When a prospector or a miner goes to work each day, he enters that mine in the anticipation of finding a vein of gold. The reason he anticipates that is he's found it before in this same mine. So he goes and chips away day after day, and one day he chips away some rock and there it is, another vein of gold. And that makes it worth the effort. And I thought so many times, a Gospel preacher looking for something to preach, you go through this Word, and you chip away as it were, and read and read and read, and suddenly, you see that vein of gold. You see in these Scriptures the Lord Jesus Christ. And I feel like today I have found one of those pictures. Turn with me to the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra. There's 1 and 2 Samuel, Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, and then the book of Ezra. He's called a minor prophet. There is no such thing. None of God's prophets are minor prophets. If they speak for God, they certainly are not a minor prophet.

But the book of Ezra, I want to read the 5th chapter. Ezra chapter 5. Put a marker here, we'll be looking at some other scriptures but returning to this. In Ezra chapter 5, we read, Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Ido, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

Then rose up Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Yeshua, the son of Josedach, and began to build the house of God, which was at Jerusalem. And with them were the prophets of God helping them. And at the same time came to them, Tatanai, governor of this side of the river, and Shethbozani, and their companions, and said thus unto them, who hath commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall? Then said we under them after this matter, what are the names of the men that make this building?

But the eyes of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease till the matter came to Darius. Darius was the king. And then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. The copy of the letter that Tatnaya, governor of this side of the river and Sheth Barsani, and his companions, which were on this side of the river, sent unto Darius the king. They sent him a letter or a letter unto him wherein was written thus unto Darius the king, all peace.

Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judea to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. and this goeth fast on and prospereth in their hand. Then ask we those elders and said unto them thus, who commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls? We asked her names also to certify thee that we might write the name to these men that were the chief of them. And thus they returned unto us in answer saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. But after that, our fathers had provoked the God of heaven under wrath.

He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus, made a decree to build this house of God and the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the Temple of Babylon. Those did Cyrus the king take out of the Temple of Babylon and they were delivered unto one whose name was such bizarre whom he had made governor and said unto him take these vessels go carry them into the temple which is in Jerusalem and let the house of God be builded in his place. And this same session was our and then came the same session bar and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time until now has it been in the building and yet it is not finished. Now therefore if it seemed good to the king let there be a search made in the king's treasure house which is there at Babylon whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build the house of God at Jerusalem and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Now we find an account here in this fifth chapter of Ezra of the Jews beginning to rebuild the temple. It was at Jerusalem, which verse 12 tells us was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. And that was followed by the carrying away of thousands of the Jews to Babylon. And in chapter three of this book of Ezra, we read of how the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Jerusalem, where they set up an altar and began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord God of Israel.

But we're told in verse six of that chapter, the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. Then in verse 10 of the third chapter, we read, and when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priest in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites, the son of Asaph with symbols, praise the Lord after the ordinances of David, the king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, because he is good for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praise the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. I've taken my title from the last few words of that verse, the foundation of the house of the Lord. But word got out about this beginning of the building of the temple and the enemies were told of Judah and Benjamin came and offered to help in the building of this temple. But the fathers of Israel told them thanks but no thanks.

We'll do this on our own. And just a side note. I remember Don was adamant about this that we don't need discounts. We don't need help from the world. We don't need them to be thinking well I've done something for a church now I've gained a little favor with God. I know Don was adamant. He used to say people, the people of God are not beggars. And he was completely right about that. But when they told these guys, we don't need your help, it didn't sit well with them.

So they started a letter writing campaign against the Jews concerning their work on the temple, which succeeded for a while, we find out. Because we read in verse 24 of chapter 4, then ceased the work of the house of God, which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius, the king of Persia. Then we read in verse 1 of chapter 5, that Zerubbabel and Jeshua started back to building the temple, which caused the authorities to start another letter writing campaign. This time they wrote this letter to Darius.

Now this brings us to my main text that I want to look at here in chapter 5 of Ezra. I want to look at verses 13 through 16. This will be the heart of our text. And the reason I say that is here we will find several types of God the Father, of God the Son, and the chosen people of God. So in verse 13 we read this.

