Know God and Make Him Known

Introduction
A. That title has been the mission statement for many churches over the years. As is the case, this is
something that must continue to be the purpose and mission of the church until Christ returns. These
work hand in hand.
B. Through the passage of time, things change and that is inevitable. In some sense, the rebuilding of the
altar and the temple were the easy part. Any problems they had were directly related to themselves not
the building project. They struggled to know God and make him known drifted off into fear.
1. So, the rebuilding of the temple revealed that the people needed to be rebuilt or reformed. It
revealed a much deeper problem as we will see. Were they continuing the purpose and mission of
God?
C. Under the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the people of God came back to the Lord and got back
to work to finish the temple. In other words, they repented of their fear and trusted the Lord and did
what he said. All seemed well but from the end of chapter 6 to the beginning of chapter 7 we have a
period of some 57 years or so.
1. What happened?
a) We will explore the details next week, but this week it like your doctor calling you to come into
the office. You know something is wrong, but you don’t know what it is. So too here.
b) God is sending Ezra because they have a need, and they don’t even know it.
II. Main Point
A. That’s where the main point comes in-the Sovereign God of heaven raised up Ezra to know, to do and
to teach God’s word for the purpose of making him know to the people.
III. Outline
A. Who is Ezra?
B. Where and how will Ezra go?
C. Who Went with Him