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• Derek Morris

  We are all leaders, and, like Ezra, we set an example for those within our circle of influence. Lord, help us all to be leaders who lead not just with our words but with our lives.

• Matija Kovačević

  Let's have this same spirit as Shechaniah, and let's say to our godly leaders who lead the Remnant into revival and reformation: “We are with you, Ezra, so be of good courage, and do it.”

• Denis Lavrut

  Recently we had a sermon at my church comparing the eagle and the chicken and the preacher mentioned that while the rooster will go from one hen to another, the eagle has only one partner for life. Marriage is not just to take a wife, or a husband so that we can fulfill our sexual needs and to have "someone" beside us not to be alone going through life. Marriage is to share everything and to become one. My kids will make their own decisions when they are adults but I pray that they will remember what I have told them over all their years about marriage, which is that you don't marry someone because you're happy now and because everything fits now. You marry someone because you'll be happy when you have kids and when you have problems, and when the guy starts losing his hair and starts to wonder about life. Marriage is a life long partnership where you will share everything and make decisions together. Therefore I keep saying "you can't marry someone who does not worship your God the way you worship Him". You will then become two separate persons, like a house with a crack in the middle. For us Adventist, it is very particular because we worship on Sabbath. So how does that work when you marry a Sunday person? And what do you teach your children ? How confusing. So marrying someone with a different religion, even a different denomination is just planting problems to happen in ten, twenty years. I keep saying, project yourselves in twenty years before you marry someone. Imagine where you will live, what job you will do and what happens when one gets a promotion. Imagine your children and their children, how are you both going to handle this on a daily basis ? Here at the conclusion of Ezra's book, it ends up in sorrow. How can I ask my wive and children to leave because I should not have married them? How do I explain to a child that he or she should not have been conceived ?? It's inhuman and by making the wrong choices, by not being diligent enough in the choices and decisions we make, we create inhuman situations and sadness without name. Children are treasures, and adults are tormenting these treasures because of their mistakes, because of their short thinking and their sexual drives. Lord forgive me for all the mistakes in my life that caused pain to my children and help me to be a good and strong father, and in some years grandfather, that I will never think of myself before I think of You and Your will and all the people who will be affected by the decisions and choices I make. In Jesus name, amen.

• Eddie Armstrong

  Denis,

  There is a wonderful series by Pastor Henry Wright (SDA Pastor) called "The Holy Spirit and Choosing a Mate." Very good 6 part series.
  Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

• Julie

  Well said Denis. Families are now broken. The children have lost their natural fathers. Wives have lost their husbands. Why? Simple - the consequence of not following God's laws/direction. So often we make decisions in the immediate, what feels good, relying on our own wisdom, forsaking God's law and directions because of the need for instant gratification. Then comes the natural consequences of sin that impacts on not just the individual but the children as well as the extended families.. Father God help us to be totally surrendered to your will. God bless y'all.

• Eddie Armstrong

  Amen Brother Denis! As everyone knows, I recently married the person I prayed for. Judy, my wife, is a daughter of a retired SDA pastor and a long time SDA herself. But most important, she loves the Lord and has the same passion for His work as do I. Almost 2 years ago, we both were praying the same prayer for someone who could be our soul mate, but we were very particular about the person being a sincere SDA Christian.
  I believe God will lead us to the right person if we let him. I will remember your children in my prayers. God bless and have a great week!

• celiagofast

  Good morning Family ..I am just praising God for the fact that we still have chance to gain refreshing from the Lord as we respond to messages from Gods messengers ..even our latter day prophetess Mrs Ellen G white ..what a blessings her writings are for Gods people today ..We are living in very serious times and of course we are much more aware of the downward trend of society today because we are told via all the technology available to us and yes The enemy is causing people in Gods church to seemingly compromise greatly ..Lord we need individual revival so much ..I want SO MUCH to experience the FIRE I had in my heart to reach out when i was young ....Lord Jesus i come to you today with a heart of contrition and tears ..you know my weaknesses and i just ask you please help and strengthen me and show me anything that I am not aware of that is causing you turn your face away from me ..Particularly recognise my need for a more constant prayer life ...I struggle at night when I am tired to spend Quality time in prayer ...I am asking the RBHW Family for prayers please ...I suppose I had better pray in the evening BEFORE I get really tired ?? Lord have mercy on me ...Have a blessed day every one ..

