The rooms of the people

The rooms of the people

Scripture: Then he brought me into the outer court. There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms along the pavement. It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court; it was a hundred cubits^] on the east side as well as on the north. Ezekiel 40:17-19

Observation: Interestingly, today’s study lets us take a look at the rooms in the outer court. There are 30 of them, and presumably, since they are in the outer court, they are for the common people. Their purpose is not mentioned in Ezekiel, but still meditating on it, they hold important lessons for us.

Firstly, the temple is not just for the priests but also for the common people. The common people are important too and the rooms are for them, perhaps to prepare themselves for worship unto God.

Secondly, the rooms are identical in shape, which reminds us that every person is equal before God. Rich or poor, tall or short, God judges each one fairly according to his or her own ability and resources. For us too, we are reminded that we must be fair and impartial to others, not favoring one over another just because of he or she is richer, more famous or more beautiful.

Thirdly, the rooms remind us of our future in heaven. Jesus told his disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” The rooms remind us of our destiny and future in Heaven above.

Application: Remember and praise God that He looks out and cares for us, the common people. Thank Him that He is impartial and just, and all men are equal before Him. Pray for His wisdom and courage to treat others fairly and impartially regardless of status or race. Finally, remember that we have a wonderful home in Heaven Jesus has promised us.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You and praise You that You care for us, each one of us on earth, no matter how small or great we are. Lord, I thank You that You are just and righteous in all Your ways. Help me be like You in the way I treat others, fairly and righteously. I praise You and thank You, Lord Jesus, for You have prepared a place for me in Heaven above. May my life glorify Your name. In Jesus name, Amen.

The rooms of the priests

The rooms of the priests

Scripture: "Then he said to me, 'The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings - the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings - for the place is holy. Once the priests enter the holy precincts, they are not to go into the outer court until they leave behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they go near the places that are for the people. Ezekiel 42:13-14

Observation: Today’s Scripture focuses on the priests’ rooms. The temple courtyard is very near the holy of holies, where God Himself will meet with the priests and the priests’ rooms here are where they eat the most holy offerings and change into the garments in which they minister.

In 1 Peter 2:9, the apostle Peter declares “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Jesus is our great High Priest, and we too are chosen to be part of God’s royal priesthood, to serve God and be in His presence.

Looking back at the function of the priest’s rooms, we see that firstly they eat the most holy offerings there. Since Jesus came, He has done away with the sacrifices of old as it is written in Hebrews 7:27, “unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” So what does “eating the most holy offerings” mean for us today? Remember, Jesus said “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” in John 6:54. Jesus is by far the most holy of offerings. When we take the holy communion and remember Jesus, that His body broken for us and His blood shed for us, we are reaffirming our faith that the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross has set us free from our sins, and given us new life in Him. It is only by His great sacrifice, that we are able to go into the holy of holies, to be with God.  

Secondly, the priests have to take care to wear holy garments before they minister to the Lord. Spiritually, it is not physical clothes that make a person holy or unholy. In Romans 13:14, Paul says “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” When we come to God, we must always remember that we cannot come in our own righteousness, which are like filthy rags, but only by the perfect righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to see ourselves wearing robes of righteousness. If we see Jesus on us, and in us, our behavior will surely change. There was once a heavy smoker who came to know the Lord and he thought to himself “If Jesus is in me and I smoke, I am making Jesus smoke”, so he quickly quit the habit.”

Application:  We need to remember two important things when we come to our holy God. Firstly, we come to God by the blood of the lamb, by the perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, we come not by our own righteousness but by the Lord’s righteousness. How precious and holy it is that we are able to come and fellowship with our mighty, living God. Let us never take it for granted.

Prayer: Lord, I will ever seek Your face. Thank You, Lord Jesus for Your great sacrifice for me, that through You, my sins have been forgiven, and I have new life. Lord, You are my righteousness alone. I desire to be in Your presence O Lord and to know You more. Be real in my life I pray, as I worship You and seek Your face. In Jesus name, Amen.

The steps of the temple

The steps of the temple

Scripture: Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side. Ezekiel 40:26

Observation: In the description of the temple of Ezekiel, steps are mentioned in 8 places. 7 steps are mentioned at the East gate and the South gate, and 8 steps at the East and South gates of the inner court. When we think of steps, we automatically think of ascension, going up. The number 7 symbolizes perfection, and the number 8 symbolizes new beginnings.

