Ezekiel 9:1-11

[0:00] Good evening again. It's good to be here with you all. We'll be in the Old Testament this evening in the book of Ezekiel.

[0:13] ! I've prayed, prayed a lot since Orville asked me to come preach tonight. I prayed on the message that the Lord would have me to deliver to His people.

[0:24] Amen. And this is what I've been settled on for probably about 24 hours now. Amen. I've been all over the Bible. I've been in Ezekiel. I've been in Job. I've been in Psalms. I've been in Ruth. I've been in Esther. I've been in Song of Solomon.

[0:40] Amen. I was wondering what I was supposed to be preaching. But I kept coming back to Ezekiel and we're in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. We'll be preaching the whole chapter tonight. It's only 11 verses long.

[0:54] Ezekiel being a prophet during the exile. He was a man that was chosen by God to deliver a message namely to the Israelites of Judah.

[1:12] We read through Ezekiel. We read through Ezekiel. In the first chapter up through the eighth chapter we see in the first chapter of Ezekiel you see a revelation of the glory of God given to the prophet Ezekiel.

[1:29] And then the next couple of chapters. Next two or three chapters you read about how God has commissioned Ezekiel to be a watchman over Israel. And again namely to Judah whom Ezekiel was a prophet to.

[1:45] But he was appointed a watchman and commissioned to do that over God's people. And then we see a little bit later on about some of the things that Ezekiel done.

[1:56] The things that the Lord had Ezekiel to do such as laying on his side. Lay on one side. For Israel. Lay on another side. For Judah. To show their iniquity.

[2:08] Then we get to chapter 6 and 7 and 8. We see just how deep and just how far in depravity the people of Israel have gotten to be.

[2:20] Just how deep and far in their sin they have gotten to be. In Ezekiel chapter 8 the Lord is showing Ezekiel by a vision the sins of the people of Israel.

[2:31] He's showing them what they have done. He's showing them that they're worshiping the sun. He's showing them how the women are weeping for Tammuz. He's showing them all these things in Ezekiel chapter 8.

[2:42] And we get to Ezekiel chapter 9. And Ezekiel chapter 9 is a very scathing chapter in the Word of God. That's what I intend to preach to you tonight.

[2:52] With the help of the good Lord folks. If you really want revival. If you truly want revival. It's not going to take miracle working. It won't take miracle working.

[3:03] It will not take loud music. It will not take a bunch of hollering and screaming and shouting. I'm all for those things. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for those things. But the people of God.

[3:15] It is impossible for you or I one. Either one. To have revival without repentance. It has to be that way. It must be that way.

[3:25] Salvation cannot be without repentance. The very first words that John the Baptist preached. In Matthew in chapter 3 when he came out of the wilderness. Was repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

[3:38] The very next chapter in Matthew chapter 4. The very first words that Jesus Christ himself preached. Was repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

[3:48] Repentance is very important. And we cannot have and we will not have revival. Whether it be personal. Whether it be corporately as a body of believers.

[3:58] Whether it be the church, the world over. Revival is impossible. If the people of God are unwilling to repent. You might say what do I have to repent of?

[4:10] You sin daily my friend. The Bible teaches that we all sin daily. The Bible says for all of sin comes short of the glory of God. The Bible says for the wages of sin is death.

[4:23] But hallelujah there in Romans 6 and 23. That verse continues. But the gift of God is eternal life. And Jesus Christ our Lord. We all have sin.

[4:34] And we all must repent of that sin. It takes repentance at the beginning of this thing. Folks, when God saved me. It was repent and believe. When God saved you. It was repent and believe.

[4:45] We see it all over the Old Testament. We see it all over the New Testament. It is repent and believe. Repent and believe. That's what it takes to have salvation. Amen.

[4:55] Amen. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you believe that He lived a perfect sinless life. And He did. And you believe that He hung upon that tree.

[5:06] On a hill called Golgotha. And you believe that He hung there and bled. And suffered and died. And took the mockery of us upon Himself. Took our shame upon Himself.

[5:17] Took our sin upon Himself. It should have been you and I upon their cross. It should have been you and I that took the scourge. It should have been you and I that took the beating.

[5:28] And had the people spinning upon us. That should have been you and I. But He did it for us. He did it for us. And if we truly believe. As Peter said.

[5:38] That thou art the cross. The son of the living God. If we truly believe those words that Peter spoke. In the gospel. If we truly believe that He is the Christ. That will drive us to repentance.

[5:51] If we truly believe that He is the Christ. It will drive us to repentance. Amen. Here in Ezekiel chapter 9. We'll begin at the verse. Verse number 1.

[6:02] We'll read through the entire chapter. Ezekiel 9. Beginning at verse 1. He cried also in my ears. Now let me stop. He being God.

[6:14] You read in chapter 8. It is God that is showing Ezekiel these things. And this He never changes all the way through chapter 8. So when we begin verse 9. When Ezekiel said.

[6:25] He cried in my ears. He is speaking of God Almighty. He is speaking of the Creator God. He is speaking of the God of redemption. He is speaking of the God of Abraham.

[6:35] Isaac and Jacob. He is speaking of the God that saved our very souls. That's not. So this is who He is speaking about. He cried also in my ears. With a loud voice saying.

