Ezekiel

Intro: We’re about half the 66 books of the Bible. Tonight we come to the 26th book in the Bible, the book of Ezekiel...Ezekiel belongs to the 4th and final section of the Old Testament

Lets recap the genres:

We’re about half way in a road trip through the 66 books of the Bible. Tonight our road trip brings us to the 26th book in the Bible, the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel belongs to the 4th and final section of the Old Testament.

1st - The Law or the Torah - The first 5 books of the bible teach us the commandments and character of God as first revealed to Moses

The first section – five books literally – or known also as the Law.

2nd - The historical books - 12 books that cover the history of the nation of Israel - this covers them claiming the promised land, Losing the promise land, Gaining the promise land back

the historical books –

3rd - The poetic books - Job - Psalms - Proverbs - Ecclesiastes - Song

12 books that cover the history of the nation of Israel. And as we walked through those 12 books –

4th - The Prophets - The Major Prophets – because they’re the largest of the volumes of the prophetic writings. The other collection is the Minor Prophets - not because they’re inferior in content; but because they’re smaller in size.

called Major because they’re the largest of the volumes of the prophetic writings. The Major Prophets, we said, were set in chronological order of their ministries. They move from Isaiah to Daniel chronologically.

The Major Prophets – called Major because they’re the largest of the volumes of the prophetic writings.

The other collection is the Minor Prophets - not because they’re inferior in content; but because they’re smaller in size.

Richard Cimino – Route66 - 20150713_Ezekiel

And they fit back into the historical scene, the 12 books of the history of Israel, the closing number of those books in the historical section.

So we’re seeing what these guys were saying in a historical context. 2) The other collection is the Minor Prophets -

And those collections contains two categories:

not because they’re inferior in content; but because they’re smaller in size.

And that collection contains two categories -

i) pre-exilic – those who were ministering before the exile;

ii) and post-exilic – those who were ministering after the exile.

pre-exilic – those who were ministering before the exile - Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel

post-exilic – those who were ministering after the exile - Haggai, Zachary, Malachi

Ezekiel is the third of the Major Prophets.

Ezekiel, the man, was a prophet and a priest. That’s a unique combination in the Old Testament. There are only three other men who are prophet and priest in the Old Testament.

One of them – Jeremiah. We find that in Jeremiah chapter 1, verse 2.

Jeremiah, Zechariah, John the Baptist who also came from a priestly family

Now think about this - Ezekiel was a contemporary of both Jeremiah and Daniel. His prophetic ministry, Ezekiel’s, took place in captivity just outside of the city of Babylon itself. Their ministries all coexisted together a young guy named Daniel. He was strategically seated at the very top of the kingdom. At the same time Daniel is in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah is prophesying in Jerusalem about the righteousness of God’s judgment, the need for God’s people to surrender. And at the same time Ezekiel is in Babylon north of the capital city of Babylon on a canal that Ezekiel identifies as a place called Chebar. And he was called to be a priest in Judah. But now he’s hundreds of miles away from the temple. And in only six years from the time he’s called to be a prophetic minister Jerusalem is going to be leveled; and the temple will be destroyed. God calls him to the ministry as a prophet. And he begins to prophesy among God’s people that had been carried away into captivity.

So let’s set some context here - Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity.

Ezekiel was a contemporary of both Jeremiah and Daniel. His prophetic ministry, Ezekiel’s, took place in captivity just outside of the city of Babylon itself. So let’s set some context here. Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, a lot of you are familiar with his name because of the book of Daniel and some of the historical books; but Nebuchadnezzar, in 605 B.C., he was the son of the king of Babylon. But he was the general of his dad’s armies. And he was on military campaign when he got word that his father died. On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. We’ll learn about Daniel’s ministry in our next stop along Route 66. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity. Anybody about that age range – twenty to twenty-five?

Theother–Zechariah–inchapter1,verse1.

So let’s set some context here - Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity.

