THE BOOK OF EZRA, WHEN THE ENEMY “TALKS,” REALLY “WRITES!”

January 6, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

We're only in the 4th chapter of Ezra (4 of 10 chapters) and an enemy has already appeared on the horizon. (I had no idea we would be studying the "tactics" of the evil one in this little Book of Scripture!) In fact, this is the third day of … [Continue reading]

THE BOOK OF EZRA, “WEAKENED HANDS”

January 5, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

A handful of Jews (relatively speaking) were trying to rebuild the Jewish Temple, after seventy years of grueling captivity. Living in a "strange land" (Babylon), certainly not the Holy Land! But opposition had risen! From the mixed-up … [Continue reading]

THE BOOK OF EZRA, “DANGER!”

January 4, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, how shrewd the Devil is! How "wily," meaning "skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully." A word that reached its peak use about a hundred years ago, and now must be defined. And today's Text, Ezra 4:1-3, illustrates what I … [Continue reading]

THE BOOK OF EZRA, “OPPOSITION!”

January 3, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Nearly anytime God's people inch forward, make progress ... there will be opposition! And the Book of Ezra has carefully recorded for us how a handful of Jews, returning from Babylon, built an altar to Almighty God. And how they immediately … [Continue reading]

THE BOOK OF EZRA, ONE’S “POINT OF VIEW”

January 2, 2018 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Jews' Temple (the one history now calls "Zerubbabel's Temple") is not yet complete. Not by a long shot, as we will see in a few lessons. BUT ... the foundation has been laid! At least it had by the time Ezra 3:11-13 pronounces this new … [Continue reading]