[6:47] Calls them that have charge over the city. To draw near even every man with his destroying weapon. In his hand. In his hand. And behold. Six men came.

[6:58] From the way of the higher gate. Which lieth toward the north. And every man a slaughter weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen.

[7:10] With a rider's incorn by his side. And they went in and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the sheriff. Whereupon he was to the threshold of the house.

[7:23] And he called to the man clothed with linen. Which had the rider's incorn by his side. And the Lord said unto him. Go through the midst of the city. Through the midst of Jerusalem.

[7:34] And set a mark upon the foreheads of the men. That sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done. In the midst thereof. And to the others he said in my hearing.

[7:45] Go ye after him through the city. And smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have ye pity. Slay utterly old and young. Both maids and little children.

[7:56] And women. But come not near any man. Upon whom is the mark. And begin in my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men. Which were before the house.

[8:08] And he said unto them. Defile the house. And fill the courts with the slaying. Go ye forth. And they went forth. And slew in the city. And it came to pass.

[8:18] While they were slaying them. And I was left. And I fell upon my face. And cried. And said. O Lord God. Wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel. In thy pouring out.

[8:30] Of thy fury upon Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Excuse me. Jerusalem. Then said he unto me. The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah.

[8:41] Is exceeding great. And the land is full of blood. And the city full of perverseness. For they say. The Lord hath forsaken the earth. And the Lord seeth not.

[8:52] And as for me also. Mine eyes shall not spare. Neither will I have pity. But I will recompense their way upon their head. And behold. The man clothed with linen.

[9:03] Which had the inkhorn by his side. Reported the matter. Saying. I have done as thou hast commanded me. Back unto verse 1. In Ezekiel chapter 9. Again. He cried also in mine ears.

[9:15] With a loud voice. Saying. Cause them to have charge over the city. To draw near. Even every man with his destroying weapon. In his hand. And again. Verse 2.

[9:25] And behold. Six men came from the way of the higher gate. Which lieth toward the north. And every man a slaughter weapon. In his hand. And one man among them. Was clothed with linen.

[9:36] With a rider's inkhorn by his side. And they went in and stood. Beside the brazen altar. What do we have here. In this passage. This short passage. In the book.

[9:47] Of Ezekiel. God is crying. To the prophet. Ezekiel says. That he cried. In the ears of his prophet. This cry of God.

[9:57] Shows the urgency. That was afoot. At this very moment. Of time. Now remember. This is a vision. That Ezekiel is having. It's a vision. That the Lord God.

[10:08] Has granted. To his servant. And to his prophet. But he's granting this vision. Of these men. And he is crying. Into the profiteers.

[10:19] And this vision. Of these men. That is coming. It says. There's six of them coming. From the higher points. Of the city. From the place. Of the northern gate. But there is one among them. Praise God.

[10:29] That's dressed in linen. That linen speaks. Of the priesthood. You read. In the book of Exodus. You read. In the book of Leviticus. You can even read. In the book of Numbers. About the linen garments.

[10:42] That the priests would wear. That the Levites. Would wear. In their priestly duties. When they were serving. God. When they were doing. God's bidding. When they were doing. God's will. When they were burning. The incense.

[10:53] When they were making. The sacrifices. Whatever it was. That the priestly tribe. Of Levi. Was doing. They were wearing. Their linen garments. While they were doing it. But these six men.

[11:04] Come. Before the one. With the linen garments. And each one of them. Has a slaughter weapon. In his hand. I've already mentioned. The urgency. Because God.

[11:14] Was screaming. In the ear. Of his man. But these six men. Come with their slaughter weapons. Folks. This shows. The severity. And this shows. The seriousness.

[11:25] Of the sin. Of God's people. Don't forget. For one moment. This was God's chosen people. That were in this vision. This was the apple. Of God's eye.

[11:36] As per the scripture. These were his chosen people. They were of the Abrahamic covenant. God had made a covenant. Of these people. But the people. Had backed out.

[11:47] Of their end. Of the covenant. God says. Judgment's coming. Good preacher brother. God says. Judgment's coming. That's an aspect of God. People don't want to hear about.

[11:57] Everybody loves to hear about. Jesus in the manger. Everybody loves to hear about. How he was born of a virgin. In Bethlehem. People don't mind hearing about. His adolescence.

[12:09] They don't mind hearing about it. To the time he was 12. They don't mind hearing about. When he began to be. About the age of 30. That's when his ministry. Began to be. And the Bible says.

[12:19] That he increased. In wisdom. And in stature. They don't mind hearing. About the miracles. About him opening the eyes. Of the blind. About him healing. Healing the lepers. About him causing the land to walk.

[12:31] They don't mind hearing. Those things about Jesus. And they sure don't mind hearing. About Jesus Christ. Hanging on a cross. Taking their sin. Upon himself. So that they.

[12:42] Could receive forgiveness of sin. People don't mind hearing. About the resurrection. I love to hear about the resurrection. I don't want to hear about it. Just at Easter time books.

[12:53] I want to be reminded. Of the resurrection of Christ. Every day of my life. Because I tell you now. If he was still in that grave. You and I would be here. Still yet. In our sins.

[13:03] And we would be. Without hope. And we would be. Of man. Most miserable. We would have no hope. So I love to hear about the resurrection. They don't mind hearing about the ascension of Christ.

