Sep 14-20-08 Forever With The Lord

This Week’s Reading

This week’s reading included the last few chapters of Ezekiel. Today’s

lesson is taken from several articles found in the

“Word In LifeTM Study Bible.”

This Week’s Lesson

Today we’ll talk about God’sRevelation to Ezekiel pertaining to

leaders, the promise of God’s Spirit, the plans for a new Temple should cause self-examination. The New Jerusalem should increase the hope of being with God Forever.

Leaders Should Care

Ezekiel 34:1 NET The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to

them — to the shepherds:

Leaders Should Care

'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding

themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?

Leaders Should Care

Much has been written in recent years about effective managers focusing on customers, markets,

trends, quality, succession, marketing, teamwork, and

commitment.

Leaders Should Care

These and other factors are important, sometimes vitally so.

But Ezekiel's prophecy concerning the leaders of Israel points out

one more critical factor:

Leaders Should Care

If the people being led are neglected or suffering, The qualifications to lead are in question. The "shepherds" of

Israel received a "performance review" from God, and it was not good.

Leaders Should Care

The leaders were spending most of their energies feeding themselves instead of the flock, and they were giving them nothing but leftovers.

Leaders Should Care

Not only were they neglecting the least powerful and most

vulnerable among the people-the weak, the sick, the broken, and

the refugees—but they were actually taking advantage of them.

Leaders Should Care

There was only one remedy for this situation—to remove the leaders

from leadership. God Himself would heal the hurting, restore the

scattered, and feed His flock.

Leaders Should Care

Centuries later, Jesus prescribed "shepherd leadership" for Peter.

(John 21:15-19) As the Good Shepherd, Jesus had modeled

this approach by laying down His life for His sheep.

Leaders Should Care

Security, safety, sufficient supply of necessities, and shared outcomes

—these are some of the essentials that good leaders provide for their followers.

Leaders Should Care

If we are in a position of leadership in our work, home, church, or

community, how well are we providing these essentials for the people

following us. In what ways could they be better served by us as leaders?

A New Spirit

Now we transition to something unknown in Old Testament times.

God’s gift of His Spirit.

A New Spirit

Ezekiel 36:26 NET I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit

within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give

you a heart of flesh.

A New Spirit

27 I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully

observe my regulations.

A New Spirit

The prospect of God placing His own Spirit within His people to

help them walk in His ways was an exciting new development.

A New Spirit

The Holy Spirit inspired Old Testament believers to pursue

holiness, and from time to time He came upon certain leaders in a

way that gave them extraordinary power.

A New Spirit

But He was not a permanent resident in God's people as He is

today so Ezekiel's vision of an indwelling Spirit must have filled his listeners with anticipation.

A Time To Take Stock

Next God gives Ezekiel the plans for a rebuilding the Temple. This is intended to cause people to

To Take Stock of their lives.


Ezekiel 43:10 NET "As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will

be ashamed of their sins and measure the pattern.


11 When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple,

its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design


all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its

entire design and all its statutes and do them.


Times of great loss or suffering can provide a valuable opportunity for reflection and self-examination.


For example, the loss of a loved one often brings back vivid

memories that give insight into the meaning of the person's life.


In a similar way, Ezekiel's vision of the new temple appears to have been intended as a reminder of Solomon's temple, which had

been the center of Judah's spiritual life and cultural identity.


For centuries, that temple had stood as a powerful symbol of

God's abiding presence. Now it was gone.


Yet God did not leave His people without hope. Through Ezekiel, He told them that He had plans for an

entirely new temple.


He described these plans in the most exacting detail. What was

the point of this elaborate description?


It seems to have been meant to help the people rehearse their

failure as the people of God and to recognize how much they

needed His help.


In effect, they were to measure themselves with the same level of

precision with which God was designing the new temple.


The same principle applies to believers today. In our darkest

moments, in times of great loss or fear, God would have us pursue

insight and self-examination.


We can harness our thoughts and feelings as the exiles of Judah

were challenged to through Ezekiel's description of the

temple.

The Lord Is There - FOREVER!

As the revelation to Ezekiel closes we find the plans for a New Jerusalem. It is in these plans all humans can base

their hope. We Will Be WithHIM FOREVER!


Ezekiel 48:30 NET "These are the exits of the city: On the north side, one and one-half miles by measure, 31 the gates of the city will be named

for the tribes of Israel;


there will be three gates to the north: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for

Levi. 32 On the east side, one and one-half miles in length,


there will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin,

and one gate for Dan. 33 On the south side, one and one-half miles

by measure,


there will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun. 34 On the west side, one and one-half

miles in length,


there will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be:

'The LORD Is There.' "


Scripture gives us only the barest glimpses of what heaven will be

like. But one feature that we know for sure is that God will be there, and we will never be separated

from Him again.


With this bright vision of eternity, Ezekiel's book of prophecy draws

to a close.Just as the apostle John saw the New Jerusalem descending from

heaven.


so Ezekiel envisioned the day when the city of God would finally be made perfect and complete in every way. Both prophets saw

twelve gates facing the four corners of the earth,


an indication of accessibility for everyone. Inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, the gates suggest inclusion, restoration, and

fulfillment of all that God has promised His covenant people.


In John's vision, this image is strengthened by the fact that

these gates never shut.


The name of this ideal city is "THE LORD IS THERE." This is a fitting

climax, not only to the Book of Ezekiel, but to John's Revelation

and to the Bible itself.


It shows that a reversal has occurred during the course of history. Whereas Ezekiel had seen the Lord withdrawing

from His temple because of the people's wickedness, now He has returned to a new temple to live

among His people forever.


Likewise, whereas fellowship with God was cut off through the sin in

Eden, (Gen. 3:22-24) it is made permanent in the New Jerusalem.

(Rev. 21:3)


This is a strong hope we can look forward to with great anticipation.

Right now, we may sometimes feel distant from God, perhaps alone and confused and wondering whether He

even knows who we are.


The assurance of Scripture is that someday we will no longer wonder

where God is; We Will Be With

HIM FOREVER!

In Closing…

As we close this lesson let us review. How are doing in leading others? Have

we joined Jesus in death through baptism for the remission of our sins

and the gift of The Holy Spirit?

In Closing…

Are we taking stock of our thoughts and actions, especially when we come around the Lord’s Table?

In Closing…

Are we longing for when we’ll be in the

City Of God with

Him Forever?

Education

Sep 14-20-08 Forever With The Lord