me to the book of Ezra, chapter
8. This morning, I'll just pick
up where we left off. I left you this morning with
this question, knowing that believers come to
a point in their life, in their walk, during this time that we
have questions concerning decisions that we must make. Brother Scott just read a passage
of Scripture, and I was thinking how wonderfully blessed it is
that the Spirit of God would lay upon one man's heart a Scripture
that would be exactly what another man needed to say. The Scripture he read said, He
that believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Now, picking up where
we left off this morning, Ezra had come to a point to where
he was offered by King Artaxerxes some soldiers. Ezra was directed
by God to go from Babylon to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes had been
used by the Lord to provide for Ezra. No doubt about that. God moved on that king's heart.
But he comes to a point within the grand scope of everything
that was being done. Artaxerxes was used. But there
came an incident, one incident within that blessing of the Lord
through that king that caused Ezra to stop. And during that
time of trial, the Scripture says in Ezra 8, 22, I was ashamed
to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help
us against the enemy in the way. And here was the reason. Because,
Ezra said, we had spoken unto the king saying, The hand of
our God is upon all them for good that seek Him, but His power
and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him. So we fasted and besought our
God for this, and He was entreated for us." Now, I want to ask just
a few questions, and these are questions that I will relate
this much to you. These are questions that were
born in my heart through my experience in a certain period of time in
my life. And I think that these questions
are legitimate questions that a believer must ask himself when
he comes to a point in his life where he's got to make a decision
on some things. Ezra was ashamed. He didn't want to be dishonorable
before the Lord. He didn't want to be frivolous. And I understand that we live
in this world. There are a lot of questions.
that a believer could ask themselves. But I'm just going to consider
just a few. Here's the first question that
I would ask myself if I had to make a decision. Number one is
what I'm considering dealt with in the Scriptures. I think that's
a good place to start, don't you? 2 Timothy 3.16 says this,
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. That word profitable means it
means helpful and serviceable. It's profitable for doctrine,
for teaching. That's what that word means,
teaching. For reproof, that means for evidence
or conviction. For correction, that word correction
there means for reform or to rectify and for instruction or
tutoring in righteousness or in justification, meaning what
Almighty God says it is to be justified. All Scripture is given
by the breath, by the breathing of Almighty God. If you want
to know what is the right doctrine, what is the right teaching, what
is right, Look at the Scriptures. What saith the Scriptures? If
you want to know what the evidence of it is, look at the Scriptures
for the reproof. If you want to know what it is
to be corrected or to reform or to change, not that we find
any salvation or justification in reform. I'm not saying that.
But I'm telling you, there's some things that we do that the
Scripture bears out shouldn't be done. What saith the Scriptures?"
So there's the first thing. If I'm going to deal with something,
is it dealt with in Scripture when our Lord was tempted of
the devil, each time Christ answered in response to what Satan suggested,
and this was the Lord's answer. It's written. It is written. Right here we would find most
answers to our questions. Be ready to look into God's Word
for guidance. Brother Henry Mahan told me personally. One time that a lady walked into
his office and she said, I've got a question concerning so-and-so. And he said, well, let's just
take the Bible and just find out what the Bible's got to say.
She said, I'm not concerned with what the Bible's got to say about
it. I want to know what you have to say about it. And he said,
well, I'll tell you this, and we don't have anything else to
talk about. If it's dealt with in Scripture, that's the final
answer. We don't go any farther. What
does a man do? What is a decision that I have
to make? Anything you want to talk about,
I could go into a long list of things, you know. I heard a man
say one time, I honestly claim to be a believer. And he told
me this. He said, I'll tell you this.
He said, this thing of paying taxes, he said, I'm not going
to fool with it anymore. Well, I can tell you this. The
Lord Jesus Christ said, render therefore unto Caesar the things
that are Caesar's, the things unto God, the things that are
God. When it comes to giving, turn with me to 2 Corinthians.
