“ The Transformation Process”


BIBLE READING: Ezekiel 35-37
DISCUSSION                                    
                These messages of Ezekiel are messages of hope for the future.  God would in time transform His people and bring them back to their land of Promise (Ezekiel 36.24).  Ezekiel lays out this transformation process that the Lord gave to him.  Today, within this same process, we can see how Christ transforms every sinner who places their trust in Him.  First, God will cleanse them from their sin (Ezekiel 36.35).  Today, when believers confess their sins, they are cleansed with the blood of Jesus.  Next, God says that He will place His spirit within them (Ezekiel 36.26-27).  When a believer has his sins washed with the blood of Jesus and becomes a Christian, He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is the spirit of God living within us; we are not our own but are now the Temple that He lives within (I Corinthians 6.20).  Then He says that the people would “loathe yourselves” because of their sins (Ezekiel 36.31-32).  When true Christians come to understand the price that was paid for their sins and the love that Christ has for them, they begin to despise sin. Then, we will have fellowship with Him (Ezekiel 36.37).  I John tells us that “if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another” (I John 1.7).  Finally, Ezekiel says that the culmination of all these things will bring about the glorification of God, when all “know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36.38).  When a person lives for the LORD as he should, people begin to see Jesus Christ living within us (Galatians 2.20). Their message of hope and restoration is not all that different from ours.  However, the question for us today, as we seek to live our day for the LORD, is, is He still being glorified in my life?  Take a moment to retrace these steps of transformation and see what needs to be done to begin to glorify God once again. 
Prayer Requests:___________________________________________________________________________________

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