Don't Despise the Work of God (7 of 19)
Series: Ezra
Mike Stone
Ezra 3:12-13
Part of the series:
EZRA - Praising the God Who Rebuilds and Restores
I plan to say this in each message in this series, so get used to it. The book of Ezra appears to be a book about rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. But it's more about God rebuilding a people for the ultimate glory of Jesus.
As we embark on our own building project, I want to use the book of Ezra to keep us focused on this truth. The work of God is never about building a building. It's about building a people for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
And this seventh lesson, drawn from the end of the 3rd chapter serves as a reminder to us. That if God is getting the glory, it is never a small work.
In 1859 as part of the effort to win the Civil War, Edwin Drake dug the very first oil well in the United States. It wasn't in Texas or Oklahoma but in Pennsylvania. He was trying to manufacture kerosene to be used in lanterns. He was in fact, quite successful.
His kerosene refining process created a lot of useless byproducts. So, in the days before the EPA, he just poured them into the river. His major ''worthless'' byproduct was called, ''gasoline.''
He was so focused on one goal, he missed the EUREKA moment right before his eyes. It could be said that he ''despised'' the gasoline because, he didn't realize what he had. And the biggest reason was, the gasoline engine wouldn't be invented for another 13 years. Drake couldn't see far enough into the future to see the value of what was right before his eyes.
Such was the case at this ancient ''homecoming service,'' in Ezra chapter 3.
During the dramatic worship service, we read of in our last lesson, there was a strange reaction from the people. Initially, all are shouting. But something happened on the way to the parking lot. Some of the senior adults began to weep.
Some of the people who were old enough to have seen the first temple, leaders the Ki ...
Series: Ezra
Mike Stone
Ezra 3:12-13
Part of the series:
EZRA - Praising the God Who Rebuilds and Restores
I plan to say this in each message in this series, so get used to it. The book of Ezra appears to be a book about rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. But it's more about God rebuilding a people for the ultimate glory of Jesus.
As we embark on our own building project, I want to use the book of Ezra to keep us focused on this truth. The work of God is never about building a building. It's about building a people for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
And this seventh lesson, drawn from the end of the 3rd chapter serves as a reminder to us. That if God is getting the glory, it is never a small work.
In 1859 as part of the effort to win the Civil War, Edwin Drake dug the very first oil well in the United States. It wasn't in Texas or Oklahoma but in Pennsylvania. He was trying to manufacture kerosene to be used in lanterns. He was in fact, quite successful.
His kerosene refining process created a lot of useless byproducts. So, in the days before the EPA, he just poured them into the river. His major ''worthless'' byproduct was called, ''gasoline.''
He was so focused on one goal, he missed the EUREKA moment right before his eyes. It could be said that he ''despised'' the gasoline because, he didn't realize what he had. And the biggest reason was, the gasoline engine wouldn't be invented for another 13 years. Drake couldn't see far enough into the future to see the value of what was right before his eyes.
Such was the case at this ancient ''homecoming service,'' in Ezra chapter 3.
During the dramatic worship service, we read of in our last lesson, there was a strange reaction from the people. Initially, all are shouting. But something happened on the way to the parking lot. Some of the senior adults began to weep.
Some of the people who were old enough to have seen the first temple, leaders the Ki ...
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