Re: The Word of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1-2)

"..the Word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest...and the
hand of Jehovah was upon him there..." (1:3)

While, to most people, the notable thing about this first chapter of
Ezekiel is the vision, we are not going to address it, other than to
realize that Ezekiel saw it. How can we propose to understand something
which Ezekiel, himself, being the one who saw it, didn't fully
comprehend. His description is full of comments like, "the likeness
of", "this was their appearance", "their appearance was like", "the
appearance...as it were..", etc. When Ezekiel's reaction to "the
appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah" (1:28) was to "fall
on [his] face", we cannot presume to understand it from Ezekiel's mere
words.

But it seems that quite often, when God called some of His more notable
prophets to ministry, He shows a vision of Himself. Moses began by
being introduced to God from out of the burning bush. (Ex3) And as
Israel was getting firmly entrenched into their rebellion, just after 
God has delivered them from Egypt, Moses asks God, "Please, show me 
Your glory" (Exe33:18), whereupon God covers over Moses in a "cleft of
the rock" as He passes by and lets Moses see His "back". (vs22-23) As
Isaiah is about to be commissioned for service to a people with dull
hearts and "their ears heavy, and shut their eyes", before God calls,
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" where Isaiah responds,
"Here am I! Send me" (Is6:8-10); God shows Isaiah a vision of Heaven;
whereupon he sees his own vileness, "Woe is me, for I am undone.." (vs5)

So, Ezekiel reacts to God's glory by falling on his face. In his sinful
state, all he can do is fall prostrate. If we were to do a study of any
people to whom God revealed himself, we would see the same reaction;
one of falling prostrate. Even the disciple "whom Jesus loved", who
leaned against Jesus at the Last Supper (Jn13:25), in Revelation when
John sees Jesus' glory, he also "fell at His feet as dead". (Rev1:17)

But another thing we would see, if we did such a study, is that when
God speaks with His own, He does not leave them prostrate. Jesus lays
His hand on John and says "Do not be terrified; I am the First and the
Last". God speaks to Ezekiel and says "stand on your feet." (2:1) But
notice; apparently Ezekiel could not do so on his own strength. It says
that when God spoke to him, "the Spirit entered" him and "set [him] on
[his] feet". (vs2)

Regarding the Holy Spirit, we come to understand that there is a
difference between the O.T., and the N.T. for the Church. Ezekiel, in
his natural state, while being a Jewish priest, nevertheless when he
sees God's glory, falls prostrate, until the Holy Spirit enters him.

Now, for the Church, one of its characteristics is that it is indwelt
by the Holy Spirit. If a person is not indwelt, they are not a
Christian. (Rom8:9) Thus, we "come boldly to the throne of grace"
(Heb4:16) We "[have] boldness to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood
of Jesus" (Heb10:19). Thus, when the Church meets Jesus, do we come
prostrate, with our faces to the ground? Or when we see Him will we be
standing "on our feet"? 'Just a little something I wonder about, when
daydreaming, imagining what it will be like when we see Him.

But notice a subtle little -word- choice in 1:3. Depending on which
translation you read from it might say that the Word of Jehovah came
"to" Ezekiel, or that it came "unto" him. I came to notice this matter
recently while going through Ezekiel in the VW-Edition project. Of all
the books in the Bible, Ezekiel has the greatest concentration of the
expression, "..the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying..."

So what, if one says, "to"; and another says, "unto"? Indeed, if you 
look up "unto" in the dictionary, it's first definition is "to". It is 
a matter of understanding how God's Word comes upon His servants. There 
are many who claim to receive visions and 'words'. In ch13 God will 
condemn them for receiving "..vanity and lying divination" as they
"hope that their word may be confirmed". (13:6) The typical expression 
of false prophets is something of the order, "It suddenly came to me". 
Something pops into their minds, and it comes "to" them. Does it come 
from a demon? Or merely out of their own imaginations?

But when God gives a Word to His servants, it is as Isaiah describes 
it, "The BURDEN against..." (Is31:1, 51:1, 17:1, etc) Where Ezekiel 
speaks of the "Word of Jehovah UNTO" him, Isaiah speaks of the 
"BURDEN". Jeremiah speaks of God's Word as a "fire", which when he 
desired not to speak because his flesh was worn out from the abuse from 
the hearers, God's Word could not be contained. He was "weary of
holding back, and could not" (Jer20:9) Those who penned the original 
manuscripts of the Scriptures were "propelled along by the Holy Spirit" 
(2Pt1:21)

If we understand the etymology of the word "unto", we see two words, 
"on" and "to". God's Holy Spirit comes "upon" the servant. God lays His
word "on" them, as for Isaiah it was the "burden" that had been laid
"on" him. God's Word does not merely come "to" a person, so as to have
the potential to be confused as being the person's 'own' word. But God
lays it upon that person. Thus, when God brings a Word, it is -UN-to
the person.

So... The Word of Jehovah comes "unto" Ezekiel; and God shows Ezekiel
some appearances and likenesses of Himself and His glory. Ezekiel has
no doubt at all that this is Jehovah revealing Himself to him. God's
Word comes UNTO Ezekiel repeatedly throughout the book. And as we
progress, we will see Ezekiel being a rather unique prophet, of all the
prophets of Israel, when we see what God requires of him. When Israel
and the world see the fulfillment of the various prophecies, "they will
know that I am Jehovah". And as they observe how Ezekiel presents God's
Word, they will also "know that a prophet has been among them". (2:5b)

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Re: To a Rebellious House (Ezekiel 2)

"And He said to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the children of
Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and
their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.  For they
are impudent and hardhearted children. I am sending you to them, and
you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord Jehovah.  As for them,
whether they hear or whether they forbear; for they are a rebellious
house; yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (vs3-5)

Well, here we see two essential elements. 1) The audience, and  2) the
message. And an incidental addendum, 3) the messenger.

Ezekiel is being sent to "God's people". Israel. The nation that came
from Abraham's loins through promise. The nation called the "pupil of
His eye". (Zech2:8) The nation about which God said to Pharaoh through
Moses, "Let My people go!" (Ex5:1) The nation God delivered with His
"outstretched arm" and "great judgments". (Ex6:6) The nation of which
God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer31:3)

How does God describe them 'now'? They have "transgressed" against God.  
In other words, they have been disobedient to God's Law. They are 
"impudent". That means, they have "offensive boldness" before God. They 
are insolent and impertinent. Shameless. They are "hardhearted". In 
other words, when God tries to guide them, they refuse to hear. They
are "rebellious". They know the right way, but are stubborn, and
instead are going their own ways.

Hmm! This sounds like an entity we see today, doesn't it. An entity
which calls itself the "church". Pretty much what is described in the
book of Judas ("Jude" in other translations). So, while Ezekiel was
sent to the "rebellious" house of Israel, we will see a lot of
parallels to today's "church". The same "Spirit" which entered Ezekiel
to go to Israel is the same "Spirit" who "says to the churches" today.
(Rev2:7,11,etc)

And so, now that we know the audience... what is the message? When any
man of God proclaims to those claiming to be God's people, what is the
message? Gleanings from seminary notes, writings of famous authors, the 
prescribed outlines ordered from the Sunday school publishing company, 
summaries and quotes from commentaries, and ???

God says to Ezekiel, "I am sending you to them, and you shall say to 
them, THUS SAYS THE LORD JEHOVAH." Remember in the previous lesson we 
observed that the "Word of Jehovah came unto Ezekiel". If Jehovah gives 
the Word as a burden, 'that' is the very Word the man-of-God proclaims. 
The man of God is like a telegraph operator. The operator does not give 
his own message; but the customer comes to the window, gives the 
message; and the operator merely relays the message 'as given' to him.

Later in the book we will see God's judgment upon those acting as 
prophets, proclaiming their 'own' thoughts. God condemns them for this. 
And again, in this, we will see parallels to today. Most of those out 
there today are not proclaiming, "Thus says the Lord". And this is why 
I periodically exhort the readers of these writings to be sure to look 
up the Scripture references. Don't just be lulled to sleep by the fact 
that some references are included. Look them up. Understand God's Word. 
Read the contexts. And yes, if I am not proclaiming God's Word, tell 
me. But like I say at other times, if you want to challenge something, 
be sure you are "rightly dividing the Word of Truth". (2Tm2:15) There 
are some who write in, complaining about this or that, but in most
cases never bother to look into the Scriptures. In some more rare cases
a person may present Scripture, but they do so merely proof-texting
their preconceptions, not understanding that which they preconceive. Do
not rely on traditions, or the teachings of the great/famous men. Rely
upon the Scriptures.

And then, finally, the messenger. God says to Ezekiel, "..do not be
afraid of them nor be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks,
though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My Words to them,
whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, for they are most
rebellious." (vs6-7)

"..yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (vs5b)

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Re: The Messenger (Ezekiel 2-3)

"..yet they will know that a prophet has been among them." (2:5b)

Yes, they are MOST rebellious. But proclaim, anyway. Don't be timid.
They may reject the Word. Proclaim it anyway. Some will hear, but
others won't. It may seem like wasted effort and time. Proclaim it
anyway. Don't "be rebellious like that rebellious house.." (2:8) If God
gives a Word to the rebellious house, and the prophet withholds the
Word, he is being disobedient. It is a thankless job. But the burden he
carries is from the Lord. Remember, the Word of Jehovah comes ON-to
him.

If you have ever "thought about" the ministry, but "wondered" whether
or not you should..? DON'T! Don't bother! If you are merely "wondering"
about it, it is not from the Lord. When the Lord gives the burden, it
burns like a fire and you cannot get rid of it. A true prophet of God
lives, eats and sleeps the Word. Ezekiel was given a "scroll of a book"
to eat. (2:9-10) You see, God's Word becomes a very part of God's
messenger. There are no other "options" for such a person as to what he
does. It is God-ordained.

Oh, but you are so 'harsh and judgmental'!  "..there was writing on the
inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and
mourning and woe." (2:10)  Oh, but, give us 'happy things' to think 
about. Give us things that are 'uplifting'.

"Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your 
forehead strong against their foreheads." (3:8) To Ezekiel God says, 
"..receive into your heart all My Words that I speak to you, and hear 
with your ears. And Go! ...speak to them and tell them, Thus says the 
Lord Jehovah, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." 
(3:10-11)

Ezekiel is sent to his own people. (3:6) Many of today's prophets are 
sent to the "church". We do not speak of strange things, of mysteries. 
It is not that there is a lack of understanding. It is like we often 
say, they are "NOT WILLING TO LISTEN to you" God says "because they are 
not willing to listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent 
and hardhearted." (3:7) Notice that word "all" in there. People often 
complain when we essentially catagorize "all" the "church" as being 
apostate. This is what Ezekiel was sent to. This is what today's 
prophets are sent to. 

Any of you who read this, who are also fellow-messengers of God, take 
courage in this. Be strong in God's Word. Ezekiel was made "like 
adamant stone, harder than flint" (3:9) in his presentation to Israel.  
Yes, we are condemned by the hearers for being "harsh". But to whom do
we answer? Who called us to this ministry? What is the stark reality of
our responsibility? Notice...

"When I say to the wicked, You shall die the death, and you give him no
warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his
life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I
will require at your hand." (3:18) If you read the passage, you see the
responsibility. Warning the wicked to repent. Warning the righteous not
to fall into sin. The "job" of the prophet is not to make people "feel
good", but to "WARN THEM". If the prophet is faithful to his mission,
then the blood of each hearer is upon themselves. If they repent, they
are delivered from judgment. If they refuse, because "they are a
rebellious house" (3:27), they reap their own consequences. But you
have delivered yourself from retribution. What is God's judgment
against an unfaithful prophet? What does God mete out when it says,
"his blood I will require at your hand"? Dear prophet, do you really
want to have to find out? Yes, if you are unfaithful, the wicked will
still die in their own sin, because the "soul who sins shall die". (18:4)
But I would not want to have to stand before God with that blood on my
hands!

Related Topic: "The Calling of a Prophet" (Jeremiah 1)

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Re; Object Lesson: Siege and Affliction (Ezekiel 4-5)

"You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and
engrave on it a city, Jerusalem. And lay siege against it, build a
siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps
against it also, and place battering rams against it all around...lie
also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel
upon it..three hundred and ninety days...and when you have completed
them, lie again on your right side..forty days [for the sins of
Judah]...and surely I will put bands on you so that you cannot turn
from one side to another till you have completed the days of your
siege." (4:1-8)

And lest we end up quoting the entire passage, let me urge you to get
your Bible out and look up these two chapters and read them to get the
entire picture. Ezekiel is to lie on his two sides, bound there by God,
having his food and water sitting by him. God originally says that his
cooking fuel should be "human excrement" (vs12), and when he complains,
God relents and says to use cow manure. (vs15)

If Jeremiah is called the 'weeping prophet' because he continually
says, "Streams of water run down my eyes for the destruction of the
daughter of my people" (Lam3:48), Ezekiel is the 'object lesson'
prophet. He, Ezekiel himself, -is- continually the object lesson.

