“Do Not Despise the Day of Small Things”.
Intro: Well morning friends and visitors. My name is Matt Johnson and today we are continuing our study of Ezra and Nehemiah, although I want to speak about a Jewish woman named Esther. You see, if it wasn’t for a courageous step of faith by Esther – there would be no Ezra, no Nehemiah, and all the Jews would now be dead.
Prayer: Well friends as the Jews endeavoured to REBUILD JERUSALEM – Zechariah said to them; (Slide 2; Zech.4:10). Now I want to focus today on those words; “who dares despise the day of small things.” The capstone to the Temple, in Zerubabbel’s hands, may appear a small thing. Just another stone among many. But in Gods eyes it was a source of great joy. THE POINT Zechariah was making is that Gods kingdom is not usually built by us doing great things for God. Rather, God’s Kingdom is built through lots of small acts of faith. Then, all the small acts of faith – add up to something big. So do not despise the day of small things…
Let me give you an example of A SMALL THING. As you know – I’ve just got back from Kenya. (Thank you for your prayers and thank you for your financial support). I want to talk about a small thing a Christian man did in Kenya (many, many years ago) that is now making a huge difference for Gods kingdom today (Slide 3). BISHOP CHRIS, also known as Jacob Lusweti (who we work with Kenya) was raised in a very poor family in an area called KITALE. He’s house growing up looked exactly like this – only it was about half the size. Chris’ family was so poor that as a child he was dressed in banana leaves and often ate banana leaves. (Please know banana leaves are not considered edible or nutritious). But that’s what his mum sometimes used to cook – simply so the kids had something to fill their stomach’s. Then, Chris’ dad died. So at 13 years of age Chris got a labouring job on a building site to help support his mum and siblings. It’s a common story for many kids in Africa. But after about a year the CHRISTIAN BUILDER realised Chris was quite smart.
So the Christian builder – agreed to pay Chris’ mum the little bit of money Chris was earning every week – on the condition she sent him back to school. So the builder then paid 1) all Chris’ school expenses, 2) gave his mum a small living allowance and 3) when he eventually won a scholarship to University in Nairobi – the builder covered some of the initial costs. All this from a Christian builder (who was not a relative, nor even a friend of the family). He was simply a Christian man who saw some potential in a young poor kid. Now who dares despise the day of small things?
AT ONE LEVEL that small act of Christian faith seemed like nothing. The builder was simply obeying God’s command to look after widows and orphans. But that story now shapes Bishop Chris’ life. So Chris now oversees about 30 poor churches and two orphanages. He gives away about 80% of his income and he does so – while telling poor people about Jesus. NEXT YEAR, he hopes to win the federal parliament seat for Kitale which will release about $1m dollars for him to help the poor. After that he plans to run for Governor and maybe even President of Kenya. Big things come from little things. So who dares despise the day of small things?
My main point today is that in Gods economy big things usually come from little things. God doesn’t call us to take huge steps of faith for His Kingdom. God usually calls us to take care of little things and together those little things add up to a BIG thing.
Point 1: King Artaxerxes gives Huge Amounts of Gold and Silver for Gods Worship
Show: Ezr.7:11-12, 15 (Slide 3-4)
Explain: Well, this is a BIG THING. A huge thing. Artaxerxes, the King of Persia, has just given tonnes of GOLD AND SILVER to Ezra to put the finishing touches on Gods temple. The exact quantities are given in Ezra chapter 8 and it equals 22 tonnes of silver and 3.75 tonnes of gold. Now in today’s terms that is $65 million dollars worth of silver and $750 million-dollars worth of gold. Now when you throw in the other gold and silver items listed in Ezra 8 we’re talking about A BILLION DOLLARS. Now why would King Artaxerxes give Ezra a billion dollars? Well, little things add up to big things…
It all goes back 8-9 years in time to a Jewish man named Mordecai and a girl named Esther. Esther was a Jewish orphan. But Mordecai obeyed God’s command “to look after orphans in their distress” and he raised Esther as his own child. This is the little step of faith that kind of explains why Ezra is given a billion dollars. (Now if you want the full story about Mordecai and Esther – you need to read the biblical book of Esther). THE BOOK OF ESTHER records Jewish events – just before Ezra arrives in Jerusalem. Now here’s the abridged version. XERXES THE KING OF PERSIA gets angry with his wife VASHTI and divorces her (IN ABOUT 480BC). Then one of XERXES COUNSELLORS recommends gathering beautiful women from all the different nations Xerxes had conquered – so that he can choose the most beautiful woman as a wife. Now, long story short, that woman turns out to be ESTHER – the Jewish orphan, raised by Mordecai. So Esther becomes KING XERXES WIFE IN 479BC. This is 14 years before Ezra…
Now Mordecai takes another small, but courageous step of faith. PERSIAN KINGS expected their subjects to bow in worship whenever they entered a room. When the King or one of His officials entered a room everyone had to bow in worship. Now Xerxes made a man named HAMAN (2nd in command in Persia) and he issued a law that everyone must bow in worship in Haman’s presence.
