Ezekiel 35:1-36:15 afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted to keep the people of God on the straight and narrow path of Jesus Christ. Here God speaks to the mountains (Mount Seir and the mountains of Israel), representing two different groups of people, a message that points to the final destination of those two groups of people. For one, represented by Esau or Edom, the final destination is a deserted desert. For the other group, represented by the mountains of Israel the destination is the fruitful and full of the faithful new heavens and earth. The passage has two major purposes. First, it serves as a warning for those who may seem like a brother for a time but ultimately prove through their actions, attitude, and words that they are not. And second, it comforts afflicted sinners. Christians should not be comfortable in their sins, their sins should make them upset and troubled (even afflicted), but then the comfort of the gospel message of forgiveness applies. This is good news.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: edom, envy, esau, ezekiel, new creation, warning

Ezekiel 35:1-36:15 afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted to keep the people of God on the straight and narrow path of Jesus Christ. Here God speaks to the mountains (Mount Seir and the mountains of Israel), representing two different groups of people, a message that points to the final destination of those two groups of people. For one, represented by Esau or Edom, the final destination is a deserted desert. For the other group, represented by the mountains of Israel the destination is the fruitful and full of the faithful new heavens and earth. The passage has two major purposes. First, it serves as a warning for those who may seem like a brother for a time but ultimately prove through their actions, attitude, and words that they are not. And second, it comforts afflicted sinners. Christians should not be comfortable in their sins, their sins should make them upset and troubled (even afflicted), but then the comfort of the gospel message of forgiveness applies. This is good news.

Click here or the title to listen.

Labels: edom, envy, esau, ezekiel, new creation, warning

The Joshua 24:29-33 burial notices for Joshua, Joseph's bones, and Eleazar, mark the fulfillment of the reign of Ephraim and means the transition can begin to the reign of Judah. The prophet greater than Moses, Jesus Christ, of the tribe of Judah, was buried and is resurrected and has poured out His Spirit on His people as a down-payment on the inheritance of the whole earth. We saw the difference it makes if our final destination is heaven or the new creation for how we live today. We saw that our innermost being is already a part of the new creation and can bear visible "new creation" fruit. And we saw that everything we do to serve the Lord Christ (at home, school, work, in our hobbies, etc.) can demonstrate that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is making all things new. May all of the glory go to God.

Click here or the title to listen to this sermon.

Labels: burial, christ, death, eleazar, ephraim, heaven, inheritance, joseph, joshua, judah, new creation, resurrection, serve, spirit

The Joshua 24:29-33 burial notices for Joshua, Joseph's bones, and Eleazar, mark the fulfillment of the reign of Ephraim and means the transition can begin to the reign of Judah. The prophet greater than Moses, Jesus Christ, of the tribe of Judah, was buried and is resurrected and has poured out His Spirit on His people as a down-payment on the inheritance of the whole earth. We saw the difference it makes if our final destination is heaven or the new creation for how we live today. We saw that our innermost being is already a part of the new creation and can bear visible "new creation" fruit. And we saw that everything we do to serve the Lord Christ (at home, school, work, in our hobbies, etc.) can demonstrate that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is making all things new. May all of the glory go to God.

Click here or the title to listen to this sermon.

Labels: burial, christ, death, eleazar, ephraim, heaven, inheritance, joseph, joshua, judah, new creation, resurrection, serve, spirit