This week Steve gave us a great message from Ezra 4 on blockages to growth.

1. Hi

2. Blockages to
growth?
Ezra 4

3. Ezr 4:1-3 The enemies of Judah and Benjamin
heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to
the LORD, the God of Israel. So they approached
Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, "Let
us build with you, for we worship your God just
as you do. … "You may have no part in this work.

4. • Culture
• Education
• Media (esp.
social media)
• Friends
• Family
• Religion
• God’s Word
Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What influences the way you think?

5. “It’s strange that we won’t
let certain people into our
house through the front
door, but we allow them
in through the television.”

6. Thoughts=> Feelings => Words =>Behaviour =>Habits=> Values
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do
not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his
heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is
full of. (Lk 6: 43-45)
• Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Prov 4:23)

7. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22, 23)

8. SO… what
influences the
way you
think? What
are you letting
in?

9. Ezr 4:4 5 Then the local residents tried to
discourage and frighten the people of Judah
to keep them from their work. They bribed
agents to work against them and to frustrate
their plans.

12. Bound tightly
to God and
His Word

14. Ezra 4: 6, 12, 13 … the enemies of Judah wrote a letter
of accusation against the people of Judah and
Jerusalem. … "The king should know that the Jews who
came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this
rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the
foundation and will soon finish its walls. And the king
should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are
completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the
Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and
tolls to you.

15. Digging up
dirt from
your past

16. Ps 103: 8-12 The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to
get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly
accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all
our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For His
unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the
height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins
as far from us as the east is from the west.

17. Why do we continue to allow our
past to impact our present and
future?