Israel's New Heart and Spirit

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 11:14-25

 

Ezekiel 11:17-19

 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ ¹⁸ And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. ¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.

(ESV)

 

The Lord gave His Church a clear mission, to share the Gospel or good news of salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). However, before one will accept the message of the Gospel, they to know why they need to make this important change in their lives. The biblical reason for needing the Gospel is sin for we have all sinned and have a death penalty for that sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Therefore, part of presenting the Gospel involves the mention of sin in one’s life, answering the question of why one needs salvation. Unfortunately, in many churches there is a lack of mentioning sin and why people need Jesus.

 

God gives Ezekiel a word for those among them that they can go far from following the Lord because God has given them the land as a possession (Ezekiel 11:14-15). God tells Ezekiel to tell the people that even though they are scattered among the nations, God has been a sanctuary to them, protecting them while in exile (Ezekiel 11:16). Ezekiel then gives a prophecy from God, telling the people they will return to the land, remove all the detestable things from the land, and God will give them a new heart and spirit of obedience to God (Ezekiel 11:17-20). However, those choosing not to repent of their detestable and abominable sins will suffer the consequences of their sins (Ezekiel 11:21).

 

Ezekiel then sees the cherubim lift their wings with the wheels beside them with the glory of the Lord of Israel over them (Ezekiel 11:22). The glory of the Lord then lifted up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city (Ezekiel 11:23). The Spirit then lifted Ezekiel up to Chaldea and the exiles with Ezekiel telling the exiles what the Lord had shown him (Ezekiel 11:24-25).

 

According to Jeremiah 29:11, the exile of the people of Israel was not for their destruction but for their correction. Ezekiel 11:14-25 is a promise of returning to Israel for those repenting of their detestable and abominable acts. However, those choosing not to accept the correction of the Lord through lack of repentance for their detestable and abdominal acts will suffer the consequences of their actions (Ezekiel 11:21). As the watchman for Israel, Ezekiel tells the exiles the intention of the Lord to return those repenting to Israel (Ezekiel 11:22-25).

 

Many Churches today have abandoned the mission given to them by Jesus (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), a mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and instead more resemble a social club or a self-help organization. While social activities that promote fellowship among believers in Christ and believers receiving encouragement from the Word of God are good, the Church must not lose its missional focus. In fact, some Churches, even some mega-churches no longer mention sin and instead give congregants the impression the Bible promises an abundance of material prosperity with sin not a problem because of God’s grace (John 10:10). They also quote Philippians 4:19 confusing needs with wants, interpreting this verse to promise God will give believers everything they want if they have enough faith.

 

Those preaching this prosperity gospel use God by taking passages of scripture out of context to increase membership and contributions by using Luke 6:38 to mean giving to their ministry guarantees prosperity. These ministers are like those mentioned by Ezekiel who said, “Go far from the Lord; to us this land is given for a possession.” Even though God created everything we see in the world, God is a good father who does not want to spoil his children with everything they may want. Instead, God does not want anyone to perish in their sins (2 Peter 3:9) but to repent and have salvation from their sins through confession of their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). If you have never repented of your sins and found salvation through belief in Jesus as your savior, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.