ROUTE 66 EP 031

Route 66: The Book of Ezekiel

Opening Context: Navigating a Confused Culture

• The pastor contrasted contemporary feelings-based decision-making with the authority of Scripture:

  • Opinions vary, but God has provided 66 books as “counselors”—His definitive Word.

  • Modern culture elevates feelings over truth, leading to confusion and error.

• Counseling framework: Facts → Faith → Feelings

  • Facts: The unchanging truth of God’s Word. “We want to be a church that’s all about the facts.”

  • Faith: Rooted in the facts of Scripture; not based on mystical experiences or vague spirituality.

  • Feelings: Valuable but must be governed by facts and faith.

• Applications:

  • Beware of “spiritual” experiences that are not scriptural.

  • Ground prayers and practice in Scripture; do not make emotions determinative of God’s presence.

• Example:

  • “God bumps” can be misleading; emotional reactions occur in both holy and secular contexts (e.g., jump scares).

• Scriptural anchor on the heart:

  • Highlighted the danger of following feelings or “the heart” blindly.

  • Referenced Scripture: “the heart is desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).

  • Correction: Follow God’s Word, not merely “follow your heart.”

• Discernment about signs and spiritual phenomena:

  • Not all spiritual activity is from God; measure all by Scripture.

  • Moses’ signs before Pharaoh:

    • Staff into a serpent; leprous hand healed—God-authored signs validating His messenger (Exodus 4:1–8).

    • Pharaoh’s sorcerers replicated signs by occult power—still supernatural, but evil (Exodus 7:10–12).

  • New Testament principle:

    • “Signs are for the Jew” (1 Corinthians 1:22).

    • Many “apostolic sign gifts” served a specific purpose; with Scripture completed and the gospel extending to Gentiles, the need for some signs diminished.

Transition to Ezekiel: Four-Part Goal for Today

• Aim to cover:

  1. Panoramic view

  2. Primary events and people

  3. Pictures of Jesus

  4. Practical living

Panoramic View of Ezekiel

• Central themes:

  • God’s glory appears repeatedly—approximately 27 references—underscoring the book’s aim: God’s glory above all.

  • Recurrent phrase: “They shall know that I am the Lord”—appears ~70 times and frames the purpose of judgment and restoration.

• Pastoral application:

  • Even if suffering is involved, the ultimate aim is God’s glory.

  • God’s people in exile learn His Lordship through discipline and deliverance.

• Ten words or less summary:

  • “Though Israel is in exile, the nation will be restored.”

• Ezekiel’s setting and role:

  • Ezekiel is among the exiles in Babylon; he proclaims impending judgment and promises hope of restoration.

  • He receives visions—unusual, vivid, authoritative in his prophetic moment.

• Vision highlight: Valley of Dry Bones:

  • The resurrection of dry bones by God’s breath (Ezekiel 37:1–14).

  • Signifies national restoration and God’s power to revive what seems dead.

Primary Events and People: Structure of Ezekiel

• Three major divisions:

  • Chapters 1–24: God’s judgment on Judah

    • God’s presence departs the temple due to sin and idolatry (Ezekiel 10:18–19; Ezekiel 11:22–23).

  • Chapters 25–32: God’s judgment on the nations

    • God opposes the enemies of Israel; He judges those who oppress His people.

  • Chapters 33–48: Future restoration

    • Promise of spiritual renewal and a new temple (Ezekiel 40–48).

• Theological context:

  • Three biblical categories of humanity: Jew, Gentile, Church (1 Corinthians 10:32).

  • Salvation in Christ unites believers beyond ethnic or social differentiation (Galatians 3:28).

• Pastoral application:

  • The church should reflect the demographics of its town—ethnically and socioeconomically diverse, unified in Christ.

Times of the Gentiles

• Historical-biblical flow:

  • As Judah faces judgment, attention turns to Gentiles (e.g., end of 2 Chronicles).

  • Period termed “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24).

  • Continues until God refocuses on Israel, notably in the Tribulation.

• Pauline clarification:

  • “Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

  • Rejection of Israel as God’s people is incorrect; divine discipline evidences God’s fatherhood, not disownership (Hebrews 12:5–11).

Key Scripture Emphasis: God’s Heart in Judgment

• “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:32).

  • God is a God of hope.

  • He takes no pleasure in judgment; He calls for repentance and life.