This is so radical, guys – As bleak as everything looked, God was not silent.

a young guy named Daniel. He was strategically seated at the very top of the kingdom. At the same time Daniel is in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah is prophesying in Jerusalem about the righteousness of God’s judgment, the need for God’s people to surrender. And at the same time Ezekiel is in Babylon north of the capital city of Babylon on a canal that Ezekiel identifies as a place called Chebar. And he was called to be a priest in Judah. But now he’s hundreds of miles away from the temple. And in only six years from the time he’s called to be a prophetic minister Jerusalem is going to be leveled; and the temple will be destroyed. God calls him to the ministry as a prophet. And he begins to prophesy among God’s people that had been carried away into captivity. So let’s set some context here - Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity.

This is so radical, guys – As bleak as everything looked, God was not silent. So let’s set some context here - Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity.

So let’s set some context here - Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends.

The other– Zechariah

About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon.

Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity.

The layout of the book: Judgment & Restoration

Chapters 1 through 32 are pre-exilic. They deal with the period of time before the fall, the utter fall of Jerusalem. And it covers - these 32 chapters take place during six years of Ezekiel’s life. And he’s prophesying to the captives in this refugee camp in this settlement. And his prophetic words will make their way back to those in Jerusalem. Jerusalem isn’t utterly destroyed yet. There’s still communication that’s moving from captivity back to Judah. So Ezekiel is prophesying about what’s going to happen over the next six years if they keep rebelling against the LORD. And these messages are

Now Chapters 33 through 48 deal with the period of time after the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is going to preach to the people for sixteen years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. There’s a dramatic shift in the weight of his message. Chapters 33 to the end of the book are filled with amazing promises of – forgiveness, restoration, and hope.

essentially a call – now get this – it’s very important – 32 chapters, six years –

Now Chapters 33 through 48 deal with the period of time after the fall of Jerusalem. In 587 B.C. the Babylonians burned the city to the ground.

essentially a call to turn to the LORD, essentially a call to repentance.

Six years; 32 chapters of repentance?

Ezekiel is going to preach to the people for sixteen years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. There’s a dramatic shift in the weight of his message. Chapters 33 to the end of the book are filled with amazing promises of –

forgiveness,

Judgement and Rebuke - Chapters 1-32

restoration,

Hope and Restoration - Chapters 33 - 4

Richard Cimino – Route66 - 20150713_Ezekiel

and hope.

and we’re going to roll quickly through just a few highlights Chapters 1-11 Accusations against Israel

Now God is going to call Ezekiel to accuse Israel of breaking their covenant with the Lord and warn them of the destruction that is to come

Ezekiel 1:1 ESV

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

Ezekiel 1:1–3 ESV

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

Ezek1:1

Ezek

A few things to note here:

So let’s set some context here. Around 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, a lot of you are familiar with his name because of the book of Daniel and some of the historical books; but Nebuchadnezzar, in 605 B.C., he was the son of the king of Babylon. But he was the general of his dad’s armies. And he was on military campaign when he got word that his father died. On his way back to Babylon he laid siege to Jerusalem in 605 B.C. The first deportation of Jews into captivity happened at that time in 605 B.C. Daniel, the prophet, at that time 13, 14 years old, was carried into captivity with some of his friends. We’ll learn about Daniel’s ministry in our next stop along Route 66. About nine years later there was a second deportation, when Nebuchadnezzar, who was then king of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem again. It was during that siege that Jehoiachin, king of the southern kingdom at that time, along with Ezekiel and ten thousand other people were taken captives into Babylon. Ezekiel was not taken to the palace where Daniel and his friends were taken. Ezekiel and the ten thousand people that were taken into captivity, they were taken to a place outside of Babylon to a settlement. We might think of it like a refugee camp. He was twenty-five years old when he was taken into captivity. Anybody about that age range – twenty to twenty-five?

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on the among the exiles on the Chebar Canal - Thats significant if you think about the fact that the word of the Lord was coming to Daniel in the palace of the King…the at that same time the word of the Lord was coming to Jeremiah at home in Jerusalem…

And the last of the prophets before Jesus - And many times, because we find him in

It just goes to show that even though the situation seemed bleak, the Lord was still speaking, To the king, to the powerless, to the rebellious

the Gospels, we don’t think of Him as an Old Testament prophet - but John the Baptist is the last of the Old Testament prophets.

