THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH (Outline)
June 8, 2008 --
PENTECOST 4 --
Ezekiel 17:22-24
INTRO: In our country there are many different churches. Each denomination holds to its own tradi-tions and heritages (some are Biblical and others are not). There are false churches that do not teach the very basic truths of Scripture. There are erring churches that mix man-made teachings or reason with God’s true teachings. There are true churches that hold fast to God’s word in all of its truth and purity. Not only do they hold fast to God’s word they also practice it. All too often too many modern day preachers try to grab all of God’s glory and honor for themselves. To God alone is to be all the glory. "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow"(1 CORINTHIANS 3:6,7).
THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH.
I. From a tender sprig. II. Into a splendid cedar.
I. THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH FROM A TENDER SPRIG
A. Once again it was one of those times that Israel was at a very, very low point in their history.
1. Foreign kings conquered the children of God and took them away as slaves and prisoners.
2. Ezekiel was sent to speak the truth of God’s word. Their rebellion brought dire consequences.
B. Ezekiel makes the point that his prophecy was not his. He was bringing God’s word, verse 22a.
1. This was a vital point. Many false prophets brought false prophecies.
2. They told the people that more powerful kings would soon save them. It was not true.
C. The foreign kings in their great power were described as “great trees” having great strength.
1. Verse 22b. The Lord was not going to use a “great tree” to deliver his people.
2. Verse 23. God would plant his tender sprig. It would be planted back in Israel to deliver.
D. Ezekiel is describing the ultimate deliverance to and for God’s people. Ezekiel talks of the Savior, Jesus Christ. You may recall that Jesus came from the house and line of David. Now the house of David was not considered mighty, or glorious. The house and line of David was a humble beginning for the King of creation, the Savior of mankind. Rather than a great tree Jesus would come from this tender sprig. "In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land"(JEREMIAH 33:15). This was and is the Deliverer for God’s people.
E. This idea of a tender sprig was the emphasis of Jesus’ entire earthly life. Jesus was born in the little, sleepy town of Bethlehem. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, another quiet, small, insignificant village. The humble life of Jesus was a life of service. The humble, service life of Jesus serves as our example. "And whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"(MATTHEW 20:27,28). As believers we now live to serve just as Christ came to live and serve creation. In humility we give to God the glory he deserves.
F. Many enemies of the cross of Christ are always waiting to take advantage of those who lead humble, Christian lives. A message of humility and service is definitely not often well accepted in our dog-eat-dog society today. But it is this very message of humility that reminds the believer of the challenge that is ours in this sin-darkened world. Christ came as a tender sprig to pay for our sins. Christ came as a tender sprig to pay for the sins of the world. We are the branches that now have sprouted from that vine, Christ. His life, love, suffering, death, and resurrection are the very root of our faith, life, and all that we truly treasure. Our tender sprig came "…to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death"(LUKE 1:77-79).
THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH.
I. From a tender sprig. II. Into a splendid cedar.
II. THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH MAKING IT INTO A SPLENDID CEDAR
A. Ezekiel told the people of God that the Sovereign Lord would plant a tender sprig. Jesus would come.
1. Eventually the people of God would be delivered. The tender sprig would become great.
2. Verse 23a,b. The Lord would do this for the benefit of God’s people – and more!
3. God’s temple was once a building of great splendor. God’s house was built mostly of cedar.
B. God’s great cedar would be for all people, verse 23c. Birds (people) of all kinds will be gathered.
1. God’s glory would be seen be more than just God’s people, verse 24a.
2. Great nations (tall, green tree) will be brought low by the power of the Lord God Almighty.
C. The importance of God’s visible glory is the fact that the Lord is able to say - and do it, verse 24c.
D. The tree, the shade, and all the birds gathered are the New Testament church. The New Testament church began as a very, tender sprig but has flourished into a splendid cedar. There were Jesus and his twelve apostles. They spread the word. The early New Testament Christian church was persecuted. The believers left Jerusalem. They took the word of God with them. God’s church grew. Today the splendid cedar of God includes believers from every tribe and nation from all corners of the world. "It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade" (MARK 4:31,32). The sovereign Lord plants his church. His church flourishes like a splendid cedar.
E. The word of the Lord is the most powerful force on earth. By the word of the Lord everything came into being at creation from out of nothing. By the word of the Lord hearts of stone are changed into warm, beating, and believing hearts of flesh. A seed is planted and grows. There is no stopping this miracle. Most amazing is that one single seed produces an abundance of seeds. "…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it"(ISAIAH 55:11). The sovereign Lord blesses his church.
F. We may now always feel like our church is flourishing. We may not even feel like our faith is flour-ishing. Why is that? We do not and cannot flourish without a close relationship to our God through his word. Many modern day preachers want followers. Proper gospel preachers strive for people to know Christ and follow Him. True gospel preachers will always direct searching souls to the word of the Lord.
"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God"(PSALM 92:12,13). Flourish in God’s word!
CONC.: As the Lord declares so it shall be. This is the simple, yet very powerful message of the Bible. The true Christian church is every gathering of believers firmly planted on Christ the cornerstone. God’s church is built on his word alone. The holy Christian church is the invisible church. It has no building or boundaries. The holy Christian church consists of every believer who confesses Christ as his or her per-sonal Savior. God knows them. This is God’s church. God plants this church. God loves this church. God provides for this church. God blesses this church. It is the church that you belong to. "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone"(ROMANS 5:19). THE SOVEREIGN LORD PLANTS HIS CHURCH. May that tender sprig that God planted in our hearts always continue to flourish into God’s splendid cedar. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES:
1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat), + 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun)
/ 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES:
TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF
/ 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENT. 4 readings:
EXODUS 19:2-8;
ROMANS 5:6-11;
MATTHEW 9:35-10:8;
PSALM 100)