You know, we have a lot of questions about giving. What's the rule
of giving? 2 Corinthians chapter 9. 2 Corinthians 9, 6. Now, you want to know what the
rule of giving is. Here it is right here. But this
I say, he that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly. He which soweth bountifully shall
reap also bountifully. Let every man, every man, according
as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. not grudgingly
or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." Someone could
say, yes, but if I give, see the problem is if I give, I'm
not going to have enough to do what I want to do. That's the
bottom line, what I want to do. The Scripture says, God is able
to make all grace abound toward you that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." See,
the problem is, is that we've got it in our mind that if I
give, if I support, and I give according as God has prospered
me, or as I purpose in my heart, that I won't have enough to do
stuff that I want to do. Well, the bottom line is that
all of us by nature are selfish. Now that's the bottom line. Is
it dealt with in the Scripture? Deuteronomy 16, 17 says, Every
man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of
the Lord thy God which he hath blessed thee, given to thee.
That's the first thing. Here's the question. Is it dealt
with in Scripture? That will just pretty well settle
just about any question that we have. Secondly then, here's
another question. Will the decision I make hinder
my freedom to worship. Will the decision that I make,
public worship is the joy and the privilege of the saints. And I'll tell you this, they
make the decision that they make based on their ability to worship. Now that's the bottom line. I had a fellow tell me one time,
And here again, if someone doesn't claim to be a believer, well,
I just, you know, I just forget it. You know, I don't realize,
I mean, I realize this, he's not going to do what he wants
to do anyway. But if it comes down and a man
or a woman has to make a decision, a decision to move, a decision
to this or whatever, let me ask you this. How will this decision
hinder? I'm not talking about the forsaking
of meeting the brethren together. That is a different subject. When it says, forsake not the
assembling of yourselves together, let me tell you what that means.
That means don't leave or a believer will not leave where the gospel
is preached and go somewhere else where it's not being preached
and faithfully attend there. I'm not talking about that. I'm
talking about a hindrance to the ability to be able to worship
and assemble together. It's here that the believer finds
comfort in the assembling together, finds comfort from and through
the hearing of the gospel and feeds upon the bread of life
himself. Turn with me to Acts chapter
2, Acts 2, verse Acts 2, beginning in verse 41, Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls, and they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. and in breaking of bread, and
in prayers." I'll stop at that point right there. Fellowship.
The word fellowship there means participation together. Fellowship. A believer desires,
longs for, and hungers for meeting together with other believers. The assembly or the church is
one, Hebrews 12, 23 says, that is written in heaven. And God's
people, they want to be together. They want to meet together. I
look forward to the time that I can see you. I look forward
to seeing you and being with you and worshiping together.
Local bodies meet together. They come together for unified
worship in the Lord Jesus Christ because He ordained it. He met,
He called them, instructed them to meet together. It's a meeting
where two or three that are gathered in His name have the blessed
privilege of His presence. Now, if He didn't ordain it,
He wouldn't be there. He's not like us. You know, He
comes for the show of it. With Him, it's fellowship with
His people. Here's a group that Almighty
God, from everlasting, from eternity, chose in His Son, gave them,
instructed them, taught them through His Spirit, and they
meet together. He has ordained. This is the
way that He teaches His people. He brings them together. He sends
them a pastor. And He teaches that man. Instructs that man. Gives that
man a hunger to study. And He teaches His people through
the preaching of the gospel. And Paul said, I'm not ashamed
of the gospel. It's the power of God unto salvation. So here we find where these two
or three are gathered in His name, the Lord is in the midst
of them. It's the particular blessing
of the preaching of the gospel that the believer values above
all enjoyments in this life. Let me ask you this. What would
you give up in exchange for the privilege to be able to worship
and come together and to hear of Him? So when you have a decision
to make, number one, is it dealt with in Scripture? That ends
it. What do you do? What does the
Scripture say? That's what you do. Secondly,
if I make a decision, will it hinder? I understand. Now, let me be perfectly clear
on this. I know many of you. I know there's
some decisions that's got to be made. I know there's some
concerning work. I have a friend of mine that
was military. He was sent to Iraq. He flies helicopters. Contract. He works. You know, and men have
to, there's times that men are sent. You have to, you know,
well, it's either that or you know this, if you don't work,
a man that won't work shouldn't eat. That's the bottom line.
