Stand Up, Stand Out For Jesus

  Last week was special for me since I was graduating from Pan Africa Christian University with a Diploma in Transformational Church Leadership.  This achievement is special because the course immensely impacted my faith and my walk with God, as well as enhanced my understanding of matters leadership and theology.  The theme of the graduation was outstanding too: Stand Out!  

Two days prior to the graduation, I attended a commissioning service for the graduants and the guest speaker based her sermon on Daniel 1:8 which states, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way".  Daniel with his three friends: Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego, made an intentional and conscious decision not to eat food sacrificed to idols, since such a practise was contrary to their faith.  These young Hebrew boys were far away from their mother land thus their eating of such food could be easily rationalised and justified.    Again, who doesn't want tantalising, professionally made food, served in the King's royal dishes?  Despite these pressures, these boys RESOLVED to live out their faith and stood their ground even when the price for their faith was their lives. 

As I sat in the university chapel's pew, I couldn't hide my emotions as I listened to God reaffirm His message which He had recently been speaking to me about.  For the past two weeks, I have been studying the book of Ezra and trying to understand the exile life that the Jews led in Babylon, challenges they might have faced in living out their faith and what freedom meant to them when they were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city.  Ezra 8 talks about the return of the second group of exiles, under Ezra's leadership.  In Ezra 9, it was reported to Ezra that the exile returnees in Jerusalem, including the priests and levites, had failed to separate themselves from the other nations and had consequently defiled themselves.

Ezra 9:1-2 states, "After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. ² They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness".

The Jews in exile who did not stand up for their faith could have blamed the Babylonian pressures of slavery, oppression, intimidation and lack as reasons for their compromise.  After liberation by King Cyrus, that permitted all Jews who wished to return to Jerusalem to do so, what excuse did these Jews (living in their own city) have to defile themselves with the foreign women?  It seems clear that their minds were not made up to follow God's ways of righteousness, irrespective of the cost.  Is your mind made up today to always follow Jesus, inspite of the cost?  If your mind is made up, then the grace of God is sufficient for you!  Titus 2:11-13 states: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ....  The grace of God at work surpasses all other worldly pressures to conform to sin!

Just like the Hebrews in Babylon and the Jews in Jerusalem, we live amongst non-believers and amidst much corruption- lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life.  People in Kenya, Africa and the nations of the world are living in gross darkness, just as foretold in Isaiah 60:2a.  Dishonesty has been dubbed "being smart", corruption is said to be a necessary evil to success, immorality has become fashionable and misplaced priorities have led many to idolise success, money, wealth, beauty and fame.  God is counting on you and I to be the great light that shines in the darkness and points people to the cross, where their sins are washed away and their relationship with God restored.  This is God's clear message today for those who have resolved to live for Jesus: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." 

Our light can only shine and influence the world if we are living and practising righteousness.  A good soldier does not get entangled with civilian pursuits since his aim is to please his master (2nd Timothy 2:3-5).  When Ezra and the Jews in Jerusalem realised the great sin of intermarriage which they had committed, they repented and turned away from that sin.  If there are areas of compromise that you have permitted in your life, God is calling you to repent.  

Are you an enrolled soldier in God's army?  For you to conquer and finish strong, you need to:

• Desire to know God deeper and deeper each day.  Ephesians 6:10 states, "Be Strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."  As you know Him, the spirit of your mind will be transformed so that you become more and more like Him. As you submit yourself to God, you gain the power to resist the devil.
• Be properlly armoured with the loins of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shoes of the readiness to preach God's Word, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is God's Word- Ephesians 6:11-17.
• Pray without ceasing- Ephesians 6:18 states, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
• Endure hardship- All who desire to live a righteous life should expect persecution and suffering (2nd Timothy 2:3; 3:12).  It is costly to follow Jesus.
• Focus on the price- Keep your eyes on the surpassing worth of knowing God.  The glory that will be revealed to us cannot be compared to our current sufferings!- Romans 8:18; Hebrews 12:1-2.

Join me in meditating upon this hymn, "Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus":

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.

God Watches Over His Word To Perform It!

The book of Ezra is a continuation of 2nd Chronicles, and was authored by Ezra who was a priest, a scribe and a great leader.  History indicates that Ezra also wrote most of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Nehemiah and Psalms 119.   Also, He is said to have led the council of one hundred and twenty (120) men who formed the Old Testament canon (NIV commentary).  The main theme of the book of Ezra is God's fulfillment of His promise to restore His people to their land after seventy (70) years of captivity in Babylon.