But MORDECAI refused to worship Haman because of his Jewish faith. And it’s this act of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE that also leads to Ezra getting a billion dollars. REMEMBER do not despise the day of small things. Let me show you?
Show: Est.3:2 (Slide 6)
Now why would MORDECAI refuse to bow in worship before Haman? (PAUSE) That’s right – his Jewish faith. The first and second commands of God prohibit worshiping anything other than God. So Mordecai A) disobeys King Xerxes command to worship Haman – in order to B) remain faithful to God. It seems that at this POINT IN HISTORY – the Jews regularly had to engage in civil disobedience. And as it turns out – this act of civil disobedience both 1) lands the Jews in hot water and 2) ultimately brings a billion dollars to Jerusalem. You see, Haman gets offended that Mordecai won’t bow in worship before him. So Haman convinces King Xerxes to issue a law that every Jew, in every province in the Kingdom of Persia be put to death. Its genocide.
Show: (Slide 7; Est.3:13)
So this is like Nazi Germany and the holocaust. Every Jew, including those in Jerusalem are now under a death sentence. On the 13th Day of Adar 474-473BC (just 8 years before Ezra) every Jew is facing a death sentence. Satan has gone NUCLEAR. This is genocide to prevent the coming of Messiah. So the whole fate of the world now rests on ESTHER also engaging in civil disobedience to save the Jews. Mordecai tells Esther – God has given her royal position for such a time as this… THE PROBLEM is Esther cannot approach the King without being summoned. So in order for Esther to love her neighbour – she must engage in CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE which carries a death sentence. Go girl…
Show: (Slide 8; Est.4:6)
Apply: Please notice Esther now has to break the law in order to save her people. SOMETIMES civil disobedience is necessary to protest unjust laws and to love our neighbour. So this is another small, but very significant step of faith. At one level Esther just has to talk her husband with some of her feminine charm. At another level she is risking her life to love her neighbour. Again, do not despise the day of small things.
Now as it turns out – XERXES listens to Esther, HAMAN the anti-semite is killed and then MORDECAI is elevated to become second in charge in all of Persia. The reason Ezra and Nehemiah seem to have 1) access to King Artaxerxes and 2) are granted so much latitude all seems to flow back to some small steps of faith by Mordecai and Esther. Mordecai would have been the one who gave Ezra and Nehemiah access to the King of Persia. So after Xerxes dies in 465BC, his son Artaxerxes seems to continue having intelligent Jews like Ezra and Nehemiah in his inner circle. So with Mordecai and Queen Esther probably still alive (and supporting Jewish interests) – ARTAXERXES gives Ezra a billion dollars and he gives Nehemiah permission to rebuild the city walls. What we are seeing is that a lot of SMALL STEPS OF FAITH are now adding up to something big under the Sovereign Hand of God.