God is above us, high and lifted up in the heavens. When we come to him, we must ascend to meet Him. In Psalm 24, it is written “Who may ascend his holy hill? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, he who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.”   

All of us have fallen short, there is no one righteous not even one, and it is impossible for human beings in their sin to ascend and be with a Holy God. However, God has made it all possible by the death of His perfect Son on the cross, for His blood washes away our sins and makes us righteous, just as if we had never sinned.

When we come to God to worship, it is good to look upwards towards Heaven, and to know that we worship in Jesus name, for only in His name can we ascend and have communion with God. In Jesus, we are a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come.

In Galatians 5, Paul exhorts us to “keep in step with the Spirit”. To walk with the Spirit is to choose to follow the ways of God rather than the ways of men, to choose obedience to God over our selfish desires. The Holy Spirit is living and active, and moves like the wind according to His will which follows the will of God. Where we follow Him, there is power, there is release, there is peace and strength.

Application: When we worship, remember the steps of the temple, that God is High and lifted up above us in Heaven. Seek to rise up and be with Him in Jesus name. Thank Jesus for His perfect sacrifice on the cross, which has given us a new beginning, which has made us a new creation. Ask for more of His Spirit that we may keep in step with God’s will as we live life.

Prayer: Father Lord, I praise You and worship You who are high and exalted above the heavens. Let my praises rise up to You, O Lord. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace for me. Thank You for Your perfect sacrifice that set me free, and made me a new creation. Holy Spirit, fill my life and teach me. Help me walk with You and keep in step with You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Guarding the temple

Guarding the temple

Scripture:- The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. Ezekiel 40:7

Observation: In the description of Ezekiel’s temple, guards are only mentioned once in that there were rooms for them. However, the lesson for us is that just as there are guards for God’s temple, we who are the temple of the Holy Spirit also need guarding.

First of all, our supreme Guard is of course our Mighty God in Heaven. In Psalms 25:20, David cries to God “Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. In Psalm 127:1, Solomon exclaims “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Ultimately, our trust should always be in God as our ultimate Guardian from all trouble and enemies.

However, there are other areas of our lives that we too must take especial care to guard. In Psalm 141:3, David prays: Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. He understood that our words, what we say and do is especially important. James likens our tongue to an untamed beast, and we are often reminded that the tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 21:23 says Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

In the Proverbs, Solomon often writes of understanding, instruction and discretion guarding us. That’s why it is so important for us to read God’s Word, to let it immerse into our lives, for God’s wisdom will then overflow and guard us from doing wrong and bringing trouble on ourselves. Proverbs 4:23 says “Above all, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”. Our heart is deceitful beyond all cure, who can understand it? On our own strength, we are bound to run into trouble, but if we submit our hearts to the Holy Spirit, and seek to do God’s will rather than our own, we will be safe.

Another area, we must be very careful to be on guard of is greed. Jesus preached “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” in Luke 12:15. Today there are many who preach a gospel focusing a lot on abundance of possessions and money given by God, but we need to be careful that this does not become a snare. There is greed too in other areas, for fame, for entertainment, for food, for leisure that is all dangerous.

Finally, and so importantly is the importance of constant prayer and guarding our minds. Philippians 4:6-8 reads “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” The mind is often said to be the battlefield and we need to think about what we are thinking about. We need to fill our minds with prayers and thinking positive thoughts in God, to guard our hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.

Application: Look to God as our supreme Guardian in all things. Take care to guard our mouths from careless talk, to train ourselves in wisdom in God’s Word, to be very careful against greed in our lives, and to pray and guard our minds to be careful of what we are thinking about. 

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for being My Great Guardian in Heaven. In You always will I put my trust. Teach me O Lord, to guard my heart and mind and especially my tongue. Lead me away from all kinds of greed, and fill my life with Your precious Word and presence. In Jesus name, Amen.

Walls of the temple

Walls of the temple

Scripture: "I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man's hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high." (Ezekiel 40:5)

Observation: The next part of Ezekiel’s temple that we focus on is the wall surrounding the temple area. It is a wall completely connected all the way round, and it is thick and high.