• Application:

  • Sin has consequences—visible personally and in society.

  • God’s call is to turn and live, even in the midst of exile and discipline.

Pictures of Jesus (Christological Hints in Ezekiel)

• God’s glory returning to the temple parallels Christ’s role as the true temple presence (John 2:19–22).

• Restoration imagery anticipates the Shepherd-King gathering His scattered people (Ezekiel 34:23–24; fulfilled in Christ, John 10:11).

Practical Living: Facts, Faith, Feelings Applied to Ezekiel

• Live by the order God designed:

  • Submit feelings to the facts of Scripture; cultivate faith anchored in God’s Word.

• Respond to discipline with repentance:

  • When God corrects, it is fatherly love; repent and seek restoration.

• Seek God’s glory in all circumstances:

  • Even suffering can become a stage for God to be known as Lord.

• Engage missionally in diverse communities:

  • Build churches that reflect local demographics, rooted in unity in Christ rather than divisions.

“Ezekiel: Judgment, Watchmen, and Restoration” — Sermon Recap

Main Theme and Flow

• The pastor addresses contemporary theological debates about Israel, then grounds the church’s understanding in Scripture.

• Central focus: God’s dealings with Israel and the Gentiles, the church’s present responsibility, and the themes of judgment, mercy, watchmanship, and restoration in Ezekiel.

• Application is threaded throughout with pastoral warnings, personal anecdotes, and a call to active evangelism and shepherding.

Scripture Foundations

• Highlighted passages:

  • “Blindness in part” has happened to Israel until the “fullness of the Gentiles” comes in; “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:25–26).

  • “Times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24).

  • Ezekiel’s indictment of false shepherds; God’s heart for scattered sheep (Ezekiel 34).

  • The Millennium and final battle after Satan is loosed (Book of Revelation).

God: Who He Is and How He Responds

• God is faithful to His covenant people, Israel, even amid partial blindness.

• God’s judgment is real and purposeful; discipline aims at restoration.

• God is merciful and committed to bringing His people back.

• God’s presence matters—He departs from unfaithful worship (Ezekiel’s temple vision) and is tangibly known among His people.

• God appoints watchmen to warn and protect; He holds leaders accountable for the care of His flock.

Identity and Calling: Who We Are and How to Live

• Believers (Gentiles and Jews in Christ) are part of the church and the Body of Christ.

• We are called to be watchmen—alert, warning, and caring for others.

• We must pursue evangelism, as God is gathering the “fullness of the Gentiles.”

• Shepherds must feed, strengthen, heal, bind up, seek the lost, and avoid self-serving leadership.

• We are to fear God, heed His Word, and teach our children the reality of sin’s consequences and the hope of restoration.

Addressing Current Theological Debates

• The pastor challenges doctrines that dismiss Israel’s identity and role.

• Emphasis: Romans 9–11 establishes church doctrine alongside Israel’s place in God’s plan.

  • Early Romans: salvation, justification.

  • Romans 9–11: God’s relationship to Israel—partial blindness now; grafting of Gentiles; eventual return and salvation of Israel.

  • Romans 12 onward: renewed exhortations to the church, with Israel not forgotten.

Key Exposition: Romans 11:25–26

• “Blindness in part” — Israel’s current spiritual state is partial, not permanent.

• “Fullness of the Gentiles” — God is gathering Gentiles through the gospel; this provokes Israel to jealousy and will culminate in God’s renewed focus on Israel.

• “All Israel shall be saved” — God’s covenant promises will be honored; the church must recognize His long-range plan.

The Times and the Fullness of the Gentiles

• Luke references the “times of the Gentiles”; Romans clarifies the “fullness.”

• Applications:

  • Gentile conversions are part of God’s strategy to provoke Israel to jealousy.

  • Evangelism matters now; the next major prophetic event after the fullness is reached is the rapture of the church.

  • Urgency: someone coming to Christ today could mark that “fullness,” prompting the rapture and God’s renewed focus on Israel.

Prophetic Overview: From Rapture to Millennium

• Rapture — God gathers His church when the fullness is complete.

• Second Coming — Christ returns; judgment on the nations; fulfillment of prophetic markers.

• Restoration and Temple — Future restoration themes in Ezekiel point forward to the millennial reign.

• Revelation’s Millennium — Christ reigns for a thousand years; Satan is bound, then released; final conflict ensues.

