Ezekiel

He Wants Your Heart

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Ezekiel 14:5
“. . . that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” 

The people in Ezekiel’s day were facing the same struggles we face today, they were failing to look into the Word of God.  As a result, they were easily swayed into believing they could live however they wanted. This lifestyle soon caught up with them and the nation was beginning to collapse. What had once been a thriving city, and the envy of the nations, was now about to collapse in total ruin. In this condition, God reveals his ultimate desire for the people. He says “I will seize the house of Israel by their hearts.”

It seems God had their lips, for there was no shortage of people running around claiming to have a word from the Lord. He had their hands, for people were sacrificing on every high hill throughout the land. He had their feet, for they were running around trying to do whatever the false prophets told them would please God. But what was missing, was their hearts. They had never really surrendered themselves to the Lord, and as a result were not really in a relationship with Him. They spoke as though they knew the Lord, but their hearts were really far from Him.

What God really wants from you is your heart. He wants you to simply bow your knee and submit your ways to Him. He does not want your money, your singing, or your sacrifice, until He has your heart. Have you given yourself to Christ and are you living to please Him? If not, why not? Don’t take another step forward, until you have surrendered yourself and your ways to Jesus.

Pastor Jim

 

Words

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Ezekiel 13:2
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘ Hear the word of the Lord!’”

The world never has a shortage of people who claim to have the answer to spiritual questions. It seems almost everyone has an opinion regarding the purpose of life, and what awaits us after death. The same was true in Ezekiel’s day. The streets were filled with men and women who claimed to know what God wanted from the people. Ezekiel referred to these men and women as false prophets, because their message contradicted the Word of God. I find it interesting that the message Ezekiel delivered to them was simply, “hear the Word of the Lord.”

No matter how confused we might be about who God is, or how to react to the issues of life, the solution is to simply hear the Word of the Lord. Our questions regarding life and death are answered for us within the pages of the Bible. God does not want us to be like those who grope in the dark, but wants the light of His Word to guide our life and living.

Pastor Jim

 

Rebellious 

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Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.”

Rebellion is an interesting thing. Most people, who are in rebellion, don’t see themselves as rebels, but  have justification for their behavior. Children do it with their parents, adults do it with their superiors, and all of us do it with God. I think it might be helpful to note that Ezekiel gives us a Biblical definition of rebellion, so we can recognize whether or not we are currently rebelling against God. He says, a rebel is one who has eyes but does not see and ears but does not hear. In other words, if we know what we are doing is unacceptable to God and we are doing it anyway, then we are in rebellion against God.

Often, we complain that God is silent. We want to hear from Him about a decision we are trying to make, but He does not seem to answer us. This may be because He has been speaking to us, about something we are doing (or not doing), and we have refused to listen. We are rebelling, yet hoping to get marching orders. This happened to King Saul. For years God had been telling Him to give up the throne and pass it on to David. Instead of obeying, he rebelled and did everything he could to silence the voice of God. Then when the Philistine army was approaching, he sought God for instructions on how to defend Israel. His seeking was met with silence. God refused to give marching orders to a rebel.

God’s word gives clear parameters for relationships. If you are violating these parameters, no matter how often you attend church or read your Bible, you are still a rebel. It is time to stop doing what He forbids, and start putting yourself under His authority.

Pastor Jim

Little Sanctuary 

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Ezekiel 11:16
“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”‘”

The children of Israel were facing the darkest time in their history. They had endured great hardships in the past when enslaved in Egypt or wandering in the wilderness, but nothing compared to the darkness of being taken captive by Babylon, and knowing the city and Temple would soon be burned to the ground. If anything ever seemed to point to the end of relationship with God, that did. I am once again amazed at the mercy and grace of God, as He promises through Ezekiel, that in their darkest hour, He will be a little sanctuary to them.

The idea of a sanctuary is not just a hiding place from trouble, but also a meeting place with God. During the wilderness journey, Moses took his tent outside the camp and turned it into a sanctuary, where all who wanted to meet with God could come. As time passed, they erected the Tabernacle that was designed as a meeting place.

Moses was told in Exodus 25:22 “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.”

God promised the Tabernacle would be a place where He would meet with them and speak to them about everything. Now as the Temple is being destroyed, God promises to still be a meeting place for His people. No matter how far you have fallen or how dark things may appear, Jesus has made it possible for you to have a hiding place where you can meet with God. It is not necessary to travel to get there. Right this moment, wherever you are, you can access the little sanctuary and encounter the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

Departing 

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Ezekiel 10:18
“Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.”

The day Solomon’s Temple was built was one of the most glorious days in the history of Israel. It marked the completion of many of the promises God had given to His people down through the centuries. From a single man with a barren wife, a mighty nation had been formed, that now occupied the land that was promised to them. Their enemies had been defeated and held at bay, the people were experiencing a prosperity they had never dreamt would be possible, and the Tabernacle that spoke of mobility, was now replaced with a glorious, permanent Temple. On the day the Temple was dedicated, something quite remarkable took place. We are told, “the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” God’s presence was so “thick” the priests had to stop their ministry. It seems all they could do was fall down before the glory of God. Ezekiel lived about 300 years later and he too saw the Temple and the glory of God. This time, however, the glory was not filling the Temple, but rather was departing from it. He watched as the same glory that once filled the Temple, began to rise from it and slowly depart.