What are the main purposes of walls? Firstly, walls are for separation, separating the holiness of God’s temple from the common things outside. When we are in Christ, we are also separate, set apart from the things of the world. The Holy Spirit in us, a powerful conscience, is like a wall of holiness turning us away from evil, but keeping us in God’s paths. There is a Proverb which says “Like a city without walls is a person who lacks self-control (25:28) The Fruit of the Spirit – Self-control, is like a wall keeping us from sin.

Secondly, walls are for protection, for keeping out enemies. All great cities have walls. Jericho of old was a city with a great wall, but it could not stand before the Living God of Israel who was with Joshua and the Israelites. Separation and Protection come together. When we leave the ways of the world, and follow the ways of God, God becomes our Protector, our Shelter, our Refuge.

Finally, walls in Ezekiel’s temple was also used for useful and creative purposes – for decorations, for holding up the portico, for having alcoves (rooms) for the guards. When we are within the walls of safety in our Lord Jesus, it is not just to stay there and do nothing but to be useful. In God’s service there are plenty of creative things we can do to serve Him, each according to his or her own ability and imagination.

Application:  Thinking of walls, remember that we are called out to be separate and holy, from the world. Remember that God is our protector, and no one can harm us if we are in Him. Finally, remember that we are safe to be useful. So let us pray that God will inspire us to serve Him in different, creative ways, to build up the body of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You called me out to be separate and holy, set apart for You. Help me stay within the wonderful walls of Your protection as You give me Your Holy Spirit. Inspire my heart I pray, that I may serve You more and more, and find joy and creativity in pleasing you. In Jesus name, Amen. 

The porticos at the gateway

The porticos at the gateway

Scripture: "Then he measured the porch of the gate facing inward, one rod. He measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its side pillars, two cubits. And the porch of the gate was faced inward." Ezekiel 40:8-10

Observation: The porches, or the porticos at the gateway of each gate of Ezekiel’s temple had three important features – it was covered, it was supported by pillars on each side, and it faced inward. Matthew Henry’s commentary suggest that this porches were built to shelter those who attended there from rain or shine.

Hence for those approaching the temple from the gateway, the shelter from the porticos remind them that God is their shelter, their refuge. In the Psalms, the Psalmists often refer to God as their great shelter, their great refuge. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty” is indeed a wonderful and favorite verse for many.

When Abraham set out to Canaan in obedience to the Lord, he was led to settle under the great trees of Mamre. The shade of the tree indeed wonderfully gives us a picture of God’s favor and protection sheltering us.

The fact that the porticos face inward remind us, that it is in continuing to look towards the Lord and hope in Him that we enjoy His favor and protection. Jesus said “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Just as the Israelites who looked up to Moses’ serpent were saved, so too we who look up to Jesus, and continue to hope in Him will be saved.

Application: Remember and declare that God is our Great Shelter, and we hide under the shadow of His wings. Turn our faces towards Jesus as our Great Savior and hope in Him as our Great Protector and Shepherd.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your abundant grace and favor, for bringing Your wonderful shade to cover me and give me protection and rest. Let my eyes always be fixed on You, Lord Jesus, for it is only You who are My true Shepherd and Protector. In Jesus name, Amen.

The East, North and South Gates

I am the gate

I am the gate

Scripture: "Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep." (Ezek 40:6 ); "Then he measured the length and width of the gate facing north, leading into the outer court." (Ezek 40:20-21); "Then he led me to the south side and I saw a gate facing south." (Ezek 40:24).

Observation: In Ezekiel’s temple, a lot of time is spent talking about the gates, describing its measurements and specifications in great detail. But what is the main significance of gates in Scripture?

Firstly, in the time of Abraham, we see the gate as a place where important deals were witnessed. Abraham met Ephron the Hittite at the city gate, and purchased the tomb for his wife Sarah there in the presence of the people for the agreed price. Later Boaz acquired Ruth and the property of her deceased husband at the city gate. Spiritually, when Jesus said “I am the gate for the sheep”, it also reminds us that at Jesus’ death on the cross, the transaction took place whereby Jesus died for us that we might have eternal life. He paid the full blood price that we might be redeemed from our sin!

Secondly, the gate is simply an entrance to a city or a place. When Jacob had the dream about the stairway to heaven, where angels were ascending and descending, he exclaimed “this is the gate to heaven”. Later, Jesus said “you will see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man”. Jesus again is the gate to Heaven, and no one can enter heaven without going through Jesus Christ!