My, my! I wonder how many of us could be the kind of servant to God
that Ezekiel was. And actually, unless God had been forcing Ezekiel, he
might not have been doing what he did, either. Something we did not 
address previously, when Ezekiel is sent to the Israeli captives, God 
physically lifts him up and carries him away. And it says that Ezekiel
went, essentially in today's vernacular, kicking and screaming, "So the
Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the
heat of my spirit; but the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me." (3:14)

And furthermore, Ezekiel is sent as a prophet to God's people, but God
makes him a mute. God says he will be confined, but his mouth will be
closed so he cannot rebuke those who take him. (3:25-26) But then, when
it is time for him to proclaim "Thus says the Lord Jehovah" (3:27),
that God will loose his tongue so he can speak. And throughout the book
we will see his mouth being close and/or opened by God. In other words,
Ezekiel, while being God's prophet, does not have a will of his own.
When God wants him to speak, God opens his mouth. When he is done, his
tongue is tied. Somewhat as though God might have been reaching down
and turning him "on" and "off" like a water faucet. In other words,
whenever Ezekiel was to speak, all he was permitted to speak was "Thus
says Jehovah".

And so here, Ezekiel is tied down to the ground for over a year. He 
ate his food "by weight" and drank his water "by measure" (4:10-11) 
Stuck in one spot, not able to move. One wonders if he got "bed 
sores"?  Perhaps his joints all stiffened up from lack of movement?  
Beating sun, shivering cold and rain... there was Ezekiel in front of 
his G.I.Joe battle field, day and night. Cooking his food with cow 
manure. Can you just imagine his own personal hygiene! (Use your 
imaginations) And since he is being an object lesson, we can also 
assume he is "wasting away" from malnutrition, in view of the people.  
(4:17), because his eating "by weight" isn't really quite enough to
fill him.

All for what purpose? The "iniquity of the house of Israel" (4:5) and
the "iniquity of the house of Judah" (4:6) All of this as "a -SIGN- to
the house of Israel" (4:3b)

Furthermore, when he gets done with this, he -really- "loses it"! He is
told to shave all his hair off, and start whacking at it all over with
a sword, and burning some in the fire. (5:2,4)

Again, why? When God called Israel out of Egypt, He set her "in the 
midst of the nations and the lands all around her" (5:5)  On other 
occasions we have observed about Israel, that were all the continents 
to be pulled back together into one giant land-mass as they were at
one time, that the location where Israel sits would be the
geographical center of the world. God set Israel there to be a witness
to the world of Himself. As a "light to the nations" (Is42:6, 49:6,
60:3, Ac13:46-47, 1Pt2:9) 

But what did Israel do?

"And she has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness.." (5:6)
And notice... not only did Israel sin against God, what was the nature
of that sin? "..wickedness MORE THAN THE NATIONS,..because you have 
multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you" 
(5:6-7) Israel was like the typical preacher's kids. It is said that 
preacher's kids are either -real- "good", or -real- "bad". And when 
they are bad, they often behave worse than the unsaved/unchurched.

And so, what is God's verdict? "Behold I, even I, am against you and
will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations" (5:8)
Israel was set in the midst of the nations to shine God's Light to
them; but instead, they rebelled. Therefore, God is going to make an
"example" out of them before those very nations to whom they were
supposed to give God's Light. Do you ever wonder why "the Jew" always
seems to be hounded and persecuted more than any other ethnicity? It is 
God's judgment against her. "..because of all [her] abominations" (5:9)

Just as Ezekiel was to have originally cooked using his own excrement 
(that which issued from himself) as fuel, "therefore fathers shall eat 
their sons in your midst" (due to the famine).  Just as Ezekiel went
wild chopping up his own hair with a sword, God says, "I will scatter
[them] to all the winds". God was bringing upon Israel every
imaginable famine, pestilence, sword, exile. Not only were they
beaten, raped, killed, and tortured in other ways, and killed by wild 
animals...when those left alive were taken exile, it is said that some 
nations would chain the prisoners together; but not with mere 
shackles. They would put hooks through the flesh/muscle above the 
shoulder, and chain them together in that fashion.  (2Ch33:11, Am4:2)  
And you can be sure there were no pain-killers.

And God says to them, "My eye will not spare, nor will I have any
pity. Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest
upon them..." (5:11,13)

"..and they shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken in My zeal, when I 
have spent My fury upon them." (5:13)

And Ezekiel is the object lesson of what is 'going to' happen to them. 
They will taunt him..."Oh, that crazy ol' coot over there, have you 
seen the latest with that crazy prophet? Haw, haw, haw!"

Now... what is the whole point of considering these things about 
Israel, when we are predominantly Gentiles, and many of you who read 
this have a label as being part of Christ's "Church"?

Israel called themselves as being of Jehovah. But they rebelled.
Ezekiel was sent in the manner that he was, because they were "a
rebellious house". (2:5)  Today the Gentile entity calling itself
"Church" boasts in its own self-righteousness. And Paul warns, "Do not
be highminded, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural
branches, He may not spare you either." (Rom11:20-21)

Remember these things!  Are you listening? To whom is it that Jesus
promises the verdict of, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who
work out lawlessness!" (Mt7:23) ?? Those continually saying, "Lord,
Lord" (vs21-22), and doing what appear to be great miracles of God.
Yes, an entity that calls itself, "Church". Forget about grace, grace,
graaeeesss! If you are a pretender, a changeling, a wolf in sheep's
attire; intoning "Lord, Lord"... hear this warning...

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
(Heb10:31)

What we read about Israel is an "example" to us. (1Cor10:6)  Israel,
called by God's name, turned away from God and was judged as the 
"rebellious house". All their rebellion and judgment is recorded for 
us for what purpose? "Now these things became examples for us, so that 
we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Neither 
become idolaters as [were] some of them. As it is written, The people
sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Nor let us commit 
sexual immorality, as some of them prostituted, and in one day 
twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us test Christ, as some of them 
also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor murmur, as some of 
them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these 
things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our 
admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come..."

And now take heed to this next verse... 

"Therefore let him who thinks he is [firmly] established take heed
that he not fall." (1Cor10:6-12)

Yes, yes, I know. When some of us proclaim this strongly, continually,
there are some of you for whom we just 'tick-you-off'.  But I don't
know of any modern-day prophet (proclaimer/for-TH-teller) who has been
called upon to be subjected to what Ezekiel demonstrated to Israel. If
you remain hard-of-heart, no greater object lessons in excremental
graphic detail will melt you. As Abraham said to the "rich man", that
his relatives would not believe even if someone were to rise from the
dead back to warn them of the horrors of Hell (Lk16); it was proven
out, as Lazarus -was- raised; and rather than repenting and believing,
the rulers instead sought to kill Lazarus, too. (Jn12:10-11)

But the true man of God continues faithfully anyway, "whether they
will hear or whether they will forbear, for they are most rebellious"
(2:7)

But you know what? If you are of the rebellious sort and scoff at what 
God is trying to reach through to you with, there will come a day when
you will "know that a prophet has been among" you. (2:5) Understand
that all the judgments God promises are sure; they are certain. 
"Anyone who rejected Moses' Law dies without mercy before two or three 
witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be 
thought worthy who has trampled on the Son of God, counted the blood 
of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and 
insulted the Spirit of Grace?" (Heb10:28-29)

"I, Jehovah, have spoken." (5:17) Amen!

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Re: Slain Before Your Idols (Ezekiel 6-7)

"O mountains of Israel, hear the Word of the Lord Jehovah! Behold I,
even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high
places... I will cast down your slain before your idols. And I will lay
the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will
scatter your bones all around your altars." (~6:3-5)

What were some of Israel's idols? The one that gets mentioned most is
Baal. The famous account of Elijah praying down fire upon the
water-drenched sacrifice was a "contest" between the Most High and
Baal. Remember who "won"? And Elijah had all of Baal's prophets killed.
(1Kg18)

Is Baal worshiped today? The evil Queen Jezabel was the one whose
little finger wicked King Ahab was wrapped around. They were Israel's
patrons of Baal. Thyatira is condemned for allowing "Jezebel to teach".
(Rev2:20) She calls herself a "prophetess". Isn't today's "church" busy
enthroning their Jezebel prophetesses? In considering the "Seven
Churches" we have seen her "host" offered on the altar, eaten as the
so-called "body of Christ". She is condemned for leading astray "My
servants to prostitute themselves to sexual immorality". Just the other
day one of my customers was one of these 'Jezebels', a leader of some
sort of "ministry", with "paint on the eyes" (2Kg9:30, Jer4:30), all
busting-out, with the demeanor and appearance of one who was "after
men", more than one serving the Most High.

There was Molech, part of their Baal worship.  Throughout Leviticus
Israel was warned against letting their "seed pass through the fire to
Molech". (Lev18:21) And what was one of Solomon's faults? He "built a
high place..for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon" (1Kg11:7)

What did this mean, to "pass their seed through the fire"? The image of
Molech was hollow. A fire was built inside to where the image would
become red-hot. While the drums were beating loudly, the parents would
carry their as-yet-live babies and place them into the red-hot 'hands'
of Molech, where the babies would scream and thrash about until dead.

Is anything like this done today in "christian" America? We are not so
"barbaric" as to "burn" our babies. Oh, no! Instead, we hire
professionals to rip them, limb from limb, suck their brains out while
they are still kicking and screaming! We wail and mourn the barbaric
radicals who brought down our WTC towers, killing thousands. But the
same number who died on 9-11 are murdered -DAILY- in the womb! Offered
to the gods of convenience, life-style and immorality. In ancient times
they beat drums loudly to muffle the screams. Today, the screams are
muffled within the womb! Jezebel's followers have made their own bodies 
into altars of sacrifice! And those who would seek to rescue these
babies are not hailed as "heroes", like NYC's firefighters. No! They
are hunted down to be imprisoned and prosecuted!

Solomon also worshiped the Queen of heaven. Even after most of Israel
had been taken captive, the remnants still rebelled, on their way to
Egypt, insisting that they -would- worship her. (Jer44:17)

Do we see her adulation today?  How many so-called "christians" pray to
the one they call "Mary"?

You know, when Israel insisted on worshiping her, they said, "But since
we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink
offerings to her, we have lacked everything, and have been consumed by
the sword and by famine.." (Jer44:18) In other words, things were good 
when we were in idolatry.

As I sat down to begin this study, to consider where the Lord might
take this series next, I first read a few e-mails that had come in.
Amongst them was a forward, and in it was expressed the current
Bush/Powell doctrines regarding Israel and a "Palestinian State".
Speaking of Israel as being "occupiers" of Palestinian territory. Of
Israelis who have built and settled in territories Israel won when Arab
countries attacked her in the past, as being "settlers".  That the
current US administration is developing a policy of 'thought' that, had
the US been more involved in forcing Israel to give up some of its
God-given land to the Palestinians, that the attack on the WTC would 
not have happened. Thus, one way to forestall further terrorist attacks
is to force a plan to legitimize the PLO terrorist organization into a
"viable" national entity.

Well, Mr. Bush, it is PRECISELY -BECAUSE- the US has been continually
against Israel (not to mention our other abominations!) that the WTC
attack happened. Notice how God responded to Israel's reasonings as to
why they worshipped the queen of heaven:

"The incense that you burned [all over the place]; did not Jehovah
remember them, and did it not come into His mind? Yes, so that Jehovah
could no longer hold back because of the evil of your doings, because
of the abominations which you have committed! Because you have burned
incense, and because you have sinned against Jehovah, nor walked in His
Law, nor in His statutes, nor did you walk in His testimonies,
therefore this evil has happened to you, as it is this day."
(~Jer44:21-23)

Well, notice God's judgment against Israel. (America, with similar
sins, are you paying attention??) Where their altars were, there they
would be slain. And notice God's attitude in the judgment:

"My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will repay your
ways, and your abominations will be in your midst..." (7:4)

Oh-but! God is a God of luuuuuv! God accepts you "just as you are".
That is God's graeeeessss! Ahh, but! Those who have been proclaiming
these things are false prophets. God did not send them. "The prophets
prophesy lies in My name; I did not send them, nor have I commanded
them, nor did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a false vision and
a worthless divination, and a thing of no value, and the deceit of
their heart." (Jer14:14)  Yes, God is love (1Jn4:8), but He is also a
God of "fury". "Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, and spend My
anger upon you; I will judge you ACCORDING TO YOUR WAYS, and I will
REPAY YOU for all your abominations." (7:8) "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay, says the Lord." (Rom12:19, Heb10:30)

Then...

