Be Fruitful 09.05.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel, please read Chapters 14-16 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2014-16&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the judgement pronounces upon the elders of Israel and Jerusalem; the parable of the vine; and the promises of future blessings under a New Covenant. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we can not serve God and the world. Trying to do both only seperates us from God and keeps us from being fruitful.

Although the Israelites regularly offered sacrifices to God, they also worshiped the heathen idols of other nations, which caused their estrangement (seperation) with God. "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols." (Ezekiel 14:1-5).

Certain elders came to consult Ezekiel as if they desired to know the will of God, however the Lord revealed to him what their true intensions were and the hypocrisy Ezekiel would face from them. "And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD." (14:8-11).

To illustrate their one purpose as the people of God, the Lord presented a parable (a short simple story of illustration) to Ezekiel, "Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?" (15:2-4). The vine represented the grapevine which was often used by God to illustrate the Israelites. The grapevine was valued only for its fruit and was worthless for making anything useful or of value thus showing the Israelites if they continued in their wicked ways that they were just like a vine with no fruit.

The righteous judgment of God upon those in Jerusalem had to be consistent with the great privileges they had willfully forsaken or they would not be fruitful. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24). We can not serve God and continue to live the same sinful lives that we had before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.

In fact, God rather you not serve Him at all if you are not sincere in serving Him. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (Revelation 3:15-18).

These principles of God's Word are still true today, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:5-6).

When we place God before the world and make the choice to not do what everyone else is doing that is when we become fruitful and multiply our blessings.

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the everlasting Covenant (Ezekiel 16:60). He is the Mediator of a better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Because I love Your commands more than worldly pleasures or temporal possessions I despise the paths that lead me astray like a lost sheep. You have gone before me and cleared the way so that I might follow in Your steps and the steps of other righteous, godly saints. I am comforted in knowing that I don’t walk alone, but I walk hand in hand with You as my Guide. Through eyes of faith I see a great cloud of witnesses, those spoken of in the Bible and those I’ve known in my lifetime, who’ve already finished the race cheering me on as I persevere in this path of righteousness. May I endure hardship as a form of discipline and may I wholeheartedly seek You above everything else, for You are a Rewarder of those who diligently seek You. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day and many blessings to you.
God Bless,
Christina

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