Thirdly, the Israelites were asked to write down the law of God on the doorframes of their houses and their gates. The reason for this, is that they will be constantly reminded of God and His law when they come in and when they go out. In the same way, spiritually, as Jesus is our gate. Whenever we come in and go out, our thoughts should always be reminded of the Lord, and our need to worship Him and serve Him.

Fourthly, the gate is also a place of judgment. Under the Mosaic law, certain offenses punishable by death resulted in a person being dragged to the city gate and being stoned there. Spiritually, Jesus as our gate has taken our judgment upon Himself. Yet those who refuse to accept Him will likewise be judged on account of Him and be destroyed.

Application:  Praise Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. Confess that He died that we might have life, that He was punished that we might be forgiven. Pray for faith and strength to follow Jesus and ever keep Him before our eyes as we serve Him and love Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You that You died on the cross that I might have life, in full sight of all heaven. Help me always follow You and serve You till the end. I thank You, Lord, that only through You can I enter the gates of Heaven. Let Your ways, Your person ever be before me in my coming and going. Lord, You were judged that I might be forgiven. Bless You and thank you, dear Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

In perfect uniformity, in perfect harmony,

In perfect uniformity, in perfect harmony,

Scripture:  I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.  Then he went to the east gate. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. The alcoves for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.; Ezekiel 40:5-7

Observation: Prophesying about the future restoration of Israel, Ezekiel is shown in great detail the building of a new temple, which is somewhat different from Solomon’s original temple.

However, this temple has never been built and currently, in Jerusalem, there is no temple. The first temple was destroyed by Babylon and the second temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. In the last days, Jesus prophesied that the abomination of desolation, the Anti-Christ will declare himself to be God in God’s temple in Jerusalem. That means a third temple will be rebuilt. The Jews who rebuild this third temple could attempt to do so according to the specifications laid out in the book of Ezekiel. Nevertheless, the situation now is that the Dome of the Rock, the second most important mosque is situated there now. Recently, there has been interest in the rebuilding of the temple among the Jews, and apparently, even the articles of worship are being prepared. In fact, there are some Bible scholars who think that Ezekiel’s temple is probably the millennial temple which will be rebuilt once Jesus comes back and reigns for the 1,000 years.

However, regardless whether Ezekiel’s temple will prophetically be the third or fourth temple, there are important lessons we can learn from this temple, and Lyn Chaffart has done a marvelous devotional series on lessons from the temple in www.scripturalnuggets.org In general, remembering that our bodies are called the temple of the Holy Spirit, there is much we can learn from this temple as well.

The passage today looks at the measurement of the temple, which is completely uniform, speaking of its amazing perfection. Through Ezekiel 40, the temple is portrayed as a perfect cube. Later in Revelation 21, we see the New Jerusalem coming down in also a perfect cube. Typical Hebrew thinking depicts a perfect cube as being perfect in harmony. God is a God of order, a perfect God who creates things to fit perfectly into place just as He means it to be. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit work together perfectly in unity and harmony. They are one, and Jesus’ prayer is that we too will be one just as He and the Father are one.

Application: It is a sad thing that the church which was intended to be one is instead fragmented into so many different denominations - Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and the list goes on. However, we are one family in the body of Christ. The unity of the church is so important. We need to continuously pray for unity, and try to put aside petty ambitions and quarrels, but focus instead on the core issues – loving God and Jesus, building the people, extending the kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for the times when we let petty insignificant things cause us to drift apart and lose our unity. We ask for unity, dear Father, that we may be one – one in purpose, one in heart, one in desire to love our Lord Jesus and extend His kingdom here on earth together. In Jesus name, Amen.

The measuring rod

The measuring rod

Scripture: I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high. Ezekiel 40:5

Observation:  Right through chapters 40-44, we see that literally everything was measured and their precise measurements recorded. This fact teaches us that our God is a perfect God, perfect in detail, to the minutest specification. In Isaiah 28:17, God said that He would make justice the measuring line. Imagine a group of students trying to make it to the basketball team. Each one is measured, and only students of a certain height are allowed to go on. Or imagine a group of women seeking to be air stewardesses, but only those taller than a certain height would be allowed to go to the next stage. In the same way, God has a certain standard of righteousness and holiness, but none of us can truly attain in.

However, praise be to God, our Lord Jesus can, and because of His great sacrifice, we have peace and acceptance with God. This is never by our own merit, but solely by God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus.

