STARTING NEW ALL OVER AGAIN
EZEKIEL 36: 16-32
JUNE 9, 2001
INTRODUCTION: In his book Enjoying God, Lloyd Ogilvie writes: One of the most astounding achievements in ophthalmological surgery is the implanting of lens in a human eye. After a friend of mine had this surgery in both eyes, and the bandages were removed, he exclaimed, “How wonderful to have new eyes!…” Our hearts have eyes… Before conversion, our “inner eyes” are clouded over with cataracts blocking our vision. We cannot see ourselves, others, and life in the clear light of truth. Nor can we behold God’s true nature or see the beauty of the world that He’s given us to enjoy. We are spiritually blinded… Conversion begins the healing of our heart-eyes by removing our spiritual cataracts. We understand what the cross means for our forgiveness, but we still do not perceive all that the Lord has planned for us and the power He has offered to us. We need a supernatural lens implant in the eyes or our hearts… Paul calls this lens the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation.”… The Spirit is the lens for the eyes of our hearts.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for this day speaks to us about the struggle of the heart. It also speaks of the One who can do a heart transplant. And, being that we are now in the Season of Pentecost, it also reminds us of the Spirit of God and what the work of the Spirit is all about. I believe it can be summed up in a simple statement: “Starting New all over again!”
THESIS SENTENCE: New beginnings are a gift from God, not based on our past actions, but upon His present Character.
STARTING NEW ALL OVER AGAIN
I. IMPLIES PAST FAILURE
A. Past failure is marked by the defilement of the people of God
1. Ezekiel the prophet reminds the reader just why the people of God are in exile in foreign lands.
2. The key word is Defilement!
3. Defilement is caused by past conduct and actions. This is the key phrase concerning Yahweh’s frustration with His people.
4. Defilement came about because of Idol worship! Defilement came about because of the shedding of blood in the Sacred land in reference to Idolitry!
5. Defilement is specifically about God: The people of Israel had profaned the name of the living God!
6. From verse 20 to verse 23 the prophet reminds the Children of Israel that they had profaned the Great name of God.
7. In four short verses this phrase is repeated 5 times!
8. Do you think the prophet is making a POINT!!
B. Past failure is made evident by the judgment of God (Verses 18 & 19)
1. Because of this past desecration God’s Holy name, God sent His people far from their Promised land.
2. Ezekiel defines the Sovereign Lord’s response as “poured out wrath.” 3. The Sovereign Lord “Dispersed” His people among the nations.
4. The Sovereign Lord Scatter His people through the Countries.
5. The Sovereign Lord Judged His people!
C. Past failure is the common denominator of all of our lives concerning God.
1. Isaiah 53: 6 states, “We all like sheep, have gone astray, eacho of us has turned to his own way;…”
2. Paul states in Romans 3:10ff, “There is no one righteous, no9t even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is on one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
3. This is the conclusion of Sin!
4. Paul again states in Romans 3: 23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
5. We also are marked by past failure!
STARTING NEW ALL OVER AGAIN
II. IMPLIES PRESENT NEED (Verses 22 & 23)
A. Present need is centered on God’s Holiness revealed to His people
1. God does not REACT!
2. God Acts! Do you know the difference?
3. God acts based on His own Character. His Character is Holiness.
4. God acts for the sake of His Holy Name.
5. God does not react “for your sake,… but for the sake of my Holy Name.
B. Present need is centered on God’s Holiness revealed to all nations
1. “These are the Lord’s People and yet they have had to leave His land (Verse 20)."
2. The world had seen the disapproval of God toward His people.
3. Now God has punished His people and what might the nations think about this living God? He Must Show His true character!
4. His true Character is that Of Holiness, which the book of Leviticus defines as how we treat others.
5. The World will see the true Character of the Living Sovereign Lord as He Proclaims His Holiness by restoring His people so that the World will Know there is a God in Israel. (VERSE 23)
6. He will do this THROUGH His people!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STARTING NEW ALL OVER AGAIN
III. IMPLIES A FUTURE HOPE
A. A future hope is based on external realities
1. God will take back His people from out of foreign nations.
2. God will gather you from al the countries and bring you back into your own land. 3.You will live in the land I gave your forefathers.
4. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.
B. A future hope is based on internal restoration
1. The Lord will “Sprinkle” clean water on you and you will be clean.
2. I John 1: 9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Purify and clean. Theses are powerful words and alone the work of the Sovereign Lord.
4. The Lord will give a New Heart.
5. This new heart has the connotation of a different way of being, a new spirit about the person.
6. The reason for the new heart is that His people have hearts of stone, but the contrast is Hearts of Stone are transformed into hearts of Flesh!
7. God Himself will put His own Spirit within His people.
8. “Spirit here represents both the willingness and the ability to act in obedience. 9. And with this great transformation completed, God can freely and clearly state, “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”
10. This explosion of restoration culminates in the Sovereign Lord’s assurance that He will “Save His people from all their uncleanness.” Do you remember where we started? Past failure and present need!
C. A future hope is based on a future realization of the need for repentance.
1. When all this takes place, The Sovereign Lord clarifies that His children will then understand and remember their evil way and wicked deeds.
2. This realization will cause self-loathing because of understood sinfulness and detestable practices.
3. God does not save us and never allow us to comprehend just how great a salvation He has effected for us.
4. The final statement of our text for this day is one of rebuke. It states, “Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct.” Why this charge. God has done the impossible. He has made a way where there was no way. He has redeemed those who defiled and desecrated His holy Name. He has cleared the path way of sin with the grace of forgiveness. In light of All that the Sovereign Lord has done for us, we are to comprehend what we had done to Him. How we had angered and desecrated and defiled the Holy One of Israel! God’s gracious acts call for us to respond in remorse and Repentance.
CONCLUSION: How will you respond to so Great a Salvation? DO you want to be Sprinkled Clean from all your sin? Do you want a New Heart, one on flesh that Feels the love and Joy which comes from God alone? Do you want the SPIRIT of God living in you and Guiding you on life path? Will you respond as the Sovereign Lord has called you to?
