Ezra 4:1-5
The Israelites were taken from their home country after they were defeated. In fact, they no longer had a country. They were no slaves of another country. Yet they had enemies. These enemies were historical enemies.
The Samarians had lived in Israel, but they had immigrated to Israel and were not Israelites. They were not God's people. They did worship the Israelites' God.
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.”
Ezra 4:2 ESV
Although they worshipped God, they also worshipped other gods. They wanted to live in Israel, so worshipping their God allowed them to do this. They used God to get something. This is the main difference between God's true children and those who worship other gods.
When we come to church, we should only to glorify God.
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 4:4-5 ESV
Christians do not engage in activities that disturb God's work. The Samarians purposefully and intently disrupted God's plans. Our enemies of God are those who prevent or hamper God's work. It might not be intentional, but the result is the same.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
The main purpose of giving tithes and offerings is to show that we understand everything comes from God. The main purpose of our life is to serve God and live for him.
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
Ezra 4:4 ESV
The enemies of God will try to discourage us. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that serving God is easy. Many times we will go through suffering and make sacrifices for God's glory. There will be times when we might think if it is worth it. There are many enemies of God who will further discourage us because they do not want God to succeed. It is easy to see people who break the rules and succeed.
Anything that keeps us from completely serving God is our enemy. We need to examine our lives and discern what is keeping us from fully glorifying God and doing His will.
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