This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God Is On My Side", 7/21/13

GOD IS ON MY SIDE

 

Ezra 8:21-23, 31,32

 

 

CONDITIONED FOR PRAYER

V:21. " Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."

 A. We are on a journey through life.

      1. We will face dangers along the way.

      2. We have no idea what is ahead of us, but God does.

      3. We cannot know who lies in wait to destroy us or bring us down.

 B. We serve a God who knows the right way.

     1. We should take time to dedicate ourselves to the Lord.

     2. Everyday we should find a place and set a time for prayer.

     3. We should go humbly before the Lord totally submitting ourselves to His will.

 C. We should seek the Lord for guidance and direction.

     1. God knows the way.

         a. We must take confidence in the fact that God will order our steps.

         b. We must take confidence in the fact that God's plan for us concludes in

             success.

     2. We should humbly seek His way according to His commands.

     3. We should have a lifestyle of holiness.

        a. We must consider the Lord's ways in all our thoughts.

        b. We must present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him.

 D. We should trust the Lord for our protection.

     1.We should pray for our families and our households.

     2. God knows the enemy and his whereabouts.

     3. God knows when the enemy will strike and will protect us in the mist of trouble.

     4. God can cause the enemy not to think or plan any harm to us.

 E. We should pray to the Lord for our provisions needed to make this journey through

      life.

     1. In all our ways, we should trust the Lord and fear not man.

     2. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but love, power and sound mind.

     3. We must remember with God on our side, He is more than the whole world

         against us.

     4. Nothing can happen to us that God does not allow.

         a. Everything that does happen to us will be for our good.

.    5. We should seek God before we make any plans.

 

TRUST GOD FOR ALL

 V:22."  For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because 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."

 A. If we rely on man for our protection, does that say we do not trust God?

     1. We can purchase any number of firearms, security systems and security gates

         and not be secure from the enemy.

     2. While we sleep, the enemy is active.

     3. While we are awake, the enemy is busy planning our demise.

     4. The best defense against the enemy is our trust in God.

     5. The Father instructs us to put on His full armor.

 B. God is on the side of those who trust and rely on Him.

     1. God delights Himself in those who walk according to His ways.

     2. The enemy against us is God's opportunity to be glorified.

 C. God is against those who reject Him and follow the path of the world.

     1. We don't have to worry about what the world will do to us because God is

         our present help.

     2. God may allow trouble in our lives to test and strengthen our faith.

     3. Anyone who comes against God's people will eventually face the wrath of God.

        a. God says vengeance is mind.

        b. We are never told to fight the enemy, but stand on His Word.

 

SEEK GOD FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION

V:23. "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us."

 A. The Israelites refrained from  eating certain foods for a period of time while they

      prayed to the Lord for traveling mercies.

    1. It is a good thing to deny ourselves some physical pleasures, while we seek

       the Lord's help in important issues concerning our families and ourselves.

   2. Prayer is our way of communicating with Lord. 

   3. Prayer is a way of seeking God's will for our lives.

   4. We are instructed to pray without ceasing.

 B. Corporate prayer is recommended because the Church is a mission of God.

   1. God hears and honors our prayers when we come together in unity.

   2. God is in  the mist of our prayers.

       a. Jesus said that where two are more or gathered in His name that He would

           be in the mist.

      b. To summon Jesus, all we got to do is pray together.

 C. God is on the side of those who submit themselves to Him.

 

EXPECT GOD TO TRAVEL WITH YOU

V:31. " Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto 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."

A. Before any trip, God should be in our traveling plans.

    1. Our focus should always be on the Lord when we travel.

    2. We should consider ourselves traveling to the Lord's House.

    3. For the Christian, life is a journey to the Lord's place in heaven.

B. As long as our focus is on the Lord, His hand is upon us.

   1. God has destinations planned for us in this journey in life.

   2. God protect us from the enemy to ensure our safe travels.

   3. It is the Lord that delivered us from the enemy while we slept.

   4. It is the Lord that protects us form the enemy through out the day.

C. The hands of the enemy maybe everywhere, but they are controlled by the Lord.

   1. The Lord can cause the enemy to be our help along the way.

   2. The plans of the enemy can easily be turn to ones of protection for us.

 

REST IN THE LORD'S HOUSE

 V:32. " And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days."

  A. There is a time to travel.

        1. There is a time to labor for the Lord.

        2. The Lord wants us busy traveling toward the destination of righteousness.

  B. There is a time to rest.

       1. God gives us peaceful rest.

       2. Our rest is necessary to rejuvenate us for the next step of the journey. 

  C. Our journey in this life never ends until we take our last breath.

      1. In health and in sickness, we can be a blessing to those around us.

      2. We are blessed to be on this blessed journey to heaven.