Month: July 2014

“As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure its pattern and they will be ashamed of all that they have done.” Ezekiel 43:10-11a HCSB

How many times have we heard the words, “You should be ashamed of yourself” from our parents or said these words to our children? Every child at some point has done something that is not pleasing to his or her parents. We have all done things that have caused us to feel shame. As children of God, we have disappointed Him by our behavior and have willingly gone against His Word and direction. Sometimes we have participated in shameful behavior that only God knows about.

The people considered the temple to be the dwelling place of God. Jesus referred to the temple as “My Father’s house” in John 2:16. King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Solomon’s temple. The temple was in ruins and this seemed to a crippling blow to the spirit of the people of Israel. When the people heard the proclamation of Ezekiel about how the temple would be restored, they felt sorrow for how they had failed God.

Challenge: God continues to love us and provide for us even when we do not deserve it. We should all be ashamed of how we have broken God’s laws and rebelled against our loving Heavenly Father. Pray for forgiveness and thank Him for His love for you and for His timeless faithfulness to restore you to a right relationship with Him.

“Now let them remove their prostitution and the corpses of their kings far from Me, and I will dwell among them forever.” Ezekiel 43:9CSB

Prostitution is a growing problem in today’s world. Finding Justice reports that at any given moment, there are approximately 40 million people at work in the world in the prostitution industry. In South Africa the median price for a prostitute is only one dollar. One in ten men have purchased a prostitute. In America over 80,000 people are arrested each year for soliciting or selling sex. The murder rate for an American prostitute is 204 in every 100,000. Prostitution is a 58 billion dollar industry. Two and one half million victims are currently being trafficked in the sex industry.

Ezekiel is referring to religious prostitution in this verse. The people of Israel had brought other gods and idols into the temple and at times even participated in sexual activity with temple prostitutes, all in the name of worship. The people would continue to worship the One true God, Yahweh, but in the very next room they would also worship idols and have intimate relations with a temple prostitute. This was totally unacceptable to God. The people seemed to be more interested in worshiping dead kings than they were with worshiping the One true and living God. It is only when the people repented of their sins and sought God that they would experience true fellowship with Him and authentic worship.

Challenge: We may not be worshiping idols and engaging a temple prostitute, but too many times we have sin in our lives that hinders us from worshiping God. Are you engaging in “religious prostitution”? What is hindering you from experiencing true worship of God? Pray that God would reveal what you need to get rid of in your life so you can worship the One true God.

The glory of the Lord entered the temple by way of the gate that faced east. Then the spirit lifted me up and brought me in the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Ezekiel 43:4-5 HCSB

When I had the privilege of traveling to Israel, I observed the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem. It is believed that the Eastern Gate was closed in 1541 by Sulueiman the Magnificent and filled with bricks to prevent the Messiah from entering Jerusalem. Several times there have been attempts to re-open it, but it still remains closed. This is the only entrance into Jerusalem that also gives entrance into the Temple Mount. It is believed that the Eastern Gate was used for certain rituals and many people would enter into the temple through the Eastern Gate. The Eastern Gate is the gate that Jesus used to enter Jerusalem. Jewish tradition says that the coming Messiah will come through the Eastern Gate. Although Jesus fulfilled the prophesy, many did not recognize Him then as the Messiah and many today still do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah who was promised by God. Some believe that when Christ returns, the Eastern Gate will be opened again and it is at this location He will
enter Jerusalem. It is therefore fitting that it is also known as the Beautiful Gate or the Gate of Eternal Life.

Ezekiel was given the privilege to see the Eastern Gate in a vision. His vision was much like Isaiah’s vision (see Isaiah 6:4). It is also similar to the inaugural celebration of the tabernacle or temple as found in 1 Kings 8:11. He saw the glory of the Lord enter the temple by way of the Eastern Gate. Many believe that Ezekiel’s vision was a prophesy of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who years later entered through the Eastern Gate.

Challenge: Believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah and that He fulfilled prophesy by entering Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. Thank God that Jesus came and paid the price for your sins on the cross and that He will someday return and will enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate.

He led me to the gate, the one that faces east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of mighty waters, and the earth shone with His glory. Ezekiel 43:1-2 HCSB

The United States of America recently celebrated Independence Day on July 4th. We proudly put out the American flag at our house. Our country often refers to the American flag as “Old Glory”. The flag always arouses feelings of patriotism and love for our country.

I enjoy taking outdoor photography of nature scenes. At times I have captured pictures of sunrises and sunsets that one might describe as glorious. We even sing songs that sing about glory, but nothing can compare to the glory of God.

The primary Hebrew word that is translated “glory” comes from a root word that means “heavy”. It means to give weight or honor. This verse in Ezekiel also indicates that the glory of God is like a bright light (See Ezekiel 10:4; Luke 2:9; and Revelation 21:11, 23). Throughout the Old Testament God’s glory is revealed at different times, but the ultimate revelation of God’s glory was when Jesus came and lived among us and revealed God’s nature through His words and actions. God’s glory causes us to realize how powerful, awesome, and loving our God is and how unworthy we are to receive His mercy and grace.

Challenge: Spend some time just thinking about the glory of God. Let your mind wander and think about how awesome and great is the God you serve. Praise God for who is He is and for His great mercy and forgiveness. Listen to Chris Tomlin perform the song “How Great is Our God” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFN8TBfgNU&feature=kp (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFN8TBfgNU&feature=kp)

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish and multiply them and will set My sanctuary among them forever. Ezekiel 37:26 HCSB

I have taught Sunday School leadership conferences across the country. One principle I have consistently tried to convey to the conferees is the principle of multiplication. Every Sunday School class should have the goal of reaching new people and growing to the point that they need to multiply and birth a new class. Too many times a Sunday School class becomes comfortable with where they are and ceases to effectively reach new people. The class is always friendly to newcomers but does not actively seek new members. The Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples and also gives to us as His disciples is to go and make disciples. Sunday School classes and churches need to focus on others instead of themselves.