Themes in Ezekiel Repeated for Learning

• Repetition as a teacher: Judgment is real; consequences are true; God is merciful; restoration is God’s aim.

• Parenting parallel: Discipline aims at restoration and course correction.

• Sin’s trajectory: Starts as “fun” but enslaves—illustrated through a raw personal family testimony about addiction’s destructive consequences (bankruptcy, theft, self-loathing).

• Teach children: Use age-appropriate Bibles and stories to instill fear of God and awareness of sin and grace.

God’s Presence in the Temple and Church

• Ezekiel records God’s glory departing—sobering warning against empty religion.

• Modern contrast: A visitor “felt God” in the church—testimony to the indwelling Spirit and gathered presence.

• Warning against formalism: Mere ritual without God’s presence is spiritually hollow.

The Watchman Calling

• Ezekiel is appointed as a watchman—vigilance to warn of impending danger.

• Applications:

  • “We are the watchmen.” Stay awake; keep alert; warn others; don’t sleep on duty.

  • Evokes war-movie imagery: dozing watchmen lead to catastrophe—pray to remain vigilant and faithful.

The Valley of Dry Bones

• Not expounded in detail here, but noted as a major theme—God’s power to revive the spiritually dead (Ezekiel 37).

• Application implication: Hope for restoration even in seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Ezekiel 34: Against False Shepherds

• God’s word against shepherds who feed themselves and neglect the flock (Ezekiel 34:1–6).

• Indictments against false shepherds:

  • Self-serving; feeding themselves rather than the flock.

  • Neglecting the weak and diseased; no strengthening, healing, or binding up.

  • Ignoring the lost; not seeking the scattered or driven away.

  • Harsh rule; governing with force and cruelty.

  • Result: Sheep scattered and vulnerable as prey.

• Contemporary example:

  • Prominent megachurch failed to open doors during a flood; a secular furniture store owner welcomed people.

• Call to leaders and the church:

  • Feed the flock; tend the vulnerable; seek the lost; reject luxury and self-protection that neglects mercy.

Practical Applications

• Evangelism urgency: Share the gospel—God is filling the Gentile “basket.”

• Shepherding: Prioritize people over comfort; embody sacrificial care.

• Holiness and sobriety: Recognize the reality of judgment; avoid sin’s deceptive “fun” that enslaves.

• Teach the next generation: Instill fear of God and hope of restoration with Scripture narratives.

• Presence-centered worship: Seek God’s presence, not empty ritual.

• Watchman posture: Stay awake, warn lovingly and clearly, and protect the flock.

Pictures of Jesus in Ezekiel (Sermon Recap)

Opening Illustration: The Heart of a Shepherd

• Personal story: Misjudging a hurting man after a service; he said, “I don’t want your money. I want your Savior.”

• Reflection: “What kind of shepherd am I?”

• Application: Many Christians are vulnerable because shepherds fail to care, seek, and protect. God declares He is against shepherds who neglect and scatter the flock.

  • Pastoring poorly is easy; true shepherding—truth-telling, loving, guiding—is difficult.

  • Example: Preaching at funerals with honesty about death and eternity can provoke resistance; shepherds must speak truth in love.

Jesus on the Throne

• “The likeness of a throne” and “the appearance of a man” upon it (Ezekiel 1:26–27).

• Linked to Jesus seated on His throne (Revelation 3:21; Matthew 25:31).

• Theology: Jesus is the rightful King who rules and reigns.

Jesus as Watchman

• Ezekiel’s watchman imagery (Ezekiel 33).

• Jesus’ first public message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

• The disciples continued this call (Acts 2).

• Application:

  • Christianity often prefers only positive messages; biblical shepherding includes loving warnings.

  • Jesus embodies the faithful watchman—He tells hard truths to save lives.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd

• Ezekiel rebukes false shepherds; God promises a true Shepherd (Ezekiel 34).

• Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).

• He is the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4).

• Applications:

  • Pastors shepherd under Christ’s authority.

  • Israel needed Jesus as their Shepherd; the church must heed and follow Him today.

Jesus and Resurrection Hope

• Dry bones restored to life picture resurrection and God’s power to revive the dead (Ezekiel 37).

• Jesus rose from the grave (Luke 24), confirming He is God and the Savior.

• “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23); salvation comes by faith (Romans 10).

Life Application: “Something Fun” and Practical

• Lighthearted illustration: Receiving underwear from a grandmother—sometimes practical gifts matter most.