[13:16] They don't mind hearing about. The end of the gospel accounts. They don't mind hearing about the beginning. Of the book of Acts. When Christ ascended. They don't mind that. But what they mind.

[13:29] Is the cross of Revelation. Which is the same cross. Mind you. They don't want to hear. About the cross of Revelation 19. They don't want to hear about.

[13:41] The cross. Who has a name. Written upon his thigh. King of kings. And Lord of lords. And he doth judge. And make war. This is the cross.

[13:51] That people want to reject. Most commonly. This is the cross. That even half of the church world. Seems to reject. Yes. I praise God. That it was a God of love.

[14:02] And a God of mercy. And a God of compassion. And a God of forgiveness. That forgave me of my sins. He picked me up out of the miry clay. Set my feet upon a solid ground.

[14:12] And established my goings. I say hallelujah. To that God. But he's also a God of fury. He's also a God of wrath. He is also a God of judgment.

[14:24] Especially I don't believe that. Tell that to the people. That drown in the flood. Tell that to the people. All but the hate. That God saved. On Noah's heart. Tell that to the people. In the cities of the plain.

[14:36] The cities of Sodom. And Gomorrah. That God burned to the ground. With brimstone. And with fire. Tell them that. Amen. Yes he's a God of judgment.

[14:46] Yes he's a God of fury. Yeah. People say. Well. What's going to happen to all that? I thought heaven was a perfect place. Full of love. Full of harmony.

[14:57] And it is. Praise God that it is. But folks. We're. Everything about God. Every one of his attributes. Are eternal. Right. He is eternal.

[15:08] Therefore. Everything about him. Is eternal. And that includes his wrath. That includes his anger. That includes his fury. That includes his judgment.

[15:19] That includes his condemnation. Of sin. But there's not going to be. Any sin in heaven. You're absolutely correct. I say praise God for that. Amen. Amen. But everything about God.

[15:30] Is eternal. His wrath. And his fury. And his anger. Will forever live. In a place called hell. Where people are tormented. Day and night. Where the Bible describes it.

[15:42] As a place. Of outer darkness. Where there is weeping. And wailing. And gnashing of teeth. Hey folks. This is a real place. That we're talking about here. And that is where the wrath of God. Will abide.

[15:53] Forever. And forever. And forever. When the end of this thing. Rolls down. There will be no need. For his wrath. Up there. Anymore. But it's got to go. Somewhere.

[16:03] Amen. If it's eternal. That's the only place. That it can go. Amen. Folks. I tell you now. You remember. God is.

[16:14] God is revealing. This vision. To Ezekiel. About. His own. People. This is not about. The lost man. This is not about. The drunk out on the street.

[16:25] This is not about. The pill head. It's not about. The prostitute. Praise God. I thank God. That Jesus Christ. Said himself. That the harlots. And the publicans. Would find their place.

[16:35] In the kingdom of God. Before the religious elite did. Amen. Why was that? Because when John. Came out preaching repentance. The harlots. And the publicans.

[16:46] Are the ones. That repented. Amen. They're the ones that believed. Amen. We got all these people. Depending on their own religion. Right. Depending on their own way. Folks.

[16:56] You'll be saved. The way that God prescribes. Here in his word. Or you will not be saved at all. God cannot be saved. By my testimony. Or no one can be saved.

[17:07] I'm sorry. By my testimony. And you can't save anyone. By your testimony. What is the power of God. And the salvation. According to Romans chapter 1. Paul wrote to the church in Rome.

[17:18] For I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. For it. Is the power of God. And the salvation. And folks. The gospel that we preach. It cannot be compromised. The gospel.

[17:29] While we preach. It cannot be watered down. We must tell people. You are a sinner. But God. Is the wonderful. And powerful. And able. And willing.

[17:40] Savior. Amen. Hallelujah. Yeah. That's my God. I'm preaching about. Amen. That's my Savior. Jesus Christ. That we're preaching about. Amen.

[17:51] But we must remember. This warning is going out. About the people of God. Amen. You repent of the sin. That's in your life. I need to repent of the sin. That's in my life.

[18:01] And we all have it. And you might look out there. And name it off. Some of the folks that we just did. You might say. I'm not as bad as that drunk. I'm not as bad as that pill pusher. Or that pill taker.

[18:13] I'm not as bad as the dope head. I'm not as bad as the wife abuser. Or the child abuser. Or the rapist. Or the murderer. Let me tell you something now. Sin is sin.

[18:23] Is sin. Is sin. In the eyes of the thrice holy God of the universe. That has never committed sin. Amen. Your smallest lie. Is as much an offense to the thrice holy God of the Bible.

[18:37] As the worst murderer in history. Yes sir. Your smallest lie. Your least little bit of covetous. In your life. Of jealousy. In your life.

[18:48] The wrong thought that you might have had about a neighbor. Is more. Or just as offensive. To God. As the most hardened atheist. That there is out here in this world.

[19:00] Right now. Be careful. Be careful folks. Be careful. He is a holy God. And he commands holiness from his people. And he is the only one that is able to give us that holiness.

[19:12] Only he who is holy. Can impart holiness. Only he who is light. And life itself. Can impart light. And life itself. Only he who is these things.

