A Little Sanctuary, Ezekiel 11:13-25

Repeatedly through Ezekiel, and HIStory, the Lord warns, judgement is coming, justice will be served. All will know I AM the Lord.

This last section of Ezekiel 11 is the conclusion of a vision that started in chapter 8. The vision exposes why judgement must come.

It started with the image of jealousy by the front gate—like having a fat little statue of buddha by the front door. Or more like having an affair and keeping a picture of the person on the nightstand by your side of the bed. (Good way to wake up dead.)

To God, idolatry is like adultery.

Next thing in the vision Zeke saw inside the temple walls crawled, with every kind of unclean creepy crawly creature they worshipped.

Outside the women wept for Tammuz, a false fertility god, whose worship involved sinful sexual rituals.

Then, he saw twenty-five priests, who should’ve been examples of holiness, but instead turned their backs to the Lord, faced east and bowed to the sun.

That was the last straw.

The Lord called for an angelic delta force. A half dozen warriors appeared carrying battleaxes. One had an inkhorn to seal the righteous, the others followed to slay the wicked.

Then the presence of the Lord departed from the temple to the East Gate.

From there the Lord showed Ezekiel twenty-five princes who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel. (Corrupt political leaders).

Note:

 First the Lord exposed the corruption of the religious, the worshippers, those supposed to be righteous. Then, He exposed corrupt politicians.

As goes the Church, so goes the nation (government).

1 Peter 4:17
Judgement must begin at the house of God.

More important than calling on our congressman is calling on our God for preachers to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

God told Ezekiel these crooked politicians claim to be the elite, the meat, the muscle, the might of the city. Ezekiel 11:3.

“Therefore, prophesy against them, prophesy O son of man.”  Ez. 11:4.

Then, Ezekiel 11:5-12, the Lord told Zeke to speak and tell them, they are not the elite, the meat, the muscle the might, of the city.

Their thoughts and words and deeds have been seen and the blood of the slain cries out against them.

They will be drawn out of the city, slain by the sword, and on the wrong side of the border, find out that I AM THE LORD. Ezekiel 11:10-12.

Ezekiel 11:13
Now it happened, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died...

Ezekiel’s prophecy, in the vision, showed immediate manifestation.

Revealing, it won’t be long before fulfilled. (592-586 BC = 6 yrs).

Then I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?”

I fell on my face and cried... I know it’s a vision, and serious subject matter, but whenever I read that I see one of my grandkids collapse to the floor in the middle of the store because... “No, you can’t have that—thingamawhatever.”

Recap:

God told Zeke to prophesy the bad guys are gonna die.

Zeke prophesied.

Pelatiah died.

Zeke cried.

On the floor.

With a loud voice!

Oh God! Are You gonna destroy the whole nation?

Oh, for Pete’s sake Zeke. Get up. Big baby.

When God’s Word comes to pass, we ought not be surprised, but nod our head and say, yep, exactly as He said. When God answers prayer, we ought not be surprised but nod and say, yep, God answers prayer.

But we’ll cut Ezekiel some slack. For one reason, this was a vision, he may not have reacted that way in real life. Plus, he was still a beginner in the office of Prophet.

Plus, we’re no better.

Somebody needs to do something about Iran. Ain’t right. Slaughtering civilians. Funding terrorists. Threatening U.S. What’re we waiting for? Trump must be chicken. We need to take’em out. Dear God please help.

Then, we strike.

A week later, what’s takin’ so long?!?!

THEN, the price of gas goes up a penny.

Oh God! You’re gonna destroy the whole nation!

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Grow up.

The love and patience of God is amazing.

That He chooses to work with us, is overwhelmingly mind boggling.

It’d be soooo much easier for Him if He just did it Himself.

But, for whatever reason, He chooses to work with and through His creation.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

John Wesley said, "God will do nothing on earth except in answer to believing prayer." (John Wesley, not Scripture, not doctrine, but generally true).

God is sovereign and can do whatever He wants. However, He willingly chooses to work in and through me and you.

Count how many times you see “pray” in this Scripture:  

James 5:13-18
¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Seven, a number of completion.

That passage pretty much sums it up.

