Ezra 5:11

Ezra 5:11 says, And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.  When asked their names, the men of Israel told who they were instead.  They were the servants of the most high God of heaven and earth, Who is also the only real God.  They said they were there to rebuild the house of God that had been built many years ago by the great king of Israel, who was not named but was Solomon.  Our names are not as important as our relationship with God and our obedience to Him.   Verse twelve adds, But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.  They then gave the reason for the need to rebuild the house of God, or Temple.  The people of Israel had turned away from God and provoked Him, so He allowed then to be defeated by Nebuchadnezzar and the Temple to be destroyed.  As Christians, we cannot turn away from God's will in our life and expect there to be no repercussions.  This does not mean that we will lose our salvation, which we can never do, but that we may lose the blessings that God would have given us in this lifetime.  Verse thirteen continues, But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.  They then said that even though Nebuchadnezzar had defeated them and taken them away captive, that Cyrus the king of Babylon had given them permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.  We also know that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Temple, that would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days, and this was accomplished with His crucifixion and resurrection on the third day.  We today do not worship in a particular building, nor are we called on to build one.  We worship the resurrected Lord, not by permission of man, but by the calling of God to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen states, And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the Temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the Temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the Temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;  Not only did Cyrus tell them to rebuild the Temple, but he returned the vessels of the Temple as well.  What we need to realize is that God had preserved these, and He will preserve us forever as well if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the Temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.  They said they were acting under the order of King Cyrus in bringing the vessels back and rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Whatever we are doing to build the kingdom of God today is done by His authority and if we obey His call, He will provide us with everything we need in order to accomplish what He calls us to do.  Of course, we must act in faith in order for this to be true.  Verse sixteen continues, Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.  They said Sheshbazzar came and began building the Temple, and that it still wasn't finished.  We as Christians are continuing the building of God's kingdom started by all those who have gone before us, and the work will never be finished until Jesus Christ returns.  Verse seventeen concludes, Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.  They said if they had questions, they should search the King Cyrus's records and see if this were not true. If people have questions about our spreading the gospel today, we can only refer them to the Bible, God's record of His work of restoration and calling of people to Him. This was accomplished by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and faith in Him as one's personal Savior and Lord is the only way to claim God's gift of salvation.