But in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, the same King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. This King Cyrus is a type of God, the father. Who decreed from the foundation of this world that he would build a house. And that house would be made up of a number of chosen elect sinners, a number which the scriptures tell us that no man can number. Turn over to the book of Hebrews. Hold your place here in Ezra. In the book of Hebrews. Let me find the correct text here. Chapter three of the book of Hebrews.

We read about this house of God. Hebrews chapter three, verse one, wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him as Moses was faithful in all his house for this man, the Lord Jesus Christ, for this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who had builded the house has more honor than the house for every house is builded by some man but he that buildeth all things is God and Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a son over his own house whose house we are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Verse three tells us that he that builds a house has more honor than the house. And that makes sense. This applies to our God. We give all honor, we give all glory, we give all praise to the God that built this house, the family of God of which we are a part, which is also called throughout the scriptures, the Bride of Christ. Like a stone used in the building of the house, we were simply chosen to be part of that house.

As many of you all know, many stone houses in Kentucky. Several good examples are out of Shaker Town. Some are made of what we call field stone. That's just literally laying in the field a piece of stone that somebody found and decided to make it part of a house. That's also the same stone that's used in the miles and miles of fences that are around this area. But other more stately homes are constructed of what we refer to as hewn stone. Now this stone was taken out of a quarry and it was fashioned to a certain size and a certain shape.

And those were then fitted into the walls of a house. They became an integral part of that house. The larger the house, the more stones it took to build it. But those stones that were used in that building took no initiative whatsoever to become part of that house. They were quarried and shaped into something useful by a source outside of themselves, which in this case was a skilled stonemason.

And the elect of God are the very same as these stones. They took no initiative whatsoever, no action on their part to become part of this house of God. They had nothing to do with them becoming part of the house of God. They are described as stones, as lively stones in first Peter chapter two.

But they are built up by none other than the sovereign God of this world, who came to where they were, chose them, and shaped them by his mercy and grace, and then used them in the building of the house of God. And we know that any house that God builds is eternal. It shall never be torn down or destroyed, as was the physical temple in Israel in 70 AD, when the Romans plundered the city of Jerusalem. Paul assured the Corinthians of this when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5, 1, for we know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The church of God in this world is made up of his people, of his bride. But each of those saints will one day leave this world, this temporary house of God, and become part of that eternal house of our God.

Then in verse 14 of Ezra 5, you'll turn back there, we read this. In verse 14, Ezra 5, in the vessels of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those things did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Seshbazar, whom he had made governor. Now these vessels of gold and silver of the house of God are a type of the people of God.

These vessels being made of silver and gold were very precious. But the vessels did not change, their value did not change, they were simply relocated to another place. They came into the possession of another. Like the stones that we discussed, they had no say over who possessed them or where they were located.

And so it was with the elect of God, we have been chosen by the triune God. But when our father Adam fell, we fell in him. In Adam, we went from having sweet fellowship with our God to being the enemies of God. as described by Paul in several places, particularly in the book of Romans. We were located, if you will, because of our fallen nature to another place, a place of judgment and a place of wrath. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter two, verse three, that we were by nature the enemies of God, the children of wrath, even as others.

But we were never, ever intended to remain there, because in the eternal purpose and will of God, we were delivered to one whose name is Christ Jesus the righteous. In the same way, this 14th verse tells us that Cyrus the king delivered those stolen vessels to one named Cespasar, whom he had made governor. The people are called by many names, the people of God, called by many names throughout the Word of God.

You know what they're called in Romans 9.23? They're called vessels of mercy. Like a cup simply receives wine. If you pour wine into a cup, it has no part in it. It just simply receives that wine. That is the same way that we are. We simply receive the mercy and the goodness and the grace of God which is poured into us.

