Ezekiel...God Restores

A Promise of Restoration!

In 6:8 He promises to save a remnant! In 11:14-25 again, He promises restoration to the house of Israel. v. 17 "I shall gather YOU" and "I shall give YOU" Promises of HOPE! We are never left without hope. I love 19-20!

I shall give them ONE heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statues and keep My ordinances and do them. They they will be MY people, and I shall be their God!!!!

Today we do not live by the law. We could not live by the "externals" of that law. It was impossible! Today we are under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit living inside of us! Today it is about the internals of our heart! He empowers us to live a holy life, one of obedience to the truths of God's Word! We have a NEW heart. The old heart, the heart of stone, unimpressionable, obstinate before God is gone! Now we have a heart of flesh, one that is sensitive to the touch of God, responsive to His Spirit, and obedient to His will! This is God's work of grace!

Heart! True worship is the condition for renewal of true relationship with Jesus. Remove all the obstacles! Clean out the temple, the heart! Make me sensitive, responsive, and obedient!

Ezekiel...God Strengthens #3

Grabbing some nuggets out of chapters 4-10

Amidst all this destruction... God will save a remnant, God will vindicate HIMself in the sight of ALL of the nations...Over and over, through out the whole book we read the phrase..."so that you will KNOW that I am the Lord" 60 times! God is making a SERIOUS point here! Many will die by diseases, disasters, plagues, beasts, famine, but 6:8 says.. however, I shall leave a remnant.. There is hope, There is grace, no matter how difficult the circumstances are. v. 9 Their hearts and eyes have been turned away from the Lord for too long. When will they, when will WE turn our hearts and our eyes back to Jesus?! Will He have to break them first? Make me teachable, willing to listen and turn from my ways of selfishness, pride, and deceit... May I not be a stubborn and obstinate woman! May I KNOW that He is the Lord of my life!

In chapter 8 we see so many abominations going on in the temple! In the holy places! The people think they can hide from the Lord in the dark places, in the secret places. Their backs were to the Lord. Why do we think the Lord does not see us? He is Omniscient, Omnipresent! He sees and knows ALL that we do! There are no secrets with the Lord, He is there in all our secret places! The temple will be the first place to be cleansed of the wickedness. How is your temple? What needs cleaning out? What is hidden down in the secret places of the heart that need to be brought out and purged? Bitterness, Anger, Hurt, Jealousy, Greed.... What is it? Again Lord, make me teachable, open and honest before YOU so that I can be free to be me!

Don't miss it! Don't miss the presence of God in your life! In Chapter 10 HE departs from the temple...He was in their midst and they missed it! Christ is IN me! Christ is IN you! (if you have let HIM in) What are we missing? His presence is right here in our midst! Shouldn't that affect the way we live our lives? The way we treat our family? The way we treat others? They way we handle our every day business? Don't miss the opportunities that HE gives us EVERY day to show HIM to a lost world around us! Don't miss the opportunity to smile at your child for interrupting your_______, instead of giving a look of anger or impatience. Don't miss the opportunity to serve your husband by putting away his laundry instead of throwing it into a big pile! Practice HIS Presence!

Ezekiel...God Strengthens #2

Chapter 2 and 3 of Ezekiel.

Commissioned as God's messanger 1-7

One thing that God was reminding Ezekiel... Wether they listen or not... It is important for Ezekiel to just deliver the message. It is important that he obey regardless of their reaction. I have to also be a people of Truth in this World. Wether they listen or agree is in the hands of God. It matters that I am following God with my whole heart... walking in obedience to His calling for MY life. Ezekiel is given POWER, CONFIDENCE and ENDURANCE to be a messenger of God and we have those SAME attributes at work in our lives today as well!

Commanded to speak God's Word 8-3:3

Speak the Truth. The scroll represents Truth that Ezekiel will internalize and make it his own. I want God's Word to be so integrated within my very being that IT IS who I am! Sometimes the words will be bitter as these were words of judgement yet they are from GOD! Sometimes the truth is hard to speak but it needs to be spoken. Just as these people needed these words from the Lord we also need people in our lives that will speak Truth to us. It may not always be what we "want" to hear. Be teachable, willing to listen to become more like Jesus and less of this world.