Just think. Elijah, powerful prophet and prayer warrior... a man with a nature like ours.

Let that sink into your soul.

Prayer in the hands of Love is the most powerful force on earth.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A few days ago, in our Prayer Meeting, we were remembering recently answered prayers, as per Psalm 103, forget not all His benefits.

JJ was addicted and missing, his life was crumbling. We prayed. He’s home, excelling at work and on fire for Jesus.

Deb, Pat, Larry, battling cancer. We prayed. Today they’re cancer free!

Specific prayer for our Church family: Ever increasing hunger and wisdom for His Word. Ministers rising in our midst. Soul winners, disciple makers.

Suddenly while we were still speaking, the Lord interrupted with the sound of an abundance of rain.

We laughed and remembered a week or so ago we prayed for rain at the start of our service. A few hours later we were smiling, listening to the sound of an abundance of rain. From that day to this it has continued to fall, again, and again. The Lord reminding us the drought we were in is broken.

Remember. We not only prayed for physical rain, but for an outpouring of His Spirit. The harvest is plentiful, the laborers few, therefore, go and be soul winners and disciple makers. Luke 10:2-3, Matthew 9:37-38, John 4:35.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

If the answer isn’t what you expect, ask the Lord for wisdom. He will give it. James 1:5-6.

Or just fall on the floor and cry with a loud voice. It worked for Zeke.

Notice the compassion in the following words. It’s like the Lord got down on the floor with Zeke to speak, calmly, encouragingly.

¹⁴ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁵ “Son of man, your brethren, your relatives, your countrymen, and all the house of Israel in its entirety, are those about whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Get far away from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’

The Good Shepherd, protects, provides for, talks to, cares for, abides with, His own.

The Lord explains to Zeke (and us), simply, clearly, that those left-behinders, are not the remnant of Israel.

They only, arrogantly, temporarily, think they are.

Not all inhabitants of positions of power are rightful residents of that position. They fill a void the rightful owners failed to fill.

They devise iniquity and give wicked counsel. They soak the soil with the blood of the slain.

They are of those who applaud slaughtering babies, mutilating children and rejecting God’s Divine Design for marriage. They think they are God’s chosen. They worship the altar of replacement theology, and pervert God’s Word to fit their sinful lifestyle, lust and pleasure.

Dear son of man, perhaps the captives were taken (carried away, caught up, raptured) for both justice and judgement to occur concurrently, for discipline, and deliverance from the wrath which is to come on those left behind.

 ¹⁶ Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” ’ 

What an amazing turn of events.

The exiles were not exiled from God.

Up until now they all thought God only resided in the temple in Jerusalem. But now He lets them know, I went into exile with you.

Just ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when they went into the fiery furnace, I was right there with them.

Just ask Daniel, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, was right there with him in the Lion’s Den.

And dear Zeke and every captive, every exile, everyone who’s ever felt like you were on the outside looking in. You can know for sure and certain, I AM is right there with you. In that hospital bed, that prison cell, that lonely room staring at that empty chair where the one you miss and love so much, used to be.

He is near the brokenhearted, delivers the crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:18.

He will never leave you nor forsake you. Dt. 31:6, Heb. 13:5

From this very verse birthed the concept of synagogues, which means, Church in the Clubhouse. Just kidding. Kind of. It means, house of gathering.

The Lord says to them, and us: No matter where you’re scattered, if you gather in My name, I AM there.

Jesus confirms this Divine promise in:

Matthew 18:20
 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

¹⁷ Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.” ’ 

About a half-dozen years after this vision, Babylon’s third siege (586 BC) would destroy Jerusalem and the wicked, and just as prophesied, the sealed would be saved.

About 47 years later king Cyrus of Persia (Iran) conquered Babylon and set the captive Jews free and assisted their return to Jerusalem.

The prophetic reflection today is the Jews returning the favor. After 47 years of captivity, the Persians are being set free. Leading the charge is Cyrus #47, Trump.

¹⁸ And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there.   

When the Jews returned to Israel, the nation never again returned to the detestable abominations of idol worship.

Okay, hang on, we’re going to do some major time travel.

Next, we see the prophecy not only reflects today but projects into our future.

