Sincerity 09.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel, please read Chapters 20-21 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2020-21&version=9

Today we will read and learn about God's refusal to be consulted by the elders; the history of rebellious Israel, Israel's defeat by Babylon; and Israel scattering among the heathen. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that unless we are sincere in our walk with God He will not hear us when we call on Him. God will not give us anything that is going to take His place, harm others or ourselves.

God gave continuous warnings through the prophet Jeremiah and Ezekiel about the judgement upon Israel yet the Israelites continually rebeled against it, often expressing their hatred toward them instead of truly listening to what they had to say. Of course when the destruction of Jerusalem began taking place the people were questioning God and asking Him why it was happening. "Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you........Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth." (Ezekiel 20:2-3,21-22). Because the Israelites disregarded His Word and loved the things and abominations of the world, God could not bless and protect them, He will not give blessings for evil doings. Had they returned to God completely He would have listened to their call for help.

Following this, Ezekiel received a terrifying message from God of the total destruction of the land. "Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more." (21:2-5).

Soon we learn of king Zedekiah and the people being captured as well as the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar. "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end," (21:24-25). Since then, no king has been anointed to sit on the throne of David in Israel for the past 2500 years. Ezekiel foretold, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem (crown), and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase (lower) him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." (21:26-27). In the time of Jesus, an Edomite named Herod was merely a puppet king appointed by Rome to govern only the Jews of Judea. The promised land will continue to exist without a king until the return of Jesus Christ.

To seek God in the midst of trouble without the sincere desire to put Him first above all things is just foolish. God knows our hearts and unless we repent and sincerely try to change our ways He will not listen to our call for help. What is so amazing is that God forgives us for all our sins and wipes them clean from our slate, every sinner who repents and turns to the Lord, Jesus Christ is saved by His mercy and grace. Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:14-16).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the One who will gather His people from all nations and purge out the false from the true. (Ezekiel 20:34-38). Jesus said, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another." (Matthew 25:31-32).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I lift up to you all my concerns and any areas of my life where I have unrest. I ask that you would take this burden away from me and bring your joy and peace into my life. My hope is in you and I praise you for your hand of blessing on me. Thank you that as I look to you, you shine the light of your face on me and on the path I need to walk. My hope is in you and I will look to no other one to guide me. In Jesus name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderfully blessed day!
God Bless,
Christina

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