Now, in 2 Corinthians 4, 7, we are called earthen vessels, just clay pots shaped by our God to receive his grace and mercy. Paul asked this question in Romans 9, 21, hath not the powder power over the clay to make one vessel unto honor and another to dishonor? But thank God that we that are sitting here were fashioned by our God to be vessels of honor. to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

So God the Father delivered those precious vessels, his chosen people, into the one hand of him who is called the great governor of this universe. The Lord Jesus Christ, whom God the Father hath appointed heir of all things, we're told, according to Hebrews 1 verse 2, this one who has all power in heaven and earth, this one who none can stay his hand, this one who counts every inhabitant of this earth as dust on a scale.

And in verse 15 of Ezra 5, Cyrus instructs Sezrebar, the governor, to do this. He said, take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the house of God be builded in his place. Cyrus put the responsibility of the safekeeping of those precious vessels into the hands of this one named Seshabar, and he added, let the house of God be built in his place. Now, the place that the house of God is built is this sinful world. That's what God has purposed. And he has purposed that the responsibility for the building of that house be put in the hands of this one called Jesus Christ, the righteous.

And Christ said to the father in John 17, 12, in his prayer to the father, while I was with him in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gave us me, I have kept and none is lost safe and sound in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn over with me to the first Peter. Paul described this in first, or I should say Peter described this in first Peter chapter two. First Peter chapter two, verse five.

He also has lively stones are built up in spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore, also it is contained in the scripture. Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious. And unto them that be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient were unto they were appointed.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which hath not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. The vessels that are mentioned here in Ezra chapter five are once in a place of holiness and honor.

They were in God's temple in Jerusalem, but they were later found in a place of sin and ungodliness in that temple in Babylon. But they did not remain there forever. They were returned to the temple in Jerusalem. So it is with the elect of God. We were at one time found in a place in sin and misery, but we're now found in a place of righteousness and honor in the Lord Jesus Christ and have become part of the house of God. First Peter two twenty five states it this way. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. If something is returned, it means it was taken from one place, moved to another, and then put back in the place it was originally found.

And since we have always been in Christ from the far ages of eternity, it is only fitting that we are now returned unto Him by the price of His shed blood. He hath redeemed us. He has brought us back, bought us back. And we've been returned to Him. And notice the wording here that Peter uses. I like to, as I'm studying, pay attention to the language. There's a reason that these words are in this. And it says, He hath redeemed us and brought us back. We have been returned to Him.

And Peter says, He does not say, I should say, that we have returned unto our Savior and Bishop of our souls, which would indicate that the choice was ours to return to Him. Rather, He says we are returned, which means we were put back into this place by a source and a force outside of ourselves.

And in verse 16 of chapter 5 in Ezra, we read this. Then came the same seshbazar and laid the foundation of the of God of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem. And since that time until now, hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. This seshabar, which is a type of Christ, is said to have laid the foundation of the house of God. But our Lord Jesus Christ didn't just lay the foundation. He is the foundation.

Let me read a few scriptures, three scriptures here that speak of this. Isaiah 28, 16. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious stone, a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make haste. First Corinthians 311. For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2 19.

Now, therefore, you're no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord. in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit.

Then lastly, in this verse 16 of Ezra five, and I really like this, it says, and since that time, even until now, has it been in the building and yet it is not finished. Ever since that chief cornerstone, that sure foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ had been building his house in this world, calling and giving faith to his chosen people, his elect, his lively stones. Since the foundation of the world, our Lord has been adding to the church such as should be saved, which is spoken of in Acts 2 47. This building of the house of God has been going on for a long, long time, and yet, this verse 16 tells us, yet it is not finished. God continues every day to call and give faith to chosen sinners.

This has been going on since Adam and Eve sinned, and God Himself clothed them with an innocent sacrifice. But one of these days, the house of God in this world will be finished when the last elect of God had been given faith, this house of God will finally be complete. The last stone will be laid. The last lost sheep will be returned to the fold. Then shall our God bring this world to an end, and the house of the Lord will be eternal in the heavens, where we shall ever be with the Lord.

This is described by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 25, if you want to turn there and look at it with me in closing. Matthew 25. Christ is speaking here. And starting in verse 31, When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. The house of God is finished. Enter ye therein. Come and enjoy all the blessings of God which were purchased. by the blood of Christ, that Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. Thank you for your attention.