¹⁹ Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

We’re still waiting for this to happen.

It will, at the end of the Tribulation. When Jesus appears and descends upon the Mount of Olives.

Israel will recognize Him as the One they pierced, their Messiah. They will mourn Him as one would mourn the loss of a firstborn.

Then, all Israel will be saved.

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 19:37
 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Romans 11:26
 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob

 ²¹ But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

New Testament counterpart:

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

Justice is rising.  Judgement is coming.

Two sides of same coin.

Justice for one. Judgement for the other.

²² So the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was high above them. ²³ And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.

Mount of Olives.

The mount on the east side of Jerusalem is the Mount of Olives.

The Mount of Olives seems to be His favorite launching and landing pad.

From there the Lord ascended to His heavenly Home, only to return about 600 years later. Not riding His Cherubim Chariot, but a donkey, on a day prophesied 483 years in advance; 173,880 days to be exact. Daniel 9:25.

That prophecy was so remarkable, that day so amazing, that around the world we still remember and celebrate that Palm Sunday.

7 days from that day, Jesus had already gone through death, burial and resurrection.

Then, for 40 days He showed Himself alive with undeniable proofs to hundreds of eyewitnesses.

Then, on the 47^th day, from the Mount of Olives, He ascended into heaven while His disciples watched—probably with their mouths hanging open.

But that’s not all. A couple of angels appeared and said something like this: “What are you guys doing, standing here, staring into the sky with your mouths open wide? This same Jesus you saw go into heaven, will come again in like manner.” Acts 1:11.

Jesus has one more scheduled landing on the Mount of Olives. This may be the last one, because this time, He’s going to bring the house down.

Zechariah 14:4
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.

²⁴ Then the Spirit took me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those in captivity. And the vision that I had seen went up from me. ²⁵ So I spoke to those in captivity of all the things the Lord had shown me.

The mission continues for Zeke and for us, to speak, all the things the Lord has shown us.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You that no matter where we are, we can be in a little Sanctuary with You. Thank You for planting Your Word in our souls just now. Thank You like the rain, it won’t return void but will prosper and grow to the saving of souls. Help us, like Zeke, to speak all the things You show us. So that of all those You’ve given us, none will be lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Triumph Over Temptation, James 1:12-15

James 1:12-15
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), is the man who endures temptation.

Temptation, is the same word as “trials” in James 1:2, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

(Greek: peirasmos: temptation, trial, test).

Blessed is the man who endures...

Endures, is the same word (almost), same root, same definition, as patience in James 1:3-4.

³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

12. Endures, hupomenó: To endure, to persevere, to remain steadfast

3. Patience, hupomoné: Endurance, perseverance, patience, steadfastness.

The Lord has laid a foundation in this opening chapter of James. We see a pattern laid and precedent set that blessing and joy are available for those who face temptations, trials and tests.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation.

Count it all joy when you fall into various temptations.

But only available to those who handle their temptations with wisdom from above.

There is a way to triumph over temptations.

That’s what we want to learn and know.

We’re already off to a good start with our prior “Count it all joy” study.

James 1:2-4
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Perfect, Teleios: Mature, full-grown. Like a pirate’s telescope extending from stage to stage until it is fully extended to full strength, completeness, lacking nothing.

Complete, holokléros: Whole, complete, entire. From two Greek words. Holo: wholeness. Kléros: Divine allotment by casting lot.

Literally: Holy allotment of wholeness.

So, next time temptation, trial, test, comes, just smile.

Count it all joy.

When someone asks what you’re smiling about, say: “I’m blessed, happy, fortunate and to be envied.”

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Crown of life also mentioned in:

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Good news and bad news.

Bad news: Temptation will last our whole lifetime on this earth.

Good news: Our life on this earth is but a vapor.  

Approval comes on the other side of the grave.

 Crown of life comes after life. Which is where real Life begins.

The crown is not a royal crown, that’s diádēma, this is a victor’s crown, stéphanos, from stepho: to twine or wreathe or weave.

It’s used of a woven wreath (garland) awarded to a victor in ancient athletic games, like the Greek Olympics.

The same word is used for the crown of thorns. Matt. 27:29.