"..then you shall know that I am Jehovah!" (7:4)

Oh, No, No, No! You have this all wrong! That's not how you get people
to make "commitments". Don't you know? "God luuuuvs you, and has a
wonderful plan for your life." (The "1st law" of the "Four") After all,
doesn't God say, "For I know the thoughts which I am planning for you,
says Jehovah;  thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future
and a hope." (Jer29:11) This verse was part of the promotional 
literature of the above-mentioned 'Jezebel' who came in to my store. A 
ministry of "positive" things. Thing is, they have taken that verse out
of its proper context; after Israel has been punished for her sins, and
when God is then 'restoring' them, bringing them back from Babylon. But
how is Israel going to "know" their God? He must punish them with no
sparing and no pity. Only after they have been thusly punished, it
says, "And you shall know that I am Jehovah who strikes". (7:9)

Now, we have looked at some parallels between Israel and the apostasy
that is called, "church". We have also seen parallels for a nation that
many call "christian". If all this came upon Israel, how much worse
will be the coming judgment upon America and the false-church!

But let's focus back on Israel. Many of the so-called "church" boast
that Israel is done for. They don't care that our "christian" president
will go about to give Israel's God-given territory away to terrorists,
because in their minds, "Israel doesn't matter" because God's eye is
now on "the church"....and, oh yes...America! "God bless America"! [I'm
becoming increasingly nauseated by that mantra! I wonder how many times
I've been muttering "Oh, shut up!" of late?]

Notice that, even though "the slain shall fall in your midst" (6:7),
that God gives a promise. An enduring hope. "Yet I will leave a
remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the
nations, when you are scattered throughout the earth." (6:8)

What will characterize this remnant? "..those of you who escape will
remember Me.." (6:9a) And how will they view themselves? "..they will
loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their
abominations" (6:9b) OH...QUICK! CALL THE COUNSELLORS! These people
need counseling to reinstate their 'self-esteem'. No! What kind of
heart gains God's favorable attention?

"But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Is66:2)

Amen!

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Re: Israel's Abominations (Ezekiel 8-11)

"So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, toward the north
at the gate of the altar, was this image of jealousy at the entrance...
Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that
the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My
sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations" (8:5-6)

When Manasseh became king at age 12, he brought some most horrendous
things into God's temple. He set up images in the court, sacrifices his
own offspring to Molech, and also set up an image inside the temple,
along with all his witchcraft and astrology which he practiced.  All
the good his father, Hezekiah, had done in eradicating idolatry,
Manasseh reestablished, and added even more abominations. He was likely
the worst king before God. (2Kg21)

So, when God speaks of "image of jealousy" here, remember that when the
Ten Commandments were given, that when He commands not to bow to other
gods, nor make images to them, the explanation which accompanies the
command is, "I, Jehovah your God, am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth
generations of those who hate Me" (Ex20:5)

This is the state of affairs as Ezekiel has this vision. And notice a 
comment which God speaks to Jeremiah a lot, "..this house which is 
called by My name.." (Jer7:10, etc) Perhaps the reader will understand 
our continual comments about the state of things today when we speak of 
SO-CALLED "christians", or the "PRETEND church". It is -called- the
"church". They -label- themselves as "christians". But they are not.
Just as God's house had become defiled with pagan idols, such that God
speaks of what used to be (notice He is not saying "My house" as He did
when Solomon built it -1Chr28:6; or "My house..of prayer" -Is56:7) His
house as that "which is called..." It has the label. But it no longer
represents the real Presence of Jehovah, because Israel has rejected
God, in favor of their heathen idols.

Does today's "church" have images of jealousy? We have spoken of them 
in the past in the "10 Commandments" studies and not long ago in
addressing Mythology. All the images of the cross, pictures of "Jesus",
symbols to paganism. At Xmass they bring in the pagan tree. We won't
re-address all this now.

Ezekiel is then shown their carvings of "creeping things, abominable 
beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, carved all around on 
the wall", along with the 70 elders worshiping with their incense.
(8:10-11) Israel's idolatry was not something that "the people" were
doing, and the leaders merely "couldn't stop them". But rather, this
idolatry started from the leadership-on-down.

The women were "weeping for Tammuz". (8:14) Tammuz was a sun god, the
"husband" of Ishtar (queen of heaven, middle-eastern mutation of
Egypt's Isis).  And the worship had the women weeping, bewailing his
funeral. He was honored at the summer solstice.

"Have you seen this, O son of man?" and so he is brought to "the inner 
court of the house of Jehovah" where he sees "25 men with their backs 
toward the temple of Jehovah and their faces toward the east, and they 
were worshiping the sun toward the east" (8:15-16)

Well, we know this is being done in today's "church". Recently we spoke 
of the Easter sunrise service. You see, we have the whole -god-
"family". Worshiping Ishtar (easter) the "wife", and Tammuz (sun) the
"husband". Early on "easter" the [c]hurch worships Ishtar-Tammuz. Same
thing Israel was doing.

Related topic: "Anti-Semitism, Catholicism and Passover?"

So God asks, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing
to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit 
here? ...therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor 
will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I 
will not hear them." (8:17-18)

Notice a couple of things here. If you notice in this passage (Please 
be sure to get your Bibles out and read it to see the entire context.  
These studies are not be-all, end-all unto themselves. They are 
intended to point out a few highlights from these passages, but God's
Word comes from the Scriptures.), God is continually asking Ezekiel,
"have you seen this?" Why? Remember God's commission of Ezekiel as a 
prophet? He was called to the "rebellious house", to go and proclaim, 
"Thus says Jehovah". He was given a book to eat. (ch1-3) God's Word was 
made a very part of his essence. He has God's Word within him, and he 
is proclaiming God's judgments. But he needs one more element. He also 
needs to see Israel's wickedness the same way God sees it. How can he 
be an effective messenger and proclaim the message with all the 
necessary 'force', unless in his very being he also sees the corruption 
to the point of detesting it the same way God does. Thus, God shows 
Ezekiel all Israel's sin. Thus, as he proclaims God's judgment, he 
'understands' in his own mind that what he proclaims is "just". That 
God is "recompensing their deeds upon their own head". (9:10) What they 
are getting, they fully deserve.

So, how is God's judgment going to be meted out? Is He going to utterly 
wipe out the whole lot? In the vision, those in charge come along with
their "destroying weapon" (9:1) But before God sets them loose, He
"marks" the righteous ones. (9:4) What is the basis of their being 
marked? Are they the ones who are continually gathering and "praising 
the Lord"? They are faithfully "worshiping"? They are "happy" and with 
smiling faces are "dancing around"? They are having experiences of 
being "spirit-filled"?  

"..put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the 
abominations that are done.." (vs4)  Remember the close to the 
preceeding lesson. If you have forgotten, it is found in Isaiah 66:2

As for the rest, "Go..through the city and kill; do not let your eye 
spare, nor have pity. Utterly slay [everyone who doesn't have the mark] 
and BEGIN AT MY SANCTUARY.." (9:6)

You see, there is a parallel today. God's ways are NOT to pour out His 
wrath upon His Believers. "He did not appoint us to wrath" (1Th5:9) 
Today's pretend [c]hurch does not believe that Jesus is coming to catch 
away His Believers. They think they are going through what they call, 
"the tribulation". The thing they don't understand is that the time 
that is coming is not merely "affliction" (Jn16:33), but it is God's 
wrath. A time when He is judging the world. And since they are of those 
who worship idols, turning their back upon God, facing east and 
worshiping all sorts of pagan deities, they will, indeed, remain on 
earth, and will receive God's judgment "without pity".

And notice another picture God gives Ezekiel. After Ezekiel has been 
shown all the abominations in the house "called by God's name", then
"the glory of Jehovah departed from the threshold of the house.."
(10:18) Ezekiel was shown that, although the physical temple might have
existed, due to Israel's idolatry and rebellion, God was no longer
there. Thing is, just like Samson, most of Israel didn't know "that
Jehovah had departed from him" (Jud16:20)  They religiously sing their
"worship songs", but they haven't a clue to the fact that God is not in
their midst. They have turned the back to God's Word and doctrine,
preferring instead to be "spirit-filled" and -feel- "blessed".

This is why we continually exhort Believers to "come out of her My
people" (Rev18:4, Jer51:45) God is not in those so-called "churches"!
He left a long time ago when they turned their backs on Him and His
Word and started worshiping the gods of experiences, self-esteem, and
every other abomination that exists today.

And also, these who worship the abominations, "devise wickedness and 
give evil advice.." (11:2) are also the ones who proclaim, "the time is 
not near; let us build houses. This city is the kettle, and we are the 
meat." (11:3)  Convert that to today: There won't be a Rapture. God is
sending revival. Be healthy and wealthy and thus partake of God's
"blessing". Instead of "purifying" themselves (1Jn3:3), they are busy
building earthly kingdoms, and engaging in such abominations as prayer
warfare.

When Israel's leaders said such things, if you continue in the chapter, 
you will see God's judgment against them. If God's judged His own elect 
in this manner, what do you suppose is in store for the "wild olive 
branches" that were grafted in! "Of how much worse punishment, do you 
suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled on the Son of God, 
counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common 
thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace?" (Heb10:29)

But, back to Israel...

Again, God's promised restoration. Even though God judged Israel, He
does not utterly cast them away. "Although I have cast them far off
among the nations, and although I have scattered them throughout the
earth, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the lands where 
they have gone." (11:16) And then, "I will gather you from the peoples, 
assemble you from the lands where you have been scattered, and I will 
give you the land of Israel. And they will come there, and they will
take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from
there." (vs17-18)

And how will this happen? God promises Israel, "And I will give them
one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you, and take the stony
heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 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" (vs19-20)

But notice that for those whose hearts insist on their abominations: "I
will recompense their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord
Jehovah" (11:21)

Amen!

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Re: Object Lesson: Exile (Ezekiel 12)

"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have
eyes to see and see not. They have ears to hear and hear not, for they
are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself
vessels for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes. And you
shall be exiled from your place to another place before their eyes. It
may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house." (vs2-3)

A couple of things we can see here. First of all, how "negative" is
this message! How full of "personal attacks"! I mean... doesn't God
know better? Doesn't He know how to "win friends and influence people"?
Over and over and over God calls them "rebellious". It's as though He
seems to think there is nothing 'good' in Israel. Aren't we supposed to
"look for the good in everybody", and "if you can't say something good
about a person, don't say anything at all"?? We are supposed to 'luuuv'
people into the kingdom.  If God were posting this message to any
message board, the monitors would remove it for being so venomous and
being such "hate speech".

The other thing is the repetition of the phrase "before their eyes".  
Early on in his ministry Ezekiel was required to be "locked" into 
place, lying first on one side, and then the other, as he "laid siege" 
to a portrayal of Jerusalem. (ch4)  430 days he was lying on the ground 
with God's "bands" laid on him so he could not move. (vs8)  Now, he is 
pretending again.  Going through the motions, "acting out" being taken
into exile. What Ezekiel was illustrating was a portrayal of what God
was telling Israel was about to befall them for their rebellion.

It was one thing for God to send prophets to Israel, imploring them to
repent, "rising early and sending". (2Ch36;15) But they would not
listen. They would say, "we WILL DO" what we want. We WILL NOT obey 
God, but we WILL DO our own devices. (Jer44:16-17)

So, God tries something else. God already knew that 'visual' aids are
more effective than -mere- 'words', even before modern teaching
theories 'discovered' it. It's one thing to hear the words of warning,
but to 'see' what captivity might look like... that should grab 'em
where they tremble. Ezekiel, do these things "before their eyes".

Why? "..IT MAY BE they will consider.." (vs3) Ezekiel, we have been
talking to them till we're "blue in the face", but they are so
rebellious. Let's try another method...see if we can get their
attention. See if even ANYTHING AT ALL will sink in, even though they
are so rebellious, let's give this a try. Maybe...Sigh...just MAY-BE..

Well, history has shown the outcome. Israel continued to be rebellious,
and were taken captive.

But notice God's faithful servant. Poor Ezekiel had to go through so 
much abuse throughout his 'career' in the ministry.  We are not told 
what his attitude was about doing this particular object lesson, but we 
know that he drug his feet to even -be- a prophet originally.  God had
to forcibly "lift [him] up" (3:14) to take him where He wanted him. And
Ezekiel went "in bitterness, in the heat of [his] spirit".

But God labels Ezekiel, "I have set you as a sign to the house of
Israel". (12:6)  What is the purpose of a sign? To either point the
way, or give instruction.

Dear fellow-Believer... do you sometimes wonder "why" certain things
happen in your life?  When there was no sin in your life, the Lord gave
you illness. When you were being faithful, the Lord gave you financial 
hard times. Perhaps you have been placed in the middle of a bunch of 
scorpions (2:6) who snap at you, and you find yourself continually in
confrontation, standing on God's Word, and the scorpions attack you
with their deceitful venom. Anyone who is a Believer, and lives on this
earth, is a "witness" of Christ to the world. (Lk24:48)  We are
"lights". (Mt5:14)  Perhaps you don't much like the attention? You'd
just as rather live a peaceful life, "minding your own business"?? Well,
lights are not designed to be hidden. (Mt5:15)  The various situations
the Lord puts us in are for the purpose of showing forth His glory. If 
we are in illness, His strength is shown through (in spite of) our 
weakness. (2Cor12:9)  If we are attacked, God's wisdom is shown through 
our ignorance. (Mk13:11)  So that they might see that we are "with 
Jesus". (Acts4:13) That they see "not I, but the grace of God with me." 
(1Cor15:10)

What is the outcome of the faithfulness of God's servant? "He who 
hears, let him hear; and he who stops his ears, let him stop; for they 
are a rebellious house." (Eze3:27)  You see, that person you are 
witnessing/ministering to and praying for may likely never come to the
Lord in repentance.

