Lesson 10“Our Duty”

Ezra 10:11,12Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. 12 Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, "That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. Ezra 10:11-12

Ezra’s prayer in chapter nine lead a large

multitude of people to take action.

1. Open their hearts vs. 3be ready to listenbe ready to be learnbe ready to leave

Ezra 10 – The Situation vs. 1-5

“You have been unfaithful…..”

22The LORD‘S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Ezra 10 – The Condemnation vs. 10

“make confession to the Lord…..”

Confessions is step one of the journey, nojourney can begin without the first step.This is what starts the wheels to spinning inyour trip back to God.Our confession must acknowledge thewill of God. Confession means to “say thesame thing.”

Ezra 10 – The Confession vs. 11

“separate yourselves…..”

From the world to the will of God

“In the Bible separation is more about difference than it is distance.”

Ezra 10 – Cleansing vs. 11

“as you have said…it is our duty to do”

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath theLORD as great delight in burnt offeringsand sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of theLORD? Behold, to obey is better thansacrifice, and to hearken than the fat oframs. 

Ezra 10 – Compliance vs. 12

“until the fierce anger of our God on account of this matter is turned away”

They were to form a committee.The guilty were to have appointmentsTheir local elders and judges were to be apart of the process.Pleasing God was the ultimate goal!

Ezra 10 – Conclusion vs. 13-16

17 Priests, 10 Levites and 84 People Total of 111 familiesBible scholars agree that there were about29,000 families at this time.This would be .4 %.Not a significant percentage, but asignificant problem!

Ezra 10 – Final Thoughts vs. 18-44

Eliezer - the faithful servant of Abraham.Elijah - the great prophet that God took up toHeaven without dying.Uzziah - the great king of Isaiah’s day.Judah - one of the patriarchs.Benjamin - another one of Jacob’s sons.Jeremiah - the weeping prophet.Nathan - the prophet that boldy rebuked kingDavid.Joel - God’s prophet.Joseph - the great Hebrewthat saved Egypt from famine.

Ezra 10 – Final Thoughts vs. 18-44

REVIEW

When God is ready to move will you be…..

Willing – John 6:38

Prepared – Psalm 78:8

Faithful – I Corinthians 4:2

Connected – Jeremiah 24:7

From Lesson #1

From Lesson #2 The Remnant included leftovers.

Their task To do whatever needed to be done with a spirit of thankfulness for a God-given opportunity to start anew.

Their focusThankfulness includes - remembering what God has done, telling others about it,showing God's glory to others, and offering gifts of self, time, and resources.

From Lesson #3

The Importance of Remembering

Remember God’s care for us. Deuteronomy 8:2

Remember God’s blessings of the past. Joshua 4:4-7

Remember to seek God in every element of your daily life. Ecclesiastes 12:1

From Lesson #4

The Reality of Discouragement

1.We are discouraged by what we see.2.We are discouraged by what we hear.3.We are discouraged by what we touch.4.We are discouraged by what we smell.5.We are discouraged by what we taste.

If the primary source of our discouragement isnot the source but our perceptions and sensesthen here is hope!

From Lesson #5

1. Searches me. – vs.1 2. Knows me. – vs. 2a

3. Understands my thoughts. – vs.2b4.Scrutinizes my path. – vs. 3a5.Examines me closely. – vs.3b

6.Knows my words before I speak. vs. 4

From Lesson #6

Mission Accomplished – How?1. With God alone controlling the opposition. Ezra 6:72. Strong and effective preaching. Ezra 6:14a3. Doing the work God’s way. Ezra 6:14b4. With people choosing joy. Ezra 6:16

From Lesson #7

1.Spiritual preparation – Ezra prepared his heart, v102.Mental preparation – Ezra studied the Word of God, v103.Practical preparation – Ezra obeyed the Word of God, v104.Institutional preparation – Ezra created a system of imparting the Word of God, v10, 6

Life in the “School of Ezra”

From Lesson #8

" The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all thosewho seek Him, but His power and His anger are against allthose who forsake Him."

It’s not what you do or say butwho you are that moves the

hand of God!

From Lesson #9

Personal Grief – “tore his garment androbe”Personal Gravity – “sat appalled toevening”Humility – “arose from my humiliation”Confession – personal and nationalGrace Focus – “You our God have requitedus less than our iniquities deserve”

Ezra’s Prayer – 5 Key Elements