Ezekiel 20:1-3, 6-9, 12-14, 18-22, 31-32, 37-44
He Cares About the Spirit: Don’t Inquire of Him w/out a Life Change
I. Introduction
-At some point you will inquire of the Lord.
1. Times will grow difficult.
2. Desperation for answers will grow to critical mass.
3. You will cry out to Him.
-Some cry out for the wrong things.
1. Stuff, intelligence, ‘bail-out,’ etc.
2. All "me" centered.
-Ill. Bible Professor’s prayer
1. "Lord, help them recall all that they studied."
2. No, I want God to give me the answers!
-But God doesn’t care about a lot of the stuff we think He does.
1. He cares about your soul first & foremost.
2. If you aren’t right with Him, He doesn’t want to talk about anything else.
-Example: the ppl of Israel...
II. Scripture
III. Inquiring of the Lord
-God refused to respond to their inquiries b/c of their sin.
1. The only prayer I can guarantee God will answer is a prayer of repentance/ plea for mercy.
2. Everything before that is trivia, which God is unconcerned about.
-Ill. Ppl call the church for assistance...
1. My 1st question: "Where do you go to church?"
2. Spiritual questions!
3. Some are offended.
4. They don’t realize what is most important.
-Point: If your soul isn’t right with God, it doesn’t matter if you lost your job, can’t pay the water bill, are sick, etc.
-You can pray until you are blue in the face, but if you aren’t living right you are wasting your time!
-Prayer is a privilege.
1. Some view it as an obligation.
2. It is a privilege to the born-again Christian.
3. A blessing to walk & talk w/ God.
4. Don’t take that lightly.
-Ill. Saul’s partial obedience.
1. He was suppose to wipe out the pagan enemy and all their material wealth.
2. He thought God "blessed" him w/ the material possessions.
3. Query: Has it ever occurred to you that God’s action/will for your life may not be to always get you that promotion or material wealth?
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."
5. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
-Ill. We give God a "token holy act" to guarantee our bail out (and put Him "on call").
-Example...
1. Don’t inquire of God w/ finances if you’re buying lottery tickets!
2. Don’t... w/ health if you’re over eating, smoking, drinking, etc.
3. Don’t... w/ family problems if you’re not bringing them to church!
4. Don’t... w/ marriage issues if you’re not following biblical mandates on marriage.
-Reality is inquiring of God is usually just demanding of God our will be done.
-Point: At some point you will have to determine whether you are going to do things your way or His way in your life.
-Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
-Point: Christ does not give us life, assist in life, or better our life... He is our life!
-Query: My kingdom or His?
1. My will or His?
2. My life or His?
3. My way or His?
IV. Wanting the World
-Real Issue: We’ve never really broken from this world’s values.
-v. 32 "What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, 'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'"
-For example...
1. Immoral business practices (lie, cheat, etc.)
2. Divorce rate the same as the world.
3. Sexual immorality
4. Grudges, bitterness, gossip, etc. (sometimes worse in the church).
-Churches all over this nation will be cancelling tonight to watch a football game.
1. Shame, shame, shame!
2. Ppl skipped church this morning to go to the girl’s b-ball game in Richmond.
3. What are we telling our kids?
4. (We’ll panic at some point & inquire of God why they went astray... but too late.)
5. And football... let them cancel for the Lord!
6. For you who are staying home tonight to watch football... I hope the Lord doesn’t come back!
7. "Preacher, you’re making me feel bad."
8. Well, that’s not my goal. My goal is to help you see your values!
V. God Draws the Line...
-v. 39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols."
-Paraphrase: "Do whatever you’re going to do, but don’t claim to be my ppl. (profane my name)"
-Quit claiming to be a Christian but continue to walk in sin.
1. And don’t make excuse for your sinfulness.
2. "I just have a temper."
3. "It’s just how I was raised."
4. Blah, blah, blah.
-Fine, but don’t act all spiritual when you get to church.
VI. What God Wants to do... in You
-v. 41 "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."
1. "bring you out"
2. "manifest my holiness"
-The only way He will accept you, is if you allow Him to change you.
-Ill. Change you can believe in."
1. Only change consistent in politics is that at some point they will raise taxes and move farther from God.
2. God alone brings real change!
-He wants to change you for His name’s sake!
-So the world can see the awesome power of God.
1. The power to change the course of a human life.
2. The power to make you new!
-Some of you think you’ve changed enough.
1. Dangerous place to be.
2. God is still working!
3. Don’t be afraid of the altar.
-Ask God to change your heart if there are some things you don’t like.
1. Don’t like to go to church?
2. Don’t like to witness?
3. Don’t like to love your neighbor?
4. God can change that!
-Some things you like that are sinful/ vain/ worldly?
1. God can change your heart about that too!
2. Worldly music won’t be so entertaining anymore!
3. Worldly wealth doesn’t have to entrap you any longer!
4. God can change you!
-God is not interested in a tribute from you... but just you!
-Obedience is better than sacrifice!
VII. Conclusion
-Young ppl/ families: Passionately pursue Christ now!
-v. 44 "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.""
-Aren’t you glad that God deals w/ you according to His name, and not our evil ways or corrupt deeds?
-His grace, life changing, real grace, is available to you today.
-Why don’t you inquire of that today?
-God wants to deal with your spirit!
Response
