Glen River Chapel

EZRA: The Stewardship of Leadership

GLEN ROSE, TEXAS
Sunday May 20, 2001

Bible Reading: 

Ezra 7:11-28

1. Has proper credentials (qualifications ) of life -vv .1-5

2. Has proper understanding of God's Word -vs. 6a

3. Has proper anointing of God -vv .6b-9

4. Has proper preparation of heart -vs. 

The marks of a spiritual leader are given by type in Ezra 7:11-28. A spiritual

leader is a steward of the things of God.

All of us are leaders to someone. It may be at work, at school, at home, but

someone is watching and our life has an impact. Applying the following areas of

leadership will help us to not only become leaders, but to also raise up a

generation of leaders who will do better than we have done.

I.  A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Word. Vs.11

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe,

even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

Ezra was a scribe. A scribe was a priest who functioned as a copier of the Scriptures.   God preserved His Word through the priests who were called Scribes.

We are New Testament priests. We have been charged to care for the Word of God.

II. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Commission. Vv.12-14

12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

The king commissioned Ezra to go to Jerusalem, with the Word of God in his hand, and take as many people with him as were willing to go.

We, as New Testament believers have been commissioned by the King of Kings, and we are to take as many to the heavenly Jerusalem as we can. This is what we call "evangelism" or "missions". We can't force people to go to heaven with us, but we should be looking to take as many as possible. How many are accompanying you?

III. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward
 of God's Redemption and Deity. Vv.15,16

15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

The lesson for us from the "silver and gold" is about God's "redemption and deity" .  The most valuable thing we are carrying is this message.

Silver (redemption) was entrusted to Ezra. We have been entrusted with the message of redemption.

Gold was entrusted to Ezra. We have been entrusted with knowledge of His deity in human flesh.

We have been entrusted with a valuable cargo.

17That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

The money given to Ezra was (1) to restore the services in the House of God and (2) to purchase the needed sacrifices to be used in those services. He was responsible to make sure that sacrifice was part of the life of Israel.

Leaders lead is sacrifice. God's people are asked of God to sacrifice. It is us that God wants- a living sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

The vessels that were taken by the Babylonians were found in the treasury .

They were given to Ezra to take back to the house of God.

All of us are vessels of the Lord. We are not all the same, but we all belong to God and are useable in His service. To be useable is determined by your submission to God -your separation to God -your holiness.

2 Tim. 2:20-21.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

VI. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Resources. Vv. 20-23

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

God has and will supply the resources. All that is required of us that we be faithful in the use of those resources.

Romans 12:3; 

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. {soberly: Gr. to sobriety}

I Cor. 4:2; 

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

2 Cor. 9:8. 

And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:

VII. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Benefits. Vs.24

24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

VIII. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Discipline. Vv.25,26

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. 26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

IX. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Credit. Vs.27

27Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

X.10. A Spiritual Leader is a Steward of God's Teamwork. Vs.28

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

True spiritual leaders train other leaders. They delegate responsibility to others. The develop a core of spiritual men around them -like Moses' counsellors; like David's mighty men; like Paul's men; like Jesus' disciples.

2 Timothy 2:2 

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. {among: or, by}

 

Send questions or comments to  yoke@granbury.com