The Returning
Daniel 1:1-2
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god
Intro: Leading up to this point, King Jehoiakim was the king over Jerusalem. The Word says that he did evil in the sight of the Lord. God’s people had turned their backs on the one that freed them from 400 years of bondage to the Egyptians. They allowed sin to creep into their lives, they began to worship idols, they turned their backs on God.
So God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to attack. You can read a more detailed account of the attack in 2 Kings.
The city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians.
The temple of God was plundered and set fire, the city walls were torn down, The gates were burned and God’s people were taken captive in Babylon.
The city of Jerusalem, the picture and representation of God’s blessing and providence on His people is now a place of reproach, shame, and defeat!
I believe that God is speaking to His people tonight. I come as a messenger of the Lord to tell you that…
1. Sin destroys your relationship with God, it forfeits the blessing of God on your life, and it brings you into captivity!
I think everyone here tonight could agree with that statement!
When we live our lives in opposition to God’s Word, we surrender to the enemy of our souls!
I am ashamed to say that tonight there are people sitting in churches all across the world that spiritually their Jerusalem is a pile of burning rubble.
They sit in our pews with the perfect outward appearance, but their heart has been plundered, their temple, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit has been burned to the ground, and they sit imprisoned, captive because of their sin!
Oh church, when we allow other gods to have a place in our lives, when we put the true and Living God anywhere but at the top of our priority list, our lives, which as a child of God should be a testimony of His favor and love, will be a testimony of His judgment and jealousy!
Deuteronomy 6:14-15 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
How long will we test God’s patience?
How long will we live in sin and expect His blessing?
How long do we expect his God to suffer with our selfishness?
I believe in the mercy and grace of God, and I would much rather preach that, but I would be doing you, me, God, and His Word an injustice if I didn’t preach the whole word!
If America doesn’t turn from our current direction we very well may see God’s hand of protection removed.
After 47 years of captivity in Babylon, the Persian army overtook Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon and therefore took authority over the people of God.
Ezra 1:1-3
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
I’m thankful that God holds the hearts of Kings in His hands!
He moved in the spirit of this Persian King, and moved his heart to release a remnant of people, who will return to the land of Judah, and rebuild the temple of God!
2. God is calling us out of our bondage!
The King asked the question in verse 3…
3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
He was asking, is there anyone here that will return to the place where the Lord is their God?
Is there anyone here that will rebuild the temple of God?
Is there anyone here that will return to Judah?
Is there anyone that wants out of Babylon?
The name Babylon comes from the Hebrew word Baw-Bell or Babel where they built the tower of Babel and God scattered the nations.
The word Babel’s literal Hebrew meaning is Confusion!
I was bound in confusion, lost in my sin!
The enemy deceived me, and I was a captive to my sin!
I’m ready to leave this confusion, I know who the 1 true God is!
I need to go to Judah!
The Hebrew word for Judah means praise!
So he was asking, “Is there anyone, that wants out of your captivity and confusion? Who is ready to be free? Then get up go to Praise!”
In your praise God is always #1!
In your praise God never takes a back seat!
Praise is about putting God back where he belongs, on the Throne of our Hearts!
You may not understand why I act the way I do, but you see, I was a captive to my sin, I was an embarrassment to the gospel, I had turned my back on God, but he called me out of my captivity!
He broke the chains that bound me!
He set me free!
He took away my shame!
He freed me from the oppression of my sin!
He gave me a second chance!
So don’t look at me like I’m crazy! Because I’m busting out of Babylon and I’m headed to Judah.
Who will go back to praise?
Who will go and build back the temple of God?
Who wants free from their captivity?
Who will go and be testimony of God’s redeeming mercy and grace?
Who will build the Lord a dwelling place (temple) in the middle of their praise?
God is calling us out of captivity!
He is calling us to turn our backs on the sin that has bound us!
He is calling us to once again be a testament of His providence and favor on His people!
He is calling us to rebuild the temple!
What the enemy has destroyed, what they tore down in rebellion to God, is being restored and rebuilt by people with praise in their mouths and God as their King!
3. God’s Blessing returns when we make Him Priority!
The people of God returned to Jerusalem in the land of Judah, and they began to rebuild the temple of God!
The monument, the testimony, the reminder of the faithfulness and blessing of God, the dwelling place of the Lord was being restored!
See, when the Babylonians overtook the city of Jerusalem, they didn’t just desecrate the temple, they didn’t just tear down the walls, they didn’t just humiliate the people by burning their gates.
They plundered and stole all of the treasures, the blessing of God, from the temple!
They took the vessels of brass, they took the silver, the gold, all of the treasures that were laid up in the temple of God.
The treasure and blessing of the Lord had been stolen and was stored in Babylonia.
But when God moved on that king, he commanded that everything that was taken by Nebuchadnezzar be returned to the people of God!
Are you getting this?
There are some things that in your time of distress, in your time of battle, the enemy has come in and plundered. The blessing and treasure of God that is rightfully yours has been stolen by the enemy of our souls!
But when you purpose in your heart to return to Judah!
When you make the choice that captivity is not for you!
When you decide that God will be the God in your life!
There is a returning that is going to happen!
Aren’t you glad that God has a return policy!
The joy that the enemy stole…its coming back!
The peace that the enemy stole…it’s coming back!
The anointing that the enemy stole…it’s coming back!
Your children that the enemy stole…their coming back!
The finances that the enemy stole…their coming back!
The health that the enemy stole…its coming back!
The marriage that the enemy stole…its coming back!
When God is God of your life, He demands blessing and favor to be restored to you!
Rise up! Build the Kingdom of God! Sell out to the one true God, and watch Him restore everything that the enemy had stolen!
There were people who rose up and opposed the building of the temple!
I preached Wednesday night in our college service on Nehemiah, and one of the things that God laid on my heart was that “when there is vision, there is opposition!”
As long as there is a move of God, there will be people used by the enemy to oppose that move!
They nagged them with questions, they made fun, they threatened, but the people of God kept building!
Then once again, God raised a standard against the enemy and caused His favor to dwell on them!
The King sent out a decree against the people opposing the move of God!
Ezra 6:7-11 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
8Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. (Stop and Preach)
9And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
10That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
Something happens when God is priority!
God is looking for a people!
People to call out of bondage!
People who will answer the call and build up the temple of God in their lives!
People who will refuse to slow the work of God because of opposition!
He will provide!
He will protect!
He will restore!
The very enemies that are trying to shut down the church, will soon be funding the church!
The very enemies that are trying to stop the move of God will soon be blessing the move of God DAY BY DAY WITHOUT FAIL!
If God be for us WHO can stand against us!
God will thwart the attack of the enemy on His church!
When His people stand for Him, He will stand for His people!
Oh church, will you put away your idols?
Will you free yourself from bondage?
Will you return to praise?
Will you work in the Kingdom of God?
Will you ignore the attacks of the enemy?
If you will, God will restore His church!
He will restore your family!
He will stop the attack of the enemy on your health!
He will cause the very enemy that once stole from you to instead bless you 10 fold!
He will revive your heart with praise!
He will show you His faithfulness!
He will cover you with favor and providence!
Will you Let God be Your God tonight?
