Introduction: Don’t you want the blessings of the Lord? Do you know who Ezra was? He was a scribe who desired his family to be BLESSED. In the days when Israel had been taken into captivity because of the Lord’s chastisement, Jehovah God still had a plan for His people. The prophet Jeremiah writes concerning Israel.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

In other words, the God of Israel had a hopeful future for His people. But in God’s economy, He expects us to get in position to receive His BLESSINGS. Notice the process of getting BLESSED by the Lord.

1. By SEEKING Him!

“The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” (Ezra 8:22)

Wise men still seek Him! Do you make it a point every day to “seek” the Lord? Why not start now?

2. By FASTING before Him!

“21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.” (Ezra 8:21)

The word “afflict” is עָנָה : (aw-naw’), which means to be bowed down or afflicted.

Have you bowed down before the Lord lately? God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Did you see how Ezra wanted a “right way” before the Lord? That should tell us there is a “right way” and a “wrong way.” The only way to know the “right way” is to get down low in the presence of Jesus Christ.

3. By POSITIONING our family and possessions before Him! (Ezra 8:21)

The word “substance” is רְכוּשׁ, (rek-oosh’) which means property, goods. After all, our Lord owns it all anyway. We are not owners, rather we are managers of what our Lord entrusts us.

As we seek the God of the Bible, He BLESSES even our “little ones.” The word for “little ones” is טַף, (taf), which by definition means children.

Do you want your family BLESSED? We all do! Why not get in position and expect the BLESSING? Now our Lord’s added BLESSING may be somewhat different than what we thought it would be….but Jesus is true to His WORD! (Not always material but spiritual blessings)

4. By FOLLOWING Him!

“31Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” (Ezra 8:31)

The word “delivered” is נָצַל (naw-tsal’), which means to strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away.

Here Ezra is testifying that the Lord protected them from even being ambushed by the enemy. Are we really FOLLOWING Jesus? Don’t forget, there is a cross involved. Jesus said, “37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt 10:37-39)

Conclusion: What are you willing to do in order to get the BLESSING from the Lord?
1. Seek Him
2. Serve Him
3. Surrender to Him