Also notice that Ezekiels life plan, was dramatically in essentially one Day - All it takes is one day and God can turn you're life around

So from v.4 - 28 Ezekiel begins to describe this wild vision of a storm with four creatures with four wings and four wheels and each of the wings are touching each other and on top of those wings is a platform with a throne on it…and a massive figure that holds the likeness of a man…and then Ezekeil realizes what he’s seeing...

All it takes is one day and God can turn you're life around

Ezekiel 1:28 ESV

28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ezekiel 1:28 ESV

28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

So this wor

So Ezekiel realizes what He’s seeing “the Glory of God” - that word Glory means heavy or weighty…and judging by what Ezekiel is describing heavy is the word that best describes the encounter…others accounts like this are mentioned in , ,

It’s important to remember that Ezekiel’s call began with a revelation of who God is…and It was heavy…and it left him face down...

App: It’s important to remember even-though Christianity is intellectual, it’s also emotional - A part of coming to faith in Jesus is being undone by his holiness and Love

Isaiah said “Woe is me”

Paul said “Who are you Lord”

Ezek is face down

Becoming a Christian begins with an encounter with Jesus.

Here we have the 3 foundational things in Ezekiels ministry

Ezekiel 3:1 ESV

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

ezek

Ezekiel 3:7–9 ESV

7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”

There’s obviously a lot of nuances to Ezekiels ministry…but here are 3 things that we’re paramount in his and an any ministry…Eat…Go…Fear not

Eat the scroll - He’s talking about having an appetite for the word of God

So this radical revelation that Ezekiel has

if the scroll is sitting on your bookshelf. The scroll is only valuable to you, Ezekiel, when you consume it

1. Christians – fruitful ministry, fruitful service begins with feeding on the Word of God – Foundation Number One.

Christians – fruitful ministry, fruitful service begins with feeding on the Word of God – Foundation Number One.

Go - “4 And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.” - So not only do we have to take in the Word of God – We have to go... We have to be willing to step out... We’ve got to be willing to move forward – very, very important!

He says “Go to your and preach” - Everyone has a people…we should go to ours

Fear not - He says, “Ezekiel They’re going to be stubborn. You’ve got to be more stubborn. They don’t want to listen. You have to speak more. Back in chapter 2 God said the people were like a bunch of scorpions. They’ve got sting But, Ezekiel, my Word can sting.”

“11 And go to the exiles,” - this is so radical – “to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.’” In other words, it’s your job to speak to them. It doesn’t matter whether they hear or not.

We have to go; We have to be willing to step out; We’ve got to be willing to move forward –

In other words, it’s your job to speak to them. It doesn’t matter whether they hear or not.

8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as

very, very important!

They’re going to be stubborn. You’ve got to be more stubborn.

I’m commissioning you to speak to them. But notice – “go to your people”. We all have our people We all have our people – the people in our families, the people in our neighborhoods, the people in the workplace, the people in the classroom, the people where we shop, the people where we hang out.

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Richard Cimino – Route66 - 20150713_Ezekiel

I’m commissioning you to speak to them. But notice – “go to your people”.

They don’t want to listen. You have to speak more.

We all have our people We all have our people –

Fear not - God gave Ezekiel a message but it would be an unwelcome one…So He says, “Ezekiel They’re going to be stubborn. You’ve got to be more stubborn. They don’t want to listen. You have to speak more. Back in chapter 2 God said the people were like a bunch of scorpions. They’ve got sting But, Ezekiel, my Word can sting.”

You see, it’s so crazy – In this world Christians – they step out; they say,

the people in our families, the people in our neighborhoods, the people in the workplace,

the people in the classroom, the people where we shop, the people where we hang out. Fear not - He says, “Ezekiel They’re going to be stubborn. You’ve got to be more stubborn. They don’t want to listen. You have to speak more. Back in chapter 2 God said the people were like a bunch of scorpions. They’ve got sting But, Ezekiel, my Word can sting.”

