Ezekiel 11:18-21 “When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
This passage carries 2 kinds of promises, one good one not so good. It is not only for Ezekiel's time but for us as well. I feel that God was showing me that those that return or turn to Him, He will remove every trace of sin and impurity. And as the passage states, He will also make us one in purpose, and will make us new from the inside out (Extreme Makeover, God style).
I know many people who profess to know God but persist in looking at and going after vile things. Their heart is stony and they are truly stubborn. God's wish is for them to turn to Him. Not just in action, but with their whole being. He promises that he will replace the stubbornness and hard heartedness with a new heart, a heart that yearns for the presence of God. They will have a great reverence for the Word of God and will obey it with utter joy. Psalm 119:9 tells us that in order to stay pure we must follow the instructions God has given us. Some translations say that He will cleanse their way.
God desperately wants to cleanse hearts and minds and put in them a new spirit and a new heart. Only then can we truly be the people of God. If ANY vile thing remains, we cannot be His people. The passage in Ezekiel preceding this tells about people that are going after other things and either forgetting about God or saying to themselves that God does not know what they are doing. Just because it is done in secret does not mean that God does not see. He says over and over in His word that He sees everything, and the vile things in our lives breaks His heart (Ezekiel 6:9 "Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols.") God grieves for those that are unfaithful in their hearts, not just in their actions. But He promises He will change all that if only we will come to Him. If not, His anger (born out of hurt) will burn against them.
Father, I ask that you would draw people's hearts back to you! Stir up a mighty revival in those that are unfaithful. I do not wish to see them destroyed out of your anger. You have even said that you wish that none should perish but that all would come to repentance. Create a hunger in people's hearts. I do not wish to see you hurt, but rather rejoice with those that repent and come near You.
This passage carries 2 kinds of promises, one good one not so good. It is not only for Ezekiel's time but for us as well. I feel that God was showing me that those that return or turn to Him, He will remove every trace of sin and impurity. And as the passage states, He will also make us one in purpose, and will make us new from the inside out (Extreme Makeover, God style).
I know many people who profess to know God but persist in looking at and going after vile things. Their heart is stony and they are truly stubborn. God's wish is for them to turn to Him. Not just in action, but with their whole being. He promises that he will replace the stubbornness and hard heartedness with a new heart, a heart that yearns for the presence of God. They will have a great reverence for the Word of God and will obey it with utter joy. Psalm 119:9 tells us that in order to stay pure we must follow the instructions God has given us. Some translations say that He will cleanse their way.
God desperately wants to cleanse hearts and minds and put in them a new spirit and a new heart. Only then can we truly be the people of God. If ANY vile thing remains, we cannot be His people. The passage in Ezekiel preceding this tells about people that are going after other things and either forgetting about God or saying to themselves that God does not know what they are doing. Just because it is done in secret does not mean that God does not see. He says over and over in His word that He sees everything, and the vile things in our lives breaks His heart (Ezekiel 6:9 "Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols.") God grieves for those that are unfaithful in their hearts, not just in their actions. But He promises He will change all that if only we will come to Him. If not, His anger (born out of hurt) will burn against them.
Father, I ask that you would draw people's hearts back to you! Stir up a mighty revival in those that are unfaithful. I do not wish to see them destroyed out of your anger. You have even said that you wish that none should perish but that all would come to repentance. Create a hunger in people's hearts. I do not wish to see you hurt, but rather rejoice with those that repent and come near You.
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