Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 1 – 2
• This chapter is dated 18 months after the previous chapter. More than a year has passed since the fall of Jerusalem, and Egypt is up next. The previous four chapters dealt with the judgment upon Egypt, this final chapter of the second section of the Book of Ezekiel, deals with a lamentation over Egypt. Not so much a judgment but a grieving over the fall of the wicked.
• We will see in the next chapter, in Ezekiel 33:11 we read, “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” Even when those that hate Him fall, our Lord grieves.
• And this chapter is indeed the end of section two of this book. If you recall, or by way of review, you can divide Ezekiel into three sections. Section 1 is chapters 1 through 24 and they deal with the judgement of Israel. Section 2 is chapters 25 through 32 and they deal with the judgement of the surrounding nations. And finally, Section 3 is chapters 33 – 48 and they deal primarily with the future of Israel.
• And so, the lamination over Egypt and notice, God says about Pharaoh, you think you are a lion, and surely you could have been, that was what you were destined to do and be under the blessing and leadership of God, but instead you have become a monster in the waters. Perhaps a crocodile as many suggest. And remember the waters are a picture of the peoples.
• But rather than lead well and serve well, the statement here is that he as the leader that troubled the waters and fouled the rivers. He stirred up the trouble, he was the source of it, and in turn, the people were fouled. They were trampled. A sobering thought, that when we allow ourselves to start problems, especially relational problems, what we are really doing is trampling them under our feet. ∞
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 3 – 5
• The idea here is that he will be taken from where there is comfort, where he is comfortable, and will be placed where there is no comfort. Like a fish out of water. Stirring up trouble and trampling others under your feet, trampling God’s calling on your life under your feet, lands you in great discomfort…disquieted…discomposure.
• I sense that God has a fishbowl for me in this life. Like specifically constructed for how I am constructed. Maybe a bowl isn’t enough for you, ok, a fish tank. And perhaps its an ocean, I don’t know. Don’t get hung up on confinement. The point is that God has a plan for me. A future, a hope, love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness…where I am not a slave to my flesh but in complete self-control…and that place has been fashioned for me, only me…but if I choose to forsake God…three-dollar Bible word that simply means, leave Him for something else…then I’ll miss something.
• Maybe you grew up with everything a child could ever want or need… For me there were things that a child needs that were withheld. A father, acceptance, approval, consistency, stability, godliness…and I think about that…if there was a way I could have had those things… I can’t go back. But I can move forward and there is a way today…find and follow the Lord in my days. Grow towards Him…and in me finding those things, my children just simply get them. Isn’t that beautiful?
• In walking in the fruit of the Spirit, those that love you and you say you love benefit so very greatly. They get also, the fruit of the Spirit. Here we see a completely different picture. I wonder if you noticed, those that come around him are filled with flesh. The Bible says that the flesh profits nothing and that from the flesh comes forth corruption…it kills me personally to think that I am perhaps feeding my family waste and corruption…
• You are what you eat. I freak out at this thought, man. Like you’re too close to a ledge…you haven’t fallen over but the sensation in your gut is just like you have…I can’t…I can’t accept a version of April’s husband, a version of their dad, a version of pastor of this church that feeds flesh to the people. So, what am I to do? No choice or decision to be made…not difficult even to answer…grow stronger in the Lord.
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 6 – 9
• That short phrase “not known,” is an important one for several reasons. The affect of the flesh, the reach of sin is far more than we know. And I am convinced, you all, we are good people…if it were shown to us the full runway of that sin landing in your life, we would think again before running after it. But there’s also a flip side of this. That when you do make a change, start reading your Bible, start studying each day, spending a short time just sitting alone with the Lord in the moments and letting Him “right” your heart and thinking…when you do make the decision to serve in church, when you do finally drop that grudge, overlook that offense, forgive that wrong that someone has done to you…that too has an affect far more than we know…and it is very good.
• There’s also what could have been…I often wonder, am I living the best version of me I could be living? Maybe I’m the only one that thinks about these things…because its not just what I have amassed in life that defines me, its who I am…and who I am is not today’s decision…it is yesterday’s. It cannot be known what is the best version of my heart possible today…but I can put an insurance policy on it…by walking in the Spirit and growing up in the Lord and that gives me rest.
