Two weeks ago….
The Lord changed the sermon
Ezekiel 36 – focus on the heart.
A time of consecration
What is Consecration?
To set apart by purification – parsonage
Two weeks ago, God began this process in us
God has revealed a plan, we must join him. (Experiencing God)
John 15:5b
Apart from me you can do nothing.
Prayer
What God has revealed
Ezekiel 36:22
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
God’s blessing is not earned. He does it for His names sake.
Humble yourselves.
Receive what God does.
Ezekiel 36:25
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will sprinkle pure water on you, and you shall be purified from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will purify you.
God wants to purify us.
He will do it.
We must join him to purify ourselves. (Divine/human partnership)
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
God wants to purify our hearts.
The heart is the center of life.
Our example – David, a man after God’s own heart.
The heart of God in us.
Why is the heart so important? Dull Heart = Eyes Can’t See
Isaiah 6:10
10 Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
Matthew 13:15
John 12:40
Acts 28:27
Heart affects your Eyes
Deuteronomy 29:4
But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.
Isaiah 44:18
They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
Ephesians 1:16-18a
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know …
A SEASON OF VISIONS
God is ready to share a vision, to give us visions and spiritual dreams.
In the middle of Israel’s greatest trial, the exile, God gave visions to Ezekiel.
God did not dictate words for him to write.
God showed him visions.
In Ezekiel chapter 40 verse 4 is relevant to us today.
Ezekiel 40:4
And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you.
Consecration begins a season of Revelation.
Visions
Spiritual dreams
Insights
Spiritual discernment
Personal and Corporate
We seen bits and pieces of revelation.
Some here have shared visions with me, “Pastor in my mind I saw….”
Some here have shared revelation with me, “Pastor, this isn’t from me, the Lord poured this in me…”
I’m convinced that God will magnify these beginnings,
God is consecrating our hearts to open our eyes!
DARLENE –
Consecration has two elements:
PURIFY
SET APART
God has set our focus on the early church,
Apostles teaching
Fellowship
Communion
Prayer
God set our focus on seeking The Spirit
God set our focus on Prayer
God set our focus on Love
Have you joined God in these areas?
He is inviting you to the next level, the next step.
God’s ultimate goal, back to Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:37
37 “Thus says the Lord God: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock.
Are you ready? Are you willing?
Will you join God in this work?
PLEASE STAND/ALTAR CALL