Sunday's Comin' #302 - Ezekiel 36: 26-27

Rebekah Wilson, Alpha Team 

Transcript

Rebekah Wilson 0:07

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s daily dose of the Word of God. Today is Tuesday, February 7th and this is Rebekah Wilson - I serve on the Alpha Team. In preparation for our question this Sunday, "What does the Holy Spirit do?",I’ll be reading Ezekiel 36: 26-27.

Rebekah Wilson 0:27

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” 

Rebekah Wilson 0:43

Within the context of Ezekiel, the prophet is speaking about Israel’s restoration after returning from exile. The text talks about how God will gather his chosen people from all over. He will sprinkle clean water on them to make them clean and cleanse them from the idolatry they had committed. Next he talks about giving them a new heart, not a heart that was like stone. Over and over in the Bible, someone who has a “hard heart” is a person who refuses to listen to God, his prophets, or his Word. The people of Israel had been deaf to the warnings and judgements against their idolatrous ways. But not anymore. The Lord would give them a heart of flesh, a softened heart, to receive his Word and commands. 

Rebekah Wilson 1:32

When we think of the changes that we want to make to our character or thoughts or actions, we too often expect it to be a job all of our own doing. For example, “I’m really going to try not to gossip or slander anymore.” But then we can get frustrated or discouraged when even our best efforts produce little to no results. This is because heart change (or heart transformation) is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who convicts us of wrong doing and then works in us and through us to transform us. He is the one who renews our minds and enables us to follow God’s commands and truth. What area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit to work in? What 'bad habits' or struggles are frustrating you that you can bring to the Holy Spirit in surrender? 

Rebekah Wilson 2:26

Let’s pray. Lord, We praise you for being merciful and gracious to pour out your Spirit in broken and weak vessels like us. We marvel at the transforming power of your Holy Spirit, who changes lives and renews our souls. Forgive us for all the ways we try to fix ourselves, turn to books, gurus or other people to help us break bad habits. Thank you that your Holy Spirit gently corrects and convicts us of the sin in our lives and helps us to draw near to you for healing and restoration. Thank you for being a God who hears our prayers and delights to see us seek intimacy with you, our creator and sustainer. Amen.