There's another decision. Well, should I work? Well, you
want to eat? You know, Scripture deals with
that. So therefore, now there's times
that men have to work, and I know job-related moves come about. I understand that. Whenever my
friend got sent to Iraq, I just don't think that telling Uncle
Sam, I don't think I'm going, was going to fly. I think he
was going, you know, and I understand that. But there's times when
decisions have to be made, and you do have some say over it.
Let this question pop up. The decision I make, will it
hinder my ability to worship? Here's the third question I'd
ask. If I'm going to make a decision, the decision, and I'm talking
about decisions that are honorable. I'm not talking about things
that you know are not so, but it's a decision that it's...
Here, Ezra. The Lord had blessed this man
through this king. This king offered. And he just,
he didn't know what to do. It was a tough thing. But here
was the next thing. Here's the decision that I would
make. Is it offensive to the brethren?
An honorable decision, but is it offensive? Oftentimes, there
are decisions that might be made that have no bearing of guilt
as far as a compromise toward the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is to say, things that are
not in and of themselves dishonorable. Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter
8. 1 Corinthians 8.4 Paul speaking, teaching the church
at Corinth, said this, 1 Corinthians 8.4, as concerning therefore
the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto
idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that
there is none other God but one. Look at verse 7, ìHowbeit there
is not in every man that knowledge. For some with conscience of the
idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol,
and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth
us not to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither
if we eat not are we the worse. but take heed lest by any means
this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that
are weak. Romans chapter 14 and verse 21,
Paul says, It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine,
nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or
is made weak. If there's something that you're
doing, and in and of itself, Paul says eating meat or drinking
wine, he said it's not that which goes into the body that defiles
a man, it's what comes out of him. But let me tell you something,
if there's something that is not offensive to you, but it
offends a brother, it's better, Paul says, don't do it. Let it
go. Dwell upon those things that
bring us together in fellowship of Christ and avoid unnecessary
things that divide. It's just not worth it if it
doesn't matter. Now, if it comes to a point where it's an issue,
if it's the gospel, there's no compromise on that, brother Scott.
You know that. But if we're dealing with something,
whether or not a man wants to have a glass of wine or whether
he doesn't want to have a glass of wine, that's strictly up to
him. There's nothing evil in it. Now,
if you go out have you about five or six glasses of wine and
got out on that road right there, you've broken the law. Now you're
into a different... I'm not talking about that. I'm
talking about the issue of the meat or the wine or if there's
something that offends a brother. And you know it does. Don't do
it. Let it go. Fellowship of brethren
is worth more than this insignificant stuff in this world. Don't do
it. Will this decision that I make
be an embarrassment to me and bring reproach to the glory of
Almighty God?" Ezra had an offer from the king, offered him horsemen. And the thing that Ezra struggled
with was this, I told that king, that I sought the Lord. I'm waiting
on Him." Now, in Ezra's heart, there was something about it
that bothered him. Now, it may not have been an
issue with another man in the same exact situation, but for
some reason, Ezra began to deal with this thing and there was
something about it that bothered him. Turn back to 1 Corinthians. I should just have you stay there
for a minute. 1 Corinthians 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse
31 and 32. Whether therefore you eat or
drink or whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God and
give none offense neither to the Jews nor the Gentiles nor
to the church of God. fundamental principle of the
believer's desire is for his walk in this life. Now, strive
that nothing be done against the glory of Almighty God and
the good of His people. Again, Brother Henry made a statement
I heard years ago when he said this, a believer should strive
to be the most respected person in the community. Paul said in
1 Corinthians 10.33, even as I please all men, and this is
what that statement means, strive or seek to be agreeable. No compromise
on the gospel. I'm not talking about that. But
he said, I strive to please all men in all things, not seeking
mine own profit, but the profit of many that they might be saved. Let the aim and desire of your
conduct be such that God's glory is the object of what you do,
and strive against dishonorable Now, I know that the believer
is not one by viewing my conduct. Faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God. But that is no excuse for open
rebellion and dishonor before Almighty God. Turn with me to 2 Samuel 12 while
I tell you this. David had committed adultery. with Bathsheba. You know that.
