Read Ezekiel 35-36 at Bible Gateway.
A phrase we have been reading over and over again, not only in today’s chapters, but in the preceding chapters for some time now, is, “Then you (they) will know that I am the LORD.” Or, that we or they will know that He is YHVH — He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come. He is the Self- Existent and Eternal. He is the Deliverer from darkness and the Redeemer from slavery. Behold His hands and the nails in them! He is the One who sacrificed Himself so that we might live in His sight!
He is accomplishing the miraculous on our behalf and fulfilling His promises on our behalf, not because of us, because He loves us, although He does. But so that glory will increase to His great and holy name. For His name’s sake, He is subduing Israel’s enemies. For His name’s sake, He is bringing Israel back to her land that He gave them. For His name’s sake, He is causing Israel’s mountains and valleys to be fruitful, like the garden of God. For His name’s sake, He is transforming Israel from the inside out, cleansing them from all their sin and putting a new heart and a new spirit — His Spirit — within them.
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Eze 36:25-27
His Spirit was poured out on all flesh beginning in Act 2. His Spirit has continued to be poured out since that day, primarily on Christians – Gentiles. These are the house of Israel that has been scattered among the nations, so that they became as Gentiles. For the past two thousand years, He has been gathering them back to Himself. Let us be instructed by the Word of the LORD, church. He did not give us His Spirit just so that we might feel good or experience miracles. His Spirit within us will cause us to walk in His statutes, to keep His judgments and do them. His statutes and judgments are the description of His way of walking, and are recorded in Torah.
When we walk in man’s ways by the strength of our flesh, we profane His holy name among the Gentiles where we have been scattered. When we walk in His ways, by keeping His commandments to do them, by the power of His Spirit, we glorify His holy name among the Gentiles where we have been scattered.
Let us let the Word of God be our guide for our faith and practice, and not the word of man. Let us learn Torah so that we might walk in His ways, by the power of His Spirit!
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