Repentance for Renewal

Rebuilding the Kingdom

Several months ago, a sign appeared outside of our local Biscuitville which said that they would be closed for renovations. I assumed that these renovations would consist of a few weeks of work on the interior of the building. Following these cosmetic updates, I believed they would be back up and serving chicken biscuits. However, within a few weeks of the restaurant temporarily closing the bulldozers arrived. Over a period of a few days, the whole building was demolished, and the rubble was carted away! Next, loads of fill dirt were brought in to level the property. Once the leveling was completed, they began to excavate the property. I assume they were putting in new utilities for the new building that will be constructed in the coming months. As it stands now, there is still no sign of a new building. Yet it is apparent that they are hard at work to lay the right foundation. Apparently, closing for renovations is much more drastic than I originally assumed. 

In our passage for this week, we see that drastic measures must be taken in the rebuilding of God’s people. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem to find that the people have intermarried with the unbelieving people of the land. This intermarriage with nonbelievers was clearly forbidden in God’s word and threatened the future existence of God’s people. Ezra could not merely do a light renovation. He could not rebuild the people of God on such a flawed foundation. Rather he had to call the people of Israel to repent from their disobedience. They had to do away with their old ways and seek the Lord. Ezra was not content to forget God’s word in his mission to rebuild God’s kingdom on earth. 

And what we will see in our passage is that if we would move forward in God’s purposes to build His kingdom in our generation, we too must be a people of repentance. We must be a people whose lives are not merely remodeled but rather whose lives are completely changed through faith in Christ and repentance of sin. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Ezra 9-10, Exodus 34:11-16, Ezekiel 18:30, Matthew 3:2, Acts 26:20, Hebrews 12:1-2, and Westminster Confession of Faith 15. 

As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”, the Acclamation of Praise “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, and the Hymn of Response “Take My Life, and Let It Be”. Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives so that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!

Sermon Information 

Text: Ezra 9-10 

Title: Repentance for Renewal  

Outline: 

1. Every Christian Must Recognize Their Sin (9:1-4)
2. Every Christian Must Confess Their Sin (9:5- 10:1)
3. Every Christian Must Break From Their Sin (10:2-19)

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