[19:23] Can impart those things. Back to Ezekiel here. Back to Ezekiel. Verse 3. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub.

[19:35] Whereupon he was to the threshold of the house. Folks. This is pivotal. The glory of God. The glory of God. Has left the cherub. Where the glory of God dwelt.

[19:48] It's where the glory of God was. Where was he at here? He was in the temple. It's called at the house here. In this scripture. But he was in the temple. This is where the physical presence.

[20:00] Of almighty God was. In the old testament. Before the temple. He was in the tabernacle. But regardless. It says. That he got. That his glory. Departed from the cherub.

[20:11] And it went to the threshold. Yeah man. This is showing. God's leaving. God's getting out of here. God's finished. And why was that?

[20:22] Because of the sin. Of his people. Yeah. Because of the sin. Of the nation. Israel. Because of the sin. Of the nation. Judah. This is why the glory of God.

[20:33] Was departing. And this is why. It was standing at the very threshold. God says. I'm done. But what we read about these. With the destroying weapons. In their hands.

[20:44] His business. Wasn't finished yet. God's presence. With his people. Was finished for a time. Yeah. He was done. You read on over. In Ezekiel 10. You'll see. You'll see. Just how done.

[20:55] He was. But his business. Wasn't finished yet. There was still slaughter. That had to happen. There was still punishment. That had to happen. There was still judgment. That was going to come down.

[21:05] Upon the people. And this had to happen. Because God. Had decreed it. Himself. And I promise you. If God decrees. That something will happen. I promise you. It will happen.

[21:16] Everything in this. In this Bible. If it hasn't already happened. If it was prophesied. And it hasn't happened. I promise you. If it has been prophesied. Yeah. Within. Within the pages.

[21:26] Between Genesis 1. 1. And Revelation 22. 21. If it was prophesied there. And it hasn't happened. I promise you. It will come to pass. Amen. Amen. That includes the full salvation and redemption of his people.

[21:41] And that includes the wrath of almighty God. Coming upon this earth. For all who have rejected Jesus Christ. As their way of salvation. There's many people out there now. That have tried to make their own way of salvation.

[21:53] They believe the false gospel. They believe the wrong religion. They believe that. As these people here did. We read it just a little while ago. We read that. That they felt like the God. The God of the heavens.

[22:04] Had forsaken the earth. And he didn't see. This is how they felt. That God was false. Just because God's letting you get away. With that sin in your life. Without a lightning bolt coming down from the heavens. And striking your backside.

[22:16] Doesn't mean that God's unaware of it. It doesn't mean that he doesn't know about it. God is aware of everything that's going on. On this earth. He is aware of everything going on. In this universe.

[22:27] As R.C. Sproul said one time. There is not one rogue molecule. Across the entire universe. That God is unaware of. Amen. He knows it all.

[22:39] He knows it all. He did. Like his brother here said. Before service got started. I don't know what he saw in me. I don't know what he saw in me. He knew all about me. Yeah.

[22:50] He knew what a sinner I was. He knew I was a drunk. He knew I was a liar. He knew I was a thief. He knew I was an atheist. He knew all these things about me. And yet God reached down.

[23:01] And yet God. God reached down. Grabbed a hold of me. Took me out to the woodshed. Gave me a glorious backside whooping. And I have been the same ever since.

[23:13] This is the God that saved me. And it's the same God that saved you. If you've never felt conviction in your heart. My friend. You have never been saved. If you came to the altar. If you went down on your knees.

[23:25] If you fell for forgiveness. And you weren't broken. And of a contract spirit. My friend. You received nothing. Amen. The Holy Spirit of God will show you exactly what you are.

[23:36] He will show you just how black. And evil. And wicked. And mean. And nasty. You really are. But he never leaves it there. He never leaves it there.

[23:46] He also shows you how glorious my God is. He shows you. He shows you how wonderful my God is. And he shows you that my God is the only way. Out from underneath the condemnation of almighty God.

[24:00] Folks. We were cast off in the garden. With the entire human race. Was placed under a curse. The entire earth for that matter. Was placed under a curse. But Jesus Christ came.

[24:11] The Bible says in the fullness of time. That he came. And he came to get us out from underneath that curse. And the lifting out from underneath the curse of God. Is available to everyone.

[24:23] That will repent of their sin and their wickedness. And believe in Jesus Christ. As their Savior. Hallelujah. Amen. Praise God. It's available to everybody.

[24:34] If you're here tonight and you ain't saved. It's available to you my friend. It's available to you dear neighbor. Salvation is available. God. Says the glory of the God of Israel.

[24:48] Was gone up from the sheriff. Whereupon he was. To the threshold. Of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen. Which had the rider's ankle on by his side.

[24:59] The Lord said unto him. Go through the midst of the city. Through the midst of Jerusalem. And set a mark. Upon the foreheads of the men. That sigh.

[25:10] And that cry. For all the abomination. That he. That be done. In the midst thereof. Folks. He didn't say. He didn't tell this man with the ink.

[25:22] Or this man that was dressed in linen. In the priestly garments. He didn't tell him. Go to the one that's singing the loudest. He didn't say. Go to the one that can quote the most scripture.

[25:33] Right. He didn't say. Go to the one that can perform the most miracles. He didn't say. Go to the one that sings with the prettiest voice. He didn't say. Go to the one that prays 12 times a day.

