Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 1 – 2a
• It’s interesting and when I say that many times I mean that it’s important to consider that Ezekiel is not told to speak to the people but rather to the children of the people. I think the point is that some folks are too grown up to be taught. Don’t be that way. We read of Jesus in Matthew 18:1-4, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
• It’s natural to measure your own maturity in how much you’ve become. Across the spectrum. What you know, what you’ve seen, what you understand, what you’ve done, on and on…be careful. The best of people have done all of those things and yet are extremely teachable, entirely correctable, deliberately totally humble. Don’t go tell the adults, they won’t listen. They’re too grown. Tell the greatest, the ones that will hear and understand…tell the children of the people.
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 2b – 6
• Notice a few things here. This does have application to the Body of Christ as a whole. Those that have received the truth, have entered into salvation, those who do have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. There is application here for sure. We are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, ready in and out of season to give a defense for the hope that we have. Do you know what that looks like? Someone asking if you’re a Christian, and then asking why. Are you ready to answer that question? You should be. And once you give that witness, once you sound the trumpet, what they do with it is their responsibility. I find nowhere in the Bible where we are to argue anyone into the Kingdom of heaven…and so that is most certainly applicable to all Christians…
• But notice, not everyone in the city was a watchman. Verse 2 specifically points out that one is taken from the many to become the watchman and therefore the greater application is to those whom have been called, those whom God has placed in this position. Look at verse 7…
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verse 7
• The people may be doing it but it is God who raises up one and puts down another. (Psalm 75:7) And so while I do want to apply this to you and to me and to everyone who is in Christ today, and truly it should be, there is a more acute application that I believe is most appropriate. The point I’m going to make and truly this is an indictment of my own calling, is that the watchmen are the ones who God has called to lead within the Body of Christ and to teach the whole counsel of the Word of God…
• Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
• When He said this, to whom was He speaking? It tells us back in Matthew 5:1-2, “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them.” This teaching was not given to the multitude but rather to the disciples. Look also at Matthew 10…
• Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” When Jesus spoke these often-quoted words, to whom was He speaking? Matthew 10:1 tells us, “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him…” These weren’t words for the masses…although there is most certainly applicability there…more acutely, these were words for the watchmen.
• Now it settles and makes complete sense why James would say in James 3:1, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” The greater application is this. As a watchman, made one by God and acknowledged by man, we must teach the whole counsel of God’s Word. Not just from the pulpit, which is already hard to find, but also in our counseling and interactions. Because as that watchman, you and I will give an account and will be held accountable for if we shied away to not offend or so they wouldn’t leave the church…or if we held to the soundness of the Word of God even when it was not what they wanted to hear…∞
• It’s interesting that God says the sword here and not an army or a storm or a tornado or a pestilence… The Biblical implication is that we can apply this as the Word of God. It is the sword that takes you out ultimately in terms of judgment. And judgment never comes without warning. Here, God uses the watchman, but truly all the watchman any of us need is the one that we have and that is the Word of God.
• The watchman however is blessed. He has been given position by God, vision, he sees what others do not…but with that also comes responsibility. Don’t get high on yourself if you have understanding…if you are intellectually higher or you understand and see more…you don’t have all of that to entertain your ego, you are responsible. Arrogance is bad, but arrogance with intelligence is terrifying…you will give an account.
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 8 – 9
• Every city that had any value had a watchman or several watchmen that would man the walls of the city. What’s interesting, just an interesting question and thought, ask yourself, who in my life can pull my card…sound the alarm, call me to turn from the flesh effectively…if the answer is no one then I would question the value of the city. You see, we value the wrong things. And pride is top of the list. The true rich man or woman has friends and family in their lives that aren’t afraid to love and protect you even if that means to correct you. If you can’t be corrected without throwing a fit then your city is a slum, and you need to mature…just being real. Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” HA!
• Every city worth anything had watchmen…if the watchmen were alert and faithful, and the people were obedient and wise, many lives would be saved. If the watchman was unfaithful and or the people were careless, lazy and stupid then eventually the city would fall. Whatever situation you’re in, Christian if you don’t repent and submit to God, you will lose it all. And look, no matter the response of the people, the faithful watchman had clean hands. No matter the response of the people, the unfaithful watchman had hands stained with blood.
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 10 – 11
• The word “turn” is used 8 times in this chapter. Five times already and three more to come and yes it means repentance, yes it is God making it clear that to break free from something its not a decision or a feeling or a sorrow but it’s an action. He doesn’t want you to suffer, that is a missed fact about God on those that don’t know Him. He says here that discipline isn’t fun for him…just like it’s not fun for you parents…but it must be done in order to save the kiddo. And listen, discipline is action. Can you imagine, do you think God speaking disciplines you? Nope. Why do we use our mouths with our own kids and call it discipline? It’s not. Something happens…something actually changes…
• And notice, what is this a call to turn from? The excuse of sin or something ruining their lives. The only person that has the authority to ruin my life is me…and the faster I learn that the faster I will turn my life over to God! Why should you die!? Turn and live!!
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 12 – 16
• See there it is…repentance is not agreement alone with God or sorrow alone over sin but it is a restitution of the wrong! It is an action. It is to create a void by removing the thing or the way or the attitude and then to fill it with something that is right and good and Godly…
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 17 – 20
• No one else’s fault and no excuses. The clarity here is immutable. You will not be able to plead the case that your sin was because of someone else’s…no generational sins, no sins of the fathers, none of that is Biblical and all of that is unfair as God judges them fairly here. Each one will stand on their own…
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verse 21
• Its just crazy what we just read. “Escaped from home?!” But this is where the flesh takes you…makes your own home, your own life a sort of prison and you only escape to run to Babylon! Twice the prison, twice the captivity of home. And then Babylon becomes home and you escape from that too and the cycle escalates…better to just turn ASAP to God and keep your home!
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 22 – 26
• You can’t claim the promises of Abraham when you have departed from who Abraham was…a worshipper of God!
Ezekiel Chapter 33 Verses 27 – 33
• Why does the destruction come to pass on people that so love to hear the Word of God? It’s pleasant, its lovely, they come and sit and listen, they encourage, they show much love…but it bears no profit in their lives and they ultimately become destruction because they don’t do what they love to hear!
• Ezekiel sees this and it no doubt pains him as it pains the Lord and he and the Lord sit for a while and God thanks Ezekiel for his faithfulness. Today they treat you as entertainment…but one day they will say that a prophet was among them. They are hearing and not doing but they wouldn’t hear if you weren’t sounding the trumpet…doing what is right.
• They say things they don’t mean to get out of you what they want…they don’t heed your heart for them although they listen, they don’t do what you say even though if they did then they would be spared…they love you for what they can get from you when you just simply love them…son, I know exactly what that is like…lets just sit a while together…
Ezekiel 33 vs 1-33
Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek
November 18, 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.