Tag: measuring line
Directions to Father’s house
Scripture reading for November 10th: Ezekiel 40-42; John 14
John 14: 1-6 “”Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.””
The disciples were troubled about Jesus sharing with them His betrayal by one of them and His coming departure. Jesus reassured them and encouraged them to keep on trusting in Him. His departure had a purpose. He was preparing a place for them to be with Him forever and ever. He would come again and take them with Him to be with Him forever. Those who love Him would seek to obey His Words and they would receive another Helper Who would instruct them and guide them in the Truth–the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth would uniquely be only with them and those trusting Jesus and knowing Him. Jesus Christ was the only Way to Father’s house, the Truth, and eternal Life. We are being ‘measured’ for our mansion!
John 14:15-17 “”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.””
Prayer: Father God, how I long to live in Your eternal holiness and presence. Thank You for making that possible for me and any who will choose to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe He is the only Way to Your House. Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who is with me now and forever, preparing and guiding me in obeying Your Word and sharing Your truth with those still looking for the Path to Your house.
Ezekiel 40:2-3 “In visions of God He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south. When He brought me there, behold there was a man whose appearance was like bonze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. . .”
Thankful for Visions of God!
Scripture reading for September 15th: Ezekiel 39-42
Key Scriptures: Ezekiel 40:2-4 “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. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. The man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.”
Ezekiel was taken by God to Israel and given a vision of what looked like a city on the side of a great mountain. He then saw a man that was bronze in color standing in a gateway of this city with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. Ezekiel was told to write down everything he saw and heard and tell it to the house of Israel. John, the Revelator, had a similar vision while in the Spirit on Patmos!
Thankful for John’s vision: “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,ooo stadia in length, and as wide and high as it was long.” (Revelation 21:15-16)
The River from the Temple!
Scripture reading for August 31st: Ezekiel 44-48
Ezekiel’s description of the vision given by the man with the measuring line continues to the end of his writing. Today’s portion describes the role of the priests and the operation of the rebuilt temple. God is a God of order and He leaves detailed instructions with Ezekiel for the people who will one day go back to Israel and bring the restoration. However, part of this vision goes beyond a rebuilt temple.
Ezekiel is shown a flow of water coming from the temple that brings amazing things to pass wherever it flows. (Ezekiel 47:1-12) This flow originates under the threshold of the east gate of the temple. The water flowed out away from the temple; the man with the measuring line went a thousand cubits and the water was ankle-deep. After another thousand cubits, the water was knee-deep. Going another thousand cubits, the water was waist-deep. After the fourth thousand cubits, the water was so vast and deep that people could swim in it.
Along the bank of this river were a number of trees. These trees would always be green and fruitful, bearing fruit every month. They would serve as food and their leaves would bring healing. In fact, everywhere that this river from the sanctuary went, abundant life would flourish. Fish would teem in it’s waters and swarms of living creatures would be found near it. Fishermen would come to catch the fish. This was a special river that produced abundant life!
Jesus Christ spoke of a river flowing from the new temple that He would build. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37b-39) The Holy Spirit brings us a river of God’s life that produces life within us. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to produce God’s life in us. Wherever we go, we are to share that life. We are to be fishers of men by sharing the love and life of God! Allow that river to flow in you today!
The Glory Returns!
Scripture reading for August 29th: Ezekiel 40-43
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. The the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:1-5
Ezekiel had been taken with the “hand of the Lord” upon him to the city of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 40:1) It was not quite the “hair-raising” experience of his first trip! (Ezekiel 8:3) This time Ezekiel found a heavenly being with an appearance that glowed like bronze. This man had a linen cord and measuring rod in his hand and told Ezekiel to pay attention and tell the house of Israel everything he saw. This ‘man’ proceeded to measure everything in the temple and surrounding area, showing Ezekiel that the temple had been precisely rebuilt and all the furniture and needed rooms for priests and places of cleansing and sacrifice had been restored.
It was after this measuring job that Ezekiel beheld his vision of a returning Glory! He saw the cloud of glowing glory coming from the east! The land was radiant with the glowing fire. The Lord was speaking and the sound was like roaring waters! It was like the earlier vision when the Lord had destroyed the city and Ezekiel fell face down. He saw the glory of the Lord enter the temple where it had departed, through the east gate! Suddenly, Ezekiel found himself inside the temple and it was filled with the glory of the Lord! (Ezekiel 43:3-5)
From inside the temple, a voice spoke to him, giving him wisdom and insight. “Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place for My feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7) Ezekiel was told that he was to describe the temple to the Israelites and that as they considered the plan, if they would be ashamed of all their sins, God would reveal the design of the temple to them! (Ezekiel 43:10-11)
This beautiful restored temple is currently composed of living stones. God’s glory fills each stone as they look to Jesus Christ, who baptizes them in His Holy Spirit with a deposit of heavenly glory! God is truly dwelling in the midst of His people. They now know Him and His laws are written on their hearts and God has forgiven them their sins and remembers these sins no more. (Ezekiel 36:24-27) (Jeremiah 31:31-34) We will behold His glory from within the heavenly city and temple forever and ever!
The most encouraging and comforting thing for any child of God is to be close to His glory! The glory departing is the deepest of darkness and agony. Take time today to enjoy the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!