• Application: We need encouragement and practical instruction in Scripture—truths that are “fun” to learn and helpful for life.

Cherubim: Angelic Guardians in Scripture

• Definition: Cherubim are angelic beings frequently depicted as guardians, especially in Ezekiel.

• Guarding Eden (Genesis 3:22–24).

• Cherubim and the Holy of Holies (Exodus references—cherubim embroidered/placed as guardians).

• Cherubim in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:5–10, 12, 18):

  • Four living creatures; faces of man, lion, ox, eagle; omnidirectional movement; wheels full of eyes.

• Lucifer as the covering cherub (Ezekiel 28:11–17):

  • “Anointed cherub that covereth,” associated with Eden, wisdom, beauty, and musical elements; pride led to his fall.

• Throne imagery without the covering cherub (Revelation 4).

• Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6).

• Warning about angels and false gospels:

  • “Even if an angel… should preach another gospel” (Galatians 1:8–9).

Who God Is and How He Responds

• God is holy, sovereign, and enthroned—He rules with justice and mercy.

• God opposes false shepherds who neglect the vulnerable; He provides the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

• God warns through watchmen because He loves; He calls for repentance to save, not to harm.

• God judges sin yet offers resurrection life in Christ—He brings dry bones to life.

Who You Are and How to Live

• You are a sheep under the care of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus.

• You are called to heed warnings, repent, and follow Christ’s voice.

• You are part of a flock that needs faithful, truth-telling, compassionate shepherds.

• You are a witness: like the disciples, call others to repent and trust in Jesus.

• Do not be swayed by “positive-only” messages—embrace the full counsel of God’s Word.

Practical Application

• Seek shepherds who feed, protect, and pursue the lost; pray for pastors to follow the Chief Shepherd.

• Welcome loving warnings—repent quickly and sincerely.

• Anchor hope in Jesus: King on the throne, Watchman who warns, Good Shepherd who saves, and Lord who conquers death.

• Study Scripture carefully—especially angelic beings—without speculation; test all spiritual claims by God’s Word.

• Guard the gospel: refuse any message that contradicts the apostolic gospel of grace through Christ alone.

Dry Bones and Watchmen: Ezekiel’s Call to Life and Warning

Sermon Context and Flow

• Emphasis: The supremacy of Scripture over spiritual experiences and cultural narratives.

• Teaching on cherubim and Lucifer’s original role.

• Main exposition centers on two passages in Ezekiel:

  • Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37

  • Watchman: Ezekiel 33

• Application: Mission to proclaim the Gospel and warn in love as God’s watchmen.

Scripture References

• The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1–10).

• The Watchman on the Wall (Ezekiel 33:1–7).

• “Even if an angel… should preach another gospel” (Galatians 1:8).

• The Spirit’s sealing and life-giving work (Ephesians 1).

Opening: Scripture over Experience

• Key assertions:

  • Spiritual does not equal scriptural. Truth is measured by God’s Word.

  • Reject even “angelic” revelations if they contradict the Gospel (Galatians 1:8).

  • Experiences and feelings are subordinate to biblical facts.

• Applications:

  • Test all claims, movements, and experiences by Scripture.

  • Be willing to say, “That doesn’t line up with the Bible,” even when it challenges popular narratives or personal testimonies.

Cherubim, Lucifer, and Heavenly Realities

• Teaching points:

  • Cherubim function as guardians (Temple’s Holy of Holies; Garden of Eden guarding the tree of life).

  • Lucifer was once a light-bearer and guardian before rebellion.

  • Spiritual warfare precedes and shapes earthly realities.

• Cultural connections:

  • Popular fascination with sci-fi “wars among the stars” echoes biblical themes of heavenly beings and cosmic conflict.

Exposition 1: Ezekiel 37 — The Valley of Dry Bones

• Summary: Ezekiel speaks God’s Word into a valley of very dry bones; structure forms; breath (Spirit) enters; an exceedingly great army stands.

• Key observations:

  • Ezekiel’s role: Prophet-watchman; speaks God’s Word into death.

  • Sequence: Word to bones → structure → breath → life → army.

  • God’s promise: “I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live… and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”

• Theological takeaway:

  • God raises the dead to life—core of the Gospel.

  • By faith in Jesus Christ, the Spirit brings life to dead sinners (Ephesians 1).