The point is that Ezekiel had to settle it in his heart that he would never give up sharing with others. That is a crucial aspect to living on mission, guys.

they just fold; they just fold.

God tells him to build a tiny modal of Jerusalem and stage an attack, shave off all of your hair with a sword, or even more Odd God tells him to go in to the city and lay on his left side and bind himself in rope and eat bred cooked over the a fire powered by cow dung...

App: now we might think that it’s massively odd...That’s the way God wanted him to minister....What a pliable minister; What a yielded man to say, “You say it...Tell me how you want me to say it”

They see the looks of opposition. They see people shutting down.

What a pliable minister; What a yielded man to say,

In Chapters 8-11 shows Ezekiel what exactly was going on in the hearts of the religious life of Israel through this radical vision he gives him in the temple…And theres 3 things I want to highlight in this portion

Ezekiel 8:7–10 ESV

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 8:7–11 ESV

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up.

Chapter 8 - Wicked Hearts

Now remember Israel is the northern kingdom that had been lead away into captivity by the Assyrians. And they were just entrenched in idolatry. But now it’s made its way into the southern kingdom, into the kingdom of Judah. And it says in verse 11 -

Ezek 8:7

Ezekiel 8:7–12 ESV

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”

So God explains what this kind of bizarre vision was all about. He says, “What you’ve seen in this vision, you’ve seen what the elders, the religious leaders of the southern kingdom, what they are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures. King James Version read it like this “every man in the chamber of his imagery”.

King James Version read it like this – “...every man in the chamber of his imagery”.

Now that’s a strange phrase. And I kind of hope it freaks you out a bit. God sees what we do in the imagination of our heart and our mind -

Now that’s a strange phrase. And I kind of hope it freaks you out a bit. God sees what we do in the imagination of our heart and our mind. We have these little chambers of images. God sees what’s going on there.

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

So God says, “Have you seen what’s going on in the chambers of their imaginations?” And then He says - “For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us “ Oh yes He does! Guys, we are never alone – never ever alone!

So God says, “Have you seen what’s going on in the chambers of their imaginations?” And then He says -

Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…and God’s Glory (The same thats mentioned in chapter 1) Leaving the house of God and city altogether

“For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, ...’”

App: Don’t think thats God is only concerned about your actions…He’s also concerned about your thoughts

Oh yes He does! Guys, we are never alone – never ever alone! You might think –

Question: whats the best way to keep your thought life in check? God’s word

Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…and God’s Glory (The same thats mentioned in chapter 1) Leaving the house of God and city altogether

Nobody’s in the house.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Guys, we can not over emphasize the importance of God’s word in the daily battle of the heart

Psalm 119:9 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Psalm 119:98 ESV

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

Psalm 19:7 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

Psalm 119:104 ESV

104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Guys, God’s Word searches us out. That’s why these nights are so important. They’re not just important for you. These nights are important for me.

They’re not just important for you. These nights are important for me.

Chapter 9 - God’s upcoming Judgement

Ezekiel 9:1–4 ESV

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”

Ezek 9:

Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…and God’s Glory (The same thats mentioned in chapter 1) Leaving the house of God and city altogether

Ezekiel saw how God was going to unleash some angelic beings. And one of these angelic beings was going to have a marker in his hand. And this angelic being would go out; and he would mark the heads of all the righteous people in a picturesque kind of a way, not in a literal way. But they were going to be marked. And a second one was sent out to pronounce judgment on all those that were unrighteous.

This is an Old testament picture of a new testament reality - And here’s the picture! When you come to Christ; When you come to saving faith in Jesus; When you believe with your heart on the Lord Jesus Christ When you believe that with all of your heart, and you give your life to Jesus...you’re marked

And here’s the picture!

Paul speaks about this...

