morning everyone my name is steve senior pastor here at st paul's like to pray
before we dive into ezekiel 4 to 48 father god we as we just prayed in the baptism service
we might intend to have hope in you but we need your help and so we need your help not just to
put our trust in you but to keep looking forward to your promises that you have things that you
promised to fulfill in the future for us and so lord as we get a glimpse of that now we pray that
our hearts might be enlarged for your purpose in this world and we ask it for your glory now amen
hasib hussein was the 18 year old suicide bomber responsible for blowing up a bus
number 30 in london on the 7th of july 2005 which killed 13 people one article
in london's the guardian newspaper was titled the bomber aimless youth with poor future
it suggested that hasib hussein's horizon stretched no further than his immediate impoverished
neighborhood that he grew up in the opposite was actually true hasib hussein killed himself and
13 other people because his horizon stretched much further than that and in fact of what he saw
as eternity he believed on that day almost 10 years ago now he was carrying out the will of Allah
he did not call what he was doing suicide because that is a sin to muslims but shahada or martyrdom
he didn't actually believe he would die he believed he would transfer immediately into paradise to receive
his reward and for a male muslim martyr that reward is 72 virgins
if you're a female muslim martyr the reward is you get your husband for eternity
which makes you question why there are female muslim martyrs
apparently if you've had multiple husbands you can choose the best one
to be with for all of eternity but anyway in response to the bombings
the muslim council of britain were bringing in world-renowned islamic scholars
to instruct their people that those who commit such atrocities were in fact going to hell not to heaven
they declared it was a message that needed to be said in clear and direct language
and if there is anyone who uses clear and direct language about heaven and hell it's what we've seen
in the prophet ezekiel but how can he be trusted
how can we know who speaks for god the creator of the world who can be trusted in this present climate
that we live in well in isaiah 41 22 we're given a test for discerning who speaks for god
it says this bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen tell us what the former things were
so that we may consider them and how their final outcome came to be or declare to us the things to come
tell us what the future holds so we may know that you are gods in other words
look for prophecy that's fulfilled
that will tell you who you can trust
the one who tells you what the future is
and then has the the the power to control it to bring it about
is the one who can be trusted and as we've seen here in ezekiel
for the last three weeks is that that is god himself he tells us what is going to happen and
then he makes it happen we've seen so far in ezekiel uh was that he was right about the future
this prophecy opened with ezekiel amongst the exiles languishing down uh by the kibar river in
babylon and despite that back in jerusalem some of the prominent citizens and prophets were saying
that don't worry about that all is well don't need to be too concerned the city and the temple
still stood and it's just a matter of time before god's going to come back and put everything right
again there's nothing to worry about and we have seen that what ezekiel does is he dashes their hopes
in chapter 4 ezekiel pitches the siege of jerusalem in chapter 10 he sees god's glory leaving the temple
in chapter 12 he betrays the exile and he fiercely proclaims why it's all happening
why has god abandoned his people
jimmy baker was a american tele-evangelist who went to prison for corruption in 1989
while in prison he was asked by an interviewer when did you stop loving jesus
and he replied i never stopped loving jesus and the interviewer replied but what about the extortion
and the corruption and the adultery and the bribery and baker explained i never stopped loving jesus
but i did stop fearing him and that's the problem with god's people in ezekiel's time
there is no fear of the lord the bible says god says to his people be sure your sins will find you out
and they just ignored that they don't believe it they ignored god's word there was no fear of the lord
there was no shame for their sin they had domesticated god they thought that god would just accept them
