This piece is a follow up to the last article (https://obeygodsword.blogspot.com/)
I sent out on Patriotism – What Does God Think?
It is based on the book of Ezekiel that I have been studying.
In Ezekiel the people of Israel place great value on their
corporate identity as a nation. Ezekiel
countered that thinking by highlighting personal responsibility in terms of
behavior and personal relationship with God.
Though Israel had sinned as a nation, each person was responsible for
his or her own individual sin. Godly
living requires personal responsibility before the Lord. Like Israel, we cannot blame our families,
our leaders, or our nation for the choices we have made, nor can we rely on
someone else’s righteousness to change or save us.
Why did Israel fall from God’s grace? Why has America fallen from God’s grace? Because of Israel’s and America’s
disobedience. We choose our
righteousness and fail to submit (surrender) to God’s righteousness (Romans
10:3 (NIV) since they did not know
the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit
(surrender) to God’s righteousness).
Isn’t it amazing how history repeats itself, yet we fail to learn from
history the pitfalls that Israel experienced?
Corporately as a nation and individually, we are feeling
spiritually dry, brittle, and lifeless.
These struggles may result from not knowing God because we fail to
invest in the kingdom of God by reading His Word and calling on the Holy
Spirit. Perhaps you have walked closely
with the Lord, but have allowed sin (iniquity and trespasses) or the priorities
of this world to draw you away from God.
Or perhaps you are simply exhausted, in despair, and in hopelessness and
need a fresh touch from God. Whatever
the case, the spirit of God in heaven and the Holy Spirit (the Helper) on earth
is present to touch you, heal you, and to lead you back to Him where you will
find new life.
Ask for and receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Invite God’s spirit to touch every desperate
place in your life. Let the power of God
transform you, restore you completely, and let it flow from you to those around
you. Ezekiel 37:14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall
live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the
Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.”
Repentance, or turning away from your fleshly ways (sin) is
a crucial message in Ezekiel. God had
given Israel (as with America) every possible opportunity to turn from their
sin, but they would not. In God’s
holiness and justice, He poured out His judgment both to punish and restore His
people. Today, God continues to cry out
to His people to turn from their sin and to return to a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, “Be
holy, for I am holy.”) so that you can connect with Him. God’s desire now is the same as it was then
for the people to know Him. We are to
walk in God’s ways and teach them to others.
Ezekiel 36:21-28 But
I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned (abused) among the nations wherever they went. “Therefore
say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this
for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have
profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will
sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you
have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the
Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For
I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and
bring you into your own land. 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. Then you shall dwell in the
land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your
God.
Blessings to
you all,
Tony Sanchez
10-22-16