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 10 – 14
• This is speaking of a cleansing of the peoples. The waters are muddy and it is ungodly leadership stomping about causing all the trouble. And so, the waters won’t be cleaned, they will be cleared…and replaced with oil, which is a picture of the presence of God. What I believe is soon ahead for this world…especially evident and obvious and seen in our own nation…
• Forget if you think one presidential candidate is evil and the other is good…we’re past that now…now we are at no president…no leader, no direction and the nation is literally divided. Will the Word of God be proven wrong? Mark 3:25 says, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln gave a speech when he was simply a candidate for senate on June 16th, 1858 and in that speech, he said, “We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed -"A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”
• We are here. The division will cease or we will cease…its sobering for sure and I don’t know how this will play out for how long…but I do know this, you had better be right with God right now…because not only is tomorrow not promised but man its not even partly predictable. God speaks not of cleansing here, but clearing and the clearing is met with the presence of the Lord which is truly our hope…
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verse 15
• The constant element of grace throughout the judgment and lamentation of the world is that the enemies of God would come to know Him…
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 16 – 21
• The Jews regard this portion of the scripture as the worst thing that can be said about a people or a nation. The sorest of lamentations. And Ezekiel makes reference to folks conversing in hell…knowing who they are…and later we will see that they wait in shame and anguish for the final judgement.
• Now, understand, that is hell. What the Bible refers to as the grave, Sheol, Hades, Hell. That is not the final destination for those that have died in their sins. That is the holding place, the temporary, awaiting final judgment. The Bible speaks also of the Lake of Fire which is not hell. The Lake of Fire is outer darkness, it is nothingness, it is hopelessness…described in the Bible as a place where the fire is not quenched…and yet gives no light…where suffering over what could have been never meets its completion, because now, all is revealed…
• The name for that place is Gehenna or in the Greek, “ge hinnom.” The word is used twelve times in the New Testament…eleven times by Jesus. “Ge hinnom,” or “Valley of Hinnom.” This was an actual place in ancient Israel. Hinnom was probably the name of a person in Israel who owned this area and it was a narrow valley just outside of Jerusalem where bones and trash were sent to be burned…and since there is always trash, the fire never stopped. It was basically the dump…
• Interestingly enough, in the Old Testament it was also the place where Molech was worshipped and kings like King Ahaz burned his own children alive there in worship to this false god. Jesus used the symbolism of Gehenna to describe the place of everlasting abandonment and separation from God. The suffering there is eternal and while shame persists and loss and regret persists, we have no indication that there is ever interaction again…it is Alone… Absolutely not God’s will for you as Jesus said, His will, I’ll never leave you…You and I need to ensure that we are right with God and that Way is through Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 22 – 24
• Elam was ancient Persia…and Persia of course is ancient Iran….
Ezekiel Chapter 32 Verses 25 – 32
• I would contest that this is truly a poor translation or perhaps culturally we would understand this differently. This does not mean comfort as in relief, this literally means that he will see them filled with suffering and grief that matches his own…
• It’s been said, “Misery loves company,” and that is a way you could think about this idiom, but I would both agree and disagree with that statement. These are the last days…and so many are miserable living that beach life…Life is hard and then you die…that saying…when Romans 12:21 says that we ought not be overcome by evil but we should overcome evil with good…that is our call in these last days. Beginning first with our own selves…and then with the church we attend, the neighborhood in which we live, the job where we work and the nation that we love… A perfect setup for the next chapter so read ahead!