This verse paints a picture of God providing peace to the people of Israel. God promised His people that they would be fruitful and multiply. They would grow in numbers and God would be with them forever. Ezekiel 34:25-31 provides more information about this covenant between God and His people.

Challenge: Are you reaching out to new people? Is your Bible Study class growing? When was the last time you invited someone to come to your Bible Study class? How many classes have been birthed out of your class? What can you do to help your Bible Study class to start thinking about multiplying and starting a new class? Would you be willing to leave your current class to help start a new class so more people could be reached and your church can grow?

“They will not defile themselves anymore with their idols, their detestable things, and all their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 37:23 HCSB

A pastor I worked with years ago would explain the plan of salvation to the children attending Vacation Bible School using an old dirty T-shirt to illustrate how our lives are stained and dirty from the sins we have committed. He would then use a new clean T-shirt to illustrate how our lives are cleansed and made clean when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In this verse, Ezekiel described the beautiful sight of when the people of Israel would return to their homeland. The people would worship the one true God and He would cleanse them of all of their sins so they could have fellowship with God and be His people. This is also the picture of the coming Messiah who would pay the ultimate sacrifice with His life so we could be cleansed and made clean from all our sins.

Challenge: Have you been cleansed of all of your dirty sins? Read Isaiah 1:19 and 1 John 1:8-9 to discover how Jesus can be your Good Shepherd and cleanse you of all of your sins. Thank God for allowing you to have a relationship with Him and to be a part of His people.

“Therefore, prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, My people, and lead you into the land of Israel. Ezekiel 37:12-13 HCSB

It is always exciting to read about those who were raised from the dead, such as Lazarus or the little girl of the Roman soldier. We all wish we had power to conquer death and old age and live forever. As I have gotten older, how I wish I could turn back the hands of the clock and participate in some of the activities that I was able to do when I was younger. At one time, when I was younger, I played tennis several times each week but now I seldom play tennis or get any real exercise.

Ezekiel used the analogy between the exodus of the people of Israel from slavery and bondage in Egypt to the bondage and slavery they were experiencing under the Babylonians. God’s promise was that He would bring the people out of captivity and back into the land of Israel. God would rescue them and give them new life. “Them” is referring to both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel. The “open the graves” is symbolic of the National rebirth of Israel.

Challenge: God is still in control and is still offering people freedom from the bondage of sin. Today there is hope for the future because Jesus is alive and has conquered sin through His death and resurrection. Through belief in Jesus Christ you can have freedom from your sins and have eternal life. Thank God for His wonderful gift of forgiveness and freedom.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’” Ezekiel 37:11 HCSB

There was a church named No Hope Baptist Church in a town where I used to live. The church got its name because when they started the church on the outskirts of town several people said, “There is no hope for that church to make it.” Therefore, they named the church No Hope Baptist Church. Years later a deacon of the church was attending a conference when the speaker made the comment, “There is hope in Jesus Christ. Just imagine if a church were to call itself No Hope” not realizing that there really was a church called No Hope. The deacon returned from the conference with a determination to get the name of the church changed. It is now more appropriately called the New Hope Baptist Church.

The people of Israel felt that there was no hope for the future. Many were in captivity under the Babylonians and others were living in Jerusalem were the city laid in ruins. There seemed to be no hope. Often people go through experiences in life when they feel there is no hope for the future. They may even feel like there is no reason for living.

Challenge: Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. God is still in control even when things are really going bad. Trust God that He has a plan and will accomplish His plan if we will only allow Him to be the Lord of our lives. With God there is always hope.

The hand of the Lord was on me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Ezekiel 32:1-2 HCSB

There have been times in my life when I have felt depressed because of circumstances or problems that have come my way. At other times I have been deeply saddened due to troublesome occurrences in the lives of people in my realm of influence. Depression in our society today is quite common and many individuals benefit from counseling and/or medications to aid in handling the stresses of life.

By God’s power, Ezekiel was miraculously placed in a valley of dry bones. It is believed that these bones were the bones of the people of Israel who had died at the hands of the Babylonians. This must have been very depressing to Ezekiel as he realized the physical and spiritual dryness of the people of Israel.

Challenge: Do you feel like you are in a valley of dry bones? Are you feeling depressed? Trust God that He has a plan and will help you experience exactly what is best and most helpful to you.

“I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and another. Ezekiel 34:22 HCSB

July 4th is when America celebrates its independence from Great Britain. We also celebrate the freedom we have as Americans to read our Bibles, attend worship, and praise our God. In many countries people are restricted from reading God’s Word and from attending a worship service. There are many Christians throughout our world who secretly meet each week to study God’s Word and to have worship. Some Christians are even persecuted for their beliefs. In America we are blessed to celebrate our many freedoms on July 4th.

True freedom is only found in knowing Christ as Lord and Savior and knowing that one’s sins are forgiven. God is the One who provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His Son, Jesus Christ, died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He is the One who has saved us. Ezekiel reminds us in this verse that God will save us. He will save us from the evil one, the devil. Matthew 25:32 tells us that on the Day of Judgment, Jesus will separate the sheep, His flock, from the goats, those who do not know Him as Lord and Savior. He will bring His sheep into perfect pasture and He will care for them.

Challenge: Praise God that as a believer you have real freedom in Jesus, knowing that Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins, your sins are forgiven, and someday you will enjoy eternal life.