Gene Cunningham - September 25, 2003
Ezekiel #25
As believers in Christ, we have everything we need spiritually. The entire Godhead is involved (Eph 1:3-14). Promise of abundant life preceded the Law of Moses (Gal 3:16-18, Heb 6:13-18). God made an oath (Eze 20:5-6). Sabbaths were a sign (Eze 20:12). Ezekiel prophesies the end of Israel. Sabbaths were an object lesson. Five Sabbaths: (1) Garden sabbath (Gen 2:2, Heb 4:3-4); (2) Weekly Sabbath — rest from labor (Exo 16:14-26, Mat 11:28-29); (3) Annual Sabbath — depended on faithfulness for six years (Exo 23:10-11, Lev 25:3-4); (4) Year of Jubilee all debts forgiven, all slavery abolished and all family holdings returned (Lev 25:8-15); (5) Millennial Sabbath — God gives the earth a holiday for 1000 years (Rev 20:4, Rev 14:13). The Seven Feasts are also Sabbaths: (1) Passover (1Co 5:7) teaches the cross as history's center; (2) Unleavened bread — fellowship through cleansing (Eze 20:12, 1Co 15:8); (3) Feast of first fruits (Lev 23, 1Co 15:22-23) taught the resurrection; (4) Pentecost (Lev 23, Act 2) — taught evangelism (harvest) and was a sign to the unbelieving (1Co 14); (5) Trumpets (Lev 23) calling out of the nation of Israel (Rev 7). (6) Feast of atonement — redemption of Israel (Zec 12:10, Zec 13:1); (7) Tabernacles last feast (Zec 14:16-21, Amo 9:13-15) — millennial kingdom. Only God can perform the work of sanctification (Eze 20:12) — purification through separation. Sanctification demands obedience (Eze 20:20). God will get the glory through Israel as a witness to the world (Eze 20:41). Sanctification begins at salvation (1Pe 1:2, Heb 10:10, Eph 5:26). Spirit of God is an agent in sanctification as is the word of God; we must avail ourselves of them (Joh 17:17, Eph 5:26). Sanctification is a process of cleansing to perfection — e.g., obedience, confession (1Th 5:23, 2Co 7:1). Sanctification is God's will (1Th 4:3). Zedekiah's crown is stripped; Ezekiel anticipates the crown returning only at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ (Eze 21:24-27). Ultimate sanctification (Jud 1:24-25)
Scripture References: Jude 1:24-25, Ezekiel 20:12, Galatians 3:16-18, Ezekiel 20:20, Exodus 16:14-26, Ezekiel 21:24-27, Revelation 14:13, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ezekiel 20:12, Hebrews 4:3-4, Ephesians 5:26, Revelation 20:4, Amos 9:13-15, Genesis 2:2, John 17:17, Leviticus 25:8-15, Zechariah 14:16-21, Ezekiel 20:12, Ephesians 5:26, Leviticus 25:3-4, Zechariah 13:1, Ezekiel 20:5-6, Hebrews 10:10, Exodus 23:10-11, Zechariah 12:10, Hebrews 6:13-18, Ezekiel 20:41, Matthew 11:28-29
From Series: "Ezekiel - 2002"
Ezekiel's vision of God's glory effected his life.