A Spiritual Guide

God’s Presence 09.04.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel, please read Chapters 10-13 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2010-13&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Glory of the Lord leaving the Temple; the judgement placed upon the lying leaders; the promise of Israel’s restoration and renewal; and captivity draws near. Today’s mesage focuses on the importance of realizing that those that have experienced God’s saving grace know the joy of having a new life in Christ Jesus free from the guilt of the past.

Ezekiel’s vision revealed the dispatching of seven men, one to spare the faithful minority and six to slay the idolatrous majority of Israelites. All who were faithful to the Lord were marked on their foreheads. Slowly, Ezekiel saw God’s presence leaving the Temple, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.” (Ezekiel 10:18). He hesitantly departed the city and went to the Mount of Olives where He hovered as though waiting and watching to see if Israel would repent and return to Him. “And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.” (11:23).

Israel lost their most precious possession, the presence of the Lord. They were headed for disaster and it appears that the Israelites were so involved in their religious activities that they were not aware that God had even withdrawn His presence from them. 

The Lord then again gave Ezekiel a prophecy that reached so far into the future that it reaches us Christian’s today. “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (11:17-20). After Christ died on the cross, arose from the grave, and ascended to heaven, God the Holy Spirit came to dwell in all Christians.

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:19-20).

We need to realize that once we accept Jesus as our Savior we are free and no more strangers to God. He is always right there with us and the amazing thing is that all we have to do is call on Him and He will speak to us. What a great feeling it is to know that we are a part of the kingdom of God and are free. Praise the Lord!

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
You reign over all the earth and You also reign in my heart! What an awesome blessing this truth brings to me today. As I consider that it is not by my might, nor by my power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that my personal mountains are removed. Jesus, I know that many of the mountains I face are not just blown away by a simple prayer of faith, but these mountains are often the very essence of how You work through my life to reveal Your faithfulness and Your power in the midst of my struggles. I love Your Lord and I praise You. In Jesus’ name…..Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God bless,
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
aspiritualguide.net 

Idolatry 09.03.08

Hello My Guest/Friend,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel. Please read Chapters 5-9 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%205-9&version=9

Today we will read and learn about famine, pestilence, and the sword; the remnant that is to be spared; the vision of the glory of God; and the vision of slaying in Jerusalem. Today’s message focuses on the importance of realizing that failure to honor God and His Word always opens the way for idolatry instead of worship of the One True God. Idolatry is not just a image to bow down to it is also anything or person that takes us away from reading, learning, and obeying God’s Word.

Fourteen years after Nebuchadnezzar’s initial conquest of the kingdom of Judah, life in Jerusalem seemed to have returned to normal. Consequently, the people would not believe Ezekiel, who was in Babylon, when he prophesied concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. “And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.” (Ezekiel 6:3-4).

Even the Israelites who were captive in Babylon were sure that God would protect Jerusalem and the only Temple on earth where His presence dwelt, but Ezekiel continued to warn them, “They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.” (7:14-16). What a horrifying vision of what was to come and as a result of their disobedience to the Word of God, the Israelites had filled the land with violence, fulfilling the prophecy that Ezekiel warned them about. 

Today, we face similar situations, many people are more worried about material success than trying to learn the Word of God. God tells us why He created us, how He expects us to live and even what He expects us to do with our lives while here on earth. Yet, when seeking wealth we become disobedient to God. Please understand that God does not want us to starve and live on the streets, but wealth was never meant to be selfishly accumulated or to be lavished only on ourselves. God entrusts us with wealth when we put Him and others before ourselves. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (II Corinthians 9:7-8). 

The Israelites did not cease to acknowledge the Lord as their God, but what they failed to do is eliminate idols that took the place of God. Today, many do the same thing, they go to church and acknowledge God on Sunday, but the rest of the week they go back to their idols. The fearful thing is that it is possible to call ourselves Christians, believe all the fundamental doctrines of the faith, attend religious services regularly, and go through the motions of worship because we feel it is our religious duty and, yet, never truly worship only Him. Our hearts and thoughts can be elsewhere, even during the worship service. We need to get back to putting God first above all things, it is the only way to experience all that God has to offer us. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33).

In today’s reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the man clothed in linen (Ezekiel 9:2-11) representing Christ as High Priest, marking His people to be spared from the flaming sword of vengeance.

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
The comfort You provide us through the Scriptures is sort of like a safety net catching us as we tumble through life’s ups and downs. You have not immunized us from the same experiences of those who have not placed their trust in You, but Your strength is perfected in our weakness. You not only provide grace and overcoming for our present needs, but You have prepared a place for us where the best is yet to come; where we no longer face separation, pain, or sin. Keep us faithful in our walk until that appointed day when You call us to our heavenly dwelling place. In Jesus’ name…..Amen.

Have a great and blessed day!
God Bless,
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
aspiritualguide.net