The StoryFinding Your Story in God’s Story

“The Return Home”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

Review Chapter 18

“Daniel in Exile”

Series 2 - God Pursues His People

I. Return and Rebuild

God stirred the heart of King CyrusPersian King Cyrus proclaims a rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem

Fulfilled prophecy of JeremiahJeremiah 25:12 (NLT) 12  “Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the LORD. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) 11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God stirred the hearts of the leaders to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the templeVoluntary offeringsThe people assemble with a unified purpose

They rebuilt the altar and began to sacrifice

They started to lay the foundation for the temple

Completed foundation – praise and worship

Shouts of Joy/Weeping aloud

Opposition to the build – Ezra 4Enemies heard of the rebuild and ask to help – purpose ? – sabotageAgents sent to discourage, frighten, frustrate the people of JudahWork comes to a stop – 4:24 – stopped for about 10 years

Haggai and Zechariah prophesy – Ezra 5:1-2

Rebuilding the temple continues

II. Misplaced Priorities Haggai’s prophecy – Haggai 1People are saying “it’s not time to rebuild”Look what’s happening – consider your ways

You are living in luxurious housesMy house lies in ruinsNo blessing – no satisfaction

You are living in luxurious housesMy house lies in ruins

The Lord sparked the enthusiasm of

Governor ZerubbabelPriest JeshuaThe whole remnant of God’s people

Rebuild my house – then I will be honored

They began the work on the temple

Anyone remember the former temple in its splendor?

This temple must seem like nothingThe future glory will be greater than the past glory

The blessing of obedience

Ezra 6:14-16 (NLT) 14  So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia. 15  The Temple was completed on March 12, during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign. 16  The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.

III. Building the Living Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) 19

 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20  for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Your body is the temple of the Holy SpiritHonor God with your body

1st application – you are God’s temple – either lying in ruins or functioning to manifest the glory of God

1 Corinthians 12:4-11The Holy Spirit is the source of the spiritual giftsGod doing his work in usGifts given so we can help each otherThe Holy Spirit gives these gifts as he decidesV.27 – All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it

2nd application – together we are an expression of the glory of God – or just a pile of stones

1 Peter 2:4-5 (NLT) 4  You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5  And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

Ephesians 2:20-22 (NLT) 20

 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22

 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Consider your waysBlessing of obedienceOr dissatisfaction of misplaced priorities