That's a matter of written fact in the Scriptures. 2 Samuel 12,
13 and 14. The Scripture says that
David was approached by a prophet, Nathan, confronted with it. And scripture says in 2 Samuel
12 verse 13 and 14, And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned
against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The
Lord also hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die. How be it?
Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme the child also that is born unto
thee. shall surely die. There are times
when we find ourselves in situations, and here again you have to understand
that I am coming from my own personal experience. But I think
that my own personal experience sheds, at least to me, great
light in pretty consistent questions that should be asked when a man
makes a decision. Is what I'm doing something that
will cause dishonor before Almighty God? Ezra was striving with that. And whenever something is coming
up, ask yourself that. Is the Scriptures dealing with
it? Is it offensive to the brethren? Is it something that will cause
dishonor unto the Lord? Fifthly, here is the fifth question.
When I make a decision or I am striving to make a decision,
is God's answer to the question truly what I want? Is God's answer? Ezra said in verse 23 of Ezra
8, We fasted and besought our God for this. Verse 21 says,
We afflicted ourselves before our God to seek of Him a right
way for us. Now, there are times when we
say that we want to know the Lord's will, and we've already
got our minds made up what we're going to do. We've already decided
that this is what I'm going to do, but the question that I'm
asking is this. Do you truthfully desire God's
will for this? Asking Him. I know that money
or position or fame may appear to be a strong incentive for
a decision we make, but they must never be the reason for
our decision. Hebrews 11. Hebrews chapter 11,
verse 24 to 27. Hebrews 11. By faith, Moses, when he was
come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt, for he
had respect unto the recompense of the reward. He forsook Egypt,
not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing
Him who is invisible." Now, the way of God's direction, let me
tell you this, the right way is not always the easiest. Often
you're going to find that it, humanly speaking, is harder. I know that humanly speaking,
it always used to amaze me when people would talk about, especially
pastors, this is always the thing, anytime a pastor felt the lead
of the Lord, I'm not talking about those that truthfully preach
free grace, because I find this to not be the case. But often
when you find these pastors when they were moved, when the Lord
was directing them, it was always to a bigger church, a larger
assembly, A bigger sower. God never directed them, Neil,
to go. Never did. Isn't that amazing?
Always. The way of the Lord's direction
is the way often of hardship and opposition and persecution. It's usually by this way that
He, the Lord Himself, in His infinite wisdom and mercy arouses
His people. by His Spirit to diligence. The believer, as I've often found
the case to be, goes through this world in trouble, with trials,
with heartaches. That's often the case. And it's
always, I know, for our good. I know it is. David said, you've
dealt well with me. It's good that I've been afflicted. Every time that I've found myself
When things are always going well, Carl, I always find myself
forgetting. That's just the way it is. Let
me ask you, is the question that you have, what you're dealing
with, do you truthfully long for God's way, God's answer? This world is not our rest. That's what Micah 2.10 says. It's usually through these trials
that we're being weaned from this world and God in His mercy,
stirs our heart to hate it. It is by the impartation of faith
that the believer seeks and asks and finds, usually by the providential
goodness of the Lord, the right way. Lord, what would You have
me to do? You will find that in these times,
What Ezra was doing right here, he was waiting to see. Lord,
I want to know, what do you want? I don't know what to do. I'm
in a dire strait. Lord, you teach me. Lord, you
direct me. I long after you. And as the
Lord brings us through these trials, we, by the Holy Spirit's
power, are made to see that He has dealt with us in goodness. Mercy does all things well. But for the decision that I make,
sixthly, here is the greatest of the questions. Because I've
been dealing with some questions here that a believer finds themselves
asking when sometimes the way is dark and they don't know.