God doesn’t usually ask us to do HUGE THINGS in faith. God usually asks us to do little things in faith. 1) Raise an orphan. 2) Give money to support ministry in Kenya. 3) Evangelise your boss at work. 4) Oppose an unjust law. Sometimes these little things – feel like big things to us – because of a lack of faith. But when we ALL do the little things God is asking of us – He brings them together as a big thing. So do not despise the day of small things…
Point 2: King Artaxerxes gives Ezra Religious Freedom
Show: Ezr.7:21-24 (READ)
Explain: Well again, this is A HUGE THING. King Artaxerxes has just given Ezra RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. It’s like Artaxerxes has just decreed the separation of church and state. WHATEVER God has prescribed for the temple is to be respected by Persia’s local officials. This is RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. But this is another huge thing – that has come about because of a lot of small steps of faith…
REMEMBER when the Jews first returned to Jerusalem – it required a lot of small steps of faith. The returning Jews had to walk some 1600km home – to a city that lay in ruins. Would they be able to complete the journey? Would God help them rebuild? It was a lot of little steps of faith. (I’d say this is the norm in the Christian life. It takes a lot of little steps of faith trusting Gods Word). But the gracious hand of the Lord was upon them and they returned safely.
But shortly, after their arrival in Jerusalem – local non-Jewish people started hindering their work. Then, TATTENAI and later REHUM, local Persian officials stepped in to stop the work. So under the leadership of Joshua and Zerubbabel the Jews had to take more small tentative steps of faith. BUT EVENTUALLY KING DARIUS (found King Cyrus’ original edict) and he gave permission for the Temple to be BUILT because the gracious hand of the Lord on them was turning little steps of faith into big things.
So in this context Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews to press on AND lots more little steps of faith finally saw the temple completed in 516BC. At last, the Jews had their temple to worship God. But they still had no real RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Persian laws still trumped Gods law. So when King Xerxes issued the law that everyone must bow in worship before Haman – Mordecai was in A PICKLE. He didn’t have the religious freedom to say no. Should he obey God or should he obey man?
Now at one level you could make the argument that bowing in worship before Xerxes and Haman was just a cultural expression of respect. It wasn’t really idolatry or apostasy. Sounds familiar? There are always SOME PEOPLE – who can justify just about anything – including apostasy, lying and handing the Jews over to Hitler. But Mordecai could not bow to Haman in good conscience. So 65 years after returning to Jerusalem and 42 years after completing the temple – the Jews (in every province of Persia) now face GENOCIDE. It’s 474BC and God now calls on Esther to take another small and courageous step of faith to ensure Gods kingdom keeps being built. Lots of little steps of faith.
Now Mordecai and Esthers faith, then seems to pave the way for Ezra and Nehemiah’s faith. Mordecai’s elevated position in Persia seems to give Ezra and Nehemiah access to Artaxerxes. So having access to the King and hearing what is happening in Israel it’s now time for Ezra and Nehemiah to take some little steps of faith…
Apply: All this reminds me of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3. Paul says (Slide 11 – 1Cor.3:6). The point is – Gods kingdom is not built overnight through any one great person. God’s kingdom is actually built by each and every one of Gods people being faithful to the particular task God has given you – personally. Of course, the task for each of us is to trust in Jesus and use our respective gifts to build up Gods church and God’s kingdom. But for each one of us – that has a particular shape – depending on the gifts, the life experiences and opportunities God has given us. And while it is God who graciously causes the growth – each one of us has the responsibility to be careful how we build. When God calls us to step up – we need to be faithful
Your job is not to save the world or even indigenous Australia. Nor is your job to save every baby facing abortion or every homeless person on the streets of Sydney. Your job is to be faithful with what God has given you and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading – when he calls on you to step up in faith.
Mordecai told Esther – “you have to come to this royal position for such a time as this.” (Est.4:14). Well you also – have been given certain privileges and honours by God for such a time as this. The Church is under attack. Young people are struggling and the sanctity of life is disappearing. The question is – are we being faithful? You see, this is our time. The church’s time. God is still calling us to build his kingdom and simply to play our small part in faith. So do not despise the day of small things – because little things add up to BIG THINGS.
