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.