the way they were and be grateful for any little bits of worship that they might throw in his direction
they thought that god would tolerate them and even affirm their lifestyles because he is a god of love
and god graciously warned them again and again and to stop stop it because if they didn't there would be
consequences and they would be devastating
and he warns his people through his prophet ezekiel and what god predicts about the future
he always gets right and so in 587 bc jerusalem and the temple are destroyed their presumption on god
meant that their protector had in fact become their enemy they used to sing psalms like 40 psalm 46
god is our refuge and strength our ever-present helping trouble and now they would sing psalm 137
by the rivers of babylon we sat and we wept when we remembered zion they wept in babylon as they
looked back and saw the temple destroyed but as we've seen ezekiel's message doesn't stop there
in his great love god is determined to bring life to the dead he's determined to bring hope to the
hopeless we saw last week chapters 33 through to 30 39 contain some wonderful promises of salvation
god is going to come and reign through his great king the good shepherd in ezekiel 34 and when he comes
he's going to put everything right he will raise the dead so judgment isn't simply the end of the world
it actually marks the beginning of a new perfect world order
and so in these last nine chapters of this book
ezekiel describes the vision of that new perfect world order and that's what we're going to see here right now
if only hasib hasain could have seen the future in this way
he believed something about the future and it had enormous implications for how he lived and he died in
the present and that is the vital issue that's before us here in these nine chapters what does the future
hold and how do we live in view of that future there are two key elements that i think dominate so we're
going to look at two things in nine chapters two key elements that dominate our focus in these chapters
firstly god's presence secondly our abundant life that's what we're going to look at so chapter 40 verse 1
open up your bibles we're going to begin there it tells us it's 20 years since god showed up in the
kibar river it's 25 years since the first deportation into exile it's 14 years therefore since the temple
is destroyed in jerusalem and in chapter 40 verse 2 in other words that's a long time for ezekiel to be
waiting for hope in chapter 40 verse 2 ezekiel is taken back via revision for another tour of jerusalem
this is the second tour of jerusalem in visions of god he took me to the land of israel and set me on a
very high mountain on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city what ezekiel gets
here is picture language for something that is great and wonderful and majestic and glorious and spectacular
these chapters speak of a perfect world when god comes to rescue his people ezekiel sees here is something
of the picture of revelation 21 22 bit of which sam just read out a moment ago where it says then i saw
a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away
that that's that's what ezekiel got a glimpse of here revelation 21 a place where there is no more
death and pain no more coffins and hospitals no need for endless boxes of tissues ezekiel sees here a
glorious future his heart must have left because he knew the pain of being a captive in babylon for 25
years he knew the pain and the anguish of losing his wife the delight of his eyes as chapter 24
refers to his wife what ezekiel sees here on this tour is a new temple a magnificent temple chapters 40 to 42
go into great detail about the size and the furnishings of the temple it's like the grand old temple of
jerusalem but only better more perfect if it's possible there is an emphasis here in these chapters
on things like the thickness of the walls because this temple is built to last it will not be destroyed
again and then in chapter 43 the climax of the tour comes reading from verse 1 then the man brought me to
the gate facing east and i saw the glory of the god of israel coming from the east in chapter 10
ezekiel had seen the glory of god depart towards the east and now the glory comes from the east his voice
was like the roar of rushing waters and the land was radiant in his glory in his glory the vision i saw
was like the vision i had seen when i came to destroy the city sorry when he came to destroy the city and
