Prepare Your Heart
Scripture: Ezra 7:10Devotional Series: The Integrity of God's Word
Teaching: The Integrity Of God's Word pt. 3 (SUN_AM 2021-06-20) by Pastor Star R Scott
In Ezra 7:10, it says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” In the midst of this, he begins to admonish them to prepare themselves. Over in the ninth chapter, he talks about the sin that had manifested, and, tragically, in verse 2 of Chapter 9, how the holy seed had mingled themselves with the people of those lands.
He said in verse 3, I heard this and it just, it paralyzed me in fear. I hadn’t realized the depths of where we’d gone. It’s amazing. Even Ezra. And we know Ezra as a man of God. The Word of God was alive in him, yet he talks about needing to go back, as we saw in verse 7. A need to prepare himself and to refresh himself. Verse 4 says “that they assembled, and everyone that trembled at the Word of God, having seen these transgressions.” As he’s bringing forth this admonition, he’s sitting there and just astonished, the Scripture says. That word’s a powerful word. It means to just become numb or to sit stunned, completely stunned.
Verse 8 says that God sent them more grace. Aren’t you glad for more grace that comes in these times of God revealing our hearts? Beloved, don’t get discouraged in these times of chastisement. The Lord chastens those that He loves; amen? Yes, it’s grievous for the moment, the Scripture says, but it works in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness. One of the things that we see often here in Ezra is the fact that the people would be called to a time of prayer and fasting. Can I encourage you? If you’ve not fasted in your life over any situation, if you find yourself bound by the flesh in certain areas, let me encourage you in your prayer time to be begin to fast. This is part of that breaking up of the fallow ground. This is part of the crucifixion of that old man, the denial of self. There are many different ways to fast. You don’t have to prepare yourself for a forty-day fast with not even bread and water. Well, you’re going to die very likely.
But there’s many different ways to fast. I won’t get into that right now. I could give you some suggestions. Food is a good way to fast. Fast food or whatever other areas are dominant in your life. You might want to fast your favorite television programs. You might want to stay off all social media for a month and give that time to God. Get serious and get your mind back renewed on the holiness of God having seen the compromise that we’ve given in our lives.
Hosea says you’ve plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity, trusting in your own ways, in your own wisdom, in the multitude of your mighty men. I’ve talked to a number of people in this last week that are facing some big decisions in their lives. It was good to see them seeking counsel, very Biblical. When you do seek counsel, however, the Scripture says to be followers of those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises of God. Many go to their contemporaries, their friends, and that’s a good thing if the counsel and the truth is of the Word, but I would encourage you to find some people who have experience. Find some people who have wisdom, who have proven fruit. It will really assist you in being able to make these decisions and to be confident that you have heard from God.
So, as we get ready to leave this wayside ground, it is having heard and not united with, not doing what God has required of you. You know, we often think of Saul. He convinced himself, or was trying to convince Samuel, that he had obeyed. Samuel’s response was, “Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears?” You know, many of us think because we’ve partially obeyed that we’ve obeyed.
He said in verse 3, I heard this and it just, it paralyzed me in fear. I hadn’t realized the depths of where we’d gone. It’s amazing. Even Ezra. And we know Ezra as a man of God. The Word of God was alive in him, yet he talks about needing to go back, as we saw in verse 7. A need to prepare himself and to refresh himself. Verse 4 says “that they assembled, and everyone that trembled at the Word of God, having seen these transgressions.” As he’s bringing forth this admonition, he’s sitting there and just astonished, the Scripture says. That word’s a powerful word. It means to just become numb or to sit stunned, completely stunned.
Verse 8 says that God sent them more grace. Aren’t you glad for more grace that comes in these times of God revealing our hearts? Beloved, don’t get discouraged in these times of chastisement. The Lord chastens those that He loves; amen? Yes, it’s grievous for the moment, the Scripture says, but it works in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness. One of the things that we see often here in Ezra is the fact that the people would be called to a time of prayer and fasting. Can I encourage you? If you’ve not fasted in your life over any situation, if you find yourself bound by the flesh in certain areas, let me encourage you in your prayer time to be begin to fast. This is part of that breaking up of the fallow ground. This is part of the crucifixion of that old man, the denial of self. There are many different ways to fast. You don’t have to prepare yourself for a forty-day fast with not even bread and water. Well, you’re going to die very likely.
But there’s many different ways to fast. I won’t get into that right now. I could give you some suggestions. Food is a good way to fast. Fast food or whatever other areas are dominant in your life. You might want to fast your favorite television programs. You might want to stay off all social media for a month and give that time to God. Get serious and get your mind back renewed on the holiness of God having seen the compromise that we’ve given in our lives.
Hosea says you’ve plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity, trusting in your own ways, in your own wisdom, in the multitude of your mighty men. I’ve talked to a number of people in this last week that are facing some big decisions in their lives. It was good to see them seeking counsel, very Biblical. When you do seek counsel, however, the Scripture says to be followers of those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises of God. Many go to their contemporaries, their friends, and that’s a good thing if the counsel and the truth is of the Word, but I would encourage you to find some people who have experience. Find some people who have wisdom, who have proven fruit. It will really assist you in being able to make these decisions and to be confident that you have heard from God.
So, as we get ready to leave this wayside ground, it is having heard and not united with, not doing what God has required of you. You know, we often think of Saul. He convinced himself, or was trying to convince Samuel, that he had obeyed. Samuel’s response was, “Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears?” You know, many of us think because we’ve partially obeyed that we’ve obeyed.