The Life Stages of a Promise – Ezra

Ezra 1:1-7 (NLT)

1. When God gives us a promise, the stages that can follow include:

a. Discouragement

Ezra 4:1, 4 (NLT)

    The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel…Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.

b. Prolonged campaign of opposition

Ezra 4:5 (NLT)

    They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their aims. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.

c. Political and organizational opposition or structural evil

Ezra 4:11-24 (NLT)

d. Slander and misinformation

e. Using the past against us

2.  Promises that are delayed are not promises that are denied

Ezra 5:5 (NLT)

    But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.

Ezra 5:1-2 (NLT)

    At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied in the name of the God of Israel to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. [2] Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by beginning the task of rebuilding the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.

3. Stay promise oriented and not results oriented

Ezra 6:6-15 (NLT)

1. God’s presence—“I will never leave thee” (Heb. 13:5)

2. God’s protection—“I am thy shield” (Gen. 15:1)

3. God’s power—“I will strengthen thee” (Isa. 41:10)

4. God’s provision—“I will help thee” (Isa. 41:10)

5. God’s leading—“And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them” (John 10:4)

6. God’s purposes—“I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jer. 20:11)

7. God’s rest—“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28)

8. God’s cleansing—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

9. God’s goodness—“No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly” (Psalm 84:11)

10. God’s faithfulness—“The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake” (1 Sam. 12:22)

11. God’s guidance—“The meek will He guide” (Psalm 25:9)

12. God’s wise plan—“All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28)

Measure and evaluate circumstances through the promises of God and not the other way around