VISIONS OF HEAVEN
Ezekiel 43:1-12
Ezekiel was one of the prophets of God during the 70 year
Babylonian captivity.
The Lord gave Ezekiel a vision of the future Temple
of Israel Jerusalem
after Israel
is the new temple not built with human hand where God will
reign. This will take place
after the second coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture of
the Church.
THE STUDY OF THE WORD BRINGS UNDERSTANDING
V:1,2. "Then the man brought me to the gate facing east
2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was
like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory."
A. Chapter 43 is the
continuation of the vision God gave to Ezekiel in the 42 preceding
chapters.
1. God used an
angel to assist in the giving of the vision to Ezekiel.
a. We are
transported in the spirit to an understanding of God's Word.
b. God is
spirit and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and truth. John 4:24
2. It is the Word
with the aid of the Holy Spirit that gives us a spiritual vision of God's
plan.
B. Whenever you study
the Word, you should put away all worldly concerns so you can
experience the
glory of God.
1. The Word of God
should make an impact on your mind and heart.
2. When you understand
the power of rushing water, you experience a very small part
of God's
power.
C. On a clear sunny day, you cannot look directly into
the sun. It will blind you.
1. Perhaps the
radiance of God in some small way is similar to this.
2. I am not sure we can fully understand the
power of the sun.
3. We can never
fully understand the Glory of God, but we can glow in His presence.
V:3. " The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen
when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar
River
A. The Bible is the vision of God.
1. When we study
God's Word, we should seek to understand
His power, His
authority,
His creativity and His Grace and Mercy.
2. When we approach
the Word of God we should humble ourselves.
a. Ezekiel
fell on his face.
b. We should
understand that we are low as dirt and God is worthy of our
worship.
3. When we humble
ourselves before God, we show our respect for His person.
B. When we study the Word of God, He reminds us
that He has destroyed men
and cities
because of sinful behavior.
1. Vengeance is
the Lord's, and He is not mocked.
V:4. " The glory of the Lord entered the temple through
the gate facing east."
A. The original temple
was constructed so the altar and the entry into the Holy of
Holiness faced
the east.
1. The sun rises
in the east.
2. Entry into the
sanctuary was from the east gate. Ex
27:13-16
B. We see God's glory
first in the morning from the east, as the sun rises.
1. It is the sun
that provides us warmth.
2. It is the sun
that gives us light.
3. It is the sun
that promotes growth.
C. The Lord is the
source of all life.
1. His glory
shines all around us.
2. Maybe it is
early in the morning that God starts something new in us.
V:5. " Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into
the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple."
A. It is the Spirit
of the Lord that lifts believers out of the darkness of the world into
the light of His
divine Holiness.
1. Jesus said,
where I am, there you will be also.
2. It is Lord who
said, "Heaven is near." Mt
10:7
B. I believe if you
can find yourself alone with the Word of God, you will be
lifted up to a
higher spiritual plane.
1. Jesus often left
His disciples and went up to the mountain to pray. Mat 14:23
2. It was on the
mountain that Jesus was transfigured into the presence of the
Father.
A WORD FROM THE LORD
V:6. "While the
man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the
temple."
A. When you come into
the temple of the Lord, you ought to expect to hear a word
from Him.
1. Anytime we are
in God's sanctuary, our hearts and minds ought to be open to
the Lord.
2. When you step
into the House of the Lord, you should leave the dirt of the
world on the
outside.
a. Dirt and
God's holiness don't mix.
b. Either you
will pay attention to the dirt or you will pay attention to the Word.
B. It is the Holy
Spirit that indwells us that stands with us to give an understanding
of God's Word.
1. Faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
2. We ought not
be to quick to discount God's Word because it came out of the
mouth of
someone we don't like.
GOD LIVES IN US
V:7. " He said: "Son of man, this is the place of
my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among
the Israelites forever. The house of Israel
A. The body is the temple of the Lord.
1. The Holy Spirit
indwells God's Temple
2. God lives among
believers forever.
3. When we die, we
are absent from the body and present with the Lord.
B. Once in Christ, we are separated from the sins of the
world by the blood of Jesus.
1. Any man in Christ
is a new creation.
2. Our focus
should change from selfishness to giving God honor and glory.
C. The earth is the
footstool of the Lord. Acts 7:49
1. Since we
belong to the Lord, we sit at His footstool.