[25:46] He said. Go to the ones. That are lamenting. Over the sin. Of Jerusalem. Folks. This is a sign. This is a sign. That you are a true.

[25:57] Blue. Born again. Child. Of God. If you lament. Over the sins. In your household. If you lament. Over the sins. In your city. You lament.

[26:08] You lament. Over the sins. In your country. And all over the world. For that matter. I've said many times. We seem so surprised. When we pick up the paper. And we read about another rape.

[26:19] Or we read about another robbery. Or we read about another murder. Here recently. We've had this trial going on. Of something that happened five years ago. The little baby got killed. The little baby got murdered. By its own mother.

[26:30] And we read these stories. And we think. How in the world. Could someone do this. I'll tell you exactly. How someone could do this. Because Jesus Christ said himself. In John chapter 3.

[26:41] That men love darkness. Rather than light. Amen. That's how it happened. Word. And that's why it happens. Amen. And men don't want to go to the light.

[26:51] Because it exposes their evil. It exposes their deeds. Folks. I thank God. I've got a lot to go to. Oh yeah. I didn't want to go to that light either. Before I was saved.

[27:02] But since I've been saved. That light exposes every sin in my life. To this day. If I have a wrong thought. If I say a wrong thing. The Holy Spirit of God.

[27:13] That dwells on the inside. He convicts me of that sin. If I can go to God. I praise God. What John wrote in 1 John. In chapter 2. He said. My little children. My little children.

[27:25] My little children. I write these things unto you. That ye sin not. Well that right there. Condemns us. Right off the bat. Because every one of us. Are guilty of sin. But he said. My little children. I write these things unto you.

[27:36] That ye sin not. But. If any man sin. We have an advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ. The righteous. Hallelujah. I go to my advocate. That I have in Jesus Christ.

[27:47] I go to the one that died for me. I go to the one that bled for me. I go to the one. That washed me himself. In his own blood. And he forever sits at the right hand of majesty. Making intercession.

[27:57] For all of those. That have repented of their ways. And trusted in him. I can go to him anytime. Hallelujah. And folks. That's not. That's not just.

[28:09] Just for here. In this life. I thank God. I'm saved. But folks. It continues on into the next life. Paul writes in Romans. In chapter 5. He said.

[28:20] If we've been reconciled. To God. By the death. Of Jesus Christ. His son. If we've been reconciled to God. Through the death of Jesus Christ. How much more.

[28:31] Shall we stay reconciled. Through his life. What life was Paul talking about. Jesus Christ. And then died. Was buried. Resurrected. And ascended.

[28:41] By that point. He's talking about the life. That he forever lives now. To make intercession. To be our mediator. To be our high priest. Forever. After the order of Melchizedek.

[28:52] Praise God. This is the savior. That saved my soul. Yes he is. This is life. And this is life. This is the gospel. Ain't it good to know.

[29:03] That although man be sinner. Although you're a sinner. And I'm a sinner. Although God knew. Before the foundation of the world. Was ever laid. Before the earth was ever formed.

[29:14] Before the first star. Was ever hung in the sky. God knew what man would become. He knew that man would rebel against him. He knew that his own creation.

[29:25] Would snub its nose. At its creator. He knew these Israelites. Would act the way that they were too. But there was a promise made. In Genesis chapter 3.

[29:36] In verse 15. The first sign of the redeemer. That we have in scripture. All the way back in Genesis chapter 3. It was promised. There would be a seed of the woman. And it was also promised.

[29:47] By God himself. That the serpent would bruise the seeds here. But hallelujah. It was also promised. That the seed would crush the skull. Crush the very head.

[29:58] Of that serpent. That is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ being the seed of the woman. And Jesus Christ crushing the head. Of the serpent. And folks. When Jesus Christ comes.

[30:11] And one of these days he is. It could be tonight. It could be tomorrow. It could be after I've been buried. And six feet under the ground. But one of these days. Jesus Christ is coming back. He is coming back in power.

[30:23] And great glory. He is coming back for his people. The Bible says. In a moment. In the twinkling of an eye. It says. When the trump of God shall sound. And the dead in Christ shall rise.

[30:33] And those of us which are alive and remain. Shall be caught up. To be with him forever. And ever. And ever. In the air. Hallelujah. He is coming back one day.

[30:44] And I am going back with him. I am going back with him. Yeah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. This man with the inkhorn. I keep getting sidetracked.

[30:54] That's alright. Ain't it? Alright. Good. This man with the inkhorn. Is a wonderful picture of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit's work. It's a wonderful picture of Christ. This man with the inkhorn.

[31:07] Here he is. God says. Go and mark my people. Mark those that are repentant. Mark those that are penitent. They are grieving. Over the sin.

[31:17] Of this city. Over the abominations. That have taken place. Not just within the city. But within the house. Within the temple. Of almighty God. These abominations. Were prevalent.

[31:28] God says. Go and mark them. Go and mark them. Yeah. I praise God. Jesus said. I came not to call the righteous. But sinners to repentance. What do you say?

[31:39] I was a sinner. You. You was a sinner. He came for us. He said. They which are not sick. Have no need of a physician. I was sick.