Notice the crown of life is for those who love Him.

Motives matter.

1 Corinthians 13:3
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Enduring against, not yielding to temptation reflects how well we love Him.

Like a spouse resists temptation to cheat on the one they love.

Yielding to temptation shows lack of love toward God.

All things work together for good to those who love God... Rom. 8:28.

If we endure, count it all joy, allow patience to have her perfect work, walk, abide, in His Love that never fails, then, we will receive His Perfect Divine allotment of wholeness, lacking nothing—with a crown of life on top.

 ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 

God is untemptable.

If its sin—it’s not from God. Period.

If it’s evil—it’s not from God. Period.

It’s never right to do what’s wrong, no matter what.

That drunk driver. The terrorist’ attack. The kidnapping, trafficking, molesting, abusing, raping, murdering... not from God. Period.

Don’t say, “Well God works in mysterious ways, we just have to trust His plan.” As if God was the instrument that orchestrated the wickedness. That’s foolishness!

Don’t tell Jack and Arlene their 21-year-old grandson got hit by a train and died because it was God’s plan. Because God needed another angel.

God doesn’t do stuff like that.

Ezekiel 33:11, says God doesn’t even take pleasure in the death of the wicked.

Jesus tells us in John 10:10, that it’s the devil that kills, steals and destroys, but He’s come to give life and life more abundantly.

All the time, God is good. Period.   

God cannot be tempted by evil because He has no evil desires—that’s where temptation comes from.

¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

We are tempted where we’re tempt-able.

Mark 4:19. In the parable of the Sower, the Seed on thorny ground got choked out by the desire for other things.

Temptation exposes our weakness.

(btw: Google algorithms do too.)  

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Lust of flesh, lust of eye, pride of life.

We burn where we’re flammable.

However, there are fireproof desires that walk us through the fire without so much as the smell of smoke kindled upon us.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart

Luke 22:42
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

We’re tempted by our own lusts, our own desires, so get rid of our own desires, and get God’s desires. The more we make our desires His desires, the less we’ll be tempt-able, since God is untemptable.

Lord, help us to live by Psalm 37:4.

 ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Desire for pleasure may not be sin, but overindulging gives it birth.

Sexual sin.

It starts with a flirt, a drink after work, and then, the next thing you know, you’re getting a divorce.

Online, it’s a lingering look at that seductive ad. Then, you give it a click. That’s all it takes for the devilish algorithms to feed your lust. But lust is never satisfied, the next thing you know you’re sneaking a peak in the middle of the night when you think know one is looking, but God is grieving. The craving leads to chatting and birthing a vile addiction to porn.  

What about innocent desires for pleasure?

Recreational pleasure starts out just fine, taking time to unwind. Play a few rounds. Have some fun with family and friends.

Moderation is marvelous.

But passion for pleasure is always hungry, it seems so innocent, while it steals our time with Him, His Word, His Church. It seems so small while it devours our rent and leaves us at odds with the grown up, responsible parts of God’s Word:

Romans 13:8. “Owe no man nothing but to love him.”                    

Proverbs 3:27. “Withhold not good from those to whom it is due.”

Sin destroys our word and witness and brings death to whatever it touches, sexually, recreationally, relationally, financially, emotionally, physically, especially Spiritually.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.

Triumph Over Temptation

The Lord in His Love and Wisdom recorded some examples so we can triumph over temptation.

Eve: Walk away

Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and brought death to the planet.

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate

Dear Eve. As soon as the snake contradicts God’s Word, walk away. End of conversation. Do not try to disciple a snake. You will get bit.

Adam: Confront

Dear Adam, a husbandman, is responsible for the vineyard entrusted to him. It’s his job to water and weed and watch for snakes.

To prune, to provide, to nourish, to help to grow, healthy, safely, and bear much fruit.

 If your wife or child or family is talking to a snake, stand up, step in, speak Truth

Confront, unafraid, unashamed.

Pay attention. If they’re watching or listening to something they shouldn’t—stop it. It’s your job.

Cain: Overcome

Cain yielded to temptation and became the cursed first murderer on earth, killing his own brother.

Temptation came and God stepped in, spoke up, and told him sin lies at the door and you must overcome it.

