Bible Study: Vision Beyond Sight 09.12.10

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Today is Sunday September 12, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 40-42. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-12

Today's Message: Vision Beyond Sight
The word vision is defined as the act or power of sensing with the eyes, in other words, what we see with our eyes. Anyone who denies the existence of God as you look up to the sky and see an amazing sun and light coming from behind the clouds is utterly blind, it's truly a sight to see. Even to have vision is a gift from God and something that we all need to cherish. You know, even the blind can see? In fact, they probably see things well beyond what we can see with our own eyes. Another meaning for the word vision is, the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be. Everyone has a vision of some kind, or they should have, that is a vision, or a goal of some sort about what they would like to see in the future. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” - Proverbs 29:18. What is the law? God, or in other words, following the will of God. Now, God gave us all the gift of free will so, we are not subject to His law, but if we want to truly be happy we will follow His will. What is the point? We have vision, a glorious vision of some sort about what we see in the future, lead by God Himself. If anything we have a the vision of eternal life and that day when we get to join Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Said, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” - John 20:31. The key word here is believing. We must believe that the things we see will become a reality, no matter how long it takes.

A glorious vision is given to Ezekiel twenty-five years after Babylon had taken the Israelites captive, the vision was a future Temple where God would dwell when He returns here on earth. “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel....Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices. And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice....So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.” - Ezekiel 40:1-4,41,42,47. This chapter describes two outward courts of the Temple. Whether the vision was the Son of God, is not clear, but Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice, to whom we must look with vision in all approaches to God. He is Salvation in the midst of the earth, to be looked unto from all quarters.

After the prophet had observed the courts, he was brought to the Temple. “Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle. And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits. Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.” -Ezekiel 41:1-4. The most Holy place in the Temple is the innermost room where the visible manifestation of God's presence dwelt. Today, every person who believes in and accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior is God's Holy Place.

Since we were saved, not of the will of the flesh, but of the will of God, we are free from Satan's control and have become the Lord's holy dwelling place.“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” - I Corinthians 3:16,17. Hearing it this way kind of makes you think twice about doing things knowing that God is right there with you. So, it is vital that we refuse Satan's tempting efforts to defile the Lord's Temple with thoughts that only our flesh would do. Remember, every thought can become an action. Freed from sin, the servant of God is able to enjoy the peace of God. Let us praise the Lord for His indwelling Holy Spirit and enjoy the sacred privilege committed to our trust. God has great vision for all of His children, but unless we follow His will only it will take a lot longer for us to see it. Praise God that He sees more in us that we do in ourselves and for His patience in waiting for us to come to our senses.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and enjoy the Lord's Day.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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