The Rediscovered Decree

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning
the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place
where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be
strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

Everything in Jerusalem was in ruins. The temple was unfinished. The walls were in heaps. The people rallied to re-build the capital city. When they started they were quickly challenged–under whose authority were they doing this. Official authority was needed. Even though they had it, they couldn't find it. However after doing some searching they found it with the words "let the house of God be builded." There were leaders who knew what God wanted. Jerusalem was to be built spiritually and physically. They came back to built it. Each person had a job. They pooled their resources. They saw the need for the work. They had a vision to see it done. They did it together.

We also need this same type of vision to see the house of God built, the one inside us and the one we see here. God had a purpose for this hill. It used to be farm land; God gave his permission for this church to be built. Just like with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, we all have the devil questioning everything we do. But WE HAVE AUTHORITY, OUR OWN DECREE FROM GOD ALMIGHTY. IF WE LISTEN TO THE DEVIL WE WILL NEVER SEE VICTORY. AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE THE ANSWER FROM A HIGHER POWER. WE CAN BUILD.

When asked for their authority to build, Ezra knew it was there but couldn't find it. They could not produce the scroll. There is a lesson here for us. What can we produce to the devil? Know where the word is and use it! The king had it. It was somewhere. Rediscover our authority; we have permission to be a Christian. If our relationship with God hinges on denomination or traditions or anything else, we need to rediscover the decree. It must be hinged on what God wants.

King Darias opened the scroll, looked at it from top to bottom to see who gave the authority to the people of Israel. There is was. King Cyrus, his predecessor, had written and signed it. His seal was upon it. This would stop those who desired to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Our decree says we can overcome our enemies. We can stand within and without. Salvation has been authorized and signed with the blood of Jesus Christ. Darias, following Cyrus' direction said "let the house be builded." Don't hinder it! We have our assurance as well. Gods wants us in heaven. We can make it because our King has decreed it for us. We can make it through the troubles of this life.

The king said let the foundations be strongly laid. Don't do half a job. That's what happens today. Spiritual foundations are weak. Our foundation is Christ. He's there if we'll just lay it. Being saved means nothing without Jesus. Paul says there is no other foundation but Jesus. We must lay it strong. Do we neglect Jesus? We talk spiritual. We get involved in church things, but ARE WE INVOLVED WITH JESUS? The more we involved we are with Jesus the stronger our foundation will be. We can lay it so the devil can't move it.

Verses 3 and 4 say to lay the foundation according to the original blueprint. If you run reference to that, you be in Chronicles. David's plan is there. Cyrus had only a little idea of that from his Jewish captives, but he knew enough to take the original blueprint and put it back together. There is nothing wrong with the original blueprint. It's not flawed. If we fail, it's not God's fault. It is our own. God help us to realize that the original is still the right way. The song says "I'm using my Bible for a road map." That road map is our blueprint.

Verse 5 says for the holy contents to be restored. In Chronicles a backslid Israel and let the contents of the holy place of God go uncared for. They were taken from them. When we don't care for the contents of our soul, the things of the world will take them. King Belshazzar poured wine in the vessels of God and made a mockery of them. That's what the devil wants to do our individual house. God has given us holy things that only come from him. They are under our stewardship and watch.These precious things are faith, love, holiness, unity, righteousness. The devil hates them. If these hold contents are missing in the individual house of our soul, let them be restored. Samson got reckless with his contents and he ended up a blind captive of the Philistines. We have the green light from God. We must take it.

Study through verse 7 for next week. See what this decree gave them and gives us.