1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,820 --> 00:00:13,690 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're so glad to have 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:19,110 Speaker 2: you as a listener. Today's topic is staying encouraged when 4 00:00:19,130 --> 00:00:21,950 Speaker 2: we face opposition. We'll be right back with a word 5 00:00:21,970 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: from our sponsor. Staying Encouraged When We Face Opposition. Written 6 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,620 Speaker 2: by Laura Bailey. Read by Laura Bailey. Then the peoples 7 00:00:43,700 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: around them set out to discourage the people of Judah 8 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,550 Speaker 2: and make them afraid to go on building. Ezra 4-4 NIV. 9 00:00:51,930 --> 00:00:54,710 Speaker 2: I stared at the email. This was the third rejection 10 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:57,890 Speaker 2: I'd received this week. I felt confident the Lord was 11 00:00:57,950 --> 00:01:01,010 Speaker 2: calling me to a new opportunity to serve Him. Yet 12 00:01:01,050 --> 00:01:04,670 Speaker 2: doors remained closed. In an attempt to gain clarity, I 13 00:01:04,709 --> 00:01:08,030 Speaker 2: spoke with my pastor. With a background in counseling, my 14 00:01:08,069 --> 00:01:13,590 Speaker 2: pastor speaks biblical truth alongside practical steps that encourage. How 15 00:01:13,610 --> 00:01:15,709 Speaker 2: do I know if this is a sign from God 16 00:01:15,930 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: or just a part of the process, I inquired. Do 17 00:01:19,190 --> 00:01:22,060 Speaker 2: you think I heard God wrong? Or maybe this is 18 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: just a testing of my faith. God is strengthening my 19 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: spiritual endurance, you think? My pastor asked if I'd studied 20 00:01:29,220 --> 00:01:31,729 Speaker 2: the book of Ezra, to which I admitted reading it, 21 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:35,380 Speaker 2: but I couldn't recall specifics. While the author is not 22 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,890 Speaker 2: specifically named, it's likely Ezra the priest, a leader of 23 00:01:38,910 --> 00:01:41,750 Speaker 2: the Israelites. If I asked you to name some of 24 00:01:41,770 --> 00:01:45,490 Speaker 2: the most significant leaders in the Bible, likely Ezra wouldn't 25 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:49,070 Speaker 2: make your top 10. His name means help, and that's 26 00:01:49,130 --> 00:01:51,490 Speaker 2: exactly what he did for God's people who were coming 27 00:01:51,550 --> 00:01:55,890 Speaker 2: out of exile and reestablishing the nation of Israel. Ezra 28 00:01:55,910 --> 00:01:59,060 Speaker 2: lived a life wholly committed to surrender to God's command 29 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,140 Speaker 2: and serving his people, no matter how difficult the circumstances. 30 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: In our key verse, Ezra 4-4, we see the Israelites 31 00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: attempt to rebuild the temple so they could have a 32 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:14,020 Speaker 2: place to worship. Yet they faced great opposition from the 33 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,650 Speaker 2: local inhabitants who didn't want to see the Jews prosper. 34 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:21,010 Speaker 2: The first verses in Ezra chapter 4 give us a 35 00:02:21,050 --> 00:02:25,150 Speaker 2: glimpse into the hostile climate that Israel faced. Their enemies 36 00:02:25,190 --> 00:02:27,630 Speaker 2: were great, and they were vocal about not wanting a 37 00:02:27,669 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: temple built. However, just because they face opposition didn't mean 38 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,900 Speaker 2: it wasn't a part of God's plan for them to 39 00:02:33,940 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: continue building. In fact, believers can expect opposition when they 40 00:02:38,780 --> 00:02:41,570 Speaker 2: are engaging in God's work and carrying out His purpose. 41 00:02:42,530 --> 00:02:45,410 Speaker 2: We should note that it's not always spiritual warfare or 42 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:49,410 Speaker 2: the intentions of evil people working against us. Sometimes it's 43 00:02:49,430 --> 00:02:52,990 Speaker 2: just the consequences of life in a fallen world. Christians 44 00:02:53,050 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: are not promised an easy life, one without trials and opposition. 