Ezekiel 1:1-3, 36-37 | What Happens When God Comes

It is one of the ways of God. Periodically in history, He opens the windows of heaven and comes down with His manifest presence. We call these moments “revival” as it affects the church and “spiritual awakening” as it impacts people without Christ.

Spiritual results happen at an accelerated pace with stunning results. These outpourings bring a course correction to nations and most importantly, they glorify God. Nationwide movements usually happen at the worst times in a culture, when the church realizes their only hope is God and lift a united cry of desperation.

ISRAEL’S EXAMPLE

The nation of Israel holds a unique place in God’s history. In Ezekiel 36, we hear from God about what He is going to do to restore Israel after a season of judgment for their rebellion. God tells them He is about to come and fulfill His covenant to them. Not because of their goodness, but His righteousness. This is God's work for God's glory. Fourteen times in Ezekiel 36:23-38, in 16 verses He says, "I will."

Although Israel is unique, we should pray for God to do these kinds of things in our day in our nation!

I WILL …VINDICATE.

VS.23 “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

I WILL … RETURN YOU.

VS.24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

I WILL … CLEANSE YOU.

VS.25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

I WILL …TRANSFORM YOU.

VS. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

I WILL … PUT MY SPIRIT IN YOU SO YOU'RE ABLE TO OBEY.

VS. 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

I WILL … BE YOUR GOD.

VS. 28 “You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.

I WILL … SAVE YOU FROM UNCLEANNESS.

VS. 29 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.

I WILL … PROSPER THE LAND.

VS. 30 “I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.

31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.

32 “I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”

I WILL … REBUILD THE CITIES.

VS. 33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt.

34 “The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by.

35 “They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’

36 “Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.”

I WILL … INCREASE YOUR MEN.

VS. 37 Thus says the Lord God, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.

38 “Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Father, we long for Your manifest presence in our nation, our cities, our homes, our churches, and our lives. I pray that You would “rend the heavens and come down” and bring a mighty, nationwide revival in the church and spiritual awakening among those without You. And, I ask that all you have done in the past, you will do in our land and our world today and that You would be seen as the great God that You are.