Also, EZRA WAS WILLING TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. Over in chapter 9, verses 1 and 2, we get just an insight as to the conditions, the situation, which existed there in Jerusalem when Ezra and his contingent arrived. And indeed it was a difficult situation. Many of the Israelites had intermarried with Gentiles, and chief among those, who had violated this very specific command, this very specific Law of God, were the rulers and the leaders of the people. What did Ezra do? How did he deal with this kind of situation? Well, again, from chapter 9, beginning with verse 3, we see that, here again, he was moved to fasting and prayer. He desired to approach God on this matter, to learn what God would have him to do, to seek God’s guidance, and he did this, of course, by fasting and prayer. We see in Ezra, chapter 9, verses 3 through 15, that others joined with him. The record says, “Then everyone who trembled at the Words of the God of Israel assembled to me…” They joined with him in this fast and prayer—they offered prayer and confessed the sins of Israel before God.

In chapter 10, verses 1 — 8, we see that EZRA ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WAS HIS. He was encouraged by those who were willing to repent, and he would lead them, God’s people, and his people, to this great restoration that they would realize. It would have, no doubt, been easy to rationalize away any need for the people to change. But Ezra did not let the difficult, obviously emotionally charged issue, deter him from first of all seeking what God’s guidance was in the matter, and then carrying out that instruction.

What a wonderful example Ezra gives us of faith! And not only for the people of that age, but this is a wonderful example of faith, devotion, and action for the people of every age. The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he prepared himself, because he sought the Lord, because he was willing to step out in faith and because he was willing to take on, to face, difficult situations. We should note that Ezra was not the only person who experienced the hand of the Lord upon him. His associate, Nehemiah, would also experience the hand of the Lord upon him as well, Nehemiah 2, verse 18. Sometimes, though, the hand of the Lord is for the purpose of judgment, 1 Samuel 5, verse 6. But here, in this text of the book of Ezra, we have been considering the working of God for good in the life of His servant and those who were associated with him.

I would like to have us consider what kind of lesson we can take from the example of Ezra. What is in this example from Old Testament history for us today? Do we desire the hand of the Lord to be upon us, both as individuals and as a congregation of God’s people? I’m confident in saying that, indeed we do. We DO desire, we DO wish to have the hand of the Lord upon us. So how, then, can we go about assuring that the hand of the Lord will be upon us? One way, I submit to you, is to emulate this one, Ezra. We can do that by, first of all, preparing ourselves to be useful to the Master. Paul urged the young evangelist Timothy to be “sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work,” 2 Timothy 2, verse 21.

As the words of that great old hymn that we sing from time to time say, “There is much work to do, there is work on every hand.” Indeed, there is much to be done. And I know that we all desire to be useful for the Master. But, we must be preparing ourselves by growing, by developing, and this is done by a steady application of God’s Word. We also prepare ourselves by building and exercising our faith and being regular in our attendance at worship services, where we receive instruction and we learn to love and are spurred on to good works. As we prepare ourselves individually—and, yes, this is an individual matter, this matter of preparation of becoming useful to the Master—but as we do this individually, and collectively as a congregation, we will be prepared and our usefulness to our Master will be increased all the more. After all, what is this congregation? What is the church of Christ except individual members who have come together? So again, individually we must work to prepare to be useful in the Master’s service. As we do that, it enhances the usefulness of our congregation.

Next, we see from Ezra that we must seek the Lord with diligence and faith. As Isaiah urged long ago, “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near,” Isaiah 55, verse 6. And then the Psalmist, David, said, “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee…” Psalm 63, verse 1. While Jesus was here on the earth, doing His earthly ministry, He instructed us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” Matthew 6, verse 33. And Jesus also promises this: “Seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you,” Matthew 7, verse 7. And, of course, faith is a necessary component of the seeking process. As the Hebrew writer said: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who listen (who diligently seek Him),” Hebrews 11, verse 6.

We sometimes hear the expression used, when making reference to a congregation of the Lord’s people, that, “they are a faithful congregation.” The implication here is obvious, that a congregation thus described is a congregation that is filled with faithful members, who are filled with faith, and who exercise their faith. May that always be said of this congregation. May the Northeast church of Christ be known far and wide as a faithful congregation of the Lord’s people. May this knowledge be not just among the brethren, but also, and much more importantly, may we always be known as a faithful congregation in the eyes of the Lord. Once again, that will only be true as individual members are filled with faith and are faith-filled.