June 22, 2010, "Ezra/Provision ceases Hindrance"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

Written by: Teresa Criswell

"For Ezra had prepared and set his heart to seek the Law of the Lord [to inquire for it and of it, to require and yearn for it], and to do and teach in Israel its statutes and its ordinances."

~ Ezra 7:10 Amplified ~

As we continue on in the Book of Ezra, we see the miraculous giving and provisions to build the Temple and then suddenly the enemy comes in. The enemy being the Samaritans. They bullied and terrified the people. But it didn't stop there; they even hired 'terrorists or bullies' against the people of Israel to frustrate their purpose and plans all the days that King Cyrus reigned. The money being poured into frustrating the purposes and plans of the people; I can not imagine the cost both financially but more than that...the cost of going against the people of God.

The Book of Ezra is not detailed in what exactly happened but in chapter four we realize that the companions of King Artaxerxes and his scribe went up to Jerusalem to the Jews by force and power and made them cease; the building of God's house actually stopped until the second year of the following king...King Darius I of Persia.

I am reminded that even today in our own lives, many times we see a glimpse of God's purpose, we see the provisions and then suddenly by force either by circumstances, discouragement and/or opposition we cease that which God has graced us to finish. Many times we don't fight for the things of God; instead we fight over our own agendas which are not to glorify God but attempting to save ourselves.

Getting back on track, finally the second year of King Darius I is when things change. Now I see the importance of why the original proclamation made by King Cyrus was not only spoken but also written. As The Spirit of God stirred King Cyrus, right along with the stirring flowed forth wisdom. That wisdom was an equipping of what would happen later...so that when the enemy would come to attempt to cease the rebuilding of the Temple-it would be in writing what King Cyrus had also proclaimed the rebuilding of God's Temple! God is so awesome!!

When King Darius charged his men to find the scroll that King Cyrus had originally decreed; they found the scroll in the capital province of Media. As ordered by the king, they brought and read the scroll that was scribed by King Cyrus' scribe years prior. King Darius (I) commanded the very ones who tried to trouble the elders of the builders of the House of God to keep far away from there! He said, "Leave them alone!" But not only did he stop there, he also made a decree as to what should be done for the men who rebuilt the House of God. The cost of the rebuilding was to be paid in full to the men at once from the king's revenue-that they would not be hindered...I love the principle of God's provision...it is to cease hindrance! Provision ceases hindrance! It was also amazing and almost comical to see the threat of King Darius on anyone who would attempt to change or infringe on the order of the king, re-establishing the original decree of King Cyrus. The provision was met on every realm to see the rebuilding of the Temple of God...so amazing!

I love Ezra 7:10, "For Ezra had prepared and set his heart to seek the Law of the Lord [to inquire for it and of it, to require and yearn for it], and to do and teach in Israel its statutes and its ordinances." Ezra was truly a man after God's heart. He had prepared his heart on purpose to seek, inquire and yearn to please God. And as he yearned to please God he would do and teach the people of Israel what they needed to know. His passion for God's righteousness and justice is what led him away from compromise and into the fear of God.

There is so much more to be learned in the Book of Ezra. It is a great read and study to find yet again the amazing testimony of our awesome God!

I am reminded that God's provision causes hindrance to cease!

I am also reminded that the fear of God is an automatic resistance of compromising! The fear of God sees to it that compromises ceases! May we increase our prayers to God, yearning for more of Him; seeing the provision of God's timing resulting in favor leading to action with a proper attitude resulting in victory; ultimately giving glory fo Almighty God!

As Buddy shared with us on Sunday where we fellowship:

"Effectual prayers + God's Timing = Favor

Action + Proper attitude = Victory"

The results of both Favor and Victory give God the glory and honor that is God's and God's alone!