like the vision i had seen by the kibar river and i fell face down the glory of the lord entered the
temple through the gate facing east and then the spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court
and the glory of the lord filled the temple then down into verse 7 we see some really good news here
he said son of man this is the place of my throne and the place for the souls of my feet
this is where i will live among the israelites forever
what what ezekiel gets here is a profound vision of hope for the future
ezekiel saw the glory of god at the kibar river he saw the glory of god depart from the temple just
before it was handed over for destruction and now he sees it again as the departure of god
is is reversed god has returned god is now back with his people forever
and as we know from the bible right from the very beginning that is how god the creator god designed
his world he designed it with him in the middle as the creator and for it to revolve around him he is
the king at the center of everything that's the world's design but as we know adam and eve
although he gave them breath and he gave them the garden and he gave them each other he gave them
perfection they didn't like god being at the center they wanted to be at the center they deposed god
and the result since then has been catastrophic for the world in which we live it has been a domino effect
right throughout the whole creation in genesis 3 we see that the whole universe is cursed
because we push god out from the center everything from marriage to farming has been impacted by sin
and as adam and eve are banished from the presence of god it seems like it's all over
but god doesn't give up on humanity he called the people of israel to himself they were his people
he was their god he established on earth what was in many ways a new eden he lived amongst them and dwelt
with them and blessed them through the temple and as they submitted to his loving kingship they would be blessed
but they kept repeating the sin of adam and eve of pushing god away from the center
they rejected his rule and as a result he left them he banished them to exile
and there they were by the rivers of babylon weeping
weeping
it could have been the end
but what ezekiel saw in his vision confirmed to him that it wasn't the end
god would return everything of the new jerusalem that he sees this new creation
would once again revolve around god
he would again be the center
that is the point that is being made in these chapters
everything revolves around god
ezekiel ends as we know we said this right from the very beginning
with these words and the name of the city that is the city that ezekiel saw
from that time on will be the lord is there
that is the summary of the whole book
god is there at the very center of his glorious world
what impact is this vision that ezekiel gets here in these first few chapters
the first few chapters from verse 40 onwards
have of god's people what sort of impact do you think it was meant to have on them
what effect is it meant to have on us
there is something very striking in chapter 43 verse 10
as ezekiel gets this tour of the temple
it's not the impact you would immediately think of
son of man
describe the temple to the people of israel
that they may be ashamed of their sin
the temple that ezekiel sees here
with its perfect symmetry
stands for god's perfect holiness
and in the light of god's holiness
the sin of the people in all its awfulness
is meant to be exposed
chapter 43 verse 10
is there
so that the listeners of this prophecy
would feel shame
as they contemplate their own imperfection
and failure
alongside this vision of perfection
we make no spiritual progress
until we look within
and we look at god
and we see his holiness
and we start to take responsibility
for our moral failure
when we start to say
i have not lived
with god as god
i have not lived
with god as the centre
this sense of sin
and shame
that the exiles were meant to feel
as they stood before
this vision of the new perfect temple
is what we are meant
to come into
this sense of sin and shame
is meant to be the sharp focus for us
as we stand before jesus
who in john chapter 2 verse 18
having cleared the temple in jerusalem
the new rebuilt temple in jerusalem
proclaims that he in fact
is the temple
in john chapter 2
it is jesus's body
which is destroyed
and raised again
in three days
and that body
was the temple of god
jesus is the focal point
of god's presence
amongst his people
that is jesus is the key
and all these promises
