God's People

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, September 11, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 43-45 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-254.html
Message Title: God's People

Hello My Friend,

God's people, before Jesus came to earth in the flesh and gave His life for all mankind, God's people were known as the people of Israel, meaning those who were of the descendants of Jacob (Israel). The world may have not worshiped God as the only God, in fact, Israel did not most of the time either, but they did know that the God of Israel was a powerful and Mighty God who not only judged His people, but defended them as well. Today, God's people are not just descendants of Jacob, they are people of every nation who have received Christ as their Saviour, and He too is our judge and defender. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” - Romans 1:16,17.

The just shall live by faith, fitting statement for those who confess they are sinners who come short of the glory of God, and believe that Christ alone saves them through His death, burial, and resurrection. We by faith believe this and hold true to it, but how often do we make bad decisions because we do not live by faith. Quite often, if we stop to think about it, and the amazing thing is, no matter what we do, we are just in the eyes of God because He does not look at us through us, but through His Son. Now, as God takes Ezekiel around this amazing temple that will be built upon Christ's return, He brings him to the place where His throne would be as well as the altar in which Israel will bring their sacrifices. This can be a little confusing, especially since Jesus eliminated the need for that when He gave His life as the one and only sacrifice needed, but something comes to mind as you think about what is being said.

“And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon. And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering. And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.”- Ezekiel 43:7,18-20.

And my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, during this time Israel will finally recognize Christ as their Messiah and no longer defile His name. Israel will once more offer their appointed and acceptable sacrifices in praise to God, but this time, only one sin sacrifice is needed, Christ. Today, we no longer have to bring our sacrifices to God for atonement because Christ became the atonement for all mankind. Jesus is the sin offering in which all who come to His altar receive the sprinkling of His blood upon them, cleansing and purging them of their sins forever. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:8-10.

All who receive Christ are ministers of God, meaning we are to do the work of God, including telling others about Him. Now, before their captivity, many of the Levites went so far off the path of God that they were even worshiping false gods themselves, this left only one group that God could rely on to work in the new temple. God upbraids the priests, and reinforces the rules for who will be allowed in the sanctuary.

“And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.” - Ezekiel 44:5-9.

No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary. You want to know why our churches are a mess and the simplicity of the Gospel is practically null and void? Strangers. Those who are not saved, who have not circumcised their heart or flesh with the blood of Christ, allowed in the church and running things. There is a reason why God tells us that we cannot lean on our own understanding, we mess things up, especially things concerning Him. The motto for my church is “Come as you are, leave better”, Christ working in our lives should change us, not we change Him to our own likeness, which by the way we cannot do. When we, by faith, walk with Christ, there is no need to stay the way were were before we knew Him. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” - 2 Corinthians 5:17,18.

Many of God's people get enticed into false religion because they are going through something and searching for any way to find some relief. It is the duty of faithful Christians to minister to these people so that they do not fall into the deceitful hands. I do not know how He does it or why He does it like He does, but if you are faithful to Him, you are provided for, it may not be the way we envision, but He always takes care of His people. Now, God directs His focus on the provisions of those who would serve Him in the new temple and out of it as well.

“Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about. The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary. In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD. Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.” - Ezekiel 45:1,4,8-10.

During this time Israel will honor God with portions of land set apart for His work. Sin offerings will be offered according to God’s commands, and while sin will be suppressed, the tendency to sin is not removed until the new heaven and new earth are established. Our concern right now should not be how and when these prophecies will be fulfilled, but that our body, mind, and spirit are prepared for it. “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” - 2 Timothy 2:20,21.

Today's Prayer: God, We cannot remain neutral, must stand for what is good or we will fall for what is evil. Help us, as believers, to cling to You, even when it comes as a great sacrifice. We look to You alone, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved than Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lead us and guide us, give us Your power to live by faith and not our circumstances. With the aid of Your Holy Spirit dwelling in and guiding us, we will be able to overcome every situation that comes our way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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