Courage to obey God's calling 4-9

Ezekiel is again reminded of the rebellious stubborn people he will be speaking to. Just get the words out Ezekiel! The hand of God is upon you! The spirit of the LIVING GOD is guiding you! Be courageous! The people will reject you! They are not going to listen! Just obey your calling!

Compelled on a mission to God's people 10-15

v10 Take into your heart, (internalize it) all My words and listen closely. It is easy to study and know the Word of God. To allow it into your heart is a whole other encounter! We could go our whole lives studying the word and serving in ministry and never let it change us internally. We need not just the head knowledge, but the heart knowledge. I want to be changed from the inside out! It is easy to put on the exterior. What does your heart look like?

Charged as a Watchman over God's nation 16-21

Ezekiel is charged with the faithful deliverance of the message, not for its success or failure. He is a watchman for the souls of these individuals but also for the souls of a nation. More about the watchman in future chapters!

Constrained under God's hand 22-27

God put a restraint on Ezekiel. He only spoke when God said to speak! So that when he spoke the people KNEW it was from God! Do we hastily accept offers to serve by always saying yes! In everything, even the small decisions we need to seek the Lord's guidance. Speaking the truth when HE has pressed it upon my heart, serving because God has called me to this ministry. Be constrained and compelled by the spirit of the Lord! Follow HIS guidance! Being a prophet or a messenger is more than just blurting out scripture. It involves our TOTAL life! Our total dependance on God.

Reading Ezekiel I want to be a messenger for God, sharing His message, living out the truth...yet I feel more like these Israelites sometimes, a rebellious people. Stubborn, obstinate, hardhearted and impudent. How many times do we see these characteristics in our own lives... doing the same sin over again that we don't want to do. Wether it be impatience or anger, unkind words or covetousness... the list goes on and on. Oh, and our children... do any of those words describe your 2 year old? or your teenager? These people have SEEN God work, yet they have forgotten. May we not forget... May we remember what God has done in our lives, in the lives of our families past and what He WILL do for our future generations! He IS as work. I want to keep my eyes turned toward HIM!

Ezekiel...God Strengthens

Ezekiel is called to ministry in Chapter 1. To just sit down and read about his calling and the vision that he sees was a bit confusing... It would be easy to just read over it really just "skipping" it not actually applying it. God's word is ALL inspired, ALL encouraging, and ALL for me. I wanted to figure this out :) What can I take away from chapter 1? I got WAY more encouragement than I expected and I wanted to share!

I will let you read it but some things that stuck out to me were the storm v.4, fire 7 times (purity), of course the 4 beings, unity v.18ff, and the rainbow v.28 which speaks of a calm after the storm or of covenant.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

HE is OmniPresent

The people are in exile... They are in Babylon. Do they realize that GOD is also in Babylon! God is EVERYWHERE! He is Omnipresent. No place is inaccessible to His presence and energy. The figures facing EVERY direction, bringing a chariot that could move in EVERY direction withOUT turning pictures a GOD who is EVERYWHERE! Psalm 139:7ff He just descended from heaven to earth... there is no place in the universe that GOD can not get too! He is not limited or bound by location! Bringing it down to me :) We move every 3 to 4 years. Usually we have found the most "perfect" church, accountability friends, home etc, and then it is time to go. We have to leave all that we have grown to love and start over. It is hard. I have often felt that i will "never" find another church like "that" one or have "friends" like that... God is everywhere I go. I can find Him in a big church or a small one, a large city or a small town. I do not want my "exile" to cause me to turn away from HIM. He has not left. Joshua 1:9 And Yes, HE has always provided us with a new "family" as long as my face is turned toward HIM!

HE is Omnipotent

He was in the midst of the storm, the fire, the chariot. HE is the sovereign rule of this universe, this planet, this country, and my life... His sovereignty is shown in its control over ALL of creation.. the wind, fire, clouds, thunder, and the living beings.. HE is all powerful. HE is in control of EVERY detail of my life! Trust HIM not only with the "big" stuff but also with the "small"stuff! We have the POWER of GOD on our side! Use it, live it, breathe it! We are NOT defeated 2 Cor. 4:7ff

HE is Omniscient

GOD knows EVERYthing! HE is ALL knowing! The eyes on the wheels v.18 Why do we think we can "hide" things from HIM. He is ever watchful over every detail of our life. HE sees everything! Shouldn't this change the way we live. He sees all, He knows all, He controls all... When we gan grasp just a fraction of this it will change your love for HIM and your life at HOME. Psalm 139

This vision was most likely so awesome, that words just could not do it justice! An awesome chariot being pulled by magnificent guardians, carrying the GLORY of GOD! They were in complete unity and harmony surrendered and lead by the spirit of GOD. They are surrounded by purity and holiness, covered in a rainbow of beauty and mercy. An awesome picture of many characteristics of our GOD. Get to know HIM, not just in the storm but in the calm as well. PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE.