• Applications:

  • The church was once “dead,” but God breathed life through the Gospel; now we stand as an army.

  • Proclaim life to those dead in sin; replace contempt with compassion and proclamation.

  • Mission focus begins locally; speak the Word so “dem bones” live.

• Illustrative note:

  • The “Dem Bones” song humorously captures God knitting together an army from death.

Exposition 2: Ezekiel 33 — The Watchman on the Wall

• Summary: God appoints a watchman to warn of danger; responsibility and accountability hinge on faithful warning.

• Key points:

  1. Responsibility: God sets watchmen to warn; silence incurs guilt.

  2. Accountability: Rejecting a clear warning rests on the hearer; withholding warning rests on the watchman.

  3. Mission clarity: Ezekiel was set as a watchman over a spiritually dead nation—God’s Word must still be proclaimed.

• Personal testimony:

  • Early preaching on Ezekiel 33 at a youth event; rough delivery but affirmed: “This church hasn’t heard preaching like that in years.”

  • Call to be a watchman—like Paul, not with “excellency of speech,” but with the power of God’s Word.

• Applications:

  • Each believer is called to be a watchman—at home, work, and in the city.

  • Warning people with God’s Word may be unpopular, but it is loving and necessary.

  • Blessings of watchman ministry:

    • Some resent the trumpet; others heed the Word and find victory.

    • Occasionally, you’ll witness “a valley of dry bones” come to life—making the work worth it.

Who God Is and How He Responds

• God is sovereign over life and death—He creates, breathes, and revives by His Spirit.

• God speaks through His Word—life and warning come through His revelation, not human invention.

• God holds His servants accountable—He appoints watchmen and requires faithfulness in warning.

Who You Are in Christ and How to Live

• Identity:

  • Once dead in sin; now alive by the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Part of God’s “exceedingly great army” formed by His Word and Spirit.

• Calling:

  • A watchman—responsible to sound the trumpet of God’s truth.

  • A proclaimer of life—speak the Gospel to those dead in sin, not as haters but as heralds.

• Conduct:

  • Measure all things by Scripture; feelings and experiences submit to God’s Word.

  • Use your God-given voice and personality—God works through imperfect vessels.

  • Stand your ground: “Not under my watch.” Be alert, warn, and gather people under the Gospel’s banner.

Cultural and Practical Applications

• Resist false gospels—even those adorned with spiritual claims or angelic language (Galatians 1:8).

• Engage culture discerningly—recognize biblical echoes, but anchor beliefs in Scripture.

• Begin locally—build an army through faithful proclamation; see God knit people together into a living, obedient community.

Closing Charge

• Nothing else matters but God’s Word—give it to the world.

• Be watchmen everywhere—blow the trumpet, warn in love, proclaim life.

• Expect opposition; rejoice in transformation—God will raise dry bones and form an army under His Lordship.

Summary Takeaways

1. God’s Word, not feelings, is our foundation; faith rests upon facts, and feelings follow.

2. Ezekiel reveals God’s glory and lordship through judgment and restoration; “they shall know that I am the Lord.”

3. Israel’s exile is not abandonment; it is discipline with a promise of national restoration.

4. The “times of the Gentiles” underscores God’s global plan while preserving His promises to Israel.

5. God takes no pleasure in death; He calls all to turn and live—hope thrives in repentance and obedience.

6. Jesus is seen in Ezekiel as King on the throne, faithful Watchman, Good Shepherd, and Lord of Resurrection.

Scripture References Highlighted

• Jeremiah 17:9

• Exodus 4:1–8; Exodus 7:10–12

• 1 Corinthians 1:22

• Ezekiel 10:18–19; Ezekiel 11:22–23

• Ezekiel 18:32

• Ezekiel 34:23–24

• Ezekiel 37:1–14

• Ezekiel 40–48

• Luke 21:24

• Romans 11:25–26

• Hebrews 12:5–11

• 1 Corinthians 10:32

• Galatians 3:28

• John 2:19–22; John 10:11

• Revelation 3:21; Revelation 4

• Matthew 25:31; Matthew 4:17

• Acts 2

• Genesis 3:22–24

• Ezekiel 1:5–10, 12, 18, 26–27

• Ezekiel 28:11–17

• Isaiah 6

• Galatians 1:8–9

• Luke 24

• Romans 6:23

• Romans 10

• Ephesians 1