With God size doesn’t matter

PRAYER - "Prayer Sometimes Produces Painful Results"

Ezra knew that God would not allow him to use priests or Levites who had married heathen wives. He and the people spent much time in agonizing prayer, weeping sorely. The people realized they had sinned, and promised to do whatever God required of them. Ezra administered a covenant oath committing the priests to put away their pagan families. It took great courage, but it had to be done.

Ezra 10:18 - "And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: ...And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives."

PRINCIPALS - "Nehemiah"

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem 94 years after Zerubbabal arrived, and thirteen years after Ezra restored the priests and Levites. Nehemiah was cupbearer to Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes) in Shushan the palace where Esther was queen. Nehemiah asked his brethren how things fared for Jews in Jerusalem, and learned that Jerusalem was in great affliction. The walls were broken down and its gates burned. God heard Nehemiah's prayers and sent him to rebuild Jerusalem. 

Nehemiah 1:4 - "When

I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."

PRINCIPLES - "The God Of Heaven Will Prosper Us"

Nehemiah answered Ahasuerus, "Send me unto Judah, ...that I may build it." Nehemiah requested letters for safe passage, and a letter for timber and stones for the gates and walls. The king granted all. After only three days in Jerusalem, Sanballat and Tobiah showed themselves enemies of the project. But Nehemiah secretly toured the city and its walls by night to appraise the situation. He called the people. "Come let us build up the wall of Jerusalem." People of God: BUILD! 

Nehemiah 2:20 - "The God of heaven, He will prosper us, therefore we His servants will arise and build."

PROPHECIES - "The Prophetic Significance of Zerubbabel and Jeshua"

Zerubbabel descended from King Jeconiah through Shealtiel (Salathiel), so was a rightful heir to the throne of David. Jeshua, son of Jozadak, descended from Aaron, thus qualified to be High Priest. These two provided, as it were, both a King and a Priest to reclaim Jerusalem and the Temple. God remembers details men might never think about.

Ezra 3:2 - "Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, ...and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, ...and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God."