In Zechariah 2, there is a similar image of a man with a measuring line going to measure Jerusalem’s breadth and length, and the Lord speaks of Jerusalem being a city without walls and the Lord Himself being the walls of fire around the city. This speaks of separation of God’s people from the outside.

Application: There are two principles we must learn here. Firstly, our righteousness is in the Lord Jesus. The Bible says there is no one who does good, not even one, and no one is worthy of the perfect salvation of God. However, God has prepared a way, for us to measure up, not by our righteousness but the righteousness of Jesus. In Him, we are wearing white raiment, pure and bright and clean. Secondly, we are set apart from God. That means we are not to be like the world, but holy and set apart, living sacrifices unto God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You that You alone are my righteousness. Only in You am I justified and saved and made righteous before God. Help me in humility always remember that. I thank You, Lord, that You set me apart for Your service. Help me serve You faithfully with all You have given me, and keep myself from being polluted by the world. In Jesus name, Amen.

I am their inheritance

I am their inheritance

Scripture:- “‘I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession Ezekiel 44:28

Observation:- In this verse in Ezekiel, we are reminded yet again of the lot of the priests. At first, they seem deprived compared to the other tribes in Israel because they are to have no possession of land. However, far more precious is their inheritance for the Lord Himself is there for them.

For those in full time ministry and especially mission work, the world usually cannot understand why these people would give up comfortable lives with stable incomes for lives with many physical and material hardships and even serious endangerment to them and their family. They are heroes of faith because they have recognized that this world was only temporary and they long for a better country, a heavenly one. And God has prepared a beautiful city for them, as He has promised.

Jesus promised his disciples in Mark 9, “Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

When we have nothing but God, and lean totally on Him for help, our lives will be so different. Then we cannot help but live life by faith day by day, and trust in Him and see the miracles that He provides to save us.

Application: In the New Testament, all of us in Jesus Christ are priests, being part of a royal priesthood to God. Our true inheritance is not in worldly things but in the almighty, living God. We need to never fail to forget that all that we have here is only temporary – riches, fames, achievement. Only our faith and obedience to God counts.

Prayer: Lord, You alone are my inheritance. Let my trust ever be in You alone. Though all else may fail, and the worldly things fade away, let my heart and mind always be true to You, O Lord. Even so, Lord Jesus, come. In Jesus name, Amen.

Pride and the tongue

Pride and the tongue

Scripture: You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. Ezekiel 35:13

Observation: In this Scripture, there is a two fold charge against the people of Edom. First is pride. A boastful tongue comes from a proud heart. Pride was the cause of the downfall of Satan. In the Garden of Eden, a flash of pride in the heart of Eve caused her to consider being wise like God, and resulted in the great fall for all mankind. 

Pride goes before a downfall, as the Proverbs write. It is a danger and snare that every human person faces. Even a little child has this in him, delighting that he is greater or smarter or faster than another child. The way of the world promotes pride as a great virtue. The survival of the fittest is the goal. The rich, famous, and beautiful are admired by many.

How different is the way Scripture teaches us. Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up. In humility, consider others better than yourself. He who wants to be the first must be the very last and the servant of all. The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Second is lack of self-control. The people of Edom spoke without restraint against the Lord. The Edomites are descended from Esau, the one who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup, the one who carelessly took foreign wives without considering the effect on his parents. Esau was characterized as being a great hunter, but without self-control.

Most important in particular for us is the control of our own tongue. In the book of James, he gives deep warnings about the dangers of the tongue, which is seen as a world of evil among the parts of the body. The tongue is likened to an untamed beast which no one can control. Proverbs 10:19 says that when words are many, sin is not absent, and prudent is he that holds his tongue. The principle here is not that we must be quiet all the time but rather, we must think before we speak, and choose to speak fruitful things rather than worthless things. Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue has the power of life and death. We must be aware and submit our tongues to the Holy Spirit to speak words of life, righteousness and peace.

Application: Beware of two dangerous things that plague every human – pride and careless speech. When we begin to feed proud, look to the Lord, and pray for humility. When we feel temptation to speak of worthless things or evil things, stop ourselves, submit our tongues to the Holy Spirit, let Him change us from within.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my pride, for often thinking of myself higher than I ought. Grant me Your precious humility Lord Jesus. I submit my tongue to You, Holy Spirit. Cleanse my tongue, fill my heart. Teach me to speak of things according to Your guidance. In Jesus name, Amen.

