Spirit Lead Me For Thee

We are in Ezekiel 36. We look at this chapter in total and see one glaring concern on God's heart - the sake of His Name. Jesus told us to open prayer with "Hallowed by THY NAME". Our concern for God's glory should preface every prayer and pleading before Him. His name is His reputation. He raises up people to life for the sake of His name. In Ezekiel, the promise to forlorn exiles was simple: I will save and redeem you for My name's glory. 

Ezekiel 36:22 (ESV) “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.

God will bring the exiles back to the land not because they deserve it but so that the nations might know His grace. Look at the following verse:

Ezekiel 36:23 (ESV) And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Verse 23 is an EVANGELICAL announcement. God redeemed faithless Israel so non-Israelite people can know Him as the Lord. 

Not only will He redeem them so the nations might know Him. He will fill them with His SPIRIT so the nations might know Him. 

Ezekiel 36:25–27 (ESV) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

This passage was fulfilled in Acts 2. The stain of sin was washed at the cross, the Lord was raised and breathed upon the disciples, and from that moment forward, Jews from the nations would know the Lord and return home and tell other people.
 
This chapter also shows the Lord's regeneration work. The sprinkling refers to the washing of our souls from sin through Jesus' blood. Through His work of regeneration upon the heart, He brings us to salvation by His power and might, not our own. He doesn't argue us into the Kingdom; He sweeps us into it.

These words are prooftext of inward change through the Holy Spirit. Only God can make a tree, save a sinner, and give you a heart for God. And this is the good news: God eagerly desires to do this. Open your life to Him, call upon Him, and He will answer you. 

After the Spirit is sent upon His people, they will flourish in the land and in life for the sake of His Name.
Ezekiel 36:33–34 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.

The final promise of this chapter is perhaps the best one of all. God will enter into relationship with them and lead them as His flock. Why? For the sake of His Name.

Ezekiel 36:37 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their people like a flock.

The salvation every Christian enjoys is a work of God upon the heart. And the benefits of that salvation are the fruit God produces through His Spirit. There is so much we can be thankful for. All we are is because of ALL He's done. 




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