Dear Cain, overcome. Stop the anger, the hate while it’s still just a seed, or it will fester into rage and curse you to death.

Joseph: Flee

Joseph resisted temptation and saved many people alive. Genesis 50:20.

Temptation came and Joseph fled. “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God.” Genesis 39:9.

Well done dear Joseph.

No sin is innocent. It is malignant.

It is a great wickedness against God.

Jesus: Wield the Sword

Jesus triumphed over temptation, making Life available to all, by wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. Ephesians 6:17.

Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. When He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. When hunger returns after that long of a fast, it is a sign the body is starving to death, it has nothing left and is starting to eat itself.   

Then, when His body was the weakest, the devil came to tempt Him.

What good will You do if You starve to death? If You’re really the Son of God, turn these stones to bread.

Physically weak, but Spiritually strong, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

But the devil wasn’t done. Some won’t fall into sin for the flesh, but will for their job. So, the devil took Him to the top of the temple and brought out the big guns, waxed eloquent and quoted Scripture. If You’re really the Son of God, show Yourself, prove Yourself, jump down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge over You, and, in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12).  

Jesus didn’t blink. It is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to a foolish test. (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Then the devil was desperate. If He won’t fall for lies, maybe He’ll compromise. Okay fine, You came to save the world, I’ll give it to You. Just bow to me.

Jesus didn’t hesitate. GET BEHIND ME YOU SLIMY SNAKE. IT IS WRITTEN THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE!!! (Deuteronomy 6:13, Deuteronomy 10:20, Joshua 24:14).

Jesus went into the wilderness led by the Spirit, but after triumphing over temptation, He returned in the Power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14.

Let’s go and do likewise.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for triumphing over temptation, so with the help of Your Holy Spirit we can too. Thank You for filling our hearts with Your desires as we delight in You. So, Your greatest desire is fulfilled; that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

 

Speak! Ezekiel 11:3-12

Let’s head to the most hotly contested property on the planet. From where I sit it’s about 6,500 miles east, where missiles are flying overhead.

But let’s dial back to a time before missiles, about 2,618 years to September 17, 592 B.C. and pick up where we left off in Ezekiel’s vision with the Lord and His Cherubim Chariot hovering over the Eastern Gate of the temple in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel was physically a captive in Babylon (500 miles east), but in vision the Lord carried him back to Jerusalem.

There He showed Ezekiel twenty-five princes (political leaders), and said, these are those who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel...

³ who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.

Saying, “the time is not near to build houses...” was a perversion and inversion, of what God said through His prophet Jeremiah.

For forty years (626-586 BC) Jeremiah warned Judah that because of their wicked ways judgement was coming.

Judgement came in three sieges by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar:

605 BC. Daniel and friends were among those taken captive.

597 BC. Ezekiel was among those taken.

586 BC. The third siege resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. It’s the one Ezekiel repeatedly warned about.

SIDENOTE:

In my scribblings, calculating the timelines, I noticed something interesting. 

It was 47 years from 586 BC to 539 BC, when King Cyrus of Persia (modern day Iran) conquered Babylon. Then, Cyrus set the captives free.

Note: 2026 – 1979 = 47 years of Persian (Iranian) captivity, by the Islamic regime.  Currently, Epic Fury & Roaring Lion, are setting the captives free per #47 President Trump.

Previously, many compared Trump to Cyrus because he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US Embassy there. This is just one more coincidence.

Or are we witnessing the Hand of Providence?

Okay, back to our text:

Saying, “the time is not near to build houses...” was a perversion and inversion, of what God was saying through His prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 29:4-7
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

⁵ Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. ⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Notice that even though they were taken captive to a foreign land hundreds of miles from home, God still expected them to act right. To be productive. Build houses, plant gardens, pursue peace and pray for the place they were in.

For in its peace, you will have peace.

What? But! They’re our enemy!

Love your enemy, Jesus said, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  Matt. 5:43-45.

Besides, their enemy was their own fault. They abandoned God, so He allowed Babylon to discipline them.

However, God didn’t abandon Israel, ever. Never has, never will. 

In His mercy and compassion, He told them how they should live through the captivity.