But "they shall know that I am Jehovah". (12:15) Amen!

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Re: Whitewash (Ezekiel 13)

Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and 
say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, Hear the Word of 
Jehovah! Thus says the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the foolish prophets, who 
follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! (13:2-3)

Jeremiah says similar things, "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and 
scatter the sheep of My pasture! says Jehovah" (Jer23:1) While we might
combine these two chapters into one study, I think Ezekiel gives us
-quite- plenty to chew on for this lesson.  But you might wish to read
Jeremiah ch23 to get a fuller picture.

Remember a couple studies ago (ch8-11) we observed that it was Israel's
-leaders- who were guilty of abominations. When God's destruction went 
out to kill, He commands, "and begin at My sanctuary" (9:6) Now, God 
addresses those who proclaim to the leaders. Yes, the priests and 
Levites served before the people unto God in the temple in all the 
worship rituals. But the prophets were a "notch above". The priests 
performed the prescribed rituals as written down in the Law. But the 
prophets would receive special messages from Jehovah to proclaim to the 
priests, kings and people. Certainly, the people were condemned for 
their rebellion and idolatry. But some of their error might be
'understandable', because it might be considered that they are merely
-following- what the priests said. And while the priests and scribes
should have known better because they had the actual scrolls of God's
written Law to read, which the common people did not... the prophets
were the ones God anointed with His Spirit with God's Word directly to
the people. It was -prophets- who actually 'wrote' (or dictated to
scribes -Jer36:4) the words of those scrolls.

Notice the condemnation: they "follow their -own- spirit" when, in
fact, they had seen nothing. They see "vanity and lying divination" 
(vs6) "Divination" is an occult practice of fortunetelling or 
conjuring. It works in the spirit realm. They claim to receive their 
messages from "the divine", thus, "divination". But if God is saying 
that "Jehovah has not sent them", what is the source of their visions? 
If it is not God, there is only one other source. Satan and/or his 
demons.

Notice regarding their conjuring, "..they -HOPE- that their word may be
confirmed". (vs6b)  Whereas, God's Word is the "-SURE- Word of
Prophecy" (2Pt1:19)  When Daniel stood before Nebuchadnezzar, he
proclaims confidently, "..the dream is certain, and the interpretation
of it is sure" (Dan2:45)

The best today's "christian" conjurers can boast is 70%. So, when they
make their boastful proclamations, there is always that 30% doubt that
what they proclaim will come to pass. They can only "hope" their word
at that particular moment will fit into that 70%. Thus, God calls what
they do, "lying divination". (vs7) It is -NOT- of Jehovah!

God's judgment to those of Israel was "they shall not be in the 
assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of 
Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel" (vs9)  Translate
the same judgment to the "[c]hurch"... They will not be part of the 
Rapture to "meet the Lord in the air" (1Th4:17), They will not be found 
in the "Book of Life" (Phil4:3, Rev13:8, 17:8,etc), and they will not 
be allowed entrance into Heaven, but Jesus will say, "I never knew 
you". (Mt7:23, Lk13:25)

What are prophets supposed to be doing? They are to "close up the wall 
and stand in the gap" (22:30), they are to "build walls" (13:5). What 
was the purpose of the city walls? To keep the enemy out. To keep 
plunderers and robbers out. To keep the residents safe from harm. When 
a prophet is doing God's counsel, he causes God's "people to hear My 
Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from 
the evil of their doings." (Jer23:22)

But the false prophets certainly do "build walls". They have an
appearance of being "holy" and a pretense of being "great men of God".
But when they build these walls, how do they build? When they proclaim
"Peace! when there is no peace" it is like building with stones, but
instead of using mortar to hold the stones/bricks together with
strength; they merely pile the rocks up, and then slap some "whitewash"
over the top. (vs11) It looks pretty, and people "feel" safe because
they have the appearance of righteousness, but as Jesus said to the
religious leaders of His day that they were like "whitewashed tombs
which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead
men's bones and all uncleanness." (Mt23:27)

Spiritual walls are ones which keep out evil and error. In Ezekiel's 
day the prophets were building walls with whitewash. Today, the 
prophets are even worse than those of Ezekiel's day, or when Jesus 
chided the scribes and pharisees. Today, they do not -build- walls, but 
they TEAR THEM DOWN! They sing, "Walls come down, walls come down". The 
wall of Godly doctrine which protects a Believer against the errors of 
the evil one, they DELIBERATELY knock them down, and invite the enemy 
into the city, and send the citizens out amongst the wolves...and these
days, satan's hosts are having a feeding frenzy, because the sheep are
not being protected.

Dear Reader, if you sometimes think this ministry is rather "harsh" in 
its words, it is because of all those things you see out there that 
LOOK LIKE "walls", but we know from God's Word that they are merely a 
whitewash. And in many quarters we see the walls crumbling down and the 
wolves are coming in droves in packs and devouring. How does one 
protect sheep and chase the wolves away? By drastic means, and LOUD 
SHOUTS. LOOK OUT!  WATCH OUT! DON'T BE DECEIVED! To the wolves, SHOO, 
SCRAM! GET OUTTA HERE! No, we DON'T invite them in to our fellowships!  
All they are there for is to, "steal, kill and destroy" (Jn10:10) They 
have NO INTENTION of being saved! Do not be "seduced" (vs10) by them!

And if you read the section vs17-23, you will see similar warnings 
about the women with their occult and "amulet" (vs20) trinkets.  
Remember God's warning against making "any likeness". (Ex20:4) Even 
people like Mariah Carey and various paganist, New Age movie stars wear 
crosses on their necklaces. But that certainly does NOT make them 
"Christian".

So... notice God's judgment upon Israel's false prophets. What we see,
understand that similar things await today's false prophets.

God is sending a "flooding rain", "great hailstones" and a "stormy
wind" to knock the whitewash down. And when the wall is found to be
fraudulent, the question, "Where is the mortar with which you plastered
it?" (vs12) Where is the substance to all your boasts? Where is the
Truth?  When it is thrown down, "so that its foundation will be
uncovered" (vs14), the Truth will be bared. The false prophets will be
"consumed". God will do this in Fury, Anger, and Wrath. The wall and
its whitewashers will be "no more". (vs15) And lest there be any
confusion as to -who- God is talking about...

"..that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy..who see visions of
peace...when there is no peace, declares the Lord Jehovah" (vs16)

But notice also. When these false prophets have been consumed in God's
wrath, they will suddenly know the Truth. Nobody in Hell will be an
unbeliever. Remember that satan and his demons also "believe and
shudder". (Jacob2:19)  So much for "Sola Fide"... "Only Believe"!!

You see, He says to them as they are going into destruction...

"And you shall know that I am Jehovah." (vs14b)

Amen!

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Re: The Lord's answers through idols (Ezekiel 14:3-4)

"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put
the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I at
all be inquired of by them?  Therefore speak to them, and say to them,
So says the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up
his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity
before his face, and comes to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him
in it by the host of his idols;" (Ez14:3-4)

What another fascinating passage! If we look at Israel's history, if we
were to summarize in one word, the reason for their dispersion
throughout the world over the centuries, that word would be "idolatry"
When God gave the Law, the very first of the "Ten Commandments" is "You
shall have no other gods before Me." (Ex20:3) And yet, their -primary-
sin was idolatry. Breaking of that very first commandment! They began
their rebellion even while Moses was in God's presence, receiving all
the laws, with their golden calf. (Ex32)

But here, God is saying through Ezekiel, 'I will answer him via idols.'

You see, God has given man a conscience. (Rom2:14-15) No matter what 
man may do, God is continually 'striving' to reach man through the Holy 
Spirit. (Gen6:3,Jn16:8) With Israel He was "rising early" and sending 
His "messengers" (2Ch36:15) because He has pity on His own. But man is 
continually running away from God, "like sheep" (Is53:6) going his own 
way. And God is always pleading "Turn, turn from your evil ways, for
why will you die?" (Ez33:11)

So, if man is stubbornly engrossed in idolatry, how is God going to
reach him? Well... as this passage says... through his idols. But the
idols' prophets proclaim falsehood! How can a person come to God
through falsehood?

Ever hear the expression as a child? Maybe you said it to yours, when
they were getting older and should 'know better'? "If you're gonna act
like a child, I'm gonna treat you like one." Well, that's a little bit
what God does. According to the manner in which the person behaves
towards God, that's the way God responds. Notice: "With the merciful,
You will show Yourself merciful; with an upright man You will show
yourself upright; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with
the crooked You will show Yourself perverse." (2Sm22:26-27,Ps18:25-26)

Is God limited when false prophets speak? If they use anything at all 
of His Word, remember that His Word does not go out "void" without 
accomplishing what God intends. (Is55:11) Even if that "Word" is a 
Westcott/Hort perVersion. Can a person find salvation while sitting in 
a Catholic church? Well, from the Pope on down, they distort the 
Scriptures. But they -do- speak of Jesus dying "for the sins of the 
world." God is not limited by the rest of what they teach, when it 
comes to the individual's heart, at the level of the conscience. The 
person can hear that Jesus "died for the sins of the world" and then 
his conscience -knows- his own sin. Salvation is not related to 
transubstantiation, pergatory, crucifixes. It -is- related to Jesus 
having died on the cross for sin. (Rom5:8,1Cor15:3) Jesus said that the
one coming to Him does so at the drawing of the Father. (Jn6:44) And
this happens as the Holy Spirit 'strives' with that person's spirit and
soul... at the -individual- level. This is but one such example.

If a person does not hear correct doctrine, because nobody tells him,
and he dies in his sin; he dies in his sin. (Ez33:9) But he does not do
so in -total- ignorance. God is "not willing that any should perish."
(2Pt3:9) The "Sower" (Mt13:3) scatters the seed on -all- kinds of
ground. God sees to it that everybody is "without excuse".(Rom1:20) If
the person has heard of God, directly, the message will come in that
way. If all he knows is idolatry, God will speak even through the
idols.

"For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it." (1Cor10:26)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His
handiwork...  And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God
Himself is judge...  The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the
people see His glory." (Ps19:1,50:6,97:6)

Amen!

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Re: I Jehovah Will Answer by Myself (Ezekiel 14:5~)

"I, Jehovah, will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of
his idols, that I may catch the house of Israel in their own heart,
because they are all estranged from Me through their idols... I,
Jehovah, will answer Him by Myself. I will set My face against that man
and make him desolate as a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off
from the midst of My people. And you shall know that I am Jehovah...
And they shall bear their iniquity..." (Ezek14:4-10)

In the preceding lesson we observed how God is not limited in terms of
people being able to learn of Him, even when they are in idolatry. A
person -can- learn of salvation even while sitting in a Catholic or
Mormon church, insofar as Scripture is presented and read. That, of
course, is for a heart that is in such a place in 'innocence', not
knowning any better, being there "in ignorance" but where their heart
is tender and ready to obey God who promises to "overlook" the "times
of ignorance" and "commands all men everywhere to repent". (Acts17:30)

But to have a true picture of this passage, we must continue; in order 
to see how God responds to Israel. Israel had a knowledge of the Most 
High, and yet, they had "set up [their] idols IN [THEIR] HEART" (vs4)

Their history, as a nation, was one of God's mighty "outstretched arm"
of deliverance from Egypt, and of "signs and wonders". (Deut26:8) As
God argues with Israel, as though an attorney arguing a case in court,
"Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be
assembled. Who among them can declare this and cause us to hear former
things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
or let them hear, and say, It is true." (Is43:9)

He presents the evidence: "I, even I, am Jehovah; and there is no one
to save besides Me.  I have declared and have saved, and I have shown,
when there was no strange god among you; therefore you are My
witnesses, says Jehovah, that I am God.  Yea, before the day was, I am
He; and no one can deliver out of My hand;  I work, and who will
reverse it?" (vs11-13)

"..when there was no strange god among you.."  You see, when God did
all His works with Israel, they did not have other gods. It wasn't any 
of those strange gods (that they 'now' worshipped) that brought them
forth to become a nation. God did it all... ALONE, by Himself!

