Let’s Start Rebuilding The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

Let’s Start Rebuilding

The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

As you build on the hopes of your future this year

You will remember times when your hope left you disappointed

Three great leaders, Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah

All had hope of restoring the City of God

But in the end had disappointment

A new temple, reading God’s Word, building the walls of protection

All the hopes we build on this year

If they do not build the heart, will bring disappointment

Our hope comes from the love of God in our hearts

As we enter a New Year let’s not forget all the things we plan to accomplish

All the ways we make life better this year

Maybe a new car, house, spouse, family, church

Remember whatever we do to make life better if it does not renew the heart

Our hope will end in disappointment

The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

Ezra and Nehemiah are Books in the Bible

about rebuilding Jerusalem.

Originally these two books were

one book, written by the same author.

In 2 Kings 24-25, we read Babylon

had conquered Jerusalem…

Destroying the city

and walls with fire.

The people of Jerusalem were

taken into exile into Babylon.

  

About 50 years later, some of

the people returned to Jerusalem.

There are three key people…

 Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6),

Ezra (Ezra 7-10) and

Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-7)

Zerubbabel leads a large group of

people to rebuild the temple.

About 60 years later, Ezra arrived to teach

the people the Torah and build community.

Then Nehemiah came

to rebuild the city walls.

All three of these men began with

hope, but end with disappointment.

Those who saw the earlier temple

 wept because the temple Zerubbabel built

did not have the glory of the former temple.

Ezra brought the Word of God to the people.

But he condemned the people.

Nehemiah rebuilt the walls and gates

but in the end he saw…

 The temple neglected

The Torah was dishonored as

people dishonored the Sabbath

And even his walls did not stop setting up

shop and doing business on the Sabbath.

All three leaders bring hope

but end with disappointment.

Why?

Because what needed to be rebuilt was the heart.

As we enter a New Year let’s not forget

all the things we plan to accomplish.

All the ways we make life better this year…

Maybe a new car, house, spouse, church.

Remember whatever we

do to make life better…

 If it does not renew the heart,

 our hope will end in disappointment.

Scripture Reading

Romans 5:5 NIV

5 And hope does not disappoint us,

because God has poured out his love

into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

whom he has given us.

 Ezekiel 36:24-36 NIV

24 "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!

33 "'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'