Bloom where you’re planted. Get married, have kids, be fruitful and multiply. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, with your God. Micah 6:8.

We should follow their example and expect the same from others.

Home. Take care of the place you’re in, make the most of what God’s given.

Visitor. Leave the place better than you found it. That honors God and reflects well on Him to others.  

Immigrants. Be respectful and grateful, you are a visitor. If pursuing Citizenship, remember, it is a gift that involves assimilation not infiltration or invasion. You need to be a productive member of society, adding to, not a parasite stealing from. Do not listen to those who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel. They are using you as fodder for their waste, fraud and abuse.    

Increase, not decrease.

Don’t sit idle, waiting for exile to end. It’s going to be awhile, seventy years is what the Lord told them through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:10).

The Lord tells us, and them, through times of discipline, know I haven’t forgotten or forsaken you. Stay the course. Continue to show the integrity and character of a child of the King.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

But those wicked princes that devise iniquity and give wicked counsel perverted the words of the Lord saying that building buildings in Babylon is bogus; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.

This city is our oyster and we are the pearl.

We’re safe and sound as stew in a cast iron kettle.

Why do you think God left us here? Because we’re the meat, the muscle, the might of Jerusalem.

Don’t worry, be happy, eat, drink and be merry. We are JerUSAlem, JerUSAlem, God shed His grace on we.

So, God sent Zeke to speak Truth to those devisers of iniquity, those wicked counsel givers.

 ⁴ Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!” ⁵ Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says the Lord:

Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me... an Old Testament version of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy, prophecy, speak!

Back in that day, God spoke through prophets.

Hebrews 1:1-2, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...”

God can speak however He wants. Audibly, outwardly, inwardly, mentally, a sudden knowing or impression... through a donkey.

Since the coming of His Holy Spirit, (Acts 2) He primarily speaks Spirit to spirit. His to ours.  

He is heard with Spiritual ears, not so much flesh and blood physical ones.

Normally, only those listening hear Him. (Romans 10:17). Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear let them hear.” He is talking about spiritual hearing.

Jesus said My sheep hear, and know, My Voice. John 10:4.

Jesus is the Word became flesh. John 1:14.

The better we know His Word, the better we will know His Voice. John 10:5.   

This week someone asked how to hear God, literally (physically).

We talked about how the woman at the well asked questions about literal physical worship. Do we worship God in the temple or here on this mountain?  

Jesus told her: "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24.

So, communicating with God is literally communicating with Him "Spiritually".

Rarely will we hear Him with physical, flesh and blood, ears.

Because, God is Spirit, and so are we. (You are a spirit you have a soul and live in a body).

God told Zeke to speak. “Thus saith the Lord...”

Anyone speaking for the Lord must speak the Words of the Lord.

“Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.

God heard not only their words, but their thoughts, and told Ezekiel about it.

Would that freak you out a little bit?

Thus, you have said O Church in the Clubhouse... And this is what you were thinking.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.

Lord, fill our heart with You, so our tongue will be too.

The Slain

 ⁶ You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.” ⁷ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the caldron; but I shall bring you out of the midst of it

God announces a death sentence on Jerusalem. Because of their murderous wickedness, the city will turn into a graveyard.

The meat of a graveyard is the slain.

Notice: what they said, and thought, led to what they did.

Devising iniquity and giving wicked counsel...leads to evil deeds.

God not only heard their words and saw their deeds but also heard and answered the blood of the slain crying out to Him.

God avenges the dead.

America, don’t be arrogant, the blood of over 63 million babies cries out against you.

God’s mercy is beyond comprehension.  

We see here a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon about six years before it happened, and a foreshadow of it happening again in 70 AD as prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 23:29-39:

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

³⁷ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸ See! Your house is left to you desolate; ³⁹ for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

The Sword

 ⁸ You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord God. ⁹ “And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and execute judgments on you. ¹⁰ You shall fall by the sword.

What they feared came upon them. Job 3:25.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Matt. 26:52.

They may not have swung the sword physically, but they did by proxy and Divine Justice lets them know they will reap what they’ve sown.

A bit like the terrorist Islamic regime and proxies are experiencing today.