In a good pasture

In a good pasture

Scripture: I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. Ezekiel 34:14-16

Observation: In Ezekiel 34, we see a wonderful chapter where the Lord describes Himself as a shepherd and the people of Israel as His sheep. He speaks of bringing His people to good pasture, in the mountain heights of Israel. We see a picture of peace and contentment - sheep lying down before the Lord in a place of beauty and safety.

This chapter also brings to mind Psalm 23, where David says “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.”

In verse 23-24, God later tells Ezekiel “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.” God’s servant David prophesied here was to come true in the person of Jesus Christ, son of David, descended through both Mary and Joseph.

And when Jesus came, He too said “I have come to seek and save the lost”. The Lord sought out the sinners, the prostitutes and tax collectors. He healed the lepers and the beggars. He reached down to the lowest parts of society and gave them dignity and hope. While the world looks down upon the pariahs of society – the drug addicts, the prostitutes, the prisoners, those having AIDs, the Lord is at work powerfully among them, forgiving the sins of many, bringing them to salvation. So many a life has been completely turned around because of our Lord Jesus Christ and His faithful servants who work among them.

Application: Remember that we are sheep and God is our Shepherd. Let us find our refuge and comfort in Jesus as our Good Shepherd. Let us listen for His voice. At the same time, also begin to look out and be concerned for the sheep who are lost and gone astray. Pray more for them, and see what practical ways we can help, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that indeed You are my Good Shepherd, and You watch over me always along with Your precious flock. Let my refuge and my strength always be in You, dear Lord. Open my eyes too that I might see the lost and begin to care more and more for them. Lead me, Holy Spirit, to make a difference in the lives of many for God’s glory. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Where are we turning?

Where are we turning?

Scripture:- If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Ezekiel 33:18-19

Observation:- “It’s not how you start, its how you finish that is most important” We have often heard these words. Many a great man has started off well, having great potential and serving God faithfully at a young age but going astray and losing it all at a later stage. Similarly, there are also many who started off life deep in sin but repented and found a new life of hope and purpose in God, serving Him until the end.

Life is a race, a marathon. Until we actually finish, we cannot take for granted that the race is over, that we have fought the good fight, that we have finished the race. The heart of a man is deceitful beyond cure. It goes astray so easily. How important it is to guard our hearts.

The “turning” from righteousness is an important word we must take note of. What holds our attention? When our eyes are on God, on Jesus, our goal is to please Him, to know Him, to serve Him. But there are many things in life that call to us from the side, from below, from behind. In the parable of the seeds, Jesus spoke of our hearts as the soil of the ground with the gospel as the seed thrown by the farmer. Firstly, there are the seeds that fall on the path has no soil, depicting a very hard heart. Then, there are the seeds that fall in rocky places which have a little soil, but it is not enough to withstand persecution. Also, there are seeds that fall among thorns, which grow up with the seeds and choke the Word, making it unfruitful. The thorns are the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things. Finally, there are the seeds that fall on good soil, producing a crop, a 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown.

For Christians who have walked a long time with the Lord, the greatest danger lies in the thorns. Wealth, worries, and ungodly desires pull our attention away from the Lord. Wealth is not wrong, and in the right hands can do much good for the Lord. However, it is the greatest snare for most of us. That is why Jesus warned us “You cannot serve both God and mammon (money).” We must recognize that money is simply a tool, a gift that God gives us to serve others. The hoarding of wealth in greed and the pride in having more and more are things we must avoid.

In this day and age, there are a lot of things that cause us to worry. Crime is high, terrorism is a real threat, natural disasters abound. Inflation is on the rise, and sicknesses are aplenty. If we turn from Jesus and become caught up in our worries, we will lose sight of the Lord. Our Lord Jesus tells us, do not worry about your life but seek ye first the kingdom. Our life is only temporary but God’s kingdom is eternal. What are a few years on earth compared to eternity in Heaven? With the right perspective, we will worry less, and treasure each day and see how we may serve the Lord.

Chief of the ungodly desires, the desires for other things, is covetousness – the desire to have what belongs to others. Cain coveted Abel’s approval before God and his jealousy drove him to kill his own brother. David coveted Uriah’s wife and adultery led to murder. The only cure for covetousness is to learn to be content, for godliness with contentment is great gain. In Christ, we already have far more than we could ever need. Knowing Him is far greater than anything we could desire to possess.