But after many centuries have passed, as they are going into captivity 
for their idolatry, they whine to Jeremiah, that when they were 
offering their offerings to the Queen of Heaven... "..then we had
plenty of food, and were well-off, and saw no evil." But when they
stopped, things got bad for them. (Jer44:17-18) So Jeremiah goes on to
say that God's patience withheld as long as He could, until He had had
-enough-. (vs20-23)

Notice the path that leads to destruction. The rebellious ones come to
the prophets they want to hear from. So, God says, "I Jehovah will 
answer him by Myself" (vs7) Notice that the things the false prophets 
speak also have God's authority, "..if that prophet is induced to speak 
anything, I Jehovah have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out 
My hand against him and destroy him  from the midst of My people.."

Do we have any specific examples of such a scenario? At the request of
Jehoshaphat, Ahab calls for Micaiah. All the other (false) prophets are 
telling them to go up to battle and "be victorious". But when Micaiah 
is called, being a true prophet of Jehovah, and the discussion rises as
to why his prophecy is so much different from the others, because he is
prophesying Ahab's death, he explains how God was 'discussing' in
Heaven, how to persuade Ahab to go into battle and be killed. After 
many ideas were presented, a spirit steps forward and says, "I will 
persuade him". And God asks, "How?" "I will go out and be a lying 
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets" And God replies, "You shall 
persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so." (1Kg22:20-22)

You see, the false prophets are, indeed, FALSE. They are induced by 
"deceiving spirits". (1Tm4:1) But do you see -who- sends them on their 
way? God, the Most High, sitting on His throne. And -why- does He do 
so? Because they have set up their idols "in [their] heart". (vs4) When
the time of the "man of sin" is revealed, -why- does He "..send them
strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.."?  "..for this
reason.." "because they did not receive the love of the truth, that
they might be saved." (2Th2:10-11) You see, with God, who knows the
heart (Heb4:12), He draws a 'line' with everyone. He says, "..for the
time is at hand.  He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is
filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be
righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.  And behold, I
am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one
according to what his work shall be.." (Rev22:10-12)

So, Israel -purposely- rebelled against God, and set up their idols. 
God spoke to them -through- their idols, to mete out judgment upon 
them, and to reveal Himself to them.

We cannot look at Israel without seeing the very real parallel to 
today's "church". No, the "church" is not Israel. When Israel rebelled, 
God set up a new entity of "servants by another name". (Is65:15) Since
Israel continued to rebel obstinately, God could not allow His own name
to be "defiled". (Is48:11) But Israel's case is recorded in history as
an "example" to us. (1Cor10:6,11)

Today's Church-of-Babylon (christendom) is based on IDOLATRY and FALSE
PROPHETS. Its prophets see dreams and visions. These false visions are
not from God, He "did not send them". (Jer14:14) But He commissioned
the "lying spirits" who indwell them...IN ORDER THAT today's Babylon,
full of what we continually call "pretend-christians", may receive the
full reward of their lust-filled hearts.

You who truly know the Lord, don't wring your hands too terribly at the
apostasy. Yes, the people all seem 'gullible' don't they, as they
swallow all the false doctrine, hook-line-and-sinker. But you see, that
is what they 'want', and God knows it. Thus, He is allowing them to
have it. But also understand that, when God's judgment comes, they will
then, at long last, know God for who He really is... although, by then,
it will be too late, as when they boast of their spirit-fillings, He
will say, "Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!" (Mt7:23) As they
are ushered into "everlasting fire", the "place prepared for the devil
and his angels" (Mt25:41) They "shall bear their iniquity.." (vs10)

And God says to His True Believers, "..come out of her, My people.." 
(Rev18:4)

Oh, but... I'm still going to X, Y or Z "church" because I want to be a 
witness to them. Perhaps I can "make a difference" and be a "positive 
influence" there? Being "salt" in amongst them...?

Your presence will make NO DIFFERENCE to the rebels!! And furthermore,
in being there, you are being disobedient regarding the "unequal yoke"
with unbelievers, and God's command to "come out from among them and be
separate.." (2Cor6:17)

Whatever you think your presence might benefit the rebels, notice:
"..although these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they
would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Lord
Jehovah" (vs14) Do you think you are of the calibre of these three who
have received noteworthy space in the written Scriptures? Do you find
your name in the Scriptures for your greatness before God? Of Daniel
it was said, "For you are greatly beloved" (Dan9:23) Well, these three
would deliver "neither sons nor daughters" (vs16) They would not stave
off famine and pestilence. (vs19) They would "deliver only themselves
by their righteousness" (vs20)

Today's apostasy will NOT go away, before God's judgment comes. Those
who forecast "revival", are lying. That is not what Scripture
prophesies. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some
will depart from the faith, being devoted to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own
conscience seared.." (1Tm4:1-2)  Notice that this is what God's [Holy]
Spirit says... not what the "spirit-filled" false prophets proclaim.
Both today's prophets and their followers, together, will "bear their
iniquity" (vs10)

Dear Believer:  do you feel like a "remnant" in the big ocean of 
apostacy? Well, notice: "Yet behold, there shall be left in it a
remnant who will be brought out..." (vs22)  Again, let us not be
confused. Most specifically, this speaks of Israel; coupled with the
rest of prophecy, we know God's restoration of Israel, His elect seed.
But as Israel is an "example" to us, we see the parallel. While
"christendom" is going down the "broad way to destruction" (Mt7:13),
there is a "remnant" who "have not bowed the knee to Baal" (1Kg19:18)

And for Israel, after judgment has been fulfilled, after Israel has
been 'punished' (vs10), and God has given them a "new heart" (36:26),
God will work a work "..that the house of Israel may no longer stray
from Me, nor be defiled anymore with all their transgressions, but that
they may be My people and I may be their God, says the Lord Jehovah"
(vs11) Amen.

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Re: Naked and Bare (Ezekiel 16)

"Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations..." (vs2)

My! How un-SELF-fulfilling that is! Why should Israel continually be
reminded of her inadequacies? Why must God continually 'put-her-down'?
Could He not have had more positive and uplifting things to say, to
help build up her self-esteem?

What God wants to show is Israel's utter nothingness, where she
originated. And if they think they are anything now...? It is God who
made them what they are. As Paul would say a few centuries later, "For
I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than every one of them, yet not I, but the grace of God
which was with me." (1Cor15:9-10)

JUST a NOTE of WARNING before we proceed: for you with younger children
in your family, depending on how you read these studies; you who are 
adults may wish to read the entirety of this study first, to see if it 
is appropriate for your children. God uses some rather explicitly
colorful imagery in this passage, and we are going to, also.

God reminds Israel of their cultural lineage. And then paints a 
colorful image of Israel's birth and betrothal to Himself. I've not 
seen a human birth other than on film/video, but have of cattle. If a 
cow gave birth, and then did not take care of the calf, the sight is 
not a pretty one. The calf lies there, all covered in slime and puddled 
around, with afterbirth also hanging out the back of the cow. Recently
on Public TV they showed a special on tigers. Some tiger cubs that had
been born in captivity, which the mother did not take care of and
nurse. The people went into the den to retrieve them, and they were
barely alive. One, actually, didn't make it.

This is the picture God paints of Israel's origin. "..your navel cord
was not cut, nor were you washed in water...you were not..wrapped in
swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you...but you were thrown out...for you
yourself were loathed on the day you were born." (~vs4-5) Translate 
that into today: you were born and tossed into a dumpster, because you
were an 'unwanted' pregnancy.

When God calls a person unto Himself, is it because the person is so
wonderful? This is the "gospel" being proclaimed by many today, that is
termed "graaaeeesss". God saw all that "value" and "worth" in you;
that's why He saved you. Mmmm??

"..when I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to 
you in your blood, LIVE! Yes, I said to you in your blood, LIVE!" (vs6)

God is called elsewhere, the "Potter". And we are the clay. (Jer18:6, 
Rom9:21) Before the potter starts forming the clay, of what value is 
the clay? It is just a variation of "dirt". Something that, when it 
gets wet, gets all mucky all over everything, despised, to be washed
off. If somebody didn't come along to rescue the calf and nurture it, 
it would get eaten by wolves. If somebody didn't happen-by the 
dumpster, that baby would die of exposure.

Well, God came along, and saw us in our less-than-nothingness, and 
shouts out, "LIVE!" with the same authority that Jesus yelled out for 
Lazarus to be raised, "Lazarus! Out Here! Now!" (Jn11:43)

Now, this baby is washed up, and grows and matures. God comes by again 
and sees that a young woman is coming to the age of betrothal and 
marriage. God speaks of His betrothal of Israel to Himself. (Jer2:2,
Hos2:19-20) Of Himself as being Israel's "husband". (Is54:5) 

She is developing physically to be desireable to a man, and is naked.
Nobody is taking her in, and caring for her. When God brought Eve to
Adam, "they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed" (Gen2:25)  Now, Hollywood promotes what they promote with
scenes of a freshly showered/bathed woman dropping her towel in order
to be taken by the man. Well, here, Israel has freshly been "washed"
and "anointed with oil" (vs9)  God "spread the edge of [His] garment
over [her]" to cover her nakedness, swore an oath to her and she
"became Mine" declares the Lord Jehovah.  (vs8) When Naomi sent Ruth to
Boaz to present her case of being available for marriage, it says that
she "uncovered his feet and lay down" (Ru3:7), and makes her case by
saying, "Take your maidservant under your wing" (vs9). This covering of
the edge of the garment. A place of shelter and protection. If the
woman is naked, to be covered; and the husband is opening his garment
to receive and cover her; they are both together within his garment.
The "two shall become one flesh".  (Mt19:5)

Now, notice how God is with Israel. Clothes her with designer clothes, 
matching shoes, jewelry and other coordinated fine accessories.  
(vs10-13)  I don't know why it is, but it is so. Women are always made 
up to be beautiful. Men get themselves up with your basic suit or tux.  
But women are bedecked with all sorts of finery and are called 
"beautiful".  And since God uses this kind of imagery, obviously, it is 
not sinful, is it. There are some pharisaical types who preach a 
doctrine that their women should get themselves up as 'plain-janes'.  
Well, this passage, being merely one of several like it various places
in Scripture, should put such notions to rest.

So, with all this blessing, pampering and world-renown for all her
beauty (vs14) what does Israel do?  She "trusted in your own beauty,
committed adultery because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry 
on everyone passing by who would have it." (vs15)

Why do some men not like their women to be all dolled up? Because other 
men will look at them and lust for them. And, let's face it... many 
women who are beautiful also flaunt their beauty and flirt.

God took Israel into His own cloak, nurtured her, made her beautiful to 
show her off to the world and she 'turned heads'.  But instead of 
remaining within His "cloak" in her heart, being "only His", she
started sleeping around. You can read on into the chapter and see the
description of Israel's idolatry.

But rather than remembering her origins of being "naked and bare"
(vs22) and how God had taken her into His own bosom, she became an
"adulterous wife" (vs32), thinking that her beauty was her own.
Forgetting that, unless God had come along and taken her, she would 
have been abandoned in her own afterbirth. Forgetting God's grace and 
mercy. Today's "church" teaches that one's faithfulness to God after 
salvation doesn't matter, that God's graaeeess "accepts you JUST AS YOU
ARE." What they mean is, "just as you -WERE-". Observe carefully the 
example of Israel!

So, what is God's verdict upon her? "Because your filthiness was poured
out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry..." God was going to 
collect all her lovers with whom she had pleasure and "..will uncover
your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness...they
shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and
leave you naked and bare." (vs37,39) And you can continue reading the
full extent of all this in the passage.

In those days, when a nation was taken captive by another, invariably, 
the captives were stripped naked and chained together. Indeed, when 
Isaiah prophesies against Egypt, as we have already noted how Ezekiel 
often had to be an object lesson of God's prophesies, Isaiah was 
required to go around naked for a couple years, to illustrate from his 
prophecies to Egypt how they would be taken captive, "naked and
barefoot, even with buttocks stripped bare, to the [indecent] exposure
of Egypt. (Is20:2-4) If the Lord hasn't returned by then, we may have a
study series in Isaiah at some time in the future. If we do, we will
see how the "virgin of Babylon", the "Queen of Kingdoms", when God's
judgment brings her down, the one who is often presented voluptuously
and sensuously, is told, "Uncover your veil, strip off the skirt, bare
the thigh, pass through the rivers.  Your nakedness shall be uncovered,
yea, your shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance and I will not
meet you as a man." (Is47:2-3)

As we read this about Israel, if a person has ever seen documentary 
films of the Nazi holocaust against the Jews, the images never leave 
the memory! Shriveled up, emaciated naked bodies lying around, piled up
on carts, being hauled to the huge pits; the now-defeated German
officers physically taking up the bodies and tossing them over into the
pits, and watching them hurling head-long on top of the other bodies.

God took Israel, at the "time of love" (vs8) and with a most beautiful
picture, draws her into His cloak. He bedecks her and makes her
beautiful, to be admired by the world. But when she rebelled, she
literally ended up "naked", being tossed into pits. While the Communist
Russian, Chinese, Cambodian situations resulted in multiplied times
'more' deaths than the Jews who were killed during WW2, the world
remembers the images if dead -Jewish- 'naked' bodies being tossed into 
pits. Why? Because that is what God prophesied would happen. Why? 
Because of her adulteries, in her idolatries.

