The Promises of God
Ezra 1:1-3 - Victory Fellowship
April 7, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. Introduction:
a. Have you ever been called upon to keep a promise you made? Has someone ever broken their promise to you? Are you waiting for God to fulfil a promise in your life – for healing, help, restoration, salvation?
b. What we encounter in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah is the documentation of God preforming what seemed like the impossible in order to fulfil His promise to those He allowed to be taken captive to Babylon.
II. RELATING THE TEXT
a. Cyrus was polytheistic but the One True God used him to fulfill God’s promises. Cyrus hoped that by honoring ALL gods he would be in their favor.
b. Ezra/Nehemiah are the OT equivalent of the book of ACTS. Cyrus’ attitude was just like Paul encountered in Acts 17:16-34 Areopagus = Hill of Ares (Greek god of War) Roman name for this god was “Mars.” Hence “Mars Hill” Paul encounters intellectuals:
i. Epicureans (by Epicurus who died in 270 BC)
1. “philosophers of the garden”
2. Deists who didn’t believe in life after death. Believe that Happiness achieved by serene detachment.
3. Eat, drink, and be merry for everything happens by chance.
ii. Stoics (by Zeno who died in 265 BC)
1. “philosophers of the porch”
2. Inherent “world soul” has no emotional involvement. Align ones will with the universe. Pantheistic.
c. Paul points out the altar to an unknown god. Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. (Acts 17:23)
d. While Paul’s audience didn’t want to offend any god, Cyrus was also hoping to land in good graces with the deities of the nations.
e. Prov. 21:1 says The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. This is certainly what Yahweh did to Cyrus. He stirred his heart.
f. God kept His promises made thru the prophets.
200 yrs earlier Jeremiah 25:8-13 tells of Babylon and the 70 yr captivity then deliverance. 27:21-22 tells about the worship vessels being taken and returned.
29:10-14 declares that God will keep His promise to return them to Judah after 70 yrs.
Isaiah 44:26-28 offers the same promise and names Cyrus some 235 years before the event in Ezra.
g. God stirred the heart of Cyrus – but He also stirred the heart to the tribe of Benjamin and Judah and some Levites to return.
a. God is Sovereign. He uses world leaders to accomplish His purposes - regardless of their faith or political views. Talk about the impossible being made possible!
III. Application
a. What about us? What seems impossible in our life? What promises of God are we waiting on?
b. God always keeps His promises according to His plans & timeframe.
c. God has promised to save us. To deliver us from sin. That holiness leads to happiness. That blessed are those who trust in the Lord. And this:
Revelation 21:1-5: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer [any] sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be [any] death; there shall no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."
IV. Conclusion
a. God keeps His word. No human of any standing (King-President or other) will stop it. No demon will undo it. No form of doubt can cancel it.
b. We celebrate the God Who keeps His word.
c. We anticipate His help, healing, deliverance, and salvation – why? Because He promised He would!
PRAYER
SONG: Your Words
Ezra 1:1-3 NLT
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: 2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!
