EZEKIEL

I preached from Hosea last night and really enjoyed sharing the truth in chapter 2.  I've started a series of sermons on Wednesday evening entitled: "Big Truths in Little Packages".  I'm preaching highlights throughout the Minor Prophets.  I've been wanting to do this for years and I'm so looking forward to sharing all the nuggets of truth found in these small books.  Today, I'm again in Ezekiel and have just one or two thoughts for you.  Here they are: 1) WHOSE EQUAL?  Man says that God's ways are not equal; and God says that man's ways are not equal.  Whose equal?  Man saves Eagles' eggs and aborts babies!  Who is equal?  Man fights pollution, and yet continues to protect the pollution of the heart and mind.  Who is equal?  I think I could go on and on here.  Look at these verses:  Ezekiel 18:25  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?  Ezekiel 18:29  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?  Ezekiel 33:17  Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.  Ezekiel 33:20  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.        Four different times we have this discussion about who is equal.  Now I'm going to go out on a branch here this morning, and just say I'm siding with God!  Yes, I'm thinking He is the ONE who is equal and we are not!  We hold high ideals and then don't keep them.  We have lofty plans and then do not do them.  We have things we want to do when we get around to it, but never do.... God on the other hand... never says and does not do!  Never plans and does not execute!  Never promises but what He fulfills!  Never starts and does not finish!  God is equal and we are not!  Trust Him when you don't think He is equal with you..... He is.... you just don't see it yet, but............  you will. 2) THE RIVER OF LIFE- In Ezekiel 47, we see that a river of water proceeds out from the temple.  This water was measured at a thousand cubits and it was ankle deep; another thousand and it was knee deep; another thousand cubits and it was waist deep; and another thousand and it was too deep to walk in, it could only be swam in.  This water was a water of life.  (vs. 9) "And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, withersoever the river shall come, shall life:"   It is a River of Life.  "I've got a river of life, flowing out of me..."  Jesus likens the Holy Spirit to a river of life as well.  John 7:38  "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  It goes on to say that wherever this river ran, it brought forth an abundance of life.  "as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many."  (vs. 10)  The banks of this river are filled with all types of fruit trees that bring forth new fruit evey month.  They are good for meat and medicine.  It is a river of life.  This prophetic passage deals with the temple in the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth.  One day... our very own eyes shall see it!!  We will rule and reign with Christ on the earth for 1,000 years!  Oh what a day that will be!!  Take heart Oh weary Christian..... the best is yet to be!!  May God bless you today!   Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor of Grand View Baptist Church (The greatest people in the world!)