How to Really Live! – Ezekial 18:9 – April 5, 2009
Intro: Today we are
looking at the book of Ezekial, written by one of the O.T. most unusual and
mystical prophets. I love Ezekial is an
illustrative and creative prophet.
He loved poetry, visual artistic expression, storytelling
and using personal example to communicate his message. He was a son of a priest that was carried
away to
1. This book records
the events of the captivity in
The Jews in
Had been given
the task of telling them of a future destruction and exodus of the
People. He tells them that God is going to restore
them and they would tell others
About the Lord’s
salvation. Ezekial’s name meant, “The
God who strengthens.”
a. The book may start
with judgment but it ends with a promise of a new future for
Revealed. He have 179 messages from God. Ezekial task was to be a spiritual
watchman. To warn the people of impeding danger.
b. This is a book of
promise and judgment a combination of threat and promise. The
Key thought of
the book is, “I am the Sovereign Lord.”
c. This book is full
of fantastic scenes of God’s glory. It
shows Gods glory and
Judgment in a
symbolic form,
2. In our scripture
today, Ezekial reveals two conditions to this promise and two results
Of this promise. Ezekial like Jeremiah is primarily a prophet
of hope. He tells his
Audience that their
rebellion did not exhaust God’s mercy.
Like David who said,
“Sorrow may last
for a night but joy comes in the morning.”
God is going to fulfill
His promises very soon. Ezekial wanted to the people to have
a new heart.
. a. The first condition in this promise is, “He
who follows my decrees.” A
decree is
Edict or order given by someone who is in
authority over us. God is sovereign
Ezekial reminds
his audience. The person who submits,
obeys God commands,
follows through
in their lives. Obedience is key to receiving
God’s full provision.
Obedience is
greater than any sacrifice we can offer.
1 Sam 15:23 Obedience means
to submit out of
respect, reverence and love to a higher authority.
1. Ezekial is a man
who was obedient to the call of God. God
told him that if did not tell
The people, he
would be held responsible. He was a
living message and nothing was
Going to keep him from telling it or having
it fulfilled. Ezekial believed in
personal
Responsibility. We have free
choice and with its comes all the responsibilities and
Consequences. One of the hard choices he had to make was
when his wife died God
Told him not to
mourn.
b. And
faithfully keeps my laws. Faithfulness
is a concept that cannot be stressed
Enough
today. It means doing a task with
diligence, patience, without the possibility
Of recognition or reward. It means being in there for the long term. Remember it is
Not how you start
hat matters in the things of God but how you finish. You will be
Rewarded and
commended at the end of life. Ezekial
was a creative, artistic person.
He uses an art
form called pantomime to relay his message.
There are 40 pantomimes
Listed in the
Bible and 25 of them are found in Ezekial.
1. The Lord through
Ezekial is encouraging His people to be faithful in keeps His laws
Some would say
the ten commanded and I believe that is so but I believe the law God
Wants is Matt
22:37-40. Jesus said that the law and
prophets hang on these two
Commandments.
2. The law was the
guidelines or expression of God’s agreement with His people. These
Were measurable
ways in which you could see if you were expressing God’s desires
In your
life. Are you today expressing God’s
will in your words, thoughts, actions
And
attitudes. .
3. Ezekial then makes
two statements on behalf of the Lord. The
man is righteous. The
Two previous
expressions of obedience and faithfulness show a person to be
Righteous. To be righteous means to be in right standing
with God. Declare not
Guilty of sin or
its consequences. The man who is
righteous is obedient and faithful.
Is this your
testimony? Chapter 22 is a chapter
looking for a man of integrity. I
Believe God is
still looking for men like that today. Frank
Thompson calls this
Uprightness. Four biblical promises for this behaviour is
reward, prosperity, provision
And success. Ezekial reminded his readers that God His
promises very soon.
Ezekial highly regarded men like Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshack amd Abednego.
a. He
will surely live, declares the Lord. This
statement was extremely powerful and
Important
considering what was happening at the time.
Death, destruction, famine,
Pain, misery was
part of everyday life. People did not
know how long they would live
Or who would kill
them.
b. This gives his
readers and audience hope and a measuring stick to gauge their life by.
You are obedient
and faithful you will be righteous and live.
The promise to us today
Is that Jesus
came to give us life and abundantly.
(John 10:10)
1. Life
has been described in scripture as a shadow, 1 Chron 29:15
2. Swift runner. Job 9:25
3. A mere handbreadth. Ps 39:5
4. A weaver’s web. Is 38:12
5. A vanishing vapour. James 4:14
c. Paul encourages in
light of the quickness of life to redeem each moment and make
The most of
it. Eph 5.
No comments:
Post a Comment