If something's dealt with in Scripture, a believer knows what
he's supposed to do. You know, dealt with in the Word
of God. If it's offensive to a brother,
I know what to do. I can see that. If it's coming
to a point and I've got a decision to make here and it's going to
hinder my ability to worship, I know the right thing to do.
But there's times when the decision that I make just is so obscure. It's not directly, as far as
I can find, dealt with in Scripture. And I've just at a point in my
life that I've just, I've besought the Lord, I've asked Him and
entreated Him. And it comes down to this one
question right here. What do you believe God would
have you to do? What do you think? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know for
you. But what do you believe? This is the question. Is this
what you believe is God's will for you? I told you that these
six questions were born in my heart through my experience.
A little over a year and a half
ago, I was in a position. I was in Franklin, Tennessee.
Now, I'm just talking to Katie Baptist Church and anybody that's
Listening to this tape, you're welcome to listen in on it, but
I'm talking to you now. A year and a half ago, I was
in Franklin, Tennessee. I was pastoring a church there,
a group of people there that I'm convinced of which is believers
in Franklin, Tennessee. That's where I'd been 20 years. I had a home there, preaching
the gospel there, had fellowship there. But it came to a point
to where I had come and I had searched the Scriptures. The
decision I was to make was not one that I thought would be dishonorable
before Almighty God or embarrassment. I didn't think it would be an
offensive thing to the brethren. But it came right down to the
situation of this. I was considering and praying
about coming to Katie Baptist Church. Now here is a church
where the gospel is preached and here is Katie Baptist Church.
And it came right down to this question. What do I believe God
would have me to do? That was the bottom line. That
was the end of it right there. Romans 8 verse 14 says, For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. There are times when I can't
show you that answer in the Scriptures exactly pertaining to you. You can ask yourself these questions.
By a powerful constraint and direction upon the conscience
and heart, the people of God have their steps ordered by the
Spirit of God. Turn with me to Romans 15. Romans
15. Let me show you something. Romans
15 verse 20. Paul says, Yea, so I strived
to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should
build upon another man's foundation, but as it is written, he was
not spoken of, they shall see that they have not heard shall
understand. For which cause also, he said,
I have been much hindered from coming to you." Now, Paul was
invited to come over. He said, I longed to. I longed
to come where you were. But he said, I was hindered. That word hindered there, it
means cut, mournful, or grieved. I was hindered. Something, he
said, was not right for me at that time, he said, to come to
you. I was hindered. There was something
that the Spirit of God was dealing with me on and I knew, he said,
I know it's right to preach the gospel. I know that it wasn't
going to be offensive to the brethren if I came and preached
the gospel to you. There was nothing within the
Scriptures that would cause me to find that going and preaching
the gospel was wrong. It's not that. He said, but I
was hindered from coming to you. I wanted to in my mind. I kept thinking, but I was cut. I was mournful. I was grieved. At no time are God's sheep ever
directed in a way that is contrary to Scripture, or in a way that
dishonors the Lord, or in a way that offends the brethren. But
there are times when, according to His good reason, I just don't
have any peace about it. And I may not be able to understand
it or to explain it to you. But in time, possibly, the Lord
may be pleased to reveal why. God's people desire the way of
His direction. They pray for His direction.