You see, all humanity is "naked and bare" before God. He knows us down 
to the very core of our "soul and spirit". (Heb4:12-13) He knows the 
thoughts and intents of our hearts. And when we "must give answer" 
before Him, this is how He sees us. There is nothing covering over and 
hiding us.

You see, there's several different kinds of nakedness. Let us consider 
two types. When there is love between a husband and wife, and they 
belong to each other without reservations, having "forsaken all 
others", the nakedness that is between them is a most beautiful thing.

However, if judgment is due, remember back to childhood? If you got 
spankings, remember that there were two kinds. The one kind you just 
bent over for.  But the ones to be dreaded were the ones where the
"pants came down", too!

If our hearts are pure before God, we can sing, "Nothing between my
soul and the Savior.." We can be comfortable being wrapped next to Him
in His cloak of love. But if we rebel, the 'pants' must 'come down'!

Now, this series is also to remind those who think that Israel is "done
for", that God's promises remain. Yes, God has given Israel a good
whoopin' on their bare bottoms. But...

"Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your
youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you." (vs60)
God's covenant has nothing to do with Israel's goodness. They have
obviously proven themselves to be less-than worthy. Notice -who- is
establishing the covenant. "And I will establish My covenant with you."
(vs62) Even the original covenants, begining with Abraham, it says,
"For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He had no one greater
to swear by, He swore by Himself" (Heb6:13)

Israel today is trying to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.
They are yet in unbelief. Israel's future blessing will be because, and
-ONLY- because -GOD- keeps His promises. If you recall from the series
"Covenants & Dispensations", we have observed that man was never able
to keep any covenants with God. God always initiated the covenants, and
God is the One who always kept them. Man continually breaks the
covenant. As Israel has done. All that Israel has to their credit is
the memories of their "shame". (vs61,63) They will have "paid for
[their] licentiousness and abominations" from all God's judgments
against them (vs58)

When God remembers and fulfills His covenants with Israel, restoring
them out of their shame...

Then "..you shall know that I am Jehovah" (vs62) Amen!

Q/A -Israel "displaying" God?

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Re: Turning Away from... (Ezekiel 18)

"Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul
of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die." (vs4) "Fathers shall
not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put
to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own
sin." (Deut24:16)

While we know that there is such a thing as a "generational curse", as
illustrated by God's Word, "..visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth
generation" (Ex20:5, 34:7), and we have seen the results of this in
Israel's various captivities and dispersions; when an -individual-
stands before the Holy God, God does not look in the Book of Life for
the names of the individual's father, wife, children, etc. It says that
they are judged "-each- one, according to their works". (Rev20:13) When
Jesus calls -individuals- to follow Him, they do not do so under the
"family plan" because of "family values". He calls the person to
forsake, "houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My name.." (Mt19:29)

We know that salvation is by "grace through faith...not of works"
(Eph2:8-9) in "repentance toward God" (Acts20:21). But we also know
that once a person is saved, the natural outgrowth of the new nature is
"works befitting repentance". (Acts26:20) Otherwise, how does anyone
know they are truly saved? (Jac2:14-26) Dogs bark, chickens cluck,
ducks swim, sinners sin, and Believers do righteous works. (Eph2:10)

With that as introduction: "..if a man is righteous.." (vs5a); he is a
Believer; he is saved; the one who is "just" who "lives by faith"
(Hab2:4, Rom1:17); remember that Hebrews ch11 is the great "faith"
chapter, but it reminisces all the giants of 'faith' by their -deeds-.
The deeds did not save them. The deeds -manifested- the fact that they
had faith, and the nature of that faith.

This righteous man "does what is just and right". (vs5b) It goes on to
list various things: keeping away from idolatry, does not defile his
neighbor's wife, has been just and fair in dealing with people in
business, has been charitable to the poor, has not been dishonest, and
has followed all of God's ordinances faithfully... "he is righteous. He
shall live life, says the Lord Jehovah" (vs9)

This righteous man has a son, who does not believe. He manifests his
unbelief by living a life of debauchery and dishonesty... "He shall not
live! ..he shall die the death; his blood shall be upon him." (vs13)

Now, this unrighteous man, in turn, has a son, who observes all his
father's wickedness, and determines to be pleasing to God. His faith is
manifested in a righteous life; "he shall not die for the iniquity of
his father; he shall live life!" (vs17)  "The soul who sins shall die..
The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (vs20)

OK, now...

This wicked man, who has been sleeping around, defrauding people, 
lying, cheating, stealing, worshiping idols... "turns from all his 
sins...keeps all God's statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he 
shall live life; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he 
has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the 
righteousness which he has done, he shall live." (vs21-22)

You see, this is God's mercy. This is God's grace. When Christians 
speak of God's wrath being poured out upon the ungodly, the ungodly 
world scoffs and retaliates against what they view as being merely a 
"concept" of such a kind of God. They like to think in terms of a "God 
of luuuuvv" who would never "torture" anybody endlessly.

If you are similarly-inclined in your mind, consider: "Do I delight 
with pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Jehovah..?" 
(vs23a) God addresses this question head-on. No, it is not His desire 
or purpose that "anyone should perish..." (2Pt3:9a)  God doesn't desire 
the death of anyone. But "sin" comes between sinful man and the Holy
God.  (Is59:2)

The solution is very simple, really. If a person doesn't want God's
wrath hanging over their head, all they need to do is to "..turn back
from his ways and live" (vs23b) "..come to repentance." (2Pet3:9b)

Yes, if a person desires to -live-, he must TURN AWAY FROM his sin. If
he does so, and turns to God, "..he shall live."  It doesn't matter how
horrendous a sinner one was previously, Jesus says, "All that the 
Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by 
no means cast out." (Jn6:37)  And if a person has truly TURNED AWAY 
FROM his sin, God takes that sin and removes it from us, "as far as 
east is from the west.." (Ps103:12)  Oh yes, in the words of the poet, 
"..east is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet.." 
God promises, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no
more." (Heb10:17)

However...

"..when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits
iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked
man does, shall he live?" (vs24a)

This is one of the primary doctrines of today's "church". After the
person has supposedly become a "christian" by "some other way"
(Jn10:1), they are told, "It doesn't matter to God. God accepts you
JUST AS YOU ARE.." filth and all! You see... a changed heart results in
a changed life. A -true- "conversion" creates a "new creation..in
Christ". (2Cor5:17) It is a new nature, "from above" (Jn3:3) If a 
person continues living as they used to, in the world's corruption, 
their so-called "conversion" is a lie! No, the works do not -save- a 
person. But if, after the so-called "salvation", there are no good 
works or a changed life, it is proof positive that a "birth from above" 
(Jn3:3) did NOT HAPPEN!

Since everybody is used to science fiction, let's create an example to 
illustrate this point. Suppose a person claimed to have a device that 
would take a duck and convert it into a motorcycle. Preposterous? Well, 
like I say...we're talking science fiction here. After all, Star Trek 
DS9 had their 'changelings' who could take on the form and behavior of 
anything, animate or inanimate.  Ok; so the person takes the duck, and 
runs it through his boasted 'process' to change it. Out the other side, 
the creature comes out, waddling, quacking, and diving into the water 
to swim around; you -know-, proof positive, that his "change" device is 
a fraud. It went in a duck, it came out a duck. Motorcycles do not 
quack, waddle or swim. If the change had truly taken place, one would 
expect a device which a person could straddle, start up, and "ride". 
Well, today's "church" is filled with quacking "ducks"; not 
"motorcycles"!

So then, back to the passage... we have a person who is truly a 
"righteous man". (vs24a) This righteous man now "TURNS AWAY FROM his 
righteousness and commits iniquity.."  We are not talking about the 
person who retains his righteous -nature-, but merely, while in this 
sinful world, 'stumbles', requiring a confession and Christ's advocacy 
(1Jn1:9-2:2), even though he is otherwise clean, requiring only that
his feet be washed. (Jn13:10)  This is not the "prodigal son" who, did
not forsake his family, but took his inheritance with him, and when he
came to his senses still had his family name in his mind and heart and
was able to be restored to fellowship. (Lk15:12~)

No... he TURNS AWAY FROM his righteousness. He didn't "oops, I
stumbled", but rather says, "I have no pleasure in..." the ways of his
"Creator" (Ec12:1)  I want nothing more to do with the Most High.
"..shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be 
remembered; because of the treachery of his unfaithfulness, and the sin 
which he has sinned, in them he shall die." (vs24b)

Today's "theology" which proclaims, 'you don't have to change, because 
God accepts you JUST AS YOU ARE' also proclaims "Sola Fide". Faith 
only. No need for "repentance". The same generation that devised these 
doctrines originally, also is responsible for the doctrine called, 
"Once Saved, Always Saved", which many of them erroneously support with
God's Scriptures on "Eternal Security". (Rom8:33-39)

In other words, if you follow their doctrine carefully, a person can
get saved by not really being saved through a new nature; And their
new-found non-salvation, they cannot lose, no matter what they do. In
their minds and hearts they "bind" God to a phony contract (Salvation)
which is not real, and put all the responsibility for safekeeping this
non-existent covenant upon God. Such a doctrine frees them up to live
any-ol-way-they-like, because "I'm saved, and can't lose it, and I'm on
my way to Heaven...tra la la!"  Well, due to their lack of "loving the
Truth" God allows them to "believe [their] lie", in order that their
lustful hearts will ultimately receive His condemnation. (2Th2:10-12)

But God's truth is found in this passage. A change of one's state
before God requires a TURNING AWAY FROM some thing or other. Since one
is born and "conceived" in sin (Ps51:5), if one desires God's presence,
he must TURN AWAY FROM -SIN-. Thus, a "righteous man" is established.
(We are not covering the matters of Christ's blood and all such things.
Please understand this lesson in the context it is presented. For
Israel, in Ezkiel's day, Christ had not yet died on the cross. This
study, ultimately, is addressing the individual's 'heart' before God.)

Now if this righteous man (the term "righteous" means he is truly
Saved. His standing before God is "righteous") then TURNS AWAY FROM God
and His righteousness, deliberately, God calls such a turning
"treachery". (vs24) The verdict upon treason is "death".

And notice Jesus' words about such a person: "and the last state of 
that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be unto this wicked 
generation." (Mt12:45)

If you ever decide to make such a decision to TURN AWAY FROM God when 
you have once been saved, understand very clearly that that is your
last change. There is no further Salvation after you turn away from
God.  (Heb6:4-6)  Do not be fooled by the vehemence of those who
proclaim their false doctrines that purport to "guarantee" your
salvation, "Do not be led astray, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, that he will also reap." (Gal6:7)  God knows your heart.
(Heb4:12-13)

But what does God plead with Israel? Same thing He pleads with each of
you who does not know Him.

"Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity shall
not be a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all the
transgressions which you have committed, and prepare for yourselves a
new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel?"
(vs30-31) You see, this is the same thing Paul says about Israel. A
true Jew is one who is so from the "heart". (Rom2:28-29)

Just because a person has the label "Jew" or "Israel" does not
guarantee entrance into God's Holy Heaven. As Paul states, "..for not 
all those of Israel are Israel." (Rom9:6)  In the same way today, just 
because a person has the label "christian", or belongs to a "church", 
does not guarantee that they are a "Christian" (Acts11:26), nor that 
they are part of Christ's "Church". (Eph1:22, 5:23, Col1:18,24)

If you came along by the above-mentioned doctrines of non-Salvation, do 
not worry about having committed an unpardonable sin. You have never yet
been saved. You've never yet ever TURNED FROM your sin. You are not
doomed by the inability to be RE-Saved. (Heb6:4-6) You were never saved
to begin with. You are in that state to which you were born, "in sin".

But if you ever want to make it into God's Heaven, and escape an
eternity in Hell, you need to TURN AWAY FROM the sin nature into which
you were born. Right now, you stand condemned under God's wrath. But
this is not God's desire for you...

"For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, declares the Lord
Jehovah. Therefore turn and live!" (vs32)

Amen!

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Re: I will not be inquired after (Ezekiel 20)

"..men came from the elders of Israel to inquire of Jehovah, and sat
before me [Ezekiel]. And the word of Jehovah was to me, saying, Son of
man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, So says the Lord
Jehovah: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, declares the Lord
Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you." (Ezek20:1-3)

Dear reader... do you feel like God doesn't hear you? When you read
how Jesus promised "where two or three are gathered together in My
name there I am in their midst" (Mt18:20), do you feel like He is "out
there" someplace..? Out of reach? When you pray, your prayers don't
seem to be answered, even though Jesus also promised, "If you ask
anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn14:14)

This 'Portion' and the next three will be some rather hard medicine to
take for some. But God has recorded "examples" (1Cor10:6) for us from
Israel's experience for our learning and exhortation.