Application: A marathon runner needs to keep looking forward towards the finishing line. Then only can he finish. Jesus is our final goal, our final destination. If we keep the Lord before us in our sight, the distractions and desires of the world will fade away. If we are drawn towards what is not right, stop, and reposition ourselves to face the Lord, seeking Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let my eyes be continually fixed upon You. You are my goal and my purpose O Lord. Forgive me my sins, and for turning to silly things that distract me. Keep my heart pure, Holy Spirit, let me run the race to the end, being confident that you who began the good work in me will bring it unto completion. In Jesus name, Amen.

Fulfilled without delay

Fulfilled without delay

Scripture: But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.’” Ezekiel 12:25

Observation: In Ezekiel’s early ministry to the people to Israel, he was often scorned and people were typically of the opinion that the prophesied judgment was far away, unlikely to be in their lifetimes. They ridiculed Ezekiel, saying “the days go by and every vision comes to nothing” and “the visions he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.” However, the Lord was quick to correct them and tell them that there would be no more delay, and all He said through Ezekiel would be fulfilled.

Today, in the last days, despite the signs that are taking place, many people still do not believe that the end is coming soon. Yet, the escalating numbers of earthquakes and natural disasters around the world is God’s warning to mankind to repent and turn from their rebellion. God has spoken through His Word, and we would do well to study it and pray for wisdom. He has spoken at length through the Gospels and the books of Daniel and Revelation about the things that will happen and the coming wrath upon the world.

Many of us shun end time learning because of fear, but if we are not prepared, we will be caught in surprise. Personally, I am deeply concerned by the Pre-tribulation teaching which teaches that Christians will be raptured before the Great Tribulation when the Anti-Christ comes upon the earth. For the rapture to be such an important event, it must have been mentioned clearly by the Lord in His teaching about the end times in Matthew 24. Instead, referring to His disciples, He told them that they would be persecuted and hated by all nations because of Him and went on to talk about the coming of the Anti-Christ, the abomination of desolation. After that only was His coming in the skies and the gathering of the elect.

Imagine if you had hoped to be “raptured” before the persecution starts, but find yourself still on earth. Deep disappointment would fill you and you would not be prepared to stand up for your faith. Speaking against pre-tribulationism may not be popular, but it is the truth that matters.

Application: Examine our hearts often to see if there are any rebellious ways in us. Ask God to give us a soft heart towards Him, that listens to His Spirit, and loves the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the end times prayerfully, and prepare ourselves for the coming days.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You that You are great and sovereign, and You will fulfill all Your words according to Your perfect time. Have mercy on us, dear Lord, and prepare us for the coming days. Help us in the day of trouble we pray, and enable us to be able to stand before You. In Jesus name, Amen.

A mark on their foreheads

A mark on their foreheads

Scripture: Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” Ezekiel 9:3-4

Observation: In an interesting picture in chapter 9 of Ezekiel, we see the Lord call out to a man clothed in linen who has a writing kit. This man is asked to go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament at the detestable things that are being done. Other angels are asked to follow the man and kill everyone except those the man in linen marks.

Who are these who will be given the mark of salvation? They are those who do not delight in evil but abhor it and grieve that such terrible things are done. In today’s world greatly influenced by Hollywood, we see violence, immorality and greed being desired by the people of the world. Even Christians have grown to enjoy watching movies with all of these. Even horror and murder is greatly enjoyed by people everywhere.

We are called to think about whatever is noble, true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, about anything excellent or praiseworthy. However, the opposite if often true.

In the end times, there will be a marking as well. The Anti-Christ will mark his own by the number 666, and those who have the mark will receive the wrath of God and ultimate judgment for eternity in the lake of fire.

Application: We need to be more aware of what we think about. The mind is the battlefield, and we need to be alert and guard our minds in Christ Jesus. We would do well to fill our minds with Scripture and listen to worship songs rather than listen to ungodly tapes or watch television shows or movies that glorify evil.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times when I have let my mind stray and seek the things of the world, and become desensitized to evil. Create in me a pure heart and mind O Lord, that detests evil and desires for Your goodness, love and purity to come upon the earth. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen

They will throw their silver into the streets

They will throw their silver into the streets

Scripture: “‘They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin. Ezekiel 7:19

Observation: This verse from Ezekiel reminds us again of the futility of placing our desire in accumulating a lot of money and wealth. In the day of God’s wrath, all the wealth in the world is of totally no value at all. This does not mean money and wealth is wrong. In the hands of a godly man, wealth can do a lot of good and extend the kingdom of God. However, money and wealth is a dangerous thing. If one is not careful, it can easily corrupt the heart and cause one to think he is greater than he is.