about the presence of god
and these promises for the future
are fulfilled
in him
that is by his death
and resurrection
he makes it possible
for us to enter
into the presence
of god
and those
who come to jesus
are promised
in john chapter 10
abundant life
and that's the second thing
that we see
as we move
into the latter chapters
of ezekiel
you see
once the king
is at the centre
everything changes
everything falls
into place
in chapters 43
to 46
there has been
a break
in this tour
of jerusalem
that ezekiel's given
as he's given
regulations
for worship
in the new temple
and the tour
begins again
in chapter 47
verse 1
the man brought me
back to the entrance
of the temple
and i saw
water coming
out
from under
the threshold
of the temple
here is a stream
that flows
out from the presence
of god
in the temple
out
and ezekiel
and his guide
take a bit of a
wander along
the river bank
for about
one and a half
kilometres
and verse 3
after walking
about half a
kilometre
they check
the depth
of the water
and it's
ankle deep
then in verse 4
another half a kilometre
it's knee deep
and the same distance
again
and it's waist deep
and the same distance
again in verse 5
it says
it was now a river
that i could not cross
deep enough
to swim in
and as it flows out
this river gets
deeper and deeper
without any
tributaries
running off
in any other
directions
and notice what
happens in the next
paragraph
the end of verse 6
then he led me back
to the bank of the river
when i arrived there
i saw a great number
of trees
on each side
of the river
he said to me
this water flows
towards the eastern
region
and goes down
into the arabah
where it enters
the sea
that the
where it enters
the sea of the arabah
that's known to us
as the dead sea
you know
the sea that's
full of salt
and
this is the surprising
thing
the next
the next bit
when it empsies
into the sea
the water there
becomes
fresh
swarms of living
creatures will live
wherever
the river flows
the river
makes
the salty
water
fresh
swarms
of living
creatures
are the result
where this
in other words
wherever this
river flows
everything
thrives
the dead
is given
life
is given
life
this is the echo
of the river
of the garden
of Eden
where it broke
into four
headwaters
and it brought
life
wherever it
went
when God
is at the
centre
amongst his
people
the result
is abundant
life
for everything
that which is
dead
and salty
becomes life
fresh
and fresh
and again
in John's
gospel
Jesus picks
up this
imagery
from Ezekiel
he is
celebrating
the feast
of tabernacles
the feast
of tabernacles
called
God's people
to do
two things
it called
them to
look back
and remember
the time
that they were
in the wilderness
for 40 years
and remember
firstly
God's presence
with them
for those
40 years
where he
guided them
during the
cloud
during the
day
and the
light
at night
and it
called them
to remember
the second
thing
to remember
God's
provision
of water
miraculous
water
that came
out of the
rock
and
brought
refreshment
to a thirsty
nation
and so
here's
Jesus
John
chapter 7
he's
standing
at the
temple
courts
the one
that he
just said
actually
this one's
gone
I am
the new
temple
I am
the presence
of God
he's
standing
in the
temple
courts
celebrating
the feast
of tabernacles
and on the
last and the
greatest day
of the feast
he stands
up and he
says in
verse 37
if anyone
is thirsty
let him
come to
me
and drink
you see
Jesus
is not
just the
fulfillment
of God's
presence
he is
the source
of abundant
life
it was
written of
Lord Byron
the playboy
poet
that he
drank
every cup
of joy
he heard
every trump
of fame
drank early
drank deeply
drank drafts
that common
millions
might never
ever have
drunk
then died
of thirst
because there
was nothing
else to
drink
and Jesus
declares to
Lord Byron
and for those
of us
who are
panting for
meaning and
security and
purpose and
hope
come to
me and
drink
for those
who are in
that rat
race cycle
of life
where we
set our
goals and
we achieve
them and
there's
euphoria
emptiness
Jesus
says come
to me
and drink
Jesus
says
who
this
is
this
promise
is for
whoever
believes
in me
he makes
an extraordinary
offer there
of anyone
and whoever
believes in
him
Jesus
is the
one true
rescuer
who will
provide for
our most
essential
need
the presence
of God
that brings
secure
abundant
eternal
life
he promises
lasting
satisfaction
in a
world
that is
shriveled
and cracked
and dry
because of
human sin
that has
pushed
God
out
from
the
center
it was
ultimately
by his
death and
resurrection
that Jesus
opens up
the way
to a
perfect
paradise
