Ezra: The Lord HelpsSample

The majority of churches in my city – and maybe where you live – are declining, with congregations getting older and numbers fewer. It’s a desperate situation. 

Ezra 4 ended with the building work on the temple coming to a halt. God’s people had encountered serious opposition. The authorities had insisted that the building work stop – for fifteen years. But in chapter 5, the work begins again. 

In verse 1 we’re introduced to Haggai and Zechariah, two prophets (who each have a book of the Bible containing their own prophetic words). These authentic Old Testament prophets arrive in Jerusalem and proclaim the Word of God. This restarts the building work on the temple. 

What was true then is true today. For the church to be built and reformed, the Word of God must be proclaimed. As God’s Word is taught, God’s people hear God’s voice and are inspired to get on with God’s work. Furthermore, God’s Word is powerful. When God speaks, things happen. Think back to Genesis 1. God only had to speak and the universe was created! God’s Word is dynamic, powerful, and has authority. 

In Ezra 4, enemies of God’s people had discouraged them, frightened them, and ganged up against them. Here the Word of God, proclaimed by the prophets of God, overcomes any opposition to God. 

As we go about the work of the gospel, there will be opposition. We will encounter enemies of the gospel. At times opposition will appear to frustrate gospel ministry. But when that happens, we must continually preach God’s Word; that’s what builds God’s church. 

The church in our nation is in decline morally, aping the world. Again the answer is to proclaim the Word of God. We must flood the pulpits of this land with men who are able to teach the Bible in a clear, relevant, and engaging way. 

That’s why one of the key strands of Christ Church Fulwood’s vision is to train leaders for a lifetime of faithfully handling the Word of God. The Bible is outlawed in countries where Christianity is banned because those who oppose Jesus Christ know that when His Word gets into the hands and hearts of people, it brings change and the church is built. For the same reason, Christians risk their lives to take the Bible into countries closed to the gospel. The desperate situation of churches declining is arrested by the Word of God being proclaimed.

Reflection

Pray for this land to be filled with men who will faithfully preach God’s Word. Pray for churches to be training people to correctly handle the Word of truth. Pray that as this happens the church would grow.