September 24, 2018: SOAP #3217:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7
Note: There were many verses that I considered choosing for today’s SOAP, but my attention kept returning to this SOAP from 2013.  The whole chapter (Ezra 1) shows God moving on the hearts of people to go and to give.  When God gives an assignment, I can be assured that He will provide what is needed!  The life of George Mueller (1805-1898) and his orphanages attest to God’s provision.  After being clearly assured of God’s perfect will, George Mueller, without asking anyone else, prayed in the support for ten thousand orphans.

Scripture:  Ezra (NIV) 1:1 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 to put it in writing:

Observation:  In the opening verses of this book we find that God had moved the heart of King Cyrus to recognize Jehovah as the LORD God above all gods and to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem.  In verse five God moved on the hearts of some of the Jews to move back to Jerusalem to do the work.  They did not organize a fund raiser or beg for money.  The same God who moved the heart of King Cyrus was the same God who moved their hearts to go.  And the same God worked in the hearts of their neighbors to assist by giving.   God covers all aspects of HIS projects.

Application: From personal experience, I know God pays for what He authorizes.  If the vision is MINE and is WHAT I WANT TO DO for the Lord, then I may have to struggle to find the money.  But when the vision is HIS and is WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO for Him, then I can rest in faith that He will provide.  When it is His vision, the pressure of finances is not on me, and I do not have to put pressure on others.   I can obey with expectation of His supply.

Prayer:   Lord, it is good to rest in your plan knowing you are the Great Provider.   Amen Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!