[31:50] I was sick. I was dying in sin. I didn't even realize it. Amen. But Jesus Christ could see it. And Jesus Christ saw my needs. And he saved my soul. And only he saved my soul.

[32:03] This man with the incorn. Goes and marks God's people. And he knows. And God knows who his people are. Because they are the ones that are penitent. They are the ones that are lamenting.

[32:14] Over the sin. And folks. If you don't lament over your sin. And over the sins. Of your household. And of the world for that matter. If you're not grievous. Over the sin.

[32:26] I'd question if you was truly saved or not. That's right. I would truly question that. If you're not sorry. Especially for your own sin. Folks. That's the whole reason Jesus Christ came. It's called your sin.

[32:37] You couldn't save yourself. I couldn't save myself. It's an impossibility. Right. It was impossible. There was never a law given. According to Galatians chapter 3.

[32:48] Never was a law given. That was able to save man. We could have tried to follow the law to a T. And still died lost. Right. Spencer and I ain't lied in 20 years.

[33:02] You know what? That pride. Will get you in trouble too. I've talked to people. Who says. Well I ain't done this sin. And I ain't done that sin. In such and such amount of time.

[33:12] God's got to be well pleased with me. Folks. Your pride will get you in trouble. That's a pride statement. You know what God is pleased with? Jesus Christ. And that's all he's pleased with.

[33:24] If I stand before God. In and of myself. I will be consumed. By his righteousness. And his holiness. Oh yeah. But Jesus said. In John chapter 15.

[33:35] I am the vine. And here are the branches. If a man abide in me. And I in him. Can do anything. But without me. Ye can do nothing.

[33:47] Amen. But we must abide in him. And he must abide in us. If I stand before God. In the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Folks. I'm safe. I'm safe.

[33:58] But if I stand before God. In and of myself. I'm in trouble. Yeah. And you are too. None of us are holy enough. None of us are good enough. If we were. Jesus would have never had to have come.

[34:10] That's right. We're dead. I'm glad it ain't by money too. I'm glad I ain't going to buy my own weather. My way has been bought and paid for. By Jesus Christ. We are not our own.

[34:21] We've been purchased with a price. The precious price. Of the blood. Of Jesus Christ. God's own remarks. Verse 5. And to the others. He said in mine hearing.

[34:31] Go ye after him through the city. And smite. Let not your eyes spare. Neither have ye pity. Slay utterly old and young. Both maids and little children. And women. But come not near any man.

[34:42] Upon whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men. Which were before the house. God given instruction to these six men.

[34:52] That showed up here with the slaughter weapon. In their hands. He says go. And don't show pity. He says you kill young. You kill old. You kill everyone. That is not lamenting. And not grieving.

[35:03] Over the sins. Of the city. Of Jerusalem. And over the country. Of Judah. You slay these people. You don't show partiality. Folks. When the judgment of God comes.

[35:15] There will be no partiality. It won't matter the age. It won't matter the sex. It won't matter the position in the church. I'm of the mind. That there are plenty. Of plenty. Of pastors of churches.

[35:26] Right now. That aren't even saved. Amen. That's the truth. God help them men. Yes. God help them men. God help us to pray for them.

[35:38] God help us to pray. If they come to a point in their life. Of repentance. If they come to a point. Where they see. The gospel. For what it truly is. And they see Jesus Christ. Savior.

[35:48] For whom he truly is. And that forces them. To a place. Of repentance. God help us. To pray for those folks. The judgment of God. It knows no boundaries.

[36:01] And it knows no partiality. The only boundary that it has. Is the mark. The mark of the righteous. Of God. And notice folks.

[36:11] It was God that done this. It is God that makes you righteous. That's right. It's not my own walk. It's not my own doing. It's not because I can quote scripture.

[36:21] After scripture. It's not because I can sit and read the Bible. It's not because I can teach Sunday school. It's not because I can preach. It's not because I know. I know many. Many gospel songs. And none of those things.

[36:34] Are able to save me. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Is the power of God. Yeah. Unto salvation. That. Is where the power of God lies. To save.

[36:44] People. Is the good news. That although man is a sinner. God is a wonderful savior. And God. Is able to save. And my Bible says. He's able to save. To the uttermost. Hallelujah.

[36:55] That means. Hey. God don't save you a little bit here. Then the next day. Save you a little bit more. And the next day after that. A week later. A month later. Save you just a little bit more. Hey. When you're saved. You are saved.

[37:06] When you are saved. You are redeemed. You are born again. Twice. He told Nicodemus. In John chapter 3. You must be born again. The first time. He told him. You must be born again. The second time.

[37:17] He said. Marvel not. That I said unto thee. That you must be born again. Folks. We must be born from above. We must be born from above. Into the family of almighty God.

[37:28] Amen. We're not. Yeah. Folks. We ain't saved. We ain't saved. Amen. I'm glad it's. I'm glad it ain't a works based religion. As far as I'm concerned.

[37:39] I'm going to heaven by works. But it's the finished work of Jesus Christ. On Calvary. Amen. Amen. Amen. That's the work that's going to get me humbled. One of these days. After. A while.

[37:51] Verse 7 again. He said unto them. Defile the house. And fill the courts with the slain. Go ye forth. And they went forth and slew. In the city. This is God. Telling these men with the slaughter weapons.

