, and faithful lives,
Lord, provide for Your work,
We confess that all we have comes from You,
Provide for Your church,
Provide for Your servants,
Provide for every need in this ministry,
Teach us to trust You, and not lean on our own strength,
Lord, protect Your work,
Keep us from the attacks of the enemy,
From division, from pride,
From discouragement,and from every plan of the evil one.
Build a hedge around Your people,
And give us courage to stand firm on Your Word.
Lord Jesus, our Savior and King,
You are the Author and Finisher of our faith.
You died for us,
You rose for us,
And You reign forever.
Complete the work of grace You have begun in us.
Make us holy, humble, and faithful until You call us home.
And for any who are lost, open their hearts today.
Bring sinners to repentance and faith in Your Name.
Speak to us, through the preaching of Your Word.
Give us understanding, give us conviction, give us obedience.
Break every hard heart, lift every burdened soul,
And strengthen every weary believer.
Let Your Word run with power in this place today,
Lord, bless Your church,
Heal the hurting, comfort the grieving,
Restore the backslider, and encourage the faithful.
Help us love one another, serve one another,
And walk together in unity and truth.
And now, O God,
We place ourselves and this service in Your hands,
All the glory, all the honor, and all the praise,
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
HYMN TWO:
Have Thine Own Way, Lord...675
SERMON TITLE:
God Who Rules and Overrules to Completion
Ezra 6 (with Ezra 5 & 7) — KJV
Theme: God sovereignly stirs, provides, protects, and completes His work—no opposition can stop Him.
INTRODUCTION
Dear friends, God is on His throne. He rules, and He overrules. Kingdoms rise, kings fall, enemies plot, nations rage—but “our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3).
The book of Ezra shows us a God who will finish what He starts, despite satanic resistance, political pressure, human fear, and spiritual discouragement.
In Ezra, the people stopped building. Fear stopped them. Opposition stopped them. Delay stopped them. But God cannot be stopped. When God purposes a work, hell cannot block it, men cannot hinder it, and circumstances cannot bury it — He rules and overrules to completion.
This evening as we handle the topic: God who rules and overrules to completion, we see four ways that God achieves this;
He stirs, He supplies, He shields, and He finishes.
1. HE STIRS HIS WORK
Ezra 5:1–2; 6:14; 7:13–14, 23, 27–28
- “Then the prophets, Haggai… and Zechariah… prophesied… Then rose up Zerubbabel… and began to build…” — Ezra 5:1–2
- “And the elders… builded, and they prospered through the prophesying…” — Ezra 6:14
- “…I make a decree… for the house of God…” — Ezra 7:13–14, 23
- “…Blessed be the LORD God… which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart…” — Ezra 7:27–28
Exposition:
- People are discouraged and afraid.
- Word of God preached and revives (5:1).
- People rose and began to build (5:2).
What changed? God stirred them- Ezra 6:14, 7:13-14,23, 27-28.
Doctrine:
God’s Word is always the instrument He uses to awaken obedience, revive His people, and move His work forward.
Application to the Church:
Revival does not begin with committees — it begins with God stirring His people.
When the work dies, we do not need new methods. Just preach the word.
Warning to the sinner:
Many churches are dying not because Babylon is strong — but because God’s people refuse to be stirred.
If God stirs and you resist, you harden yourself toward judgment.
2. HE PROVIDES FOR HIS WORK
Ezra 6:4–10; 7:15–22
- “…let the expenses be given out of the king’s house…” — Ezra 6:4–10
- “…I, even I Artaxerxes… do make a decree… that whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done…” — Ezra 7:15–22
Exposition:
Not only did God stir the work, He funds it. “Let the house be builded… I Darius have made a decree” (6:3, 8). What Israel lacked, God supplied, and from the most unlikely sources.
The very empire enemies tried to stop the building, God made the very empire pay for His Temple.
Then Artaxerxes adds, “whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done” (7:23).
The work done the God’s way, will never lack His supply.
Doctrine:
Where God ordains the work, He provides the means. His purpose carries its own provision.
Application to the Church:
Stop doubting God because of money. The Lord’s work is not sustained by money, but by the King of kings. When the church walks by faith, provision follows. When she walks by fear, provision dries. Unbelief chokes supply.
Warning to the sinner:
God has provided one provision for your soul—the blood of Jesus Christ. Reject Him, and there remains no other sacrifice.
3. HE PROTECTS HIS WORK
Ezra 6:6–7, 11–12; 7:24–26
- “Let the work of this house of God alone…” — Ezra 6:6–7
- “…whosoever shall alter this word… let him be hanged…” — Ezra 6:11–12
- “…whosoever will not do the law of thy God… let judgment be executed speedily…” — Ezra 7:24–26
Exposition:
God did not merely stir and finance His work; He shielded it. Darius warns the enemies: “Let the work of this house of God alone” (6:7). Then he adds judgment: “Let timber be pulled down from his house… and let him be hanged” (6:11). Artaxerxes continues: “whosoever will not do the law… judgment be executed speedily” (7:26).
God overruled every threat and danger to keep the work going.
Doctrine:
God guards His work, His Word, and His people until His purposes stand complete.
Application to the Church:
Expect opposition—but do not fear it. God protects what He begins. No decree, no devil, no scheme of man can overthrow His plan.
Some believers fear men more than God — that is why the work stalls. Fear prevents obedience, but faith destroys fear. The church today does not need safer men — she needs bolder men
Warning to the sinner:
It is a fearful thing to resist the God who defends His work. To fight Him is to sign your own death sentence. “Kiss the Son… lest ye perish from the way.” (Ps. 2)
4. HE COMPLETES HIS WORK
Ezra 6:14–15
- “…they builded, and finished it…” — Ezra 6:14
- “…the house was finished…” — Ezra 6:15
Exposition:
The work was done to completion. “They builded, and finished it” (6:14). Not because the Jews were strong, but because God overruled opposition and carried His work to the end. He is the Author and the Finisher.
God cannot be hindered. The Temple stood—not by chance, not by man’s strength, but by God’s faithfulness. What He begins, He completes.
Doctrine:
God is the God who completes. This temple points us to a greater completion:
- In Christ — “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
- In believers — “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it…” (Phil. 1:6)
Application to the Church:
Your perseverance rests not on your grip on God, but on God’s grip on you. The God who saves is the God who finishes.
Warning + Invitation (Evangelistic):
If you die resisting Him, He will complete His judgment upon you. But if you turn to Christ, He will complete His salvation in you. Flee to Christ. Bow now while mercy stands.
WHY THIS HISTORY?
Ezra’s temple points to a greater temple — Christ (John 2:19–21) — and to His greater work: redemption. On the cross, He cried, “It is finished.” What God completed in stone, He has completed in the Son. And just as no king could stop the temple, no devil could stop the cross, and no power can stop the gospel.
Conclusion
The message of Ezra 5–7 is clear:
- He stirs.
- He provides.
- He protects.
- He completes.
This is the God who rules and overrules.
He finished the Temple.
He finished redemption.
He will finish His work in His people.
And He will finish His judgment on all who refuse His Son.
Therefore: trust Him, obey Him, and flee to Christ while there is time.
LAST HYMN:
Savior like a Shepherd...643
Doxology:
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20–21 (KJV)
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