First of all, let us understand very clearly that there are times when
God REFUSES TO HEAR. God is never in a place where He is incapable of
rescuing, or unable to hear. (Is59:1) But there are times that our
persistent rebellion ("iniquities") comes "between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing." (vs2) In
this case the NKJV/KJV are more descriptive... "..He WILL NOT hear.."
In other words... He turns a deaf ear and 'refuses' to hear.

God spells out the "abominations of their fathers". (vs4) He pleads 
with them, "Let each man cast away the filthy idols of his eyes, and do 
not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God." 
(vs7) But they rebelled and would not listen to God. (vs8)

We see this today with the "church". As a recent example, we studied 
from God's Commandments that we are not to have any "image..or any 
likeness". (Ex20:4) While there were some e-mails of agreement; next to 
the topic of charismania that we address frequently, I think the 
"application" of the matter of "any likeness" stirred up as many 
negative sentiments as anything we ever address. When it comes down to 
the nitty gritty, where the rubber meets the road, and we are faced 
with exactly -WHAT- constitutes a "likeness", people love their idols. 
Joshua had ended his life with Israel by exhorting them to "..put away
the strange gods among you, and incline your heart to Jehovah God of
Israel." (Josh24:23)   And this was after years of successful conquest 
of the promised land; they were -supposedly- "following" God. And yet, 
they still had their idols.

Today that which pretends to be part of the "Church" also rebels, just
as Israel did. If someone has "tears" over some artist's rendition of
Jesus being nailed to the cross, such emotions are supposedly a "good
thing"...and they rail against God's messenger who says otherwise, when
God -specifically- said, "..or any likeness". Notice that God calls
idols "filthy". And embracing them is a "defilement". (vs7)

Israel did not heed God. They "..would not listen". (vs8) So God's
"fury" was poured on them. Even though God had shown His power in
delivering them from Egypt, Israel clung to the gods of Egypt.
Therefore, for witness to Egypt, whose gods had been defeated, God
could not allow Israel to go unpunished. To do so would "profane" God's
"name...in the eyes of the nations" who saw God's work in Egypt. (vs9)

In the wilderness Israel rebelled continually. God's fury consumed them
in the wilderness. (vs13)

Now, as Ezekiel is speaking to Israel several generations later, they
are still doing as their fathers did. They are offering their children
as live-burnt offerings. Apparently they must have thought that Jehovah
would answer them when they offered offerings according to the heathen.
But He responds, "As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be
inquired of by you." (vs31)

So, what makes today's "church" think that God will respond to them,
when they engage in idolatry and pagan practices of the world? We're
not talking about Catholics or Mormons here. We are talking about those
who consider themselves to be "evangelical, fundamental,
Bible-preaching" churches. When they hang their "likenesses" all over
the place, and "go up by steps" to their 'altars' (Ex20:26), and have
pagan inscriptions on their objects of worship, what makes them think
their prayer meetings have any power? What makes them think that there
is a "sweet, sweet spirit in this place"?

Just as God would not hear Israel back then, He also DOES NOT HEAR
today's "christians". Today's "church".

What is more important? That we build a nice building? That we have
large attendances?  Or, that God's Name is not profaned?

Dear Reader:  "Are you being defiled in the way of your fathers? And do
you go whoring after their filthy idols?" (vs30)  If you engage in
heathen practices and have their idols hanging from your walls, necks
and ears, and on your shelves... "I will not be inquired of by you, O
[church] As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired
of by you." (vs31)

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Re: Purity in Service (Ezekiel 22)

"A plot by her prophets is in her midst...they have devoured souls and
they have taken the riches and gems...her priests have violated My Law
and have profaned My holy things. They have not divided between the
holy and the common, and between the unclean and clean they have not
taught." (Ezek22:25-26)

In this passage, is God -praising- Israel because they were practicing
"tolerance" and "inclusion"? No! They were 'dialoguing' with the
heathen around them. The unclean were allowed into the temple. They
offered abominations as sacrifices. The holy and unclean were mingled
together.

This is what the "church" is doing today. Just like the matter of
idolatry we addressed last week, this matter comes in a 'close second' 
in terms of people objecting to the preaching about such "separation"
from the world. Not only does the church have the world's idols in its
worship, it also invites the unsaved to join in its times of worship.
They bring their offerings, and the preachers get rich off of them.
Now, to be sure, the excuse given is that they want the world to come
in and "get saved".  But again... do we do things "our way" or God's
way? What is more important, to have 'numbers', or to obey God?  Is it
more important that the choir be fully staffed with
professional-sounding musicians, so the music will "attract more"
people to come as they are entertained; or to perhaps only have solos
and duets (or NO special music), but be in obedience to the Lord by not
profaning the platform with the unsaved?  What about the unsaved hired
janitor or nursery babysitters?  Not to mention SS and VBS teachers,
and ushers!!

Hear God's Word: "Enough to you, of all your abominations, O [church],
when you brought in the sons of aliens, uncircumcised of heart and
uncircumcised of flesh, to be in My sanctuary, to profane it, even My
house, when you [bring your offerings and worship]...and you have not
kept the charge of My holy things, but you have set them as keepers of
My charge in My sanctuary, for themselves. So says the Lord Jehovah: No
son of an alien, uncircumcised of heart and uncircumcised of flesh [in
other words, an "unBeliever"], shall enter into My sanctuary, or any
son of an alien who is among the sons of Israel." (Ezek44:6-9)

In practical terms, let's think of one example scenario, and see how we 
read this passage and obey it. Some unsaved friends or relatives have 
come from a distance and are staying with you for a few days. The 
week-end comes, and you normally go "to church" on Sunday; or perhaps 
you are meeting in a small house assembly. Do you take your friends 
along? Remember, they are "unsaved". What does this passage say? To do 
so is a... what? "Abomination". [Editor: like we said last week, some 
"hard medicine"!]

Perhaps you think this is a bit "harsh"? Notice through Isaiah, "Turn!  
Turn! Go out from there! Touch not the unclean! Go out of her midst, 
purify yourselves, bearers of the vessels of Jehovah." (Is52:11)  Let 
us not forget Jesus' zeal when He made a whip of cords and overturned 
the tables, and chased the unclean out of the temple, as He said that 
the temple was a "house of prayer". (Mt21:13, Is56:7) No, that [prayer] 
does not mean, a place where people come to put little pieces of paper
in the cracks of the wall, recite ritual words, bow their heads, fold 
their hands, and end their recitations with "in Jesus' name, Amen"! 
Prayer is communion with God. God is Holy. If we are in communion, 
there is no sin. It is a place where the unbeliever does not belong, 
because God's holiness and His awesome name cannot tolerate sin. The 
thing that characterizes the unbeliever is "sin". Thus, we might see 
the above words in today's vernacular, perhaps, as "Go on! Get outta 
here! Shoo!  Scram! Don't show your faces around here again!"

Oh, but that was "OLD Testament"! The Law! Jesus did away with the Law.
Right?

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership does 
righteousness have with lawlessness? And what fellowship does light 
have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or 
what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does 
a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God 
[you represent God's presence], even as God said, 'I will dwell in them 
and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My 
people.' Because of this..." ...work cooperatively with all your area 
churches, have neighborhood campaigns to invite people to join you for 
special services, have 'contests' in your church to see who can bring 
the most visitors next Sunday... ??? !!-NO-!! Let's resume the quote
from God's Word, "..come out from among them and be separated, says the
Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive you." 
(2Cor6:14-17)

Remember last week we observed God saying, "I will not be inquired
after by you" because of idolatry, sin and mixing with paganism. Now,
when it says, "come out from among them", it is obviously written to
people who have been mixed up with the world. Today, we can observe
this as the 'status quo' by which the "church" functions. Many of these
things we [-me-, too] did in ignorance. (Ac3:17, 17:30)

But when we see our fault through God's Word, we can choose two
options. We can do as Israel did, and suffer God's judgment. Or we can
obey, and "come out" from it.

Perhaps we lead a local assembly, and have been disobedient. Perhaps we
have unbelievers in the assembly. Perhaps some of them are serving and
"ministering". How do we "fix" it?  Well, nobody said it would be easy.
Yes, some people are going to get upset, and call you all sorts of
names. Some may even make threats, or do worse. Some may take you to
court. Some may threaten your physical safety.

But there is an example in the O.T. where some of Israel actually went
about to make things right. Many of the exiles of Babylon who returned
to the land of promise had married pagan wives, and there were also
children from these wives. In Ezra ch10 is the account of how they put
away these wives, along with their children. Drastic? Indeed! Notice
how it is said:

"And now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the women,
and such as have been born of them, according to the counsel of the
Lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God...Be of
good courage and act." (Ezra10:3-4)

Now, as they were covenanting with God in this matter, they were
congregated, standing out in the rain on a dreary day (vs13), realizing
that it was not something that would be done with a quick word, making
a pledge and now go home..."la dee dah". There was a lot of work to do
to resettle all these people they were putting away...as they said, "we
who have sinned in this thing are many.." (vs13) But they covenanted
with God, "As you have said, so we MUST do." (vs12)  You can imagine
there were a lot of tears, and anger. But they did it. And the chapter
ends with a 'list of names' of all those who made things right before
God.

As we asked last week, do you sense a distance between you and God?
Well, are you engaged in idolatry and are you fellowshiping with the
unsaved? You need to make a break from these things.  You need to put
away your "heathen wives and children" and "burn the books" (Acts19:19)
of your past. "Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts, double-minded
ones." (Jas4:8)

Yes, it will be hard. But if you "draw near to God" in this manner, and
"mourn and weep" and come to Him in "humility", "He will lift you up".
(Jas4:9-10)

Q/A -Purity in Service vs Go into all the World?

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Re: Carefree multitude (Ezekial 23)

"The sound of a carefree multitude was with her..." (23:42 nkjv)

Before I got this far with the VW-Edition, this word "carefree" popped
out at me from the nkjv. Let's see this verse again...

"..the sound of a multitude at ease was with her, and drunkards were
brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put
bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.."

Before we discuss this phrase, let us see the context of this chapter.  
It is recommended that you read it all. Scripture uses some terminology 
here that is not quite 'proper' in 'polite' company; in some ways, more 
fitting for the likes of a Jay Leno monologue, what with explicit 
terminology of body parts and what people do with them in whoredom. But 
this is how far Israel and Judah have sunk. The psalmist says, "..with 
the crooked You will show Yourself twisted." (Ps18:26) God addresses 
them as the prostitutes that they are, spelling out their apostasy from
Him as adulterous women who sleep around with any man who will have
them. Spelling out in graphic detail what they've been up to: how they
lusted after other gods (as handsome men to be seduced and spend some
time with in bed); and God's judgments upon them, how, since they have
exposed themselves, God will allow their judges to expose them naked,
and: "You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror
and desolation...  you shall drink and drain it, you shall break its
shards, and tear off your own breasts; for I have spoken, declares the
Lord Jehovah."(vs33-34)

Now God tells Ezekiel to "..declare to them their abominations.." (vs36)

They have "blood" on their hands; they have committed adultery against
God with their idols; they have sacrificed their babies "passing them
through the fire". (vs37) We've described this before... live babies
placed on the altar screaming and kicking, until burnt to death! (In
many ways, not at all that dissimilar to abortion! ...from the baby's
perspective!)

They have "defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My 
Sabbaths". They would go offer their babies to Molech, and the very
same day come into God's temple to 'worship' (vs38-39)  How many in
today's "churches" also belong to secret orders/societies; including
some rather famous "christian" leaders, ones who conduct crusades and
have access to world leaders! Saturday night worship before the altars
of the Knights Templar, and the next morning stand in God's pulpit!

Rather than trusting in God, Judah was trusting in Egypt, and making
alliances with other strong neighbors. (Exactly what Israel is doing
today!) Israel, being a theocracy, their politics was essentially one
and the same with their worship. The figurative language God uses of a
woman freshening up, making sure her hair is 'just so', primping up in
front of the mirror with the make-up, putting on that slinky
barely-there dress with parts missing in just the right places, putting
on jewelry, and then draping herself on her couch-of-seduction to
entice others (not-her-Husband, God) into her bed. (vs40-41) 'You think
such writing is too "suggestive"? Again, please read this chapter. It
is the language God is using.

Now, her lovers have arrived. She doesn't have just 'one' lover, oh no!
She has many! She has a veritable orgy! The wine is flowing (today's
'church' loves to be "drunk in the spirit"), they are bringing their
gifts, and they are having quite a time of 'love-making'!  (vs43-44)
Like a play-girl mansion!

It is in -this- context that our 'theme' phrase appears. The "sound of
a multitude at ease/carefree.."