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Top of the morning my RBHW family. I pray we all had a blessed sabbath & weekend. Thought on today's passage/reading....10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, ................ 11 Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves ............this is what we are to do and encourage others to do-realize we have sinned, confess & follow the will of God (which is for our benefit anyways). He is almighty an willing that none shall perish but that all should come to repentance & live. Bless the Lord. Thank yo all for your thoughts & inputs. May we continue steadfast in our Lord or His coming is near. Blessed day to all.

• Danny Moonie

  God's people were in danger of losing their identity by intermarriage with the pagans. If their identity was lost, then their purpose would be lost. About 400 years later, they were to be entrusted with Messiah. But these intermarriages would produce children with a different philosophy from Scripture, or who would vacillate between paganism and Judaism. If the next generation grew up not knowing that they were to expect Messiah in their midst, how could God's great plan of Salvation be accomplished among His people? Thus the Spirit of God moved upon Ezra to deal with this problem. Although this problem resurfaced, all hope was not lost because God preserved a faithful group. As Adventists, we are to not lose our identity. We are not to form alliances in this world that contradict Scripture. We are to be careful not to have this precious message entrusted to us diluted, or mixed with the other messages around. God's purpose of proclaiming His end-time message is destined to be fulfilled among His Advent people and He calls us to be faithful like Ezra. May we mourn like Ezra making confession for our mistakes, while we look to our God who reminds us that "there is hope in Israel in spite of" our mistakes.

• Jas

  Father of glory and light, Righteous Abba, we have sinned constantly before You. We humbly pray for a daily reformation in our lives so that we can be on the path to Canaan's land. May we be mindful of the mistakes that those gone on before us made and cause unpleasantness to You, and shun them. Open Thou our eyes to see the wiles of the enemy and steer us from its wicked path into Your everlasting way, we pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen.

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Amen

• Danny Moonie

  Amen! Reading Ezra has reminded me yet again that these things were "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."

• Giovanni Manhoef

  Goodmorning to one and all, firstly I would like to ask each one of you to pray for me and my family in need of prayers at all times...As I read this chapter, I realize that in order to follow God we will have to be radical. Radical in context that we will need to forsake all that brings separation between us and God. It could be work related, friends, sports, wife, husband, children, whatever else that can fall under this category. Hence why Jesus says, and I paraphrase 'whosoever loves mother, father or family above me is not worthy of being my disciple.' My prayer today for us is....Lord help us to be radical in worshiping you, whatever we need to put aside, Help us and give us the strength to put it aside so that we can be one with you at all times, in Jesus name. Amen

• Rod4Truth

  Amen Pastor Mwansa. May God help each and every one of us to "go and sin no more." Lord, please bring us rain for our souls in the time of the latter rain so that the bright clouds of thy presence will water every heart in which the seed of thy truth has been planted. We ask for this refreshing today and hereafter oh Lord, amen. "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
  (Zach 10:1)

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Amen & God bless

• Tree of Life ©

  Brother Pardon Mwansa,

  All too often we tend towards running ahead of God. All too often we take our lead and our incentive from suggestions that come to us based upon our feelings in consequence of some serious words spoken to us by a man of God. That is, our feelings are given the upper hand. What we ought to have done instead is to bow ourselves, each one of us, before our Maker while seeking His instruction through His written word. Consider carefully the exact words within the king's proclamation, words spoken in consequence of God's message as recorded for us per Jonah 3:8! Words that did have the intended effect!

  In this case, Ezra 10, I believe that we have a situation similar to the time when Moses, upon the suggestion of the people, sent twelve spies into Canaan. You know the story. Only two of the twelve spies stood up on God's side. The others were afraid, and you are well aware of the consequences.

  Likewise, I find that the two named men of verse fifteen were the only ones standing up in defense of family commitments that had been made and which had been receiving the seal of God, even by receiving sons and daughters designed and formed by the Creator Himself. Consider our Savior's words per Matthew 19:6! Also please consider Paul's words per 1 Corinthians 7:13-17!

  God has never given any man, nor any society of men, the authority over any family created in the image of its Maker. Genesis 1:27! God, our Creator, is forever retaining that authority unto Himself. Man's trusteeship is defined to us per Genesis 1:28. That definition does not include any two-legged creature among men. Now, does it?

  If you look carefully at the names of these two men who had the courage to stand up even in the face of the general feelings aroused in consequence of the realization of the bad choices that had indeed been made, you may notice that those names are in themselves an indication of the characters of these two men.

