Introduction: God blesses obedience. I have seen this in my own life. When I disobey God, I have a guilty conscience and feel miserable. However, when I obey God, He blesses me with peace, joy, guidance, and answers to prayer. My life has not been perfect, but God has richly blessed my obedience.
Think about your own life. Have you learned the hard way like me that God blesses obedience and chastens disobedience? When you obey God, do you sense the peace of God, His guidance, joy, and direction in your life? You should.
From the earliest chapters of Genesis all the way to the book of Revelation, God makes it crystal clear that obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings heartache. We find an example of this in 1 Samuel 2. God was grieved with Eli’s disobedience. He honoured his wicked sons ahead of God. God sent a man of God to Eli with this fearful message. (1 Samuel 2:30) “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” We find another example addressed to children in Deuteronomy 5:16, “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” God honours or blesses those who obey Him.
It is part of God’s character to bless obedience. God blesses obedience! Say that together with me, “God blesses obedience!” Let’s say it again.
This evening, we are in Ezra 6. This chapter testifies that God blesses obedience. We already looked at Ezra 5, but we will briefly review it to establish the context. As we look at this section, keep your eye on the fact that God Blesses Obedience!
God blessed Israel’s obedience when
1. They Obeyed God’s Prophets
a. They obediently began to build (5:1-2)
1) Haggai and Zechariah urged them to recommence the building of the temple.
2) The leaders got motivated, and the people began to work.
b. God’s eye of protection was upon them (v.5).
1) God gave them courage to press on.
2) They could not be stopped.
God blessed Israel’s obedience when
2. They Obeyed God’s Prompting
a. God prompted them to request a search (v.5:5).
1) The leaders were polite, but firm in their request.
2) They asked that King Darius search for the decree made by Cyrus.
b. God blessed by stirring Darius to search.
1) His servants found the decree of Cyrus (6:1-5).
2) Darius ordered Tatnai and his men to let the work of God alone (6:6-7). Amen! What a blessing!
c. God blessed by moving Darius to make decrees.
1) He decreed to pay the building expenses (6:8).
2) He decreed to give them supplies for their offerings (6:9-10).
3) He decreed that whoever alter this decree must be hanged (6:11).
4) He called for God’s curse on any who would destroy the temple (6:12). Amazing! Darius was a pagan king! God was at work. He was blessing His obedient people.
God blessed Israel’s obedience when
3. They Obeyed God’s Plan (6:14-22)
a. They kept working
1) The elders and people kept on building (6:14). Did you notice the size of the temple back in Ezra 6:3? It was 60 cubits (90 feet, 27.4 metres) tall and the same width. Building this temple was no small task.
2) The prophets kept on preaching encouragement. It is God’s plan for preachers to challenge and motivate His people. That is one reason that church attendance is so important.
3) They built and finished the work. From the time that Haggai began preaching, and the work was recommenced, it took them 3 years and 9 months (from month 6 in the 2nd year to month 3 in the 6th year).
4) God blessed their work and enabled them to complete it quickly.
5) The temple was completed in 515 BC, (6:15).
b. They dedicated the temple.
1) They had a joyful celebration (6:16).
2) They offered sacrifices to God (6:17).
3) They organised the temple service (6:18).
4) They kept the Passover (6:19-21).
5) They also kept the feast of Unleavened Bread (6:22)
Application: About 16 years earlier, God had sent the exiled captives back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Once they arrived, they found it difficult to obey God. After being opposed while laying the foundation, they became discouraged and quit. As a result of their disobedience, God removed his blessing. Remember what Haggai wrote? (Haggai 1:6) “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.“
After years of neglect and lack of God’s blessing, the people went back to work. When they obeyed God, He blessed their obedience, and God will bless your obedience.
If your Christian life has been lacking vitality, if you sense that something is missing, could it be that you are not obeying God in some area of your Christian life? Are you daily reading your Bible and finding a principle to meditate on? Do you have a secret habit that you know displeases God? Do you control your spirit, or does anger, lust, or bitterness control you? Is your tongue under control? Do you look for opportunities to witness for the Lord? Do you give to your local church? God’s Word has clear instructions regarding these issues. If you will obey God in every area, he will bless you. God blesses obedience.
After obeying God and completing the temple, the people had great joy and enjoyed God’s rich blessing. Imagine what God can do in your life if you will make it a habit to live in obedience to His Word! Remember, God blesses obedience!