Folks (I just 'must' insert this here!): the Gospel of Jesus Christ is 
NOT 'seductive'! It is an 'offense'. It is the "offense of the cross"!
(Gal5:11) It involves blood, death, repentance, self-abhorrence. Rather
than the slinky dress, it involves a filthy "menstruation cloth".
(Is64:6) Salvation only comes to a person who sees their own sin and
pleads for God's mercy upon them. The so-called "good news" today's
[c]hurch proclaims is sending people down the "broad" way to
"destruction".  (Mt7:13)

OK, back to our lesson: In the previous lesson we observed the call to
keep the abominations out of worship. Israel was not only offering
their babies to idols, but once Manasseh became king, they even brought
this practice into God's temple! (2Ki21)

Oh... our church is so small. We need to "grow" our church. How can we
do this? How can we get more of 'Egypt' in to help contribute more into
the offering plates, because we 'need' to build some buildings. How can
we get the adults in? Let's entice their children. How do we get their
children in? Let's entertain them. Give them something they can feel
"carefree" about. Something that doesn't suggest holiness or standards
of righteousness. They worship the rock stars. So, let's bring in rock
(satan's) music...  that will draw them in. Let's not impose any
standards of conduct while they are in the sanctuary, so let's let them
romp around and rough-house and throw paper airplanes and spit wads at
each other, trampling over the pews and around the pulpit in God's
sanctuary... after all, we don't want to speak 'cross' words to them,
and get them angry, such that they won't come back. As they grow up and
become adults, how do we 'keep' them coming?  With rock music... what
else! And of course, our church must be advertised as a "FRIENDLY"
church. "Friendly" means, coming into the sanctuary with 'high-fives',
slaps on the back 'how-ya-doin'?', and a general state of hubbub.
"CAREFREE" Don't dress up, just come casual as-you-are, and we've got
the espresso concession so you can be "AT EASE" (you don't need to
fast, if even figuratively) in worship.

In one church I was involved in years ago, one man told of one of the
ushers. This man was doing as I would do before a service, while the
prelude music was playing... he would sit in the pew in prayer,
preparing his heart for worship and exhortation from God's Word. Well,
this church had one particular usher who was the slap-the-back
high-five type 'roudy' person, who would romp up and down the aisles to
lead people to their seats. He apparently came by this person, sitting
next to the aisle, in an attitude of prayer, and bumps him in the
shoulder with, "Are you sleeping?? Wake up! Har-dee-har-har!!"

Well, when 'churches' feel the need to bring the world/unsaved into the
assembly, they must needs do things the world's way. Advertising
campaigns, slogans, cheer-leading, bubbliness, and... COMPROMISE! Using
the devil's music, and  pagan rituals and symbols as they adorn
themselves with "bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on
their heads" (23:42)

You see, not only does bringing the unsaved into the assembly disobey
God's commands about keeping the unclean out (Ezek44:6-9)(We've said 
enough about this at other times), it jeopardizes the 'spirit' by which 
Believers can worship. When the world is "at ease/carefree" in God's 
sanctuary, the Believer cannot worship "in the spirit of holiness"
(Rom1:4)  Yes, the Psalms are full of Joyful Shouts, Singing,
Thanksgiving, and making 'loud' sounds on instruments; but worship is
also a time of "silence".  "..Jehovah is in His holy temple; let all
the earth be silent before Him." (Hab2:20)  "Silence is praise to You,
O God, in Zion; and unto You is a vow performed." (Ps65:1)

Everybody loves to sing loudly, "Lord I lift Your name on high, Lord I
love to sing your praises"... but then, the one son also said, "I go,
sir...but he did not go". (Mt21:30)  It's one thing to blab all over
town how much one is worshipping God, but what God wants to see is the
one who had been rebellious, but then repents, "..afterward he
regretted it and went." (Mt21:29)

"Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, The
first.  Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you that tax collectors and
harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.  For John came to you in
the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax
collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not
afterward repent and believe him." (Mt21:31-32)

Today's "church" is infested with the -carefree- "mixed multitude" of
Egypt. (Ex12:38) It was the "mixed multitude" that "yielded to intense
craving" and lusts (Num11:4) and led Israel away from God.

Folks, remember this: If you invite the world into your assembly, you
will NOT 'win' them for Christ, but they -WILL- drag you down away from
God's holiness. This is a 99.999% certainty! Israel is our "example" of
this. (1Cor10:5-6)

Today's "church" needs to be like those of Nehemiah's day: "So it was,
when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed
multitude from Israel." (Neh13:3)  To be sure, they were left with a
'small' group!

"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice (worship), and to heed than
the fat of rams." (1Sam15:22)

Amen!

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Re: Don't Cry (Ezekiel 24:16)

"Son of man, behold I take away from you the desire of your eyes with a
stroke. Yet neither shall you mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run
down." (Eze24:16)

Oh, what a life Ezekiel had! First of all, God tells him his mission.
Go to a "rebellious" people with "My" message. (Eze2) In ch3 God tells
him that Israel is more rebellious than other peoples would be. That if
he was being sent to foreigners, THEY would listen. But God's own
people (dare we say for our day...the "church"?) would not listen.
Ezekiel isn't too sure about his mission...and so God forcibly "lifted
me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my
spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong on me." (3:14) Ezekiel is
"spittin' mad" at his assignment, so God drags him off, "kicking and
screaming" (so-to-speak).

Not only does God forcibly move him to his mission field. When he gets
there he is struck "dumb" so that he cannot speak. (3:15) And God
further clarifies the mission. He will be dumb until God wants him to
speak, and then his tongue will be loosed. (vs26-27) ...and reiterates,
"He who hears, let him hear, and he who stops his ears, let him stop;
for they are a rebellious house." (vs27)

Along the way, there's another requirement. He must "lay seige" to this
depiction of Jerusalem on a piece of tile. (4:1) He is to lie on one
side for 390 days, and on the other for 40. And God "lay bands" (vs8)
on him so he could not stir from these positions. This is in testimony,
a visual object lesson to the people of Israel. Can you imagine being
in such a position? Eating, sleeping and doing all the other bodily
functions, for over a year, outside, in all the annual climates and
weather conditions. Let alone the likely taunts and abuse of
passers-by.

But nothing like, having his beloved wife taken away in sudden death;
and he is not even allowed to mourn for her. God says "Groan but be
silent; make no mourning for the dead" (24:17) Feel the pain inside,
but don't let anybody else know your pain. He is forewarned, so when it
happened, "I did in the morning as I was commanded." (vs18) This, too,
was an "object lesson" for the message of Jehovah to Israel. (vs19-24)
And when Israel found themselves doing what Ezekiel had done, they
would "know that I am the Lord Jehovah." (vs24)

I expect none of us has been called to the extremes Ezekiel was. And 
yet, we are called to some hardships. Maybe your wife was discovered to
have a lump. Your child has some rare form of disease with no cure. You
have been politicked out of job or ministry position. And as "humans"
we hurt, don't we! When these things happen, what do we do?

Well, first of all, we can rejoice, in that... we are in good company.
There has never been the likes of the apostle Paul who "despaired even
of life" (2Cor1:8) because of the hardships he endured.(11:23-33) And
yet, what was his conclusion of the matter? Oh, poor me, poor us!
Would you please pray for us that these hardships will go away!..??
No! "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, SO THAT we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." (1:9) As he was a
"living testimony" to the Corinthians (vs12) His desire was, "..lest
anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of
me." (2Cor12:6)

How can a Christian exhort another "how to" deal with adversity, if he
has not been through some, himself? So, if God brings some your way, or
allows satan to buffet you... REJOICE! He cares enough about you, and
sees "potential" in your development, that he is bringing training.
Sometimes "chastening." (Heb12:5,7,11) Sometimes, just "endurance."
(2Cor1:6)  Ultimately we learn that...

"..we should not trust in ourselves, but in God..." (2Cor1:9)

Amen!

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Re: King of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:11-19)

"Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre..." (vs12)

Throughout many of these intervening chapters the reader would see
God's judgments pronounced against various nations; for their rebellion
against God, their mistreatment of Israel, or their rejoicing over
Israel's calamities when some other nation was mistreating them, and
for not coming to Israel's aid. Remember the sheep/goat judgment is not
necessarily about -doing- evil to Israel, but a nation's attitude
towards Israel in coming to their aid, or not; and if they saw Israel
in need, and did nothing, they receive judgment.  (Mt25:31-46)

But when we come to the "king of Tyre", we have a different situation.  
Notice that vs2 addresses the "prince" of Tyre; but vs12, the "king".  
Vs2 could say, equally, "prince" or "ruler"; someone who has authority
and governs. But a typical ruler is often 'under' another, who is of 
even higher rank. In vs12 "king" indicates an 'ultimate' authority. An 
authority that is 'higher' than the prince/ruler.  Typically, in any 
domain, nobody is higher in rank, than the king. When Joseph ruled in 
Egypt, he was a prince/ruler, but pharaoh was king.  When Mordecai 
ruled in Babylon, he was a ruler, but Ahasuerus was king.

Thing is, these earthly kings, while being "kings", are only merely 
princes/rulers. Many kings in eastern cultures made themselves out to 
be little 'gods'. That was the case with the pharaohs. This persisted 
through to at least WW2, when Japan's 'god', their emperor, was 
defeated. But notice that Tyre's self-assumed 'god' is condemned, "and 
yet you are a man, and not a God, though you set your heart as the 
heart of God". (vs2) This ruler of Tyre has set himself up as a 
self-assume 'ultimate' ruler... but who was over him, making him be as 
he was?  The "king" of Tyre.

And who was this king? Someone who "seals the measure" (vs12); someone 
of 'ultimate' wisdom and beauty. When somebody dismisses to you satan's 
ability to have wisdom, don't you believe it! It says here, that he is 
"full of wisdom". After all, it takes more than a nincompoop to rule 
"all the kingdoms of the world". (Lk4:5-6) He is full of schemes and 
purposes by which he tries to "take advantage of us". (2Cor2:11) It 
takes a lot more intellect to lie, and keep track of them all, than to
tell the truth; and who is the "father" of lies? (Jn8:44)

When he comes to us, he does so with "beautiful" things. He, himself,
was the most dazzling creature of all God's creation. He not only
looked dazzling, he also was a musician. He is called the "angel of
light" (2Cor11:14), the "shining one". (Is14:12)

We know this is not speaking of Tyre's -human- 'prince', because this
one was in "Eden, the garden of God". The "serpent" (Gen3:1), the
"..dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan.." (Rev20:2)

Notice where his place of origin was: "..the anointed cherub that
covers...in the holy monutain of God.." (vs14) Just as the "king" of
all animal creatures, Leviathan, was associated with fire in the very
core of his being (Job41:18-21), this "king", also, had a place "in the
midst of fiery stones.." (vs14b) But being the covering cherub, that
indicates a special place in the very presence in fellowship and
worship of the Most High; as the Jewish "mercy seat", representing
God's presence, was overshadowed with the wings of the cherubim. (Ex25:20)

Let us summarize this king's modern most successful form of "taking 
advantage". It is based upon his own characteristics. Did you ever see 
'ugly' people leading worship? No, they are always "beautiful". In many 
cases they grow up through the ranks because they are "attractive".  
Many of those who 'entertain'in worship, do so with the razzle dazzle
of lights and sequins; things that sparkle and give a sense of
radiance.  The "ministers of righteousness" being like the "angel of
light".  (2Cor11:15) It is done with music. And it is called "worship".
Yes, folks: due to his origins in God's presence, he is qualified as
the -ultimate- "worship leader". And since this 'king' is so full of
"wisdom", his cleverness has used his own specialties, trained his
followers in them, and has cleverly gotten all these people worshiping
him...even though they think they are worshiping Jesus. No! Don't ever
underestimate him, leaving yourself unguarded, because you think he is
"stupid"..!! That, too, is satan's deception.

What we see in his followers is what it is, because that is what he is.
Most musicians and worship leaders are a very 'proud' folk. [Ed: for
anybody who wants to object to that statement, please remember, I used
to be there, and worked amongst them. While my heart might have been
different from theirs, I learned their arguments well. I know whereof I
speak! If you decide to send me arguments, please don't waste your
time. I've heard them all before. I even used to use some of them,
myself!]  And to be sure, this pride often manifests itself in a 
false-humility. They are always "humbled" to be up there; so-they-say. 
No they are not! They are proud as all get-out, just bursting inside!

And this pride became satan's downfall. He saw his own beauty, and
forgot that it had been given to him by the Most High. He got this idea
that he could "be like the Most High". (Is14:14) Being his own god.
Pride is a dangerous thing. In order that Paul not be "exalted above
measure" due to the greatness of the ministry God had entrusted to him,
he was given a "thorn in the flesh". (2Cor12:7) Many who are in
ministry have little "thorns" of various sorts, as each person's need
requires.

Notice God says, "You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of
your iniquities..." (vs18)   Yes, his followers also defile the
sanctuaries with their "worship".

And as a result notice this king's conclusion: "..therefore I bring
fire from your midst; it has devoured you, and I consign you to ashes
upon the earth in the sight of all who see you." (vs18)

Isaiah speaks of this one as the "-king- of Babylon". (Is14) Yes, he 
has dominion over the world, given to him temporarily by God.  The king 
of the "rulers, authorit