  It behooves us, even us here today, not to run along with the consensus of the mob. Please consider, in this connection, also Moses' words per Deuteronomy 5:2-5!

  And then there is more to this story than at first meets the eye... If I may, please share with me some additional blessing as available under this link: http://tinyurl.com/ksd74ae

• Danny Moonie

  Here is a thought to consider. If these marriages, which these two men stood up for "received the seal of God," then Ezra's confession and that of the people was vain. There would have been no need to offer sin offerings. Satan oftentimes disguises his agents to appear in a similar light to God's servants in days of old. Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their small group in Numbers 16, appeared to be a "remnant" seeking the good of God's people, and almost appeared like martyrs, but their mission was led by the spirit of the evil one.

• Harriet

  Good morning blessed of my father and thanks pastor p for today 's blog There is hope in every situation and God himself gives us that assurance in his word ; Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Amen sister

• nr

  Amen Pastor. by his grace may we receive total revival and reformation.

• Harriet

  Amen

• Gordin Malaba

  This lesson is awesome, revival must be followed by reformation. It's good and well to reocognise when one sins, but it's not enough, it must be followed by action. As Christians yes we must mourn for our sins, but a time to get up, wash of the ashes and put back on our robes must follow. Repentance must be followed by actions. But how many times do we lament for sin but still contionue? How many times have we condemned a television program but still continue watching it? I've heard many brothers and sisters commenting how evil Big Brother show is, but year in year out we continue to watch it; albet with bated breathe and shrunken noses. If our consciences condemn us, we should discard whatever we are doing, no matter how enjoyable it.

• GoodAnny

  Very true.

• Harriet

  You are right Gordon we need to decide to give up on certain activities that are not right but we need to ask for the Holy Spirit to help us because on our own we can do nothing

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  You said it. God bless.

• Wojtek Janiuk

  Amen brother Pardon

• Mollie Mandebvu

  Amen pastor Mwanza. My prayer too

• Pastor Charles C. John

  Amen Pastor. The people were really willing to consider their evil paths and to repent from them. We need to learn from them.
  May the Lord forgive us and grant us the same spirit of repentance.

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Please Lord we need it.

• Harriet

  Amen

• pardon chenjerai

  Amen

• GillianMapp

  Amen.

  What stood out the most to me from this chapter was that after acknowledgement and confession of sin came action. They were willing to get rid of their wives and children as they recognised the wives would continue to lead them into apostasy. I am sure this is not an easy decision to give up your loved ones, but keeping God's decrees was more important. Keeping the heavenly relationship was more important than any earthly one. Are we willing to sacrifice all for God, even if it means distancing ourselves from loved ones? Jesus himself said if we are not willing then we are not worthy of him. To me this seems hard but people do it. You hear mission stories of people choosing Christ over their families and then they are abandoned. Am I, are you, willing to let nothing between our soul and the saviour? Can we leave family and loved ones take up the cross and follow Christ? I pray today that we are willing to let go of everything that would cause separation between us and God. Keep the way clear let nothing between.

• SimplyTriniSabbie

  Amen sister

• Danny Moonie

  Amen!

• Harriet

  Yes Gillian with God all things are possible with us all we need to do is to surrender all to him and he will direct our step and then we will find ourselves doing things we don't even understand, that's how awesome our God is.

• Gordin Malaba

  Amen, but I have a small question, did it mean they had to divorce their wives? does it mean if one finds out after marrying a non believer he should divorce her/him?

• Harriet

  Gordon this verse apply to us who know the truth and not the other way round. When I got married I had no idea of what the bible say about marriage but that doesn't mean I was not a christian, it's just just that my church's doctrines only allowed marriage issues to be taught at a time of wedding preparations. Now when I joined SDA I came across 2cor6:14 and it almost made me divorce my husband, through reading I came across 1cor 7:14 and that verse gave me hope to stay in this marriage and as I'm writing this my husband is a serving elder of the church and we have been married for 20years.

• Mollie Mandebvu

  Amen!!! Gillian

• charock01

  Reformation 101

  Thank you Pastor Mwansa. As I began to read today's chapter along with your blog some practical steps to achieving reformation just jumped out at me - nothing novel, but just the regular stuff that most of us are already aware of:

  Step 1: Recognition/Conviction

  In chapter 9 we see where Ezra rented his garments and plucked hair from his head and beard. We need to be similarly impacted by the things that are happening around us today. That should not be very difficult - not in the days when a four or eight year old is decapitated and the remains found in an pit latrine (outhouse); not in the days when God's ideals for marriage are still being ignored with increasing popularity and diversity of violation.