The sin of Israel and Judah had many devastating consequences. The nation was divided, the enemies they once conquered, began to conquer them, the witness they had in the world was lost and the people began to suffer many unnecessary consequences for sin. However,  the greatest tragedy of their sin was when the glory, that once filled the temple, was removed. This happened on a personal level with King Saul. He had once been filled with the Spirit of God, in such a powerful way, that he “became another man.” He was still Saul, but there were striking changes within him that were brought about by the work of the Spirit of God. Years later, as a result of persistent sin we read that the Spirit departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). He lost the peace and presence of God, and when he needed it most, had lost the ability to hear the voice of God.

If you are a believer in Christ, then you have been filled with the Spirit of God. You do not need to fear that He will forsake you, but it is possible, through persistent sin and disobedience, to lose the benefits of fellowship with God. Sin can harden your heart and deafen your ears. Sin can make it seem as if God is far from you, and even make you feel forsaken. The remedy, however, is quite simple. All you need to do is confess your sin and return to following Christ. You may feel miles away from God, but in reality, you are only one confession away. If you turn to Him, He will forgive and restore, and you will begin to once again experience the sweetness of fellowship with God.

Perhaps praying something like this, “Jesus, I am sorry for my sin. I ask that You would forgive me, cleanse me and help me lay this aside and return to walking with you.”

Now that it is laid aside, don’t pick it back up. Instead, get plugged into reading the Bible and a healthy church.

Pastor Jim

 

Saved 

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Ezekiel 9:3-4
“Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.’”

We find a reoccurring theme in Scripture, those who belong to God are protected from His judgment. When the plagues came upon Egypt, the children of God were spared, when judgment fell upon Sodom, Lot was spared, and here, as Judah is being judged, those who turned to the Lord, were spared. It is worth noting, they were protected from judgment because a mark was placed upon them. This is true of those who belong to Christ. Paul explained to the Ephesian Church, they we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). This seal not only marks us as belonging to God, but also ensures we will one day receive our future inheritance in glory.

The reason the child of God is spared from the judgment of God is because Jesus bore it on the cross. In one of the most profoundly theological statements ever made, Jesus declared “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) It was at that point, the wrath of God was being poured out upon all sin. Every sin ever committed was paid for on the cross, so any who trusts in Christ could be forever pardoned.

While it is true, we often must face earthly consequences for sinful actions, if we have trusted Christ, we will never face an eternal penalty.

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Pastor Jim

 

Secrets

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Ezekiel 8:8-9
“Then He said to me,’Son of man, dig into the wall’; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. And He said to me, ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.’”

Some of the imagery of the Bible is designed to get the attention of the reader. This passage certainly does that. Ezekiel explains, while he was sitting in his living room surrounded by the elders of Israel, he was suddenly lifted out of his chair by his hair, and transported hundreds of miles away to the city of Jerusalem. There he was shown a series of scenes that exposed the wickedness of the people, and in particular the leaders. One of those scenes took him to the the Temple where he dug a hole in the wall, found a hidden door, opened it up, and exposed the hidden sins of those who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of the nation.

This passage has been preserved for us for two primary reasons. First, it gives insight into the real cause of the fall of Judah. The nation was defeated by their enemies, not because of military weakness, but because they had departed from the ways of God. This is true on every level. A person, church, or nation who turns its back on God, will find they no longer have the ability to stand, and will soon be defeated.

The second is much more personal. This passage illustrates the fact that God sees into the hidden chambers of the heart of every man. No sin is really committed in secret. Everything we do is done in the open before the eyes of God. Think about any secret sin you might be practicing, and think about doing it on a stage in a room filled with people. In reality, our sins are performed in the very sight of God. It is as if we have ushered everyone else out of the room, set up a private stage, and performed our secret sins for an audience of God. The writer of Hebrews put it this way,

Hebrews 4:12-13

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Notice the final line in that statement, “all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Every action we perform, no matter how careful we might be, is done openly in the sight of God. As frightening as that may be, the verse before it gives us the solution. We are told of the ability of the word of God to act like a sword that cuts into our lives and makes the appropriate changes.

Instead of hiding sin in a secret chamber of your heart, take the time to confess your sins to God, receive the forgiveness He offers, and look into His word for help and strength to put those things behind you.

Proverbs 28:13

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Pastor Jim

 

Times Up! 

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Ezekiel 7:2
“And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel:
‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.”

Ezekiel is declaring to Judah a message that everyone will one day hear. That message proclaimed the end of the road had been reached, and they must now give an account to the Lord for the lives they lived. For them, this day was a sorrowful one. All of the investments they had made were earthly and unable to provide deliverance from divine judgment. Like Belshazzar, they had been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Daniel 5:27).

