THE FULFILMENT OF GOD'S WORD
1 NOW IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD BY THE MOUTH OF JEREMIAH MIGHT BE FULFILLED, THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, SO THAT HE MADE A PROCLAMATION THROUGHOUT ALL HIS KINGDOM, AND ALSO PUT IT IN WRITING, saying,
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. AND HE HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE AT JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH.
3 WHO IS AMONG YOU OF ALL HIS PEOPLE? MAY HIS GOD BE WITH HIM, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, AND BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL (He is God), WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM.
4 AND WHOEVER IS LEFT IN ANY PLACE WHERE HE DWELLS, LET THE MEN OF HIS PLACE HELP HIM WITH SILVER AND GOLD, WITH GOODS AND LIVESTOCK, BESIDES THE FREEWILL OFFERINGS FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM."
Ezra 1:1–4 (NKJV)
• God will surely bring whatever He has promised to do, to a fulfilment. If He said it, It will surely come to pass.
- God spoke through Prophet Jeremiah that the Jews would spend seventy years in the Babylonian captivity: "FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD: AFTER SEVENTY YEARS ARE COMPLETED AT BABYLON, I WILL VISIT YOU AND PERFORM MY GOOD WORD TOWARDS YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE" (Jeremiah 29:10 NKJV).
- For the above Bible passage to be fulfilled, at the appropriate time, God stirred the heart of Cyrus the King of Persia:
1 " . . . THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD BY THE MOUTH OF JEREMIAH MIGHT BE FULFILLED, THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, SO THAT HE MADE A PROCLAMATION THROUGHOUT ALL HIS KINGDOM, AND ALSO PUT IT IN WRITING . . . . 2 ALL THE OF THE EARTH THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HAS GIVEN ME. AND HE HAS COMMANDED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE AT JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH. 3 WHO IS AMONG YOU OF ALL HIS PEOPLE? MAY HIS GOD BE WITH HIM, AND LET HIM GO UP TO JERUSALEM WHICH IS IN JUDAH, AND BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL (He is God), WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM" (Ezra 1:1-3 NKJV). - God can use anyone to bring His Word which He had spoken to the fulfilment: "THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, LIKE THE RIVERS OF WATER; HE TURNS IT WHEREVER HE WISHES" (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV).
• The promise made by God through the prophecy of Jeremiah to return the Israelites back to their land was fulfilled (Jeremiah 29:14).
I. God kept the promise to restore them as a nation and rebuild the temple. Much to everyone's amazement, God compelled a pagan ruler, king, to fulfil what He said about the rebuilding of His temple.
- Whatever God has spoken about your life and ministry would be brought to fulfilment by compelling or stirring the heart of whoever, even an unbeliever, to bring it to the fulfilment (2 Chronicles 36:22,23).
II. Another thing is, God moved the hearts of the family heads, the priests and the Levites to answer or respond to the call of King Cyprus (Ezra 1:5). - The Jews neighbors in the foreign land also assisted them with the articles of gold, silver, goods, livestock and other valuable things. The things given to the Jews were willingly offered.
- When It is God's set time to bring His Word to the fulfilment; It would be done through His motivational power: "YOU WILL ARISE AND HAVE MERCY ON ZION; FOR THE TIME TO FAVOUR HER, YES, THE SET TIME, HAS COME" (Psalm 102:13 NKJV).
- The people would be willing to offer help and favour: "THY PEOPLE SHALL BE WILLING IN THE DAY OF THY POWER, . . . " (Psalm 110:3 KJV).
• When God is set to move in His plan about your life and ministry; whatever He has said to do:
a. He will make all things beautiful. In other words, He would make things work in your favour (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
b. He would cause Men, people, to buy into your vision and cause them to stand by you.
c. If the vision you are embarking upon is God-given, or a project commanded by Him, He would move or stir the heart of the people towards the vision or project (Exodus 35:4,5,20-22).
- Note: do not idolize any person, giving undue recognition to someone, because of money or status.
- God would allow whoever you idolize in your heart to disappoint you. Thus, God should be your source in the work of ministry:
1 I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS—From whence comes my help? 2 MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH" (Psalm 121:1,2 NKJV). - If whatever you are doing is of God, commanded by Him; He will cause the people to give towards It (Exodus 35:20-22).
a. Some ministers have sold their birthrights because of a morsel of meal—money (Hebrews 12:16).
b. Some have put God aside, looking up to and running after men or people, to help in their assignment; instead of looking up to God (Psalm 121:1).
• Note:
- God will use people to bring to fulfilment whatever He has promised to do in your life and ministry. However, your attention or focus must not be shifted from God to any person.
- God believes in commendation, and He does commend whatever good done by anyone (Philippians 4:14-16; Revelation 2:3,13,19; 3:4,8). However, God's glory and honour in your assignment or ministry must not be given to any person: “I AM THE LORD; THAT IS MY NAME! I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANYONE ELSE, NOR SHARE MY PRAISE WITH CARVED IDOLS" (Isaiah 42:8 NLT).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is not of God in your system that might be working against your health and wellness is cursed and uprooted totally in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- The hold is broken now and never to be built again in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!