Ezekiel 1:28 "and when I saw it, I fell on my face..." Am I in awe of His presence? Do I recognize my unworthiness before Him?

Revive, Renew, Rekindle, Repair

This from Pastor Phil Whetstone.

This past sunday message was SO good. Often I want to go home and "think" about what we just heard in an hour at church... but as soon as I walk in the door life happens. How many times do we actually revisit the sermon we just received, not only to think about it but to let it change us in some way.. More often we go week to week just forgetting what we heard. I pray that I can take something away every Sunday, something that I will not only remember but something that will make me more like Jesus..

The message was from 1 kings 18 Not only is this an actual physical event that happened, but it represents 4 different spiritual conditions..

I. Drought v.1-2 The famine was severe. These people were parched for GOD. Sometimes life just sucks the moisture right out of us and it HAS to be replenished! We need a constant refreshing and quenching. The Christian life is not just one and done.. We have to DAILY refresh. Just as we need water/food to survive physically, we need the Holy Spirit EVERY day or we will become spiritually dry. REVIVE

II. Disorientation v.16-17 The people do not recognize where they are spiritually. They have drifted far from God and do not realize it. Ahab called Elijah a "troubler" of Israel. That is so far from the truth. Ahab was disoriented spiritually. This is subtle. We do not even realize it is happening. We as a people have drifted. The standards of this society are SO far off the mark. Even the standards in our own homes Hebrews 2:1 For this reason we must pay much close attention to what we have heard, lets we drift away. RENEW

III. Divided v.20-21 The people have a divided loyalty. "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him. but if Baal, follow him." The people said NOTHING. How can we sit by and remain quiet? Hold tight to the TRUTH of God's Word!

James 1:8 being a double minded man, unstable in all his ways. Too many of us have divided loyalties. Trying to ride the fence, with one foot in the world, and one foot with the LORD. He wants ALL of our heart. Do NOT hesitate! REKINDLE

IV. Disrepair v.30 The altar of the LORD had been torn down for 50 years and the people paid NO heed! The altar was their visual reminder of their relationship with God and it was in ruin. Elijah repaired the altar! What needs repairing in our spiritual walk with the LORD. Have we forgotten Him? It is time to repair what is broken. REPAIR

The FIRE of the Lord fell... and when the people saw it they said, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God" v.38

Let the FIRE fall on us, let it be known today that we are a people of God and that we have turned our hearts toward HIM. Be renewed, refreshed, rekindled, repaired, revived... Be a people TOTALLY surrendered to HIM and may all those around us recognize it!

May we recognize HIS presence, HIS power, HIS purity, and HIS perfection in our lives.

Sin will take me further than I ever thought I would stray.

Sin will keep me longer than I ever thought I wold stay.

Sin will cost me more than I ever thought I would pay.

LET THE FIRE FALL

a Lesson on Wisdom

Some thoughts from a message i heard recently about wisdom...

What is wisdom? The quality of having knowledge, experience, and good judgement. Wisdom is the ability to make the RIGHT choices based on the RIGHT information. As a parent, I pray that my kids will have this kind of wisdom. As they are getting older and making more choices on their own, I pray that wisdom will guide them.

In 1 Kings 3 Solomon asks for wisdom. He does not ask for long life or riches. He asks for an understanding heart for discernment. May we all long for the wisdom only God can give.

I. A person that displays wisdom FEARS GOD.

This is not a fear that is afraid of God but one that trusts God so much that we can live in submission to HIM no matter what happens in this life!

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. The opposite of this is found in Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

II. A person that displays wisdom SUBMITS to AUTHORITY.

This authority is not only God's authority in our lives but that of our parents and others who are positions of authority.

Prov. 13:1 A wise son ACCEPTS his father's discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Prov. 10:8 The wise of heart will receive commands

Rom. 13 :1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

The opposite of this is selfishness, deceitfulness, and rebellion.