Judgement at the border

I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel. ¹² And you shall know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you.” ’ ”

Twice here we see the Lord’s favorite phrase in Ezekiel, mentioned over 70 times: “you shall know that I am the Lord.”

O how He longs for all to know Him as personal Savior and Lord.

All will know. Every knee will bow and confess, Jesus Christ is Lord. Isaiah 45:23, Philippians 2:10-11.

However, there's a huge difference between knowing He is Lord and knowing Him as Lord.

Here, these bow at the border; they’ve crossed from Promise Land to Judgement Day.

There’s a border, once crossed there’s no turning back. All who reach that point will know He is Lord, but, sadly, won’t know Him as Lord.

They will know Him as Judge.  Matt. 10:28. Hebrews 10:29-31.

Modern Day, Devising Iniquity And Giving Wicked Counsel:

Friends, in a perfect world this would be a wonderful place to pause and pray and say good until next time. However, this world is not perfect, and missiles aren’t only targeting Israel—there are fiery arrows from the wicked one flying toward us, especially our youth.

Two of the deadliest deceptions deployed lately are: 

Rejecting Sola Scriptura (the inerrancy of Scripture).

Replacement Theology.                                

WARNING: Those doing the most damage are disguised as angels of light. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Folks like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Steve Bannon, Nick Fuentes, talk about Jesus, have the Bible propped in the background of their livestreams, scroll the Apostle’s Creed, speak Christianese. But their message is divisive, deceptive, antisemitic, antichrist. If possible, even the very elect are deceived.

Thus, we closed our sermon yesterday, and are closing this blog today, by activating a Spiritual Scriptural, “Iron Dome, David’s Sling”.

We must not only know intellectually the Bible but must also hold these Truths to be self-evidence, undeniable, proof of the immutability of the Word of God.

HIStorical Accuracy:

Geographically:

The border of Israel refers to Riblah, on the Orontes River on Israel’s northern border, (Syria, today), which was King Nebuchadnezzar’s military headquarters.

It’s where King Zedekiah’s sons and seventy plus Judean officials were executed after fleeing Jerusalem. 2 Kings 25:6-7,18-21, Jeremiah 52:24-27.

Archeologically:

Tablets from Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, unearthed at Tell Nebi Mend and published in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies 64 (2012), corroborate a large military encampment at Riblah in 587–586 BC, matching Ezekiel’s timeframe. Thus, “the border” pinpoints an identifiable, archaeologically verified place of mass execution.

Babylonian ration tablets (K.-3423; K.-3400) list food allotments for captive Judean royals, confirming elite survivors reached Nebuchadnezzar’s camp.

Excavations at Tell en-Nasbeh show a burn layer from 586 BC aligning with Babylonian destruction, strengthening confidence that Ezekiel’s prophecy matched real events, not later editorial retrojection.

 

Sola Scriptura (the inerrancy of Scripture).

Scripture alone is the supreme authority for Christian faith and practice.

There is an overwhelming abundance of verifiable, documentable, archeological, geographical, historical, medical, undeniable proof, as to the authenticity and accuracy of the Bible. 

More than any other ancient writing on the planet. 

Nothing else even comes close.  

The Bible itself attests to its inerrancy and immutability.

Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:160
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

1 Peter 1:24-25
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

2 Peter 1:19-21
 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Replacement Theology (supersessionism)

This deception depends on the first one succeeding. If we believe the Word of God, we won't believe this demonic deception that claims the Church has taken the place of Israel. 

It claims God does not have an everlasting covenant with Israel.

Scripture clearly states otherwise.  

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 17:7
And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

Psalm 105:8-10
He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
⁹ The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
¹⁰ And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

Romans 11:26-29
All Israel will be saved... for the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.

Jeremiah 31:35-37
Thus says the Lord,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The Lord of hosts is His name):

³⁶ “If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the Lord,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

³⁷ Thus says the Lord:

“If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the Lord.

 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, by faith, with thanksgiving, we receive Your Word planted just now in our souls. Thank You for watching over Your Word to perform it, that it will not return void, but will prosper, to the saving of souls and bearing much fruit. Please help us speak Your Word in Love, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.  

 

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