And in time, they may see the fruit of His direction. But there
comes a point in a believer's life when they can ask themselves
all these questions. They can look into the Word of
God. They can ask themselves seriously. And it may just come
down to this one point. What do you believe God would
have you to do? And that's the best question. that a man could
ask. Now, I dealt with five things
this morning, and there were seven things total. That which
I just dealt with was the fifth point. And now, quickly, in closing,
those things back in Ezra 8 that I said, remember, I was preaching
this morning on the believer's position, things that they know
in this life. Now, sixthly, The saints' jealousy
for God's treasure. Back in Ezra chapter 8, in verse
24 after Ezra had said, I was ashamed to ask. I asked the Lord. I besought Him. We fasted, asked
our God, and He was entreated. It says in verse 24, and I'll
tell you what happened. He didn't ask the king for the
horsemen. The king just didn't feel that was the right thing
to do. He said, Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests,
Sherabiah, Ashubiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
and weighed unto them the silver, the gold, the vessels, and the
offering of the house of our God, which the king, his counsellors,
and his lords, and all Israel were present had offered. I even
weighed unto their hands six hundred and fifty talents of
silver, silver vessels, a hundred talents, gold, a hundred talents,
also twenty basins of gold, a thousand drams, two vessels, fine copper,
precious as gold. And I said unto them, You are
holy unto the Lord. The vessels are holy also. The
silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of
your fathers. Watch ye and keep them until
you weigh them before the chief of the priests, the Levites,
the chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem in the chambers
of the house of the Lord. So He took the priest and the
Levites, the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels to
bring them to Jerusalem under the house of our God." What was
happening here? There was going to be a great
treasure that was going to be brought. And Ezra came to the
point where he felt after praying about it, no, I don't think it's
right. I mean, the king offered the
horsemen and soldiers. I just don't think that's the
right thing to do." He said he didn't do it. It's not recorded that
he did it. And so he gave the weight of
all these treasures unto some men. He weighed it out. He said,
this is what you've got. Just weigh it. Number it. And
having sought divine guidance and protection in their journey,
Ezra now proceeded to make some wise arrangements for the treasures
and the offering in the service of the Lord at Jerusalem. These
treasures. were valuable and therefore care
had to be taken in their deliverance. Exact weights and counts were
maintained and men of worthy honor were entrusted with those
treasures. But do we not behold here the
mercy of Almighty God toward His treasures, His people? Vessels of mercy which he had
aforeprepared to glory. Vessels watched over by God Himself
using the means of pastors. Paul says that men that watch
for your souls as they that must give account that they may do
it with joy and not with grief. these men weighed out and numbered. This is exactly what you've got.
You've got the responsibility of delivering them. Now I tell
you this, no true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will hesitate
to acknowledge the Lord Jesus is the one infallible governor
of His church. I know that and you know that.
But the Lord has ordained stewards or pastors that preside over
the Lord's assembly, and it's not through their ability or
their human wisdom, but it's by the Spirit-blessed preaching
of the Word of God that they are instructed in the Scriptures
and kept. Paul says, Obey them that have
the rule over you, that watch for your souls." And this is
what that word, watch, means. They're not slothful. They're
watching for. John 13, 20, "...verily, verily,
I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me,
and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." They watch
for your souls. Ezra entrusted those men in those
verses right there. This is what you've got. This
is the treasure. This is how much it weighs. This
is how many of them you've got. You bring it. You deliver it.
The lords under shepherds have no selfish means or aims but
rather the spiritual and eternal good of those that have been
entrusted to their care. I can tell you, I know this,
that a pastor is not the one that thinks he's keeping God's
sheep. I know that. standing in a pulpit looking
to the Lord to be kept. But it is by the means of preaching. The ministry of a pastor is no
idle ministry. It has demands upon him, upon
his heart and his time and his energy like no other. These men
were entrusted with the treasures. These men that shall give account. Obey them that have the rule
over you that watch for your souls They that must give account. You know, I've listened, I've
heard that, read that, and I thought, whoa, give account? Do you mean I'd have to give
account? Now, in what sense do I have
to give account for you? This is what it means, giving
an account. It means rendering a speech or
an utterance before God. In other words, praying. praying
that Almighty God would grant a blessing upon the preaching
of the Gospel. Praying for, to give an account. Not that I am entrusted with
the account. If you were standing before Almighty
God trusting me to give an account for you and to keep you, you
are in trouble. But to give account, praying for and asking the Lord
for guidance and wisdom and help. As a pastor, the Lord asked Solomon,
what shall I give you? Solomon said, Wisdom, wisdom
that I might know what saying, how to speak concerning your
people. I thought that was a good request.