45 00:02:57,540 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: But we know that we can take heart because Jesus 46 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 2: has overcome the world. John 16, 33. When we have trouble, 47 00:03:04,980 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: we cling to God's promises and trust in His plan 48 00:03:07,650 --> 00:03:11,010 Speaker 2: and timing. As I thought about this biblical text and 49 00:03:11,030 --> 00:03:16,329 Speaker 2: my current situation, I began to consider that perhaps what 50 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:19,470 Speaker 2: I had perceived as a rejection of my calling was 51 00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:24,970 Speaker 2: just no to that circumstance. While rejection still hurts and 52 00:03:25,030 --> 00:03:28,070 Speaker 2: I would need to continue seeking opportunities with the possibility 53 00:03:28,090 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: of further rejection, I was reminded that I didn't need 54 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:34,579 Speaker 2: human approval to affirm my calling. I already had God's. 55 00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:38,540 Speaker 2: Like the Israelites, I had a choice when facing opposition. 56 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:43,220 Speaker 2: I could become discouraged and intimidated and ultimately allow fear 57 00:03:43,460 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: of humans to persuade me to give up in my calling. 58 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: The Israelites had just recently been released from captivity. They 59 00:03:50,260 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: would have been weary, likely with shaky motivation and faith. 60 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,030 Speaker 2: Ezra not only led the people back to their home, Jerusalem, 61 00:03:57,510 --> 00:03:59,970 Speaker 2: but also encouraged and equipped them to build an altar 62 00:04:00,150 --> 00:04:03,210 Speaker 2: and then begin to rebuild the temple, a visual reminder 63 00:04:03,310 --> 00:04:05,630 Speaker 2: of who they serve and God's faithfulness to keep His 64 00:04:05,670 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: promise to His people. It wasn't easy. They faced significant 65 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,940 Speaker 2: opposition and rumors and false accusations that put the project 66 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: on hold for a while. Yet God's purpose prevailed. Nothing 67 00:04:18,339 --> 00:04:20,940 Speaker 2: can thwart God's plan. If He calls us to something, 68 00:04:21,140 --> 00:04:25,020 Speaker 2: He will certainly carry us through. Ultimately, the temple was 69 00:04:25,060 --> 00:04:28,029 Speaker 2: rebuilt and the Israelites were able to live freely in worship. 70 00:04:28,670 --> 00:04:31,510 Speaker 2: God made a way. And the same is true today. 71 00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:34,450 Speaker 2: If it is God's will, nothing can hold us back 72 00:04:34,510 --> 00:04:37,979 Speaker 2: from achieving His purposes. Let us continue to work as 73 00:04:38,070 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: unto the Lord and not human masters. 1 Corinthians 15, 74 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 2: 58 And trust in God's timing and plan. Intercepting faith 75 00:04:46,220 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: and life, Are you easily discouraged when you face opposition 76 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: in your life? How can you discern if it's redirection 77 00:04:52,980 --> 00:04:56,700 Speaker 2: from the Lord or rejection from people? For further reading, 78 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,930 Speaker 2: check out How to Trust God Amid Uncertainty, or Ezra 79 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,750 Speaker 2: chapter 4. 80 00:05:06,230 --> 00:05:09,190 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 81 00:05:09,230 --> 00:05:11,310 Speaker 1: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 82 00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:15,310 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow 83 00:05:15,350 --> 00:05:18,670 Speaker 1: Your Daily Prayer, in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 84 00:05:18,710 --> 00:05:21,830 Speaker 1: a brand new prayer and devotional each day so your 85 00:05:21,850 --> 00:05:25,490 Speaker 1: days begin in conversation with God. 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