[38:03] In their hands. Defile the house. Fill the courts with the slain. He's saying. Defile the very temple. Folks. This is the temple. That was once filled.

[38:13] With the glory of God. And God dwelt there. This was a place of sanctity. This was a place of worship. This is a place of reconciliation to God.

[38:24] And God tells these men. You go ahead. You defile the temple. With the bodies of the slain. Because those who are being slain. Have already defiled my temple.

[38:37] Yes. It's 1 Corinthians chapter 6. And I teach that our bodies are a temple. How are we nourishing that? How are we taking care of that temple? And I ain't talking about watching how much bacon you eat.

[38:51] I ain't talking about watching how much cheese you eat. Or how much soda you drink. How do you take care of the temple of God? The place where God dwells.

[39:02] Folks. God dwells on the inside. In the form of the Holy Ghost of God. And I thank God for that. When I got saved. The very day that I got saved. God moved in.

[39:14] And he threw away all that sin. He went back in the deep dark crevices of my heart. Back in the deep dark corners. I done forgot about. And he cleaned all that out. And he moved in.

[39:27] How do I defile this temple? It's not by what you eat. Even Jesus Christ said himself. It's not what goeth in through the mouth. That defile the man. But that which cometh out of the mouth.

[39:38] That proceedeth from the heart. That defile the man. Amen. How so? Because what's coming from your heart. Shows the true shape of your heart. It shows what's truly on the inside.

[39:50] Whether it be God. Or whether it's not. That's how that defiles you. You let sin creep into your life. You let sin creep into your home. You let sin creep into yourself.

[40:01] It'll creep into your mind. Before you know it. It's going to seep down into your heart. Yep. Repent. Repent of that. Repent of that sin. Don't run back to it.

[40:12] By gosh. Why would anyone want to run back to something that God has delivered them from? Amen. God delivered me from drunkenness. I wouldn't have been drunk.

[40:23] I'm the happiest drunk you've ever met in your life. But a drunk is a drunk is a drunk. That's right. God delivered me from that. Why would I want to go back to it? Why would I want to go back to that?

[40:34] Why would I want to spend that time? Why would I want to spend that money? Why would I want to cause tension between my wife and I? Or between my boys and I? Or between God and I? For that matter.

[40:44] Why would I want to run back to that? People will think that they get saved. Saved and lost. Saved and lost 15 times in a two month span.

[40:55] Yeah. Folks, they never got it to begin with. Correct. You get a good dose of the Lord. You don't want to go back to that sin. No way. You don't want to go back to that. What was the sin of the Israelites? What was the sin of Judah?

[41:06] What was their biggest sin? The same biggest sin that you and I had. Actually, we've got two. They had two. One was pride. And really, if you look at it, every sin that you can think of is rooted in pride to one extent or another.

[41:20] But it was idolatry. Yep. It was idolatry. What did God tell them in Judges? Or what does he tell them? Or what do the Israelites do in Judges?

[41:35] They go to God. They scream for mercy. God gives them mercy. They walk with God a little while. Then they go back to the people that are around them. To the countries that are around them.

[41:46] They start worshiping their idols again. And God sells them as bondsmen. Sells them into slavery. Whatever the case is. He gives them over for a little while. Yet, they scream to God for mercy again. 20 years later.

[41:57] 30 years later. 80 years later. And God shows mercy to his people again. And they walk with God a little while longer. And then they fall right back into it. Folks, they never learned their lesson. And Judges happened a long time before Ezekiel did.

[42:12] A long time before the book of Ezekiel was written. Folks, we're guilty of the same thing. And don't think that that idol has to be something. Some little statue that you've got made out of wood.

[42:23] Or out of metal. Or something along those lines. Idol can be anything. Anything that you set above God. It can be an idol. It can be your spouse. It can be your children. It can be your grandchildren.

[42:34] It can be what version of the Bible that you read. I've seen that. There's many idols out there. That people put above what the actual word of God says.

[42:44] There's many idols that people have. What's yours? What's yours? Amen. Repent of that idol.

[42:55] Repent of it. I've said many times when I used to pastor an upper room. I pastored an upper room for three years. You heard me say more than one time, you'd be careful. Put your children before God.

[43:06] Because God can remove that hindrance out of your life. God can remove those children out of your life. You put your grandchildren before God. God can remove that hindrance between your relationship and his.

[43:18] It's your truth. God can take that out of the way. And you will be left without excuse to worship God the way that he deserves. Excuse me.

[43:31] He says, fill the courts with the slain. The courts of his very temple he's talking about. Verse 8. And it came to pass while they were slaying them. And I was left that I fell upon my face and cried.

[43:44] And said, O Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel? And thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem. Folks, this is the prophet Ezekiel doing what?

[43:56] Doing his best to intercede for these people. Doing his best to plead with God. Much the same way that Moses did for the Israelites.

[44:07] Over in Exodus, hey, God was fed up with the Israelites. He was fed up with them. He said, these ten times you have tempted me. These ten times you have angered me.

[44:18] And I'm finished with you. I'll wipe you off the face of the planet. And I'll start over again with Moses. But Moses interceded. Moses said, what will these lands?

[44:30] What will all these countries think of you, Lord? If you just brought them out here in the wilderness. And let them die. They didn't go into that land that you promised them. What would they think?