Point 3: King Artaxerxes gives Ezra – Civil Independence
Show: Ezr.7:24-25 (Slides 12-13)
Explain: Well friends, this is THE BIG ONE. Artaxerxes – has just given Ezra CIVIL AUTHORITY to re-establish Israel according to Gods law. This not just spiritual freedom. This is civil autonomy. Ezra has permission to GOVERN Israel in accordance with Gods law. EZRA’S JOB is now to write up THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW STATE OF ISRAEL (in accordance with Gods Word). As an expert in God’s law – it’s now time for Ezra to shine. Ezra’s little contribution of faith – in the grand scheme of God – is to make sure civil and judicial authority is upheld in accordance with Gods Word. What no man could have achieved for Israel. God has now graciously done – through a whole lot of little steps of faith.
Of course, this is what THE WESTERN WORLD has enjoyed for so long. We have had 1) religious freedom and 2) civil autonomy to build our societies upon God’s laws in Scripture. This was God’s blessing and we have enjoyed God’s blessing. But as you know that seems to be slipping away. Religious freedom is increasingly under threat. Respect for Gods laws is rapidly slipping away. More and more we have laws that are no laws at all. Laws that call evil-good and good-evil. Laws that have no respect for the sanctity of life…
Apply: But this passage finishes with Ezra saying (Slide 14; Ezr.7:28). This phrase “the hand of the Lord” or “the gracious hand of the Lord” – gets repeated numerous times in Ezra and Nehemiah. God’s Sovereign gracious, hand over history is working through his people’s faith to achieve his big purposes.
And friends, Gods gracious hand is still over us, in the Lord Jesus Christ. WE KNOW THIS. We are not worthy of God’s love or salvation. We deserve Gods wrath because of our sin. (GOSPEL) But when Jesus died upon the cross – he took the penalty for all our sins. He did this because he loves us. AND GOD IS NOW SAVING US – by His grace, through faith in Jesus. If you believe Jesus died for you and you truly accept Jesus as your Lord – God’s is graciously calling you home. He is calling you, guiding you and encouraging you to take what often appears to be small insignificant steps of faith for His Kingdom. But they are not really small insignificant steps because under God gracious hand he takes our small steps of faith and turns them into something far bigger and more significant than you can imagine…
So what is God calling you to do in faith for Him – at the moment. Maybe it’s more generosity. Maybe it’s a particular ministry – for which you have a special heart. Maybe, it’s a personal ministry to someone in your family where you need to give a little more. Well, be faithful and do not despise the day of small things, because lots of small things add up to big things under the gracious hand of God…
A few years ago – a man named Chris Barasa called me to come and preach in the back-waters of Kenya. I was sure it was an African scam. Had to be… But the more I prayed about it – the more I believed God wanted me to do it. So I pressed on some doors and God miraculously provided me with about $15,000 to go to Kenya, not once, but twice. Didn’t cost me or the church a cent. It just took a step of faith outside my comfort zone…
But I now see that Gods Sovereign gracious hand was linking a pastor in Australia with a pastor in Kenya who both have similar hearts for the least, the last and the lost. Now it may not yet be a big thing. But this year our little church – ran a conference in Kenya that taught THE BOOK OF ROMANS to more than 100 pastors. That cost our church about $7,500 for airfares, study materials, food and accommodation. One of the Kenyan pastors said to me; “You know each pastor here has about 50-100 people in their church. So by preaching Romans so clearly to 100+ pastors – you may have impacted the lives of 5,000-10,000 people. The pastor said to me. This is not a small thing. This is a big thing. By God’s grace I’d say he may be right. But on top of that – your incredible generosity led to a further $21,000 1) building a Sunday School room, 2) providing 140 Bibles for pastors, 3) 100 mattresses for orphans, 4) 6 piano’s, 2 guitars, a drumkit and 8 speakers for churches, and 5) real encouragement to many pastors and Christians.
So please remember that under Gods gracious hand our SMALL STEPS of faith are leading to a Kingdom that can never perish, spoil or fade. We don’t have to be great in ourselves. We just need to FAITHFUL in the little things God is calling us to do – day by day. So do not despise the day of small things and carefully consider what royal position has God given you – for such a time as this?