that Ezekiel
was shown
a vision
of
and again
who do you
trust for the
future
whose opinion
matters
Jesus
predicted his
death
he promised
that he would
rise again
for the
forgiveness
of sins
and he
did it
three days
later
the one
to trust
is the
one who
has the
power to
fulfill
what he
promises
and here
he promises
abundant
eternal
life
for everyone
who comes
to him
and drinks
it's
Jesus
who
promises
the
abundant
life
of the
new
heaven
and
the
new
earth
that we
see
in
revelation
21
and 22
to all
who come
to him
and drink
it is a
place
that we
are told
where there
will be
no more
death
no more
mourning
no more
crying
no more
pain
no more
hospitals
no more
coffins
no more
suicide
bombers
no more
evil
no more
battling
for sin
everything
will be
put right
it's the
guarantee
of Jesus
because he
will be
there
that is
the Christian
hope
that is
the future
for everyone
who comes
to him
this is
hope
for you
it's hope
for me
it's the
hope that
we just
prayed for
just moments
ago for
Sullivan
when he
grows up
that he
might come
to know
that hope
himself
one day
and so
my question
for you
is
it
in
your
diary
everything
that matters
is in
your
diary
isn't
it
well
not
everything
not all
my
nights
are in
my
diary
but
you get
the point
is it
in your
diary
are you
living
your life
day by
day
with this
hope
before you
in this
city
that is
very
thirsty
and
afraid
Jesus
guarantees
the future
he guarantees
the abundant
life
surely
the only
wise
thing
to do
is to
believe
in him
and live
for him
now
I
really
hope
for you
who
believe
in the
Lord
Jesus
that you
will
reject
the
quaint
but
silly
little
saying
that
someone
has
made
up
at
some
particular
point
that
often
gets
repeated
this
particular
person
is so
heavenly
minded
they're
of no
earthly
use
it's
a
ridiculous
little
saying
I
think
the
exact
opposite
is
the
case
it
was
Haseeb
Hussein's
vision
for the
future
that
determined
his
actions
in the
present
and
they
had
devastatingly
bad
consequences
not so
for the
Christian
the
person
who
knows
that
their
destiny
is
glorious
and
certain
because
of the
radical
love
and
sacrifice
of a
forgiving
God
will be
free
to live
the
most
radically
loving
and
sacrificial
life
in the
present
here on
this
earth
here's
what I
mean
if
someone
you're
flying
along
in an
aeroplane
and
someone
decides
to jump
out the
door
without
a
parachute
if
you
haven't
got a
parachute
on
you
don't
think
I'll
save
them
I'll
jump
out
there
as
well
and
I'll
try
and grab
them
that
doesn't
help
anyone
two
deaths
aren't
better
than
one
but
if
you've
got a
parachute
on
you
might
just
try
one of
those
awesome
James
Bond
rescue
attempts
where
you
free
fall
like a
bullet
in order
to try
and grab
them
and latch
onto
them
and pull
the
rip
cord
you
might
just
try
to
do
that
because
you've
got
hope
in
this
thing
called
a
parachute
it's
the
hope
of
eternal
safety
and
love
in
the
end
that
releases
radical
sacrificial
love
right
now
the
apostle
Paul
said
in
Colossians
chapter
one
we
have
heard
of
the
love
that
you
have
for
all
the
saints
because
of
the
hope
laid
up
for
you
in
heaven
releases
love
it's
the
assurance
of
the
hope
of
heaven
that
releases
radical
risk
taking
love
and so
I believe
that this
prophecy
of
Ezekiel
as
quickly
as
we've
gone
through
it
should
stir
not
just
the
non
Christian
to
hope
in
a
world
of
hopelessness
but
it
should
push
Christians
away
from
sitting
on
the
commitment
fence
it
should
cause
the
Christian
to
move
away
from
self
centredness
and
flimsy
loyalty
and
undisciplined
devotion
and
presumption
on God's
patience
over our
sin
into
people
whose
lives
are
consistently
living
for
something
bigger
than
self
preservation
and
self
exaltation
and
self
recreation
it
is
the
certain
hope
in
a
future
of
love
and
safety
and
the
guarantee
of
God's
presence
that
releases
the
Christian
to
radically
magnify
Jesus
through
God
centred
Christ
exalting
Bible
saturated
acts
of love
and
mercy
now
to
a
world
that
desperately
needs
to
drink
from
the
water
of
life
and
experience
abundant
life
and
discover
a
great
future
to
aim
for
let
me
pray
father
god
our
glimpse
of
heaven
is
so
small
and
so
we
need
your
help
to
have
this
future
hope
take
your
word
we
pray
and
so
implant
it
in
our
hearts
that
it
just
grows
so
that
our
future
hope
and
safety
in
the
Lord
Jesus
of
abundant
life
would
be
reflected
in
abundant
life
now
so
that
we
might
drink
from
you
and
that
we
might
indeed
be
the
source
of
living
water
to
many
and
we
ask
it
for
your
glory
amen
your
heart
your
gemeinsam
Korean
Yo
personally
كم
that
Melissa
Ad ESPN
唐
a
ped