I wish to share briefly the historical events that preceded Ezra chapter 1.   In 722 B.C., Israel (the Northern kingdom whose capital city was Samaria) gave into the Assyrian aggression.  However, in 612 B.C. Babylon defeated Assyria when the former plundered the latter's capital city, Ninevah.  Babylon became the most powerful kingdom in the Near East and in 586 B.C., it captured Jerusalem (Judah, the Southern Kingdom's capital city).  2nd Chronicles 36:15-21 adequately details this event:

¹⁵ The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.  

¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 

¹⁷ He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.  

¹⁸ He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials.  

¹⁹ They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.

²⁰ He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 

²¹ The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.

An understanding of the above events helps us to understand the book of Ezra as well as other Old Testament books such as Nehemiah (a continuation of the book of Ezra and gives account of Jerusalem' rebuilding after exile), Esther (gives account of happenings to Israelites who chose to remain in foreign lands after King Cyrus" declaration that Jews could return to Jerusalem), Jeremiah & Isaiah (foretold Jerusalem's captivity & its restoration), Daniel (gives account of life in exile and the end of Babylonian exile) and Haggai (Written to those who had returned to Jerusalem after the exile under Zerubbabel's leadership).  In 539 B.C., the Persian King- Cyrus II, overthrew Babylon.  Unlike the Babylonian Kingdom which would displace its captives and exile them to foreign lands, the Persian Kingdom used a different approach to reign over its captives. 

Ezra 1:1 states, In the first year of Cyrus King of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus King of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and put it in writing.  The proclamation allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem from exile in order to rebuild the temple of the Lord, and also provided for resources to carry out the task.

 We can draw life transforming lessons from the above verse.  First, the timing of the event is very clearly indicated- first year of King Cyrus- which implies that it was God's fullness of time.  Seventy years had passed as foretold by Jeremiah and it was the appointed time for fulfilment of God's promise.  As earlier indicated, the book of Daniel gives an account of the Jews living in exile in Babylon.  It is noteworthy that despite Daniel having been a successful, powerful and famous Jewish captive in a foreign land, he remained grounded in God's Word and sensitive in the Spirit to discern God's time for their release from captivity.  Daniel chapter 9 details his prayer which he earnestly offered to God when he understood from the scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem was foretold to last seventy years.  An open door of liberation was set before the Jews, and Daniel knew well enough that he needed to travail in prayer to remove any obstacles that stood in the purposes of God and hindered them from walking through their "open door".

Our God is "God of Timing"!    

In Habakkuk chapter 1, the prophet complained to God why the wicked were prospering in Judah and yet God seemed to be silent over them.  God's response in Habakkuk 2:2-3 states, Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.  For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay.  Severally in scripture, you find phrases such as "in the acceptable and favorable time" (Isaiah 49:8); "My time has not yet come" (John 7:6); "When the proper time has come" (Psalms 75:2); "The time has come" (Mark 1:15; John 12:23).  No matter the seasons of our lives, we should never forget that God does not delay and will act at the appointed time!

Secondly, at the appointed time, God acted on behalf of the Jews- He stirred up the heart of Cyrus, King of Persia to make a proclamation and write it down.   

Human beings are limited, but God is not!  

The hearts of Kings are in His hands and He directs them like a watercourse wherever he pleases (Prov 21:1).  God can move mountains, level the valleys, still the waters, stop the sun from setting, make dry land across the sea, make dry bones live, and do many more unfathomable things, for fulfillment of His purpose.   God has magnified His Word above His name (Psalms 138:2- KJV).  His promises are sure and flawless, they can be trusted for they are refined seven times in the furnace (Psalms 12:6).  Heaven and earth may pass away, but not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from His Word unaccomplished (Matthew 5:18).

God is faithful and He does not change like shifting shadows (James 4:17).  

If we continually strive to understand how God will come through for us, how He will fulfill His promises in our lives, we will never enter His rest. Such an attitude will only create a fertile ground for unbelief, with which we cannot please God.  What promises has God laid in your heart regarding your life- ministry, family members, marriage, career, health, finances etc?  Do you believe His promises are Yeh and Amen?  God is reminding us today that He is not man that He should lie, nor a son of man that he should change his mind (Numbers 23:19).

Shun the path of unbelief that focuses on past disappointments and pain; and tomorrow's uncertainties, .  Choose today the path of faith, for by faith, men of old received their promises (Hebrews 11:2).  Like Daniel and Nehemiah did, pour your heart to God in prayer and fasting, and wait upon Him in faith for fulfillment of His Word.

Join me in making this prayer:

My heavenly Father, I acknowledge that you are God Almighty, and there is nothing impossible with you.  Thank you for always being faithful even when I have been faithless.  Forgive my unbelief and help me to abide in your sufficient grace that I may patiently wait upon fulfillment of your promises in my life.  Be it unto me according to your Word!  Amen.