Ezekiel 36:33-37 "Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.35 And they will say, ' This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited. '36 Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.37 "Thus says the Lord God: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock.
When the land enjoys the benefits of the people's cleansing (v. 33 ). The impact on the land is not simply on its fertility (vv. 34–35 ). The cityscape is renewed as well as the landscape (v. 33 ).
This is a promise of Renewal
The fertility of the Land will be restored
The Landscape will change from wasteland to a Garden
The Cityscape will change from ruined to well built
The mention of Eden (v. 35 ) emphasizes the nature of this act as re-creation. One appointed function of Israel's experience in the land was to show the whole world a restored Edenic life, lived in God's presence and with his blessing. This is also the function of the Church (God's Israel).
So what is the key to see a Church that is desirable? What is the secret to build a Church that is so pleasant that the people around desire to be a part of?
Notice how verse 37 also talks about numeric increase (like a flock). It all starts with a very simple thing, God says, "Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities..." This seams to be to simple to be true. So if we are cleansed from iniquities the blessing will come? I want that!
1. What is iniquity?
Some people think that sin and iniquity are the same thing.
Isaiah 59:2 "but your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear."
Is there a difference between SIN and INIQUITY? This seams to be really obvious but a lot of people think that they are the same.
There are 3 different aspects of the whole fallen nature of man.
Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
1. Iniquity = Perversion.
Gross immorality or injustice; wickedness. The Hebrew meaning is: perverseness, bowed down, twisted; to be bent or crooked; to be wrung out of course. The word "iniquity" ('avon in Hebrew) is used to express how a human heart is not holy--not set apart, not perfect, not godly.
2. Transgression = Rebellion.
A violation of a law, command, or duty: The exceeding of due bounds or limits.
The Hebrew meaning of transgression is a wilful deviation from, and therefore rebellion against, the path of godly living. The Greek meaning of transgression is: To go beyond; Overstepping the limits. This word very strongly links with rebellion and disobedience. Transgressions are more potent than just sinning and are the next step into further permanent bondage. Transgressions are related to trespass, which is a wilful violation of the law (human or Godly law).
3. Sin = Missing the mark.
Insufficient to satisfy a requirement or meet a need resulting from such inadequacy.
The English word for sin is derived from archery. The archer would draw the bow and shoot the arrow towards the target. If he missed the mark, the overseeing official would yell "sin." The Hebrew meaning of sin is: Slipping away from where you should be;
Prov. 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his spirit is like a city, broken down, without walls
Sin refers to an action, something that happens in the real world. Iniquity is an attitude of the heart. Iniquity will eventually lead us to sin. Iniquity is the same as unholiness. Any area of our life that is not set apart for God is an area of iniquity. The way to take possession of the Garden is to be cleansed from ALL our iniquities.
Scripture talks about Sin (singular) and Iniquities (plural). Jesus came to take away our sin but the iniquities of our heart are removed through a process of cleansing that we Christians call "Holiness" or living "Holy lives". Forgiveness of sin is instantaneous but cleansing of iniquities is progressive and takes time.
2. How can I get rid of iniquities?
Have you seen ads for Clearsil, Proactiv, or other acne treatments? They usually exaggerate things and show the face before and aft the application of the "miraculous" product that makes you look good and perfect. They also make sure you get hooked to the remedy so they can bank on you. They show how a person with acne is not accepted and how they suddenly become lovable after their skin is cleansed from the rush. Well today I want to teach you how to get rid of spiritual acne. God accepts you just as you are, he loves you even if you have iniquities but He cannot bless you if you keep having wrong attitudes that burst from your heart.
James 1:23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
A hearer is like a person that looks into the mirror and sees the acne of his/her own iniquities. Quickly that person forgets about his face and doesn't take any action to correct the problem. A doer is a person that sees the problem and acts upon it. The doer will be blessed in his doing!
If you want to get rid of your iniquities you need to be washed by the Word. God places pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles and prophets in your way so you can identify the iniquities of your heart and act upon it. As a pastor I've found that people that are religious become easily offended when I point an iniquity in their lives. The spirit of religion causes people to have spiritual pride, the religious person thinks that he is already purified from iniquities because he doesn't commit sin very often. However God has a higher plan. He wants to bless you by removing the iniquities out of your life. Pastors will confront your sin and your iniquity with the purpose of helping you. If you don't allow your pastor to correct you you miss the mark
A man of words and not deeds is like a garden full of weeds.
The list still goes on to tell you that you need to show mercy and try to snatch others out of the trap of religion. It ends by saying that God is able to keep you from these things that are happening all around you.
You can be a garden in the midst of the wasteland, an oasis for those hat are in need.
This takes me to my final point in this message.
3. Do you have a Tomb in your Garden?
John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
Fruitfulness is the will of God for us individually and as a Church. God wants us to become like the Garden of Eden. The way to achieve this is by getting rid of our iniquities. Now this is the great secret that shows the difference between a true relationship with God and just a religious experience.
We can fake a lot of things. We have fake gold, fake watches, fake paintings. If there is anything on earth with some value you will always have counterfeits. There are even false apostles, false teachers and false religions. However there is one part of our spiritual garden that will cause us to be sure that we have the "real deal".
We need a Tomb in our garden! It's no coincidence that the place where Christ died had a garden. It was in the Garden of Eden that man sinned and became separated from God. But in His great wisdom and love our Father prepared another Garden to show mankind how much he loves us.
God wants to change our lives and bring us to a season of fruitfulness in all areas.
Ezekiel 36:33-37 And they will say, ' This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited. '
Conclusion
The word "Paradise" is a Persian word meaning "a walled garden".
When a Persian king wished to do one of his subjects a very special honour he made him a "companion of the garden" and he was chosen to walk in the royal garden with the king. It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the penitent thief. He promised the honoured place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven. "You will be with me" said Jesus.
One day we will enjoy the pleasure of being with Jesus in Paradise.
When you try to sell a house make sure you clean the place and take care of the lawn. In my street there was a house for sale for more than one year. I saw one day a construction crew and a team of landscape workers. They did a wonderful garden at the front of the house. Soon the house was sold. Sometimes we get used to walk with Christ and come to the Church and as we invite people to come with us they often say that they are not interested. However I can guarantee that if you take care of yourself and have a life that is desirable to your friends and family it will be like a beautiful and inviting garden that will attract others to Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are the aroma (fragrance) of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
