How Our Leaders Can Be “Better Than Ezra”

One of the most overlooked men of scripture is a profound leader named Ezra. After Israel had been taken captive by Babylon for 70 years, God turned in mercy and allowed the people to return to their homeland. They were unfamiliar and curious about their surroundings, as well as the Word of God. After all, they had spent an entire generation in the Babylonian life: the most notoriously ‘worldly’ civilization in history! After the rebuilding of the temple, this incredible man of God named Ezra comes onto the scene.

Some things that we learn from Ezra are that above every other trait, he is known as a man who had the hand of God upon him (Ezra 7:6, 7:9, 7:28, 8:18, 8:22, 8:31). Israel desperately needed leaders at this point in their history; it was corrupt leaders that had led to their captivity in the first place! Nothing is more important in any ministry or church than the hand of God being upon the leaders. Leaders are called in scripture to be overseers, shepherds, servants, and ministers. They should be skilled and gifted in their talents but more important than abilities or aptitude is anointing. Leaders of any ministry should above all else be CALLED.

Ezra was also known as a well-versed teacher who was devoted to the study, observance, and teaching of the law (7:6,10). God has entrusted the leaders of this church with His Word, and we are exhorted to preach the Word, to correct, rebuke, and encourage (2 Timothy 4). This requires us to study the Bible to show ourselves approved unto God. We not only should be faithful to study, but like Ezra, be faithful to observe the commands of God. Leaders should be men above reproach who will face a stricter judgment for their position and teaching. Leaders must be COMMITTED to the Word of God.

Ezra was also brokenhearted for the things that break God’s heart. He mourned and grieved over the sins the people had committed, by marrying foreign women and corrupting their society. He confessed and interceded for the people, and had courage and support from his other leaders to do what was right, confronting sinners and standing for the truth without compromise (9:3; 10:1,10) . Church leaders are shepherds and overseers, and when the wolves of false teaching, worldly philosophy, and sensual indulgence begin to reek havoc on the flock, we should be men of prayer and purpose, and defend the sheep. God wants men, not boys, to stand up and be COURAGEOUS leaders of His church.

Finally, Ezra was humble and penitent before God. His prayer in chapter 9 reveals that He knew who God was, and wasn’t slow in admitting who Ezra wasn’t! Leaders are servants, not slave-drivers. We must be men who stand alongside the sheep, not in positions of authority above them. True men of God are CONTRITE in their attitudes and relationships with others.

Are you better than Ezra? You can be! Ezra had yet to see Messiah lifted up and bringing reconciliation to all men. We now have that complete message, and the world has yet to hear! God is raising up for Himself a generation of called, committed, courageous, and contrite men and women who care more about the glory of God than their own lives. And He has empowered us with His Spirit to be with us, to ensure the job is done right, in His strength and power. Is anyone following you? Then lead them like Ezra!

-Pilgrim

Teen Pregnancy--Why Wait?

This week I watched in disbelief as Bristol Palin, the daughter of the spunky former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin did an exclusive interview to talk about her teenage pregnancy and her new advocacy role for teen abstinence. The tragedy for me wasn't that a teen got pregnant, albeit the daughter of a popular conservative Christian politician. Teen pregnancy doesn't surprise me, a proverbial scarlet letter in a hypocritical system that mocks abstinence as being unrealistic, but then on the other end condemns teens who reap the consequences of their actions. "Let kids have sex!" is the mantra, but shame on them if they happen to get pregnant.

We did a survey of our middle/high school students at Calvary Chapel, and here are the surprising results:
Are you a virgin?
YES: 90%
NO: 10%
WHY are you waiting for marriage?
Among many GOOD responses, these concerned us:
“because it is not right"
"cuz, I am"
"cuz I am 11 and its gross!!!" (that was just funny!)
"because I want my first to be my best and all I know"
"because I’m 14 (a lot of kids put this)"
"my parents"
"because I have principles I want to keep”
(read more of this survey by joining the "Parents of Teenagers" Unifyer Group)

My frustration was that Bristol had supposedly learned her 'lesson', and the wisdom she proceeded to share should have been a 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt' nugget of wisdom that all teens should pay strong attention to. But her microphone lost volume and her platform reduced to a worldly stump when she uttered these words, "I think that kids just need to wait 10 more years. If I had just waited ten more years, things would be a lot better".
There was no remorse over sin, no sense that she had been breaking God's commands or violated her marriage covenant with whoever her future spouse might be. Instead of an exhortation to remain abstinent because it pleases the heart of God, yields obedience to His command, and preserves the purity and intergrity of the marriage bed, she actually said in as many words that "abstinence just doesn't work". Then she explained that pregnancy would be easier in 10 years.

Bristol, didn't your mom raise you to understand WHY abstinence not only works, but is biblical and possible if you walk in the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you as a born-again believer in Jesus? In the face of her pragmatic worldview, the only thing that didn't work for Bristol was birth control, or for that matter, self control.

-Pilgrim

Michael Phelps

We never like to see a fallen hero.
The romance of the unconquerable athlete who never winces at pain, overcoming impossible odds, along with cancer, blindness, a debilitating handicap, all while speaking ex cathedra and feeding small orphans in Kenya is intoxicating.
But then they come crashing back to Earth and reality and we are all shocked, dismayed, and relieved to remember their humanity weighs them down like it does the rest of us who can't run a 4.5 in the 40 yard dash.
Some are upset that Phelps got caught. Others are disappointed that such a role model would behave so irresponsibly. Either way, the scales have fallen off our eyes.

The only redeeming point in this tragedy is that we can relate. We read of the failures of the Old Testament saints, the bumbling disciples, and the folly of our forefathers in church history, and we are comforted with a glimpse of familiarity. These aren't cliched metaphorical characters, they are you, and they are me. Show me an infallible man, and I'll start the stopwatch. It's only a matter of time! The Bible tells us that if we think we are standing firm...watch out!

Welcome to Earth, Michael. It's a rough landing, but at least you hit the water.