[44:40] God, or Moses, interceded on behalf of the Israelites. Here is Ezekiel trying his best to intercede on behalf of these inhabitants of Jerusalem.

[44:54] He says, Lord, are you going to destroy every one of them? In the pouring out of your wrath and your fury? Are you really going to do this? And God answers.

[45:05] God answers. Then said he unto me, the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great. And the land is full of blood.

[45:17] And the city full of perverseness. For they say, the Lord hath forsaken the earth. And the Lord seeth not. And as for me also, mine eyes shall not spare. Neither will I have pity.

[45:29] But I will recompense their way upon their head. Ezekiel asked the question, God, are you really going to destroy all the inhabitants of Jerusalem?

[45:41] The pouring out of your wrath and your fury. And God says, as a matter of fact, I am. And these two verses that we just read. God says, I am going to do this thing.

[45:55] People say, I don't believe that about God. Well, you don't believe the Bible. I don't believe that God would have people slaughtered.

[46:06] People say, I don't believe that God would allow people to go to a place like hell. Yes, he will. Absolutely, he will. Yes, he will. And you know what? He don't need your permission for it. No.

[46:16] And he don't need my permission for it. No. No. Folks, God is all sovereign. God is all powerful. God is all knowing. And God is omniscient. He is everywhere.

[46:27] Yes, sir. He knew the sins of these people. Ezekiel said, God, are you really going to do this thing? And God says, I sure am. I sure am. Folks, judgment is coming.

[46:39] Judgment is coming right now. I'm not just talking about hearing Ezekiel. I'm talking about right now in 2025. Oh, yeah. The judgment of God is coming. The wheels are turning on that machine.

[46:51] And there is no stopping that machine. Correct. God's judgment is coming. What is it? What is our job? Our job is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature.

[47:04] Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature. Are you telling people about the gospel? Are you telling people you are a sinner but God is a savior? Are you telling people you need to repent of your ways?

[47:19] Are you telling people about the salvation of God? Yes. Are you telling them about the good news of the gospel? That they don't have to die in their sin and go to this awful place called hell?

[47:30] That there is a man named Jesus that came and gave up his very life. That we can have love and have it more abundantly. Yes. Amen. Amen. Are we telling people that?

[47:40] Are we just letting them slide on them off into hell? Shame on us. Yes. Shame on the church. Shame on the true believers in Jesus Christ for not getting the word out more.

[47:54] Shame on us. But praise God. God says, yes, I'm going to do this thing. In those two verses that we just read. But praise God for verse 11. There's hope. And behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the acorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

[48:12] What was commanded of him? To go all through Jerusalem and to put a mark on the foreheads of all those. Again, not all those that were religious.

[48:25] Not all those that wore a shirt and tie. Not all those that dressed up in a suit. Not all those that hadn't missed a day of church in 50 some odd years. Nothing like that. Mark the heads of those that are lamenting over the sin.

[48:39] Those are the true believers. And why would they do that? Because they understood God. And because they had an understanding of God. They had an understanding of the judgment of God.

[48:51] And they knew that that judgment was coming. Therefore, they lamented over the sins of the city. But this one that comes back here in verse 11. That God sent out on a mission to mark the foreheads of all those that were lamenting.

[49:05] All those that were penitent over the sin. That were weeping. That were crying over the sins of Jerusalem. He says, I've done what you commanded me to do.

[49:16] But folks, that shows that there is a finality to it. One of these days, the last person is going to be marked. One of these days, the last person on planet earth is going to be saved.

[49:28] One of these days, the mercy of God is going to run out for unrepentant sin. Yes, sir. God is long-suffering. God is patient.

[49:40] I thank God that He is. I'm a beautiful portrait of the patience of God. I thank God that He's long-suffering. He's patient.

[49:51] He's full of mercy. I thank God for what Peter wrote in 1 Peter chapter 4. When he said, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. I thank God for all of these things.

[50:04] But folks, there is a final day coming. There is a final gift of salvation going out to someone somewhere. The final person will be marked with the mercy of God.

[50:18] And with salvation. And after that, everybody is a free-for-all. Everybody is defending them out of their own selves.

[50:31] And there is no salvation after that. No, sir. There will be no salvation after that final person is saved. Now, I understand you get over in the book of Revelation.

[50:42] There are some things there. It's not what I'm talking about here. Where are you at now? Are you repentant of your sin?

[50:53] Are you repentant of what you've done to offend the God of this universe? Are you mournful? And do you grieve over the sins of the world?

[51:05] And over the sins of your family? And do you cry out to God such as Ezekiel here did? Do you cry out and say, Lord, are you going to kill them all? Do you cry out for mercy on behalf of your lost loved ones?

[51:19] Yes, sir. Do you cry out for mercy on behalf of your lost spouse? Of your lost siblings? Your lost nieces and nephews and children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Every one of us have got lost people out there.

[51:31] Tell them about the gospel. Yes, man. You can tell them about miracles all you want to. You can tell them about the Saturday night singing services.

[51:44] You can tell them about how much money was taken up in the coffers. You can tell them about all the people that got happy in church all you want to. But none of that will save their eternal soul. Only Christ and His gospel is capable of doing that.

[51:58] Repent ye. Repent ye. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That's my message to y'all this evening. God bless y'all. I appreciate your attention.