Ezra the prophet
If you have ever read the book of Ezra, there is no doubt you must have been as impressed as I was at how this servant of the Most High God, an anointed prophet of God, had the ability to turn the hearts of God's people to the Lord.  There is no doubt he was ordained by God for that very purpose, as well as others. 

Israel had just been brought out of captivity and was allowed to return to Jerusalem, winning the favor of King Artaxerxes to rebuild the temple.  Just as the captives settled into their lifestyle of freedom, they began to intermarry with unbelievers and idol worshipers in the land.  The Bible tells us in Ezra chapter 9 that they were sinning "...according to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and the Amorites."  

When the news was brought to Ezra, the high priest and prophet among the people in Jerusalem, that the people intermarried and were returning to sin and abominations, Ezra tore his priestly robe and his mantle, he ripped hair out of his head, and even pulled hair out of his beard, he was so grieved because of the sins of the people.  Most people today would simply cast him off as a madman. 

Ezra was no maniac.  He had the fear of God and he reacted in the manner he did because he knew Israel already suffered greatly and that they were taken into captivity previously because of their past sins.  Israel had been given a very merciful opportunity by God to start over, to serve Him and remain free people in Jerusalem.  Ezra knew that because the people were returning to idolatry and abominations that the wrath of God would soon fall upon them again; he feared God and knew the harsh consequences of their sins. 

Ezra fell on his knees before God in front of the temple of God and he cried out to the Lord (Ezra 9-10).  He cried and grieved in front of the whole nation and said, "...our iniquities have increased over our heads and our trespass has grown up into the heavens...now, what can we say after this?"  As Ezra continued to cry out to God on his knees, grieving, he was such a sight that the people of Israel began to gather around him in amazement, then they too started crying out in grief for their own sins. 

This reminds me of another scripture, "...as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children" Isaiah 66:8.  Isaiah prophesied here of the rebirth of the nation Israel, although I believe the meaning goes beyond this prophecy alone.  When we, as Christians, fast and pray and cry out to God for our family, our children, friends, or whoever God gives us a burden for, the Lord will draw that soul to repentance by His Spirit.  I have experienced this work of God because of the prayers of His people. 

The hour is late, friends, and it is time to wake up and stop living the "status quo."  If Ezra had never cried out to God in front of the temple, the people would never have turned to God, but they would have continued in their abominable lifestyles.  Many Christians in the world today have children, brothers and sisters who are very steeped in sin, or even satanic bondage.  If God's people don't get a burden for their souls, they may be lost for eternity. 

Many Christians today are so asleep spiritually that they are sending their children off to ungodly school systems, to be taught ungodly things by secular humanist curriculum and teachers much of the day, to be with children who have no God consciousness; then when the children of the same Christians go astray, they are perplexed as to why it happened.  For more information about what you can do, please visit the Home Education page of this website.  For those of you who can see no way to get your children out of an ungodly school system, PRAY.  Prayer changes things!  Fast and pray - God can and He will make a way for you and your children.  I made more money than my husband did at the time, as a government employee, when the Lord gave me a burden to stay home and care for my newborn son and home educate him at a later date.  We didn't even have a car at one point.  I acted by faith and we went through some very perilous times financially, but we survived.  Would I make the same sacrifices to see my son's soul saved, instead of ending up Godless and in hell fire for eternity?  Yes, absolutely YES!

My son has actually gone on home to be with the Lord.  God took him at the age of only 24.  Only a few hours before the Lord took him, we prayed together and sang gospel songs.  There is not a doubt in my mind that Levi is in heaven, in fact God granted me a visitation with him to comfort me after his passing.  If I hadn't raised him in the admonition of the Lord, he could have spent eternity in hell, instead of glorious heaven with our Lord and Savior.  This is serious, friends.  Eternity lasts forever.

Are you, your children and your family prepared for eternity?  Many people don't want to think about it, but do you know any of your forefathers who have not gone into eternity?  Compared to forever, our lives here are very short.  If you aren't saved, or if you have family or children who aren't saved, now is the time to admonish them to serve the Lord, later could be too late.  Prayer changes things, friends.  Salvation is only a prayer away.  If you aren't saved, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website.  God bless you and I hope to meet you in glory.