III. A person that displays wisdom is a GOOD STUDENT.

Proverbs 10:14 Wise men store up knowledge. We need to be always learning! The opposite of this is a lazy student, one who is not teachable. Young people are not the only learners, we adults are students of God's word. Be teachable.

IV. A person that displays wisdom is HUMBLE.

Prov. 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.

Prov. 11:2 When pride comes then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.

1Pt. 5:5 Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.

V. A person that displays wisdom WINS SOULS.

Prov. 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.

Col. 4:5-6 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward others, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech ALWAYS be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

VI. A person that displays wisdom LISTENS.

Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Seek advice. We all need some accountability.

VII. A person that displays wisdom has wise FRIENDS.

Prov. 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise. But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Abraham Lincoln once said " I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. " May we all seek the wisdom that comes only from God and may we teach these important character truths to our children!

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him. Let him ask in faith without doubting...

The Time is NOW

It is January... so many of us try to "put on" something new and "take off" something new! What is it that needs put on in your life? What do you need to remove? Out with the old and in with the new! Reading Matt 6 got me thinking about this!

v.1-11 The Pharisees were holding onto to so much of the old that they could not "see" the new right in front of them! They allowed the old to hold them back...I want the new. I want Jesus. In my WOLQT it said, "There are only 2 kinds of righteousness that a man may possess. One is self-righteousness that comes from human effort and never reaches the glory of God's righteousness. The other is the righteousness graciously offered to us by God Himself. Which one are we holding on to?

v.12-26 The disciples were called and IMMEDIATELY followed. They didn't think about it, put it on a list, or say we will do it on Monday. They made a decision that would change their lives forever! Let this January, this day, January 14, 2011 be the day that you make that decision to not just believe in Jesus, but to get to know Him, to follow him without reservations...In order to participate in the NEW we must break free from the old, the old things that are weighing us down. Each of us have them... Seek righteousness and you will find it, but if you think you already have it... you will never look for it.

v.27- 38 What are some ways to break free from that old bondage weighing you us down? I found a few... 1. Love your enemies... sometimes siblings are enemies :) sometimes parent/child are enemies, even spouses have been known to become enemies... LOVE your enemy! Do good to them. An enemy can become a friend. 2. Bless those who curse you. I am driving along in my car minding my own business singing praise songs and all of a sudden I am honked at and flipped off! This is the picture that comes to mind :) and I have NO clue as to why... Bless that person! Or waiting in a grocery line with my 2 carts of groceries nearing the end and then I pull out my 100+ coupons, the person behind me thought I was almost done :) Needless to say they are not happy. Bless that person :) 3. Pray for those who mistreat you. We all feel mistreated sometimes don't we? There are people that we need to just pray for on the spot. Those people I just mentioned at the grocery store or impatient drivers, but then there are those that we actually know, people we are friends with that may mistreat us sometimes knowingly and at other times unknowingly. Family members can even hurt us. Pray for them. 4. Be merciful, even when your husband is sick :) 5. Be forgiving. We have been shown the ultimate in forgiveness. Christ died for YOU. Why is it so hard to express just a fraction of this forgiveness?

Love, Prayer, and Forgiveness go hand in hand. We can not love someone we are not forgiving. We can not forgive someone we are not praying for... You have all heard it, turn the other cheek, give the shirt off of your back, lend without expecting in return, treat others how you want to be treated. Well, let this January be the year, be the month, be the day, that we put our love in action. May we love Jesus so much that it just spills over to those who come in contact with us! May Love, Prayer, and Forgiveness become the NEW way we respond. Off with the old way of holding onto bitterness, unforgiveness and anger.

v.39-49 "Everyone that has been fully trained will be like his teacher" Who is your teacher? Who are you modeling your life after? Each of us can begin today. Christ is the ultimate example. He is our teacher. "Every tree is known by its fruit" Trees grow fruit so that fruit can grow trees. What kind of fruit is falling off of you? Is it love? joy? peace? patience? kindness? goodness? faithfulness? gentleness? self control? Gal. 5:18/25 When we are led by the Spirit we will live and walk by the Spirit. This is the new, not bound by rules but growing and producing out of a life of love in action.

Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth SPEAKS that which fills his heart. The beginning of a change starts in our hearts. The way to proclaim a new message of a new life is from a transformed heart. The disciples were called to immediate change! and they DID it! Today is the day to make a change! The time is NOW!