Ezekiel

Paradise Found

January 24, 2024 • Scott Richards • 2 Corinthians 1:20, Jeremiah 33:25–26, Colossians 1:27, Ezekiel 47—48

The Millennial Kingdom will be glorious. It won't be because of the environment, though it will be wonderful. It won't be because of the leadership, though it will be perfect. It won't be the Eternal State, but it will have the same thing that makes Heaven what it is. Jesus will be there. 1. God remembers the sacrifices we make for Him in this life. 2. God keeps every promise He makes. 3. If you love Jesus, you're going to love Heaven because He's there.

Let The River Run

January 17, 2024 • Scott Richards • Psalm 46:4–7, John 16:12–15, John 7:37–39, Ezekiel 47:1–12

As the Son rules from Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit will be restoring life throughout the Middle East. 1. Water is a picture of life throughout the Bible. 2. The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and Son. 3. While the 1000 year reign will be wonderful, sin and death will still be there.

Ezekiel 46

January 10, 2024 • Scott Richards • Ezekiel 46

God's Guide to Righteous Real Estate

January 3, 2024 • Scott Richards • Zechariah 14:10–21, Numbers 18:20, 2 Timothy 2:19–21, Ezekiel 45

The dimensions and practices surrounding the Temple during the Millennial Kingdom are as significant by what they mention as they are in what they don't. What Jesus has fulfilled will be replaced by His presence. What God is continuing to do will be something we'll all have the honor of remembering with His people daily. 1. There will be different Heavenly rewards, but no lack of access to Jesus. 2. God is as interested in the small decisions in your life as He is the big ones. 3. There is always profit in taking the time to remember all that God has done for us.

Ministry for the Messianic Age

December 20, 2023 • Scott Richards • 1 Timothy 3:1–7, 1 John 1:8–10, Ezekiel 44:15–31, Zechariah 4:6

In a perfect world, we see how ministry is done. In an imperfect world, we can take notes and model what perfect ministry looks like. 1. A wasted life doesn't invalidate salvation, only rewards. 2. Ministry should be the natural produce of a work of God in us. 3. A blameless life is an honest one.

The Secret of Successful Spiritual Service

December 13, 2023 • Scott Richards • Ezekiel 44:1–14, Ezekiel 10:3–22, Matthew 22:41–46, 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Ezekiel's prophecy continues with an insight into who will be serving in a perfect church. The Priests aren't perfect. The Leaders aren't even perfect. They're all simply there because they want to be with Jesus and do what He's called them to do. That needs to be our motivation in ministry. 1. Jesus is a great boss to work for. 2. Jesus will either be your reward in ministry, or a distraction from what you're really looking for out of it. 3. If we don't consider the pattern of life that led to our mistakes, we're just going to keep repeating them.

Grasping God's Glory

December 6, 2023 • Scott Richards • Luke 9:27–33, Revelation 1:9–18, 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Ezekiel 43

Ezekiel is shown by God personally where His throne and altar will be in the Millennial Kingdom. With new features that will as much be corrections as they are reminders of God's dealings with mankind in Israel's history. 1. God's Glory is literally describing His worth. 2. A relationship with God begins with understanding our need for mercy. 3. Heaven is being with Jesus, and something we can enjoy today.

The Reality of Real Worship

Scott Richards • Ezekiel 41—42, Hebrews 10:19–22, Psalm 92:12–15, Hebrews 8:3–6

The descriptions of the Millennial Kingdom are as intentional as we should be in worship. 1. Worship means to bow down. 2. Worship should be done intentionally. 3. Worship is a get to, not a got to.

Future Worship

November 15, 2023 • Scott Richards • Ezekiel 40, Hebrews 12:1–2, Psalm 92:12–15, Hebrews 6:9–12

Ezekiel is shown the dimensions of a Temple he believed was already destroyed. While Solomon's Temple was gone and the dimensions of this New Temple don't match Herod's, Israel is promised when Messiah returns a place where He will meet with them once again the same way we fellowship with Him and each other now. 1. God has made promises to Israel He intends to keep. 2. The Finished work of Christ will redefine the purpose of the sacrifices like it already has with communion. 3. You are ministered to most when you focus on others.

Wrestling with Wrath

November 8, 2023 • Scott Richards • Ezekiel 39, Galatians 6:7–10, Revelation 19:17–21, Revelation 20:7–9

The outcome of the first invasion of Gog and Magog is to make it into a memorial for the two additional times an invasion like it will take place in this world. People without a relationship with God will serve as reminders of what it's like to go against God. Those with a relationship with God will use those reminders as the foundation of their relationship with Him. God's wrath punishes His enemies, but also disciplines and restores His kids. 1. The greatest example of Satan's heart in this world is Jew Hatred. 2. God doesn't like our sin the way we do. 3. The Holy Spirit is what separates those who are corrected and those who are used as a warning.

An Invasion on the Horizon

November 1, 2023 • Scott Richards • 1 Chronicles 1:5, Ezekiel 38, Isaiah 28:14–15, Zechariah 14:12–13

The famous Gog and Magog invasion is as fascinating a prophecy for what we are told as it is referring to what we don't yet know. A lot of things are falling into place in very recent history, but there are still missing pieces to the puzzle that need to be paid attention to as we see the world continuing to head this direction. 1. The problem isn't that God is unclear. We're just not listening. 2. God is not the kind of being you want to be on the wrong side of in war. 3. God will protect His people for the sake of all nations knowing who He truly is.

Let's Stick Together

October 25, 2023 • Scott Richards • Jeremiah 30:8–9, Proverbs 8:8, Ezekiel 37:15–28, John 1:14

God promises a restoration of Israel that would not only see them back in their homeland, but united again to the tribes that had forsaken God centuries before Judah's exile. The way He would accomplish this is the same way He can accomplish it in His church today. His presence. 1. Pride is the leading cause of division and conflict among the people of God. 2. There are no “Lost Tribes of Israel.” God knows where they are. 3. The only way to accomplish unity is through the presence of Jesus.

Prophecy Made Personal

October 18, 2023 • Scott Richards • Ezekiel 37:1–14, Revelation 7, Ephesians 2:1–9, Romans 11:1–27

Ezekiel is shown a vision of Israel's restoration from exile that we have the honor of witnessing with our very eyes today. While their physical and spiritual restoration will be two separate events, the fact the process has begun shows us two things. God keeps His promises to all of His people, and that especially includes the Hebrew people. 1. The first step from hearing from God is knowing you need to. 2. The greatest mark of the heart of Satan is the hatred of the Hebrew people. 3. We are spiritually dead apart from the Holy Spirit.

Operation Restoration

October 4, 2023 • Scott Richards • Jeremiah 29:11–13, Romans 8:28–32, Ezekiel 14:12–14, Ezekiel 36

Ezekiel's prophecy against Edom is followed up upon with a prophecy for Israel. Where one will be destroyed, another will be restored. We are seeing that promise fulfilled literally today. 1. The fact that God is for you is the greatest comfort in any trial. 2. God keeps His promises. It's who He is by nature. 3. God's ongoing faithfulness to Israel is how we know He will be faithful to us.

Winning the Grudge Match

September 27, 2023 • Scott Richards • Romans 8:31, Psalm 139:1–4, Ezekiel 35, Leviticus 19:18

Edom is presented as a cautionary tale of bitterness. Learning from their experience shows everything that it costs, but also a reason to choose the alternative. 1. Anger isn't sinful, but the decisions we make through it can be. 2. Emotions are good servants, but poor masters. 3. Only God can love people like He does, and is willing to do so through us.