STUDY OUTLINE
. One of the biggest tasks of a leader is to accurately define reality (Isa 5:20: Ezek 44:23; Mal 2:17; 3:18). Why do you think this is true?
. Who helps you see what’s real, true, & good vs. what’s false and wrong? When’s the last time you listened to them? Times you didn’t listen?
. John Piper says: “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied.” Do you agree? In what areas are you satisfied with God (rate 1-10 w/ 10 being most)
___ your body/looks
___ your health
___ your finances
___ your “heart” condition (the state of your soul)
___ your mental and emotional health
___ your relationships
. ___ How would you rate yourself on how you are glorifying God through your body and life? (use 1-10) What one thing could you do to glorify Him more?
. Why does God want us to glorify His name throughout the earth? (clue—the answer is found 60x in Ezekiel)
I. Intro: distorted glasses [OBJECT LESSON, I’ve used in a few skits].
A. Ezekiel was a young prophet and priest. He’s called to minister to his countrymen who have been taken captive into Babylon. This required he suffer alongside them.
1. He tried to minister equally to two opposite groups. He needed to pop the balloon of the overly optimistic captives who thought they were going to be returned to their homeland, Israel, very soon.
2. He also tried to bolster the courage of the pessimists who didn’t think God cared for them anymore, more would He keep His promise of restoring them to the Promised Land. They felt abandoned and alone (9:9). Both groups had distorted views of reality.
B. One of the key job descriptions of a leader, like Ezekiel, is he is to accurately define reality (like Isa 5:20; Ezek 44:23; Mal 2:17; 3:18) and a host of others.
1. Why is this a key component of a leader’s job description? Because the world, our flesh and the devil constantly force funny glasses on our nose that distort reality, the truth: “This is what you need/must have to be happy, have it YOUR way, stick it to “the man” (your neighbor, your ex) because they’ve done that to you.”
2. But is that real, true, & good? God says through the prophets: “Put on my prescription (lenses)…Forgive, prefer one another, this is the way to happiness, My way. It may cause you to deny your short-term pleasures for long term gains…like eternity.” (That’s pretty long term, eh?)
C. Now, a leader has to be tough to constantly tell people, your glasses are messing you up, your lenses are foggy and unclear. They’re making you double-visioned (double-minded).
D. Ezekiel’s name meant “God will strengthen.” God promised to make his forehead hard as flint. Now you know why (3:9). When we don’t see reality clearly we don’t live cleanly. We live wrong. We don’t live God’s way and we don’t live healthy, happy or holy lives. That message is a large section of the prophet’s JD.
E. This 70 year captivity-exile for Israel as punishment for looking through distorted lenses and living that way was predicted by Isaiah 120 years earlier (Is 39:6; Mic 4:10). In spite of this harsh punishment for their sin, these Jews did not repent. Unbelievably, it actually drove them into deeper idolatry (5:11).
F. So Ezek warns that the intimacy, presence and closeness you dearly want with God, will be elusive if you’re seeking it, and if you’ve had it, it will just keep fading.
II. This is all portrayed in a vision Ezek sees with crystal clear lenses. In this vision he sees the glory of God, His presence, slowly departing from the Temple.
A. What is the Temple today? The Temple of God is your body if you’re a follower of JC (I Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16).
1. What are some ways the glory of God revealed in and through your Temple? I could go on a fitness lecture, but I won’t, though I do believe that taking care of the physical Temple is important. I try to be the best example I can be.
2. But I know our bodies can become idols too. This shows up as excesses spending on clothes, cosmetics, some cosmetic surgeries, diets, exercise, fear of aging, appearances, fitness, hyper-attention to every bite that goes in your mouth, obsessed w/ health & sickness (hypochondriacs). Take care of the Temple. But remember it isn’t yours. You’re a renter. God’s the landlord (I Cor 6:19-20. I’ve just gone from preaching to meddling.)
B. (8:6, 12-13) Here the spiritual leaders are doing things that cause God to move out of their lives, the Temple. They are walking with dirty, distorted glasses on. They’re leading the way in syncretism & self-worship, then turning their backs on God to worship other gods (8:16; 9:3).
1. So the presence of God is pulling away. Ever felt that? If you’ve ever felt that after the Lord has been REAL close, you know it feels like you’re DYING.
2. Some have never been that close to the Lord. Others are so far from Him right now that when He moves you don’t feel it anymore, because you always feel dead inside. That’s what is symbolized here (vs 4-6).
3. This is a picture of spiritual death and eventually physical death if you continue to LOOK through distorted glasses and LIVE that way. Did you note who lives?
4. Ever felt God’s presence moving away? Did you know how to stop it? The prophets (my) role is to tell them about their blurry glasses. But it was up to the people to take the glasses off--to stop looking through them and stop living distorted, double-visioned lives.
5. One of the self-deceptions is people telling themselves: “I’m getting away with it…where’s the consequences…I’m doing pretty well” (9:9; 12:22-23).
6. But they just don’t see what it’s doing to them…YET (v 10).
C. And God, His presence, His intimacy, and His glory, is moving farther away (10:4, 18-19; 11:12, 23). Is God “over the hill in your life,” His closeness a distant memory?
III. In the intervening chapters of Ezekiel he preaches God’s glory to the nations. When most of these prophets speak to the nations it has to do with how they have, are or will treat Israel (Zeph 2:10+).
A. But I don’t see we are to always say everything Israel does is right. God doesn’t. He punishes Israel by the nations when they act unjustly and sin. He then punishes the nations when they act that way too.
B. The main message of God to every nation is always (Prov 14:34).
IV. The glory of God is obviously a major theme of Ezek, mentioned 16x. But why? 15x it’s so His name, character, AND His reputation will be exalted throughout the world.
A. You might be struggling with how this makes God seem like an egomaniac. But realize 60x just in Ezekiel we see WHY He wants His name exalted in the earth…so that people will KNOW HIM, KNOW He is God (6:7, 10, 13-14).
B. God wants people to KNOW Him. He wants relationship. When you glorify God you help people realize how good and great He is, so they’ll want to know Him (Jer 9:23-24).
C. Pastor John Piper says: “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied.” What do you think of that?
D. The Bible says we glorify God through our lives and bodies, so I believe Piper is right on. I know it sounds crass, but we ALSO glorify God by being a “satisfied customer.” Are you?
1. Who would know? Can they tell by looking at your face? (maybe that cosmetic surgery I mentioned earlier would help? ;-)
2. Do you glorify Him through your words? Being a negative, critical complainer or gossip does not bring glory to God.
3. Do you glorify Him through your finances? You don’t have to be wealthy, but you have to show you believe that God is a great giving and providing God, and you’re satisfied w/ the way He’s providing for you? When we are satisfied w/ how He cares & provides for us then we care & provide for others (generosity).
4. How else can you glorify God in your life and show you’re a “satisfied customer?”
V. IF God’s glory & presence is gone, if you never had this kind of relationship or if it’s a precious memory, how do we get it or get it back?
A. We see a simple answer in His return in (43:1-9).
B. We have to get rid of anything in our lives that we worship instead of Him. There’s where I point out the glasses you’re wearing. That’s my job. Are you seeing God, and His ways, as He really is and needs to be in your life or…??? |