Richard Cimino – Route66 - 20150720_EzekielPart2

When you come to Christ; When you come to saving faith in Jesus; When you believe with your heart on the Lord Jesus Christ –

Jesus is God’s only begotten Son; He’s God who became man; He died on the cross in my place for my sins; He paid the penalty for all of my sins,

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

so that I could be reconciled to God, so that God could be just,

We spoke about this a little at community groups: Paul was speaking to a gathering of believers - Emphases was a harbor town where lots of fright could pass through so each crate had to have the owners seal stamped upon it as proof of purchase. It was the owners way of saying “that belongs to me”

and pay for the penalty, the wages of my sin, but also justify me and make me right in His sight;

Ephesians 1 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

And after dying on the cross for my sins, three days God raised Him from the dead to guarantee that what He did on the cross in dying in my place would actually be able to make me right with God –

When you believe that with all of your heart, and you give your life to Jesus -

you’re marked.

Now in chapter 9 Ezekiel saw how God was going to unleash some angelic beings. And one of these angelic beings was going to have a marker in his hand. And this angelic being would go out; and he would mark the heads of all the righteous people in a picturesque kind of a way, not in a literal way. But they were going to be marked. And a second one was sent out to pronounce judgment on all those that were unrighteous. Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…and God’s Glory (The same thats mentioned in chapter 1) Leaving the house of God and city altogether

That’s a great picture of the believer - A Christian is someone who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has been made alive to God, regenerated. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you, and makes you alive to God. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you, He not only causes you to be made alive to God, makes you spiritually live, but His presence within you, seals you, marks you as God’s own purchased possession

And that’s a great picture of the believer. If you’re a Christian - the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you, regenerating you, causing you to be born again. Now for a lot of people that phrase, “born again”, it’s just Christian cliché. It is not. It’s reality. And do you know what? This thing called regeneration is by and large a lost truth in the church today. The church is just pretty much seen as people come to these things. They’re attracted to these things. They’re attracted to the venues, the personalities, the style of worship, etc., etc. And they think they can fit into this thing, and go, ‘Well, I’m a Christian.’ No! A Christian is someone who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has been made alive to God, regenerated. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you, and makes you alive to God. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you, He not only causes you to be made alive to God, makes you spiritually live, but His presence within you, seals you, marks you as God’s own purchased possession

Ezekiel 10:18–22 ESV

Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.

Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…The sense seems to be that the glory of God travelled from the holy of holies to the threshold of the temple building, to across the court of the temple, and now stood at the door of the east gate. It was moving away from the temple and about the leave the temple courts

Ezekiel has a vision of the house of God…and in the house of God the elders of Israel and women are all worship these foreign God’s in the temple…and all of this will result in Judgment upon the city of Jerusalem…and God’s Glory (The same thats mentioned in chapter 1) Leaving the house of God and city altogether

Yet in Chapter 11 their is a glimmer of Hope and promise amongst this broken situation

I think it’s worth noting that Not long after the Glory of God left the house of God the City fell.

App: Where God is uninvited…Things will always crumble

Yet in Chapter 11 their is a glimmer of Hope and promise amongst this broken situation

Ezekiel 11:16–20 ESV

16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ 18 And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

“You say it. Tell me how you want me to say it.

Ezek 11:16-

And God says, “No, no –

So here’s the promise that has been echoed by others…Even though theres consequences to sinful actions it’s Not the end for God’s people

Jerusalem would be brought to ruins and abandoned so to speak…but God would bring them back (Ezra/Nehemiah)

They’re not going to want to listen to you. But you have to speak more.”

But also that a new heart would be given…A heart thats soft, pliable and sensitive the voice of the Lord…a heart of flesh

A heart where God’s law would be written on the heart…and their would be a deep desire and power to obey…

Back in chapter 2 God said the people were like a bunch of scorpions.

We know this promise would be Fulfilled through the Ministry of Jesus

Next week we’ll keep moving through Ezekeil

“They’ve got sting. But, Ezekiel, my Word can sting.”

The point is that Ezekiel had to settle it in his heart that he would never give up sharing

with others. That is a crucial aspect to living on mission, guys.

Ezekiel

Chapters 1-11 Accusations against Israel

Judgement and Rebuke 1-32

The call of

Ezekiel’s odd methods 4-5

The sad condition of the nation 6-11

The glory of God departs