Bible References:   Ezra 1:2-4; 7-11; Isaiah Isaiah 44:28 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.   The heart of kings is in the hand of the Lord. We need to look for the Lord to lead us; lead in the Church and the world. Cyrus was a king God used to help restore Israel back to the land. God wants us to be part of witnessing the morality of God to the world.   Jesus came so God could deal with our sins; let God deal with your sins and we are to get on with what God wants us to do. Cyrus made a proclamation that the gentiles were to assist Israel through gifts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and he proclaimed the greatness of God. Today, the story is God rebuilding the temple - you, me, Christian people God wants us to look to God to find the way.   God’s offering us freedom; we have a walk with Jesus Christ.   It starts when we accept Him.   Be a world-changer – those who went from Babylon to Jerusalem.   Put yourself into God’s hands, not sitting in our sin.   T

Bible references:  2 Samuel 9:1-13 The Son of God looks for his lost and ruined people.  David went looking for those left in the house of Saul,  even though Saul had tried to kill David,  to show kindness to them. Mephibosheth, son of Johnathan,  crippled in both feet.  He had a son.  Ziba was Saul's servant and his whole household.  Mephibosheth had fled to a desert, worthless place.  David shows that he wants to restore people and do things God's way.  He showed kindness and charity to Johnathan's son.  David had to search for family related to Saul.  God is faithful to us, and showed us tremendous kindness.   David did this to Mephibosheth.   David could have destroyed all of Saul's family, including Johnathan's son.  This account tells us of real people.    David comes to restore instead of destroying.  This marks a change in the history of Israel.  Mephibosheth = shame David, like Jesus,  seeks this person out to restore him.  This is what Jesus do

Bible reference:  Jeremiah 1:10 "See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10 NIV

Bible references:  Romans 15:1-33 In following the example of Christ,  we are to tolerate one another and each other's failures.  Christian liberty is a wonderful thing,  but its not for our pleasure but to bring glory to God.  We are not to please men and women,  but to be servants of Jesus Christ.   He is our Lord,  our Saviour and example.   We who have trusted him are called sons and daughters of God.   We are to consider one another at all times.  We are to bear one another.    We are not just believers but disciples, because he first loved us. Jesus was meek, and put up with the lowly.  He stood with the weak, not Lord it over them.   As God's people,  disunity causes strife.  We should be building up people (edification).   God did what he did,  because he loves you.  People will never agree on everything,  but we are to live in harmony.   No one is better than another,  we are to serve one one another.    We are not to despise God's people,  the Jews.  T

Bible references:  Romans 4:1-23 This passage is about accepting our brothers and sisters in Christ.   If we can learn to do this, there would be a lot less fighting.  Different opinions should not prevent Fellowship.   In this passage,  the writer wants to make us think. We should be growing and learning all the time.   Aren't we fortunate that Jesus is Lord. Forcing people to accept 'our' doctrine,  is not what God wants.   Jesus never forced people into a tied down doctrine.   Christian Fellowship is not to be disturbed with words.   Jesus looks into our heart and sees us.  God dealt with our sin.  When we deal with our sin,  we can't,  depression sets in.  Dealing with another person's sin is not what we can do.   Only God can deal with our sin.  In Church,  we should build each up, edification.   Reference:  Book of Ephesians.  Some are weak, some are strong,  but all are to build each other up.  We should live to please God, not ourselves.  Our validation come