In the book of James, it is written that the rich man should take pride in his lowly position as they fade away even as they go about their business. This verse refers in particular to the man who is always thinking about making more and more money. He works hard, and his head is always full of worry that he might lose his money or opportunity to make money.

Instead, Jesus asks us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto us. When we place our trust in the Lord, we will always have more than we need.

Application: If we do not have wealth, do not worry or be envious of the rich. Instead be faithful with what we have, and be generous and kind to others where we can. If we have wealth, we should humble ourselves at the responsibility given us, and ask God to help us use this wealth for His glory and purposes.

Prayer: Lord, with all that You have given me, help me to be faithful. Lead me my heart away from the temptation of money and wealth, but let me be a good steward of all that you have given me. Enlarge me that I might glorify thy name, and help extend Your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

I have made you a watchman

I have made you a watchman

Scripture: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.  Ezekiel 3:17

Observation:- In the days of Ezekiel, the Lord appointed him as a watchman for the people Israel. His task was to hear the word that God said and give the people of Israel a warning. The heavy responsibility laid upon him was that if he did not speak out, Ezekiel would be held accountable for their blood.

When Jesus left the earth, He gave the great commission to His disciples to “Go forth into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”. Throughout the centuries, the church has done well to send forth missionaries, with great works initiated from the West. However, now, in today’s world, there is a great shift in Christian dynamics, with many in the east coming forth to evangelize the gospel even back to the West.

Application: For many of us, evangelism is a difficult thing to do. We fear to offend people, we fear the rejection and ridicule that might come upon us. However, the great commission is for every believer and not just a select few. Fear is one thing, but many times, it is not so much fear, but we ourselves being pre-occupied with our own lives that we don’t have time for others. “In order to save their life… “ the Lord told Ezekiel. The first step we require is the desire for lives to be saved. In our homes, at work, at play, with whomsoever we come into contact with, first have that desire for them to be saved. From that desire, pray for their salvation, and pray for opportunity to show Christ to them, in one way or other. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring good news.

Prayer: Lord, You have appointed me a watchman in my home, my place of work, my place of leisure. Give me a desire to love others and greatly desire for them to be saved. Open doors for me to reach out and touch them with Your love as I pray for them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Whether they listen of or fail to listen…

Whether they listen of or fail to listen…

Scripture:- You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:7-8

Observation:- The call to obey God is not dependent on the response of the people or the outward appearance of things. The call is only about whether we will respond or not. Ezekiel was called to speak to a rebellious people who would not listen in spite of whatever he said. Yet, he was still called to be faithful and say whatever God gave him to say. To not obey God is to rebel. Abraham left Ur, a sophisticated, powerful city for the unknown of the wilderness. Moses left his peaceful life as a shepherd for a seemingly insane confrontation with the most powerful man in the land. Mary accepted her call to bear the Messiah although it risked ruining her entire life and her marriage to Joseph. These heroes of old obeyed God even when they didn’t understand, even when things did not make sense.

In Ezekiel’s case, God knew that the people would not listen. However, Ezekiel was still called to speak as a testimony and a witness against them. Later his words and actions would go down as one of the most important prophetic books and also contained wonderful prophecies about the coming Messiah.

For us too, God may be saying “Others can say and do what they want, but as for you, obey Me, listen to what I say to you.”

The imagery of Ezekiel opening his mouth to eat the words of God is symbolic of the Holy Spirit being outpoured into our mouths and overflowing to say whatever God tells us. Jesus spoke of the Spirit as water that He gives us to drink becoming a well of water springing up into eternal life.

Application: If we are called by God into a specific area or task, it is for us to obey Him faithfully regardless of what our human mind may rationalize. This is where faith comes in, acting out of pure trust in God. Ask God to pour forth His Holy Spirit into us, and let it come out from us as a well springing up to eternal life!

Prayer:- Lord, help me be faithful even when others are faithless, to persevere and glorify Your name even when others fall away. Let Your Holy Spirit be poured out within me that I may have your well-spring of life coming out from within me. In Jesus name, Amen.