Ezekiel 32 vs 1-32
Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek
November 11, 2020 • Pastor Matt Korniotes
Ezekiel 48 vs 1-35
April 21, 2021 • Pastor Matt Korniotes
Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verse 1 • Now there may be an intricacy here worth just a minute or two. During the Great Tribulation, we read in Revelation 7 that there will be 144,000 Jews “sealed” as servants of God and verses 5 – 8 detail 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. However, Dan is not mentioned. Instead, Joseph’s son Manasseh appears to take his place. Why? • Well, first it’s appropriate in one sense as Joseph was given a “double portion” by God in Genesis 48:22. But why omit Dan? We can only speculate because we are not told but many believe it is because Dan was the first of the tribes of Israel to go after, accept and embrace idolatry. (Which are really all the same because the result/destination of all three is the same) • That’s an interesting offering and certainly acceptable and supportable. And if that’s true, then after the Great Tribulation, notice, Dan is restored. Not only that, as a demonstration of the awesome and amazing grace of God, not only is Dan restored, he is made and put first. • I will be the first to say that I have failed God far more times than I care to or could ever remember. But I’ll also be the first to say that I know that He put Himself on the cross knowing all of my failures. You need to be fully reconciled to God today. Know why? Because you are… (It’s like Falcon holding Cap’s shield but it’s me holding the heart of God saying, “Feels like it should be someone else’s.” And He replies, “It isn’t. It’s for you.”) Maybe I’ve fallen. Embraced idolatry. Not guarded my own heart and now my heart is a full-on knot needing to be untied or in the process of being untied. Maybe I’m not a good person at all. God still, right now, puts me and He puts you even before Himself. He calls me worthy. He calls me to just come home…that’s awesome. Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 2 – 8 • Now I think equally as important as the point we just received regarding the tribe of Dan, Judah (and we will find later in the Chapter this about Benjamin as well) is given a portion of the land, look… having the sanctuary in it. Ok why? Some have postulated, and I find this quite acceptable, that Judah and Benjamin are ultimately given honor and privilege in the architecture and plan of God due to their faithfulness. Benjamin and Judah were the only two tribes to remain faithful to David (or the Davidic Dynasty I should say) who was the king, the ruler, by the will and word of God. They, as you may know, formed together the Southern Kingdom or Judah while the rest of the tribes formed the northern Kingdom or Israel when the nation split. • So, let this be as an encouragement to all people. Because we all fall into these two categories (Dan and/or Judah) in seasons and situations of life. There is on the one hand, the tribe lost (as it were) to idolatry. God welcomes you home. And then there is on the other hand, walking in faith and faithfulness to God will have its reward. He has not forgotten you. You are not forsaken. • It’s the story of the prodigal son. The son that returns to the father is honored with a feast. A celebration because the son that was once dead to the father has returned and the father’s heart is overjoyed. But how does that story begin? Luke 15:11, “There was a man who had two sons.” That brother never left. Always served his father. And for him, in the same story, he became distraught. • Luke 15:28-31, “He was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. So, he answered and said to his father, “These many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” And he said to him…here’s the answer to that heartache…, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” • Here is the God we serve. That if you have been far from Him, there is nothing more that He wants then for you to just come back home. Look, all the way back home… To come all the way home is to leave what is not of home behind. Nothing would please Him more. And look, if you have not been far from God and yet it seems that the bottom is dropping out of everything…He is a God that cares and loves you…so what does He do…He pleads with you by the ministry of the Holy Spirit and reminds you…puts it back into your mind…maybe even now…that He hasn’t left, won’t and hasn’t forsaken you (even though it may seem and feel that way), and all that He has is still yours. (Just like the song “Do It Again,” and I love this as the people sing, “I’m still in your hands, this is my confidence, you’ve never failed me yet!”) • Thus, Dan….unfaithfulness is forgiven and you are received. And also Judah…faithfulness is honored and you are received. This is the heart of the Father. Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 9 – 15 • Ok so check this out…dwellings and common-land…the city shall be situated in the center of it. Allow me this exhortation church… No matter what you are into, what you do, where you go, your down time and free time, may I just exhort you to keep the Lord at the center of it? I’m not talking about everything in your life is religious formality. That’s not what I’m talking about at all. And if you know me at all, you know that is not my life nor my heart. • Jesus laid this out for us in John Chapter 10 Verse 10. He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Paramount in your heart of hearts should be, let it be, make this decision for yourself child…first in position in your heart ought to be the solid rock of Christ and the Word of God. Build everything from there and the thief can do nothing. Living unto the Lord, that is a life of safety, peace, joy and blessing. No matter what comes or does not come. Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 16 – 19 • Everyone does their part. This is a healthy body. Each of us, not members of the church or this church, but Christians in general, all have a job to cultivate. Now, this phrase in the Hebrew is ultra-interesting and really, it’s not the word cultivate per se, it’s probably translated this way due to contextual proximity to the previous sentence about food. The word used is actually, “serve.” • The will of God and the job we have as Christians is to first serve the Lord and second, to serve others in the things of the Lord. That’s it. That’s the tool that I am. And when I am not used for that purpose, when I go my own way, which any other way is really to serve myself, then I and my life can get all out of sorts in a hurry. • I was thinking about this. It takes a long time to build a house. Build a car…whatever…but both can be destroyed in only moments. The thief knows this…we need to protect against this in our lives. How? Serve the Lord. Serve others unto the Lord. • What is the will of God for you? What are you called to do? How it is that you and I can walk into the life that God has planned for us? Which is definitely the best version of us…?? Serve the Lord. Serve each other. That is exactly the bombshell Jesus came to reveal. Truly the full un-fleeced revelation that was being set up throughout the Old Covenant and entire Old Testament. • They asked Jesus one day, “What is the meaning of life?” What they literally asked in Matthew 22:36 was, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” But Jesus knew the real question which was, “What is most important? In this entire world, what is the meaning of it and behind it and even for it and me…” • And in Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Each of us, every Christian. This is the will of God for your life. Get these right and everything will be as the Lord would have them to be in your life. Fall off the rails on these two, and…well, imagine a train at full speed coming off the rails…as the thief, the derailer celebrates your fall… Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 20 – 35 • Ugh! What an amazing way to end this book! What a remarkably comforting way for God to return Ezekiel back to Babylon. God is so good. Ezekiel had heard time and time again from God. God had spoken directly to him. And yet he still was in captivity. And so, the kindness of God…God speaks to him again. And the phrase that God holds him tightest to tell him is comprised of these last four soul strengthening treasures no doubt to Ezekiel himself. “The Lord is There.” Jehovah Sama (pronounced shawm-maw). This is the hope that lies ahead for each of us. The place and condition for each of us that know the Lord and have been born again by the Spirit of God. • But even now…this is the joy and the stability of the Christian. I love this name. I want the name of the city of me, at the center of who I am both on the inside and on the outside, my heart of hearts, I want it to be this today. “The Lord There.” Why? Because it’s the right thing to do? Perhaps. I get it. But truly, because of who He is and what He has already accomplished for me, and for the solid hope that remains in my future because of Him. • He has cast my sin as far as the east is from the west. He gives me a second chance and a second try every morning. He renews mercy upon my soul. He renews my strength. He comforts, He consoles, He encourages, He leads, He provides, He gives me hope, He gives me a true north for my compass that left on its own just spins and spins and spins…or worse its like Jack Sparrow’s compass and just points to what I want which most often breaks the entire meaning of life (to love God first and serve others unto the Lord)…He loves me and He is good to me. He is kind to me and desires kindness towards me… • Yup, take hope suffering saint, this is where we will be…where your faithfulness will be rewarded…honored…put on display as it were…and for the saint suffering loss at your own doing…your unfaithfulness will be forgotten…this is where we are going…but…but…but…this is also where you can be today. Right now. • Put down the sin. Put it down. Pick up your cross. Pursue the Lord and His will for your life. Put the Lord at the center of it all and walk in agreement with Him, in fellowship with the Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit… Tonight, is the name of your heart of hearts, “The Lord is There?” At this moment, we all CAN answer yes. Please come home…
Ezekiel 47 vs 1-23
April 14, 2021 • Pastor Matt Korniotes
Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verses 1 – 2 This is interesting because this is definitely different than any characteristic that we’ve ever seen concerning the Temple. Ezekiel says that he says water flowing from the temple itself. A couple of things here. This means that the temple is somehow the source… Water is a critical element of life. In fact, it is the most important resource in the world. Check this out…it is essentially what we are as water makes up 2/3 of the human body and 70% of the human brain is water. Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid including sulfuric acid. It is water that regulates the earth’s temperature. Look, why am I going into this? Because the most essential element that you and I need today in order to be complete, to be well, is to receive and to relate and to walk with the Lord. And the fact that water flows eastward, towards the world, out of the temple as its source illustrates that for me very clearly. The source isn’t a job, a marketplace, a stock market, a stadium or a store…the source is the Lord Himself. Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4:10, “If you know who it is you are talking to, that I am the gift of God for even you, then you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” This water flowing is that living water and I submit to you that living water is available to you and to I today in the act and effort and faith and trust in God. Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word...” Significant. The Word of God itself is likened to this living water. Jesus said, John 7:37-38, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Now, check this out…did you know, fact, water is the most common substance found on earth? It’s intriguing…we have the Word of God…its right here. Plentiful, available, powerful and effective…and yet so often I still turn to the marketplace, or the job, or the ministry…or something else…but none of those things cleanse, fill, give life. Point complete but hold that thought for a little bit later in the study… Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verses 3 – 6 This is one of my least favorite stretches of scripture… Why? Because I’m not strong enough for this. I’d like to explain it to you, so that you might be prepared and perhaps even enlightened, but I fear this in my life. Just being honest with you. You see, what’s happening here is that Ezekiel, in a way, is being tested. A measurement is a test of sorts. Seeing if something sizes up. At first, notice, Ezekiel doesn’t go into the waters but through the waters and that speaks of and points to the thought of a trial, tough stretch perhaps in your life…in my life…and this first bit, Ezekiel is only up to his ankles. No problem. No danger. Still wet, still uncomfortable, perhaps his Nike Sandals are ruined…but no problem. Then another trial. See every time its 1,000 cubits, same length and so there is a harmony, an identicality to what is happening…and so, trial one complete, you are big enough. Trial two…up next. This time, knee deep. There’s a loss of power here. Mobility. Ankle deep water, you can take some strides. Knee deep, different story. That trial hit different. But still, you’re big enough. Third trial up next. At this point, walking even becomes difficult. And now perhaps you see why I don’t necessarily look too forward to these things. Even walking, daily step by step, hard through this one…and yet God calls us even further. Fourth…this time, no footing…it’s all gone. Overwhelmed…I can try to swim, but this one is not able to be crossed…and the gap between verse 5 and verse 6 is just the absolute worst. I hate that gap. But after I have been through this and verse 6 comes, I learn. I learn that God is faithful and that even when I am not able, God becomes my able. He says, “See this now?” That word is consider, respect, pay attention, understand and enjoy… And His heart returns me. That word for return oddly could be translated, “resurrects.” It’s a return from death…like a rebirth, a breaking through…this is the cycle of God’s faithfulness. And learning that…when I am weak, then I am made strong. Teaches me how to swim. I don’t look forward to this at all…just being honest…but knowing this helps. Not always in the trial…in the trial I just want it all reversed and/or super fast-forwarded…but by faith, I am SURE that is coming because I have learned and am learning that God is faithful. I just want to give you one more thing here…silly and short…but the pattern of these verses is clear. “He brought me out,” “He brough me through,” “He returned me.” That’s the pattern and God is faithful. Stay the course, keep the faith. Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verses 7 – 9 Alright so quick point here. The Word of God gets applied to a situation, or an attitude, or a reaction, or whatever…and then it gets applied to another, and another and another…and that water flows. All of these little streams that are healed in and of themselves flow all the way to the main event…to the heart (the sea), …and ultimately the whole of you heals. Now, how can the sea heal when it’s the sea…wretched and bitter…how can an inflow heal that? Simple. There also has to be an outflow. Ugh, God help me with this one! I’m terrible at this but God gives me such grace and instruction and wisdom through people that He places around me! We have GOT to let things go! Let today be today and yesterday be yesterday. Grudges, offenses, pains, attitudes, that which is not good…why do we/I hang on to those things so tightly? Here’s the key…The seas are healed by the inflow because in some way, the inflow allows for the outflow as well. So, you wanna let it go? Me too. Be healed, feel better, rise up? Increase the inflow! I can’t just let it go. I’m far too stubborn and frankly too humanly sharp for that…but I can increase the inflow and that somehow enables the outflow. Hopefully that makes sense! Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verse 10 This is in the area of today what is called The Dead Sea. We won’t be going to En Gedi on our upcoming trip to Israel but one of the reasons tour groups go is because of this prophecy. There at En Gedi today there is a natural spring of water that flows over the top of the cliff and down towards The Dead Sea. According to Ezekiel, this area will be significant to say the least in the coming Millennial Reign. Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verses 11 – 12 One thing to note here that may help you, it helps me, is that as the healing waters flow, not everything is just turned perfect. Swamps and marshes aren’t healed. It’s ok to not be perfect when you’re walking with the Lord or healing or whatever. This drives me crazy personally as I like things right and good all and everywhere. But the truth is, well the thing is, we just gotta keep going in the grace of God. If everything is perfect then where is there room for grace. So be ok with not being ok…completely. That’s coming. And God knows and He wants me to know (maybe this is just for me) that I am to walk with Him and to progress and move forward even when there are some marshes and swamps along the way. My problem is that I stop and stare at the marshes wondering why they’re not perfect and I miss the huge flowing perfect river and the entire healed sea… Don’t be like me (but I’m learning). Notice the reason why this river heals and feeds and brings life wherever it goes is because of its source connection. It is not just a flowing river but it is a body of water that is always in the sanctuary of God. That speaks of constant connection, incessant relationship and walking with the Lord…and the connection to the source is truly the connection to all of the other things so very much needed. Ezekiel Chapter 47 Verses 13 – 23 I love this. This would be shocking to Ezekiel and every other Jewish reader of this text. Even strangers are given land…the outcast, the gentile, the uncircumcised, the servant and the stranger. They all have an inheritance in the giving of God. God will not rest until He has done all that He can do for everyone, everywhere… This is the character of the King of kings. That what He does and how He does it and how He loves and who He loves, we simply observe and wonder. Because He just loves. He just blesses. He just gives. He’s just good. And you and I and them and they…all of us, but you especially, He has an inheritance for you. I’m going to go and get mine. By His mercy, grace and love…my prayer tonight is that God would increase my faith!
Ezekiel 46 vs 1-24
April 7, 2021 • Pastor Matt Korniotes
Ezekiel chapter 46 Verse 1 • Keep in mind that the East Gate is reserved only for the use of the Lord. We will see the temple prince worship in the vestibule of the East Gate but going through the East Gate (which would be towards the Holy Place in the temple) is reserved only for the Lord. Now, it’s opened on the Sabbath which connects for us to the Person of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, as we read in all three of the Synoptic Gospels, (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5) that Jesus Himself is the Lord of the Sabbath. • Concerning the sabbath day, the day of rest, being a pointer to Jesus Christ and the work of the New Covenant in the heart of man, Hebrews 4 is the authoritative text, for sure. Interesting about Hebrews 4, its all about entering into the rest that is provided by Jesus. That life as we ought to live it, life filled with fulfilled longings of the human heart…the need for love, joy, purpose, passion, intrigue, adventure…being welcomed and reconciled to God, that is what is meant by entering into His rest. • What’s interesting is that chapter is also the chapter of obedience. Hebrews 4:1-3a, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.” • This rest, this completing of the human heart is connected to obeying God and, don’t miss this, what we just read connected obeying God to believing God. Okay, so one point is that the promises, and blessings, and rest and completion that God provides to a person comes through obeying Him. Trusting Him and following Him and being near to the Lord. And, point two, is that obedience really is just belief with calories applied. • You see, obedience alone is superficial and without power and won’t lead your heart to the Sabbath rest promised and provided in Jesus. We don’t obey because its right, we obey because we believe. The belief calorizes the obedience and that brings about relationship. • So how do you get started? Same chapter. Hebrews 4:11-12, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 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.” It all begins with receiving the Word of God with an open heart, willing to believe and willing to be changed for the better and for the forwardness towards a close or closer relationship with Jesus Christ. • That’s the beauty and the power of the Word of God. Even if you’ve read it front to cover and heard sermons and teachings on every verse, if you approach the Word of God today with an open heart, any part or point will do a new work in your life! And that work received increases your faith, fuels your belief and empowers your obedience…and all of that walks you right into a full heart of rest in the Lord. Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verses 2 – 3 • Notice, the house of God is not just a place of worship for only the prince or the priests, but for all people. No matter who you are, where you are, whatever…God just wants to welcome you near to Him. All because He loves you! Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verses 4 – 5 • That’s totally interesting that it says there, “As much as he wants to give.” Three times we will read that in this chapter. That offerings are to be brought to the Lord but all three times, it will be, “As much as he wants to give.” That speaks of one-on-one acceptable proportionate intimate personal discussion between you, between an individual, and God Himself. I really believe that is the way He wants it. I really believe that is pure and holy Christianity. No procedure and no template…just you and just Jesus. Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verses 6 – 9 • Entering one way and exiting another. Do you know what that is? Social distancing! HA! • This is awesome. When the people come to worship God, they are to enter one way and then go out another way. What’s that all about? God wants to do more and more completion and rest work in your heart every time you come to Him. He doesn’t want you to leave the same as you came. Not when His Word is being read and taught… We should, man we have to, we should be filing away the truths of God’s Word just as swiftly as they are coming our way and resetting and reshaping our own hearts and minds…lest we come and go, come and go, come and go, and learn all types of things we can readily repeat but cannot benefit from personally in our own lives. God wants none of that for me, and none of that for you. • Also, quite awesome, the people are to come in one way and leave another way but not the prince, and in this I do believe the prince is a “type” of the Lord. That as we come and go…and as we change…one of the wonderful things that actually enables our growth and maturing of trust in the Lord is that He does not change. He remains the same. Makes me to unlock a bit for Him especially as I think about and meditate on something that I’ve learned that has helped me so much, grown me so much, and I realize that even when I was not grown, the Lord know those things, knew I lacked those things, and loved me anyway. He doesn’t change and as I change, I appreciate that about God even more. Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verses 10 – 17 • Now, an interesting thought for the Christian is that to, and in Christ, we are both sons and servants. So, for me, I know that all that God has He has given to me. That was proven to me at the cross. But at the same time, I serve Him. I actually think this is quite important. That we receive the grace and the forgiveness that has been delivered through His unconditional love…but that I also understand what it cost Him, that He didn’t have to do it, and that there are many many that have yet to receive the love of God…and so even though I am a son, I believe the proper response is to serve. What blesses the heart of a father more than a servant son? • Look, serving as a son is the best. Serving the Lord when you don’t have to is absolutely the best. He doesn’t demand it. He doesn’t hold anything over me if I don’t. He’s just good. Good to me. And so even as His son, with all the entitlements of eternity, it is my joy to honor and serve the Lord. Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verse 18 • I love that verse. What that verse means essentially is that the prince of God cannot, is not permitted, to take from someone to give to someone else. If he wants to give, he must give of himself, not from taking from others. Probably an entire sermon series can be preached on that principle of God. Ezekiel Chapter 46 Verses 19 – 24 • Final point here as we close out this chapter…at the extreme western end of the chambers of the priests and in every corner of the temple property, there was a place to prepare the sacrifice. I want to offer to you tonight that this is symbolic of prayer. Personal prayer is where this kind of business is done between me and God. And also, effective and pure prayer is sacrificial prayer. Not my will, but God let Your will be done, on earth…as it is in heaven. There is some major sacrifice in those words… • Think about the sacrifices of the temple. They are for God, they are for me or whoever is bringing them, and they are for others. The temple of God is designed with this at all corners and even the extreme section of the priests’ chambers, this is what it is for. • I want to win every battle against the flesh in my life. I want to overcome every ounce of darkness in my heart. I want evil to lose. All of those things are entirely and heavily burdensome and fatiguing if I am being honest. But Romans 12:1-2 says, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Do you know who that “you” is? In my life, it’s not you…it’s me. This is what God wants of me. • And so, my faith, where it truly lives, is not in my actions or in my fruit…not to me…its in my personal prayer life and time with God. That is where the battle is truly fought for me. And I’m not putting a prayer trip on you and telling you to pray more, I’m just encouraged by what Ezekiel saw and to me it makes sense. So, no trip for more prayer, but certainly an urgent plea that you do have a real and effective prayer life. Prayer is your personal relationship with God. And it is all of the cornerstone locations of the temple of God.