  Noteworthy here also is the fact Ezra personalized (took personal responsibility for the sins of the nation) the sins of the people. Instead of feeling smug that we are not ourselves engaging in certain reprehensible activities we must be horrified by the atrocities that are taking place around and be driven to cry out to God.

  Step 2: Repentance/Confession/Realigning Activities

  I believe that repentance is actually bigger than it is normally treated and should include confession and specific changes in certain activities - that's if we believe it is a sorrow for and turning away from an course of action that has occurred.

  Broken down then, crying out to God is a feature of true repentance; it suggests that one is sorry (cut up, hurt, in a state of regret) that a situation has occurred and is desirous of a change.

  Although every instance of confession does not constitute repentance, every act of repentance must be accompanied by confession at least to God. Depending on the act being repented of, confession may need to be made to individuals as well.

  Then if turning away from a course of action is also involved in the definition of repentance, specific steps must be taken to undo the damage; a retracing of ones steps; that 180 degree turnaround that has often been spoken about. This usually comes after one would have engaged God in a tearful confession of acts for which there is deep sorrow and regret - but it doesn't stop there. This is apparently why Shechaniah "interrupted" Ezra's lament for the sins of his people. Enough moping; time for action!

  Father in Heaven, we have sinned, we are sinning. But what a glorious thought that there is hope yet for us. Thank You for the special word of assurance today. May we be drawn to You in full confidence that all will be well with us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

• Ros Farrell

  Insightful points you have raised Charles. Truly there is hope for us that God is able to restore and rebuild our lives when we recognise that we cannot be restored unless we repent. My prayer too. Amen

• Gloria Mosha-Onchiri

  Amen Bro well said.I echo your prayer.Lord help us to turn our eyes on you only.

• Mollie Mandebvu

  Amen

• AKIN

  AMEN. I join you and Pastor Mwansa and others who read this blobs daily in this collective decision to be part of those who will say Lord help me, my family, my Church to repent and return with all our hearts today, not because we can but because their is hope in JESUS.
  HOLY SPIRIT PLEASE TAKE CONTROL, REVIVE AND REFORM US BY DWELLING IN US TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOREVER.

• GoodAnny

  Amen

• GillianMapp

  Amen

• Pam Muz

  Amen Pastor. These people were willing to return to God and do his will by correcting things the hard way. That's true reformation, may the Lord help us to experience true reformation even if we must correct our errors the hard way.

• Judith Lorraine

  Amen Pastor Mwansa!

• Indrah Gandih

  Thank you Pr. Mwansa, one thing that stood out for me is that Ezra's prayer was one of true humility and contrition. Lord continue to teach us how to pray as this. A God blessed week to all!

• Ruth Haamankuli

  Amen

• Guest

  Praise be to the God of "second chances," the God of actually "more and more chances" to us. This topic of reformation is always timely, Pastor, you are spot on.
  We are indeed faced with serious situations and real problems like our forefathers in Ezra's time and in every chapter before and thereafter. Their issue of alignment with paganism was such a "cancer" as it is now. We are all vulnerable as long as we remain on this side of the universe brothers and sisters. Verse 1 in particular moved my heart more: "Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly." I sighed a big 'wow' within myself just at the threshold of the chapter narrative: single man praying leads to this phenomenon response! I can not wait to learn that these mentioned brethren really put away this paganism in their midst as they vow in this chapter. In the meantime, what constitutes our prayers and just what weighs our hearts down? What do I pray for and do my prayers move His people or lead me to a deep- self- soul- check?
  I am so assured, His grace will linger with us for as long as we never underestimate the power of prayer: Like it did for Ezra, prayer can move all God's saints to Him, and it can best of all move our God into our hearts and midst; making us spirit filled and once more focused on the task we have neglected of reformation; truly and sincerely putting away all that is chaff in our lives and all that hinders His spirit from making an abode in us. What if we all prayed with a spirit that moved Ezra? Won't the "Lord bless us all, take us all and lift us all?" May the showers of blessings in the latter rain ripen all our hearts to a true revival again. We have no time to lose, more over, Christ cannot wait to have us home with Him and recount the sweet story of redemption to us. I cannot wait either!

  Oh Lord, I agree I have not lived to the full dictates of your spirit, I do not stand guiltless before you, this day though, search me again of all the objects you need me to distance myself from. Amen.

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