The Bible declares there will be a day of reckoning for every man. We will all stand before God to receive the wages for the life we lived on earth. If we have made no investments into eternity, that will be a frightening and horrible day. If we have taken the time to prepare in advance, that day will be one of great celebration and reward. The question we must answer is, “How do we prepare for eternity?”

First off, we must deal with sin. Sin means we have violated the law of God, and is a crime committed by all. The Bible declares the penalty for violating the law of God is judgment, but God has provided a way of escape through the cross of Christ. It will not be your wealth, charm, or benevolence that delivers you in the day of wrath; rather, if you have received Christ, your sins are forgiven and eternal life is granted.

Once a person has received Christ, he can begin to store up treasures in heaven. These treasures are given for faithfully following and serving Christ. When we put the things of God above our own desires, we are rewarded. When we take the time to invest in the spiritual well being of others, we are rewarded for that, too. Essentially, spiritual rewards are granted to those who live for Christ.

It is easy to become consumed with the details of life. We can spend almost all of our time tredding water just to keep our head up, and make it to the end of the day. It is important that we look at life through the eyes of eternity. This will enable us to store up eternal rewards, even in the mundane details of life. A young man, faithfully accomplishing his science project, as a witness to his parents of the reality of his relationship with Christ, becomes a means of spiritual reward. The same is true of a young mother caring for her infant son, or an employee seeking to do his job the best it can be done, to impact his co-workers for Christ.

It is time we look at life through the lens of eternity.

Pastor Jim

 

Achilles’ Hill

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Ezekiel 6:11

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, “Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”‘”

When I read of the fall of Judah I am reminded of Achilles, who was one of the more famous characters in Greek mythology. He was the central figure of Homer’s Iliad, and the hero of the Trojan wars. The legend tells the story of Achilles, who was held by the ankle and dipped in the river Styx, providing him with supernatural protection in battle. As a result, his only weakness was his ankle that was not covered by the magical waters. It was this weakness that ultimately cost him his life.

Unlike the story of Achilles, Israel truly had supernatural protection. The great armies of Egypt, Canaan, and Assyria were no match for a nation who received its protection from the Lord. Their safety was never in their vast armies, high walls, or military ingenuity. It was the Lord, who was a mighty fortress protecting His people against their foes.

Tragically, Israel had an Achilles’ heel; an area of weakness that would ultimately destroy the nation. That weakness was their wandering heart. Like Samson of old, their strength lie in their commitment to the Lord. Each time they set aside the Word of God and picked up another practice of the surrounding nations, they came one step closer to their fall. Over the years they had come to the brink of disaster, only to call upon God, receive his mercy, and in essence, a stay of execution. This mercy caused them to misunderstand God and sin, thinking of themselves as indestructible. Even with the Babylonian army encamped about the city, they still foolishly thought deliverance would come. What they failed to realize was, sin will weaken an individual and a nation.

As a child of God, you are protected against the wiles of the devil. All of his attacks are shielded by the grace of God. There is no weapon formed against us that can prevail (Isaiah 54:17). That, however, does not mean we are indestructible. That does not give us license to sin or compromise, thinking we cannot be defeated. Like Achilles and Israel, we all have a weakness and that weakness is sin. The solution is to remove it from our lives and cling tighter to the promises of God’s Word.

Pastor Jim

 

Visual Learner 

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Ezekiel 4:1
“You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem.”

Some people are visual learners. They seem to have a difficult time processing information audibly, but the moment they can see it, things become perfectly clear. Most of the pre-exilic prophets relayed the same message to Judah. They warned of coming destruction by the Babylonians and exhorted the people to turn to the Lord. Ezekiel will share that same message, but will do so with some very powerful imagery. This chapter alone gives three such illustrations.

First, Ezekiel is told to make a model of the city of Jerusalem. When he first began this project, I am sure those who stood back and watched were wondering what he was building. As each day passed, the image became more clear, until it was obvious to all that it was Jerusalem. It must have been quite a shock when he began to fill the surrounding hillsides with foreign troops, and build siege walls outside the city. Even the most casual observer, would have no problem understanding the message.

Once completed, Ezekiel used another approach to get the same message across. Each day he would enter the public square, lay out a bed mat, and lie down on his left side. He remained there throughout the day, and repeated this for 339 consecutive days. One the 340th day, he turned over and laid on his right side for another 40 days. This was done to illustrate the coming judgment on Judah for their iniquities.

Finally, Ezekiel was instructed to bake the bread of affliction. God wanted the people to understand that serving false gods meant becoming slaves. Jesus taught the same truth when He said if we serve sin, we become a slave of sin (John 8:34). Slavery brought affliction and affliction, personal suffering. To deepen the impact of this illustration, Ezekiel was told to cook the bread using human waste as fuel. This proved too much for the prophet, who pleaded with God, and was instructed to use cow dung, instead.

I find it interesting the great lengths God will go, in order to insure that the message gets to everyone. He is still in the business of doing that today. I have heard testimony after testimony of a person who seemed to suddenly be surrounded by believers. They were invited to church, witnessed to at work, and came to realize that an old friend or family member had turned their life over to Christ. It is clear, God desires each of us, and will go to great lengths to reveal His love for us, and our need for Him.

Pastor Jim