And then lastly, seventhly, the final preservation of the saints. God's people know something about
this. In Ezra chapter 31, it says,
Then we departed from the river, of Ahabba on the twelfth day
of the first month to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon
us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of
such as lay in wait by the way." That's what Ezra struggled with. What do I do? Am I being dishonorable
before God if I take and he didn't feel that that was the Lord's
will for him? He didn't. And he said, The Lord delivered
us, and we came to Jerusalem and abode there three days. Now
on the fourth day, was the silver and the gold in the vessel, weighed
in the house of our God by the hand of Merimoth, the son of
Uriah, the priest, with him Eleazar, the son of Phinehas, and with
them Josabath, the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah, the son of Ben-Uriah,
Levites by number, by weight of every one. And all the weight
was written at that time, also the children. of those that he
carried away which had come out of captivity offered burnt offerings
unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety
and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a
sin offering. All this was a burnt offering
unto the Lord, and they delivered the king's commission unto the
king's lieutenants and to the governors on this side of the
river, and they furthered the people and the house of God with
the entrustment of the vessels and treasures into the hands
of those that were trustworthy. Here we see a picture of all
the elect placed into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ as their
covenant head. These vessels, verse 31, it says,
they were delivered from the hand of the enemy and of such
as lay in wait by the way. As we're passing through this
world, all that opposes the elect of God, sin and Satan himself,
swallowed up in victory by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 32 it says, We came
to Jerusalem and abode there three days. Here again we see
afresh the rest that we spoke of this morning of the people
of God, a rest. from their labors of trying to
maintain their walk before Almighty God. If God doesn't deliver us,
we won't be delivered. If God doesn't maintain us, we
won't be maintained. We were delivered, Ezra says,
these treasures were delivered by the good hand of God Almighty,
delivered, kept by Him. And in those last few verses,
we see the faithful trust that is delivered. All that was weighed
and numbered were accounted for. The believer, the scripture says,
is not as the unbeliever who shall be weighed and found wanting. But the believers' weight and
substance, they were weighed. All of those treasures, whatever
they were, they were weighed and numbered. This is the bowl
that I gave you. This is the weight of it. Now,
you weigh it and see if that's not the same bowl that Ezra delivered. See if that doesn't weigh exactly
what it's supposed to weigh. What is the weight of which a
believer is going to be weighed? Well, an unbeliever is weighed
and he's found wanting. Wanting what? Lacking what? A
righteousness before Almighty God. God's people, though, shall
be weighed in the balance of God's infinite mercy and grace
and find that their weight, the weightiness of them, is the imputed
righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were all weighed
and numbered, numbered and accounted for. John 6.39 says, This is
the Father's will, which hath sent me, that of all which He
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again,
at the last day. In that day when the treasures
are delivered into that heavenly Jerusalem, into that place of
rest, into heaven itself, into the presence of Almighty God,
I'm telling you that the weight will be there because God Almighty
will keep them in the person of His Son. And the number will
be there. All of them shall be there. They
had the giving of the bullocks and the shedding of the blood
of these bullocks. They offered worship in the burnt
offering. Here was the offering of the
acknowledgement of their need of deliverance, an offering of
thanksgiving. And today, by Him, the Scripture
says, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks. unto His name. What can we give? What can we
give? This is the only thing we can
give. Thank you. Thank you is not enough, but
thank you. In verse 36, in closing, they
delivered the king's commissions, the king's lieutenants to the
governors on this side of the river, and they furthered the
people and the house of God. The royal letters were duly delivered. all that the King commissioned
was set forth. And in that day, all that the
King of kings has willed, purposed, commissioned, shall openly be
declared before heaven and earth. That is, in the ages to come,
He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us. through Christ Jesus. That day,
all those that had been commissioned to bring those treasures into
Jerusalem, they brought them, they weighed them, they numbered
them, and they said, Here's the letters right here that we received.
Here's the commission that we have received of the King. And
in that day, all that the Father has given the Lord Jesus Christ,
weighed in His righteousness, found numbered in Him. Here they
are, all of them, spotless, without blemish, delivered in the person
of our blessed Savior and Redeemer.