2. We have a
responsibility to honor the Lord with our hearts, minds and souls.
3. We have a
choice.
a. We can
put God first in our lives.
b. We can
reject God by making something or someone more important than
God.
c. By
putting someone or something before God, we prostitute ourselves
to
idols.
D. We must
understand that it is a privilege to sit at the feet of the Lord.
1. Learning
begins at the feet of the Lord.
2. The ability
to not worry is at the feet of the Lord.
a. Mary sat
at the feet of the Lord while Martha, her sister worried.
3. Holiness is
at the feet of the Lord.
4. All we need
is at the feet of the Lord.
IF YOU REJECT GOD, HE WILL REJECT YOU
V:8. " When they
placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my
doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by
their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger."
A. God reminds us of
what He did in the past when Israel
dumb idols.
1. Jerusalem Jerusalem
2. At the time of
the writing of Ezekiel , Israel Babylon
B. Because of God's
love for us, He may destroy the very thing that we place
before Him.
1. We are in
danger of the wrath of God when we ignore His commands.
2. God can and has
shorten the lives of those who rejected Him in favor of their
own selfish and
sinful desires.
,
JESUS IS THE WAY OUT
V:9. " Now let them put away from me their prostitution
and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever."
A. There are some
requirements to live with God.
1. We have rules
for our own households, likewise God has rules for His household.
2. God commands
us not to worship idols.
a. That which
is more important to you than God is your idol.
b. Any excuse
we make not to serve God is an indication of our unfaithfulness.
3. Anytime we
decide that the world is the authority, and not the Word of God,
we have made
a decision not to trust God.
B. Relying on the
things of this world is spiritual prostitution.
1. God wants our
complete trust.
2. " Trust
in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Prob 3:5-6
C. God promises that
our home with Him is eternal.
1. "I will
live with you forever".
2. When we choose
life with God, He promises never to leave us or forsake us.
Joshua 1:5
THE WORD WILL CONVICT
V:10 "Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel
A. Once we choose
God, we take on the responsibility of living the Word and
proclaiming the
Word of God.
1. Ezekiel chose
God.
a. "
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the
Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Mat 28:19
b. How can
people in the dark find the "LIGHT" if we don't let our light shine?
B. If we love our
neighbors, we will tell them about God.
1. It is not our
job to convict anyone of their sins.
2. The Word of
God does the conviction.
3. Our job is to
proclaim the Word, then step back and let God work in their hearts.
a. We have a
promise from God that the Word will not return void. Isa 55:11
b. The Word
will accomplish what pleases God.
C. God has a plan for our lives.
1. We need to
know the plan to consider the plan.
2. The body is
the Temple
a. We need
to know this to consider this.
D. God described
His Holy Temple to Ezekiel,
1. God's holy Temple
2. We need to
know this to consider this.
V:11. And if they are
ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple —
its arrangement, its exits and entrances — its whole design and all its
regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful
to its design and follow all its regulations."
A. The first
requirement for knowledge of the Kingdom
of God
1. We must humble
ourselves before the Lord.
2. We must consider, that we have sinned and
fall short of the Glory of God. Ro. 3:23
B. The Bible was
written by God's chosen men so we will know His plan and follow His
commands.
1. The Bible is the
inspired Word of God. 2 Tim 3:16
2. Those who are
faithful will follow God's Word.
C. The Israelites
knew what the physical Temple
1. Ezekiel
describe a more Glorious Heavenly Structure that God himself
will build,
for all who believe in the redemption that is Jesus Christ. Ezekiel 40-42
2. God has given
us a glimpse of heaven so that we can look forward being there
with
Him.
3. Our hope should
not be in this world, but our life after this one with the Lord.
4. This world will
pass away, and a new heaven and new earth will be created by
by God. Rev 21:1
V:12 "This is
the law of the temple: All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will
be most holy. Such
is the law of the temple. "
A. God is holy and
we must present ourselves to God as holy. Dt 7:6, Rom 12:1
1. It is by the
Blood that Jesus shed on the cross that atones for our sins.
2. Because we
believe in the Word, we are washed and
made holy before God.
B. The law of the
temple was ratified by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
THERE IS HOPE IN THE WORD OF GOD, STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF
Rev. M. Mitchell,
Asst Pastor of GMBC
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