June 30th, 2008 Add Your Comments
Ezra 8:21-23
 
I’ve been contemplating lately what our church needs, and initially, I came up with quite a list — we could use a new building (and the resources with which to build it), we could use more workers, more passionate worship, and the list goes on.

But I have narrowed my list down to one thing (other than God):  our church is in desperate need of heroes!  Not “super-heroes” that I used to fantasize about being when I was a child, but we need ordinary humans, surrendered to God’s will.  Those people will truly be the heroes that our church needs.

Ezra is a biblical example of an ordinary man surrendered to God’s will.  His name does not immediately come to mind if we were to construct a “heroes list” from the Bible, but he was a great success, and led his people to great success.  The church needs people like Ezra!

We need:

1.  Sincere believers
        A.  We need people with not only a head knowledge of the Lord, but a heart knowledge as well.
        B.  We need people whose faith is not cheap, but tested.
        C.  We need people who know that “this thing works”!

2.  Fervent pray-ers

        A.  We need people who live in desperation for God
        B.  We need people who will fast
        C.  We need people who will be committed to pray until God shows up!

3.  Bold witnesses

        A.  We need people who aren’t afraid to stand up for God — telling of His saving power
        B.  We need people whose primary concern is how their actions will be interpreted by heathen.

We’ve had enough — too many — church goers, and feel-good, social club, duty-doers.  We need some heroes, like Ezra.  Now, how are we going to get those?  We’re not going to pray them in from other churches and communities.  We’re going to raise them up from within our own congregation.  God wants YOU to get off the sidelines and jump in with both feet!  Ask yourself this:  “If the church is going to move forward, will it be in spite of me?”  If the answer is “yes”, then you need a heart change this morning.  Surrender your life, your plans, your desires, your feelings to Almighty God, so He can make a hero out of you!

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