20250921 6PMp RI Know that Yahweh Breathes New Life

Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord has brought Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones, and led back and forth among them.  He is told to prophesy about the bones and he does and the bones come together, with flesh and with breath, as a great army. These bones are the people of Israel! They are dead bones. The Lord declares what he will do with his people, the people of Israel.  

Yahweh never gives up, and Yahweh never goes back on his word! We see this fulfilled in Jesus day, and we see this fulfilled in Jesus. In the woman who is healed. In the blind man who receives his sight. In the tax collector who repays double to those who he cheated.

And for us, God makes us alive in Christ. Be thankful, for Jesus has made our dry bones live!

This is our God. Jesus never gives up on his people, and  He never goes back on his word.

Speaker: Ron Irving

20250914 6PMp GH Know that Yahweh gives a new heart.

Reading: Ezekiel 36:22-38

We begin with the story of a boy who realised he was treating God badly, and found that a verse in Ezekiel 36 applied directly to him. He found, over time his heart was changed and his life was changed in his attitude to God.

In Ezekiel, God explains that he will give his people a new heart.  Why does Yahweh do that? 

Israel have NOT depicted God faithfully, they have profaned the name of God.  Yet, for the sake of His name, God will give them a new heart.  And he will put his Spirit within them. 

Jesus explains that a person must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.  Born of the Spirit.

How shall we understand what Ezekiel has written?  His word talks of many events to come, not always understanding what time his words apply to.  

God promises that he will give his people a new heart, a new start, a new life.

Speaker: Gary Hill.

20250907 6PMp JB Know that Yahweh is your Shepherd

Reading:  Ezekiel 34:1-31

The circumstance: Jerusalem and the Temple had fallen and been destroyed. The people had been sent into exile and scattered.

The problem: The shepherds, the leaders, had failed to look after his people.  And the people had gone wrong also. 

The Sovereign Lord speaks out against the shepherds of Israel and declares that he will himself be the Shepherd of his people. The shepherds of the people had forgotten their God.  They had turned away from his way, and from their duty to his people and just looked after themselves,    

The solution: God himself will be the shepherd.  God will shepherd with justice.  God will send his shepherd, David.  He will bring Shalom, Peace and well-being.  Jesus declares, I am the good shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.  He says, “Do not fear, little flock.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Speaker: John Batten.

20250831 6PMp RI God wants you to turn

Reading: Ezekiel 33:1-22

Ezekiel is released from his inability to speak, the night before he meets a man who has escaped to tell him that Jerusalem has fallen.  Ezekiel is the watchman, and the watchman must speak and the people must listen and heed the warning, Yahweh wants all to turn to him.  Presuming on righteousness is dangerous.  On The Cross, he reaches out to all.  He wants you to turn to him.

If you have turned to Christ, do not trust in complacency. Look up,  Everyday turn to Christ. If you have not yet turned to Christ, What is it that stops you? Yahweh wants you to turn to him. Turn, and live. Choose to look to Jesus, choose to live. 

Speaker: Ron Irving

20250824 7AMp CD The Name of Yahweh is Holy

Reading: Ezekiel 20:30-42. 

Why does God do what he does? 

Through Ezekiel, God makes himself known to the elders. 

He will purge Israel of their idols and then they will know he is God. 

 What motivates God to do what he does? It’s His Glory!

Israel got it wrong, because they went to idols as well, until the idols changed them.

The problem of idolatry happens in our lives too.  Our souls remain restless until they find their rest in him. We need to fall more in love with Jesus, and then we really will know Yahweh.

Speaker: Chris Donald.

20250810 6PMp CD Vision in the Temple

Readings: Ezekiel 8:1-18.  Ezekiel 10:18-22.

Ezekiel, intended to be a priest, but instead, in exile in Babylon.  At a meeting in his house, in a vision, he is transported back to see what is happening in the temple, in Jerusalem. 

He is taken to see detestable things that are being done in the temple.  He then sees the glory of the Lord leave the temple. He is given a promise for the future. 

A “take away message”: ‘God is a person; He goes where he is wanted, and stays where He is welcome.’  Is he welcome in our hearts?

Speaker: Chris Donald.

20250803 6PMp JT Ezekiel Acts out to model God’s Judgment. 

Reading: Ezekiel ch4:1 to ch 5:8

Speaker: Jason Todd.

Ezekiel is given clear instructions how to model and act out God’s Judgment on Israel and on Judah.

His instructions  are to carry out specific actions over a period of many days to illustrate the sinfulness of Israel and Judah, and also to point to the punishment to be inflicted in the sight of the nations.

20250727 6PMp RI Listening to God; Ezekiel's commission

Reading: Ezekiel ch2:1 – ch3:15

When Yahweh speaks, Listen!

His Word is not negotiable;  rebellion is not an excuse;  obedience is not optional. Ezekiel finds that when Yahweh speaks, there is no negotiation.

Ezekiel has been commissioned as God’s prophet.  He has been given a message to take to the exiles. Ezekiel is told that they will not listen to him, because they will not listen to Yahweh. Ezekiel is taken to the exiles and sits among them for seven days, deeply distressed. 

20250720 6PMp CD A Vision of God

Reading Ezekiel 1:1-28

In Exile, away from the Promised Land and from the Temple, Ezekiel, from a priestly family, has a vision of Yahweh.  God Most High appears to him.  God comes to him! And he is in awe. And he fell facedown.

God also comes to us! Let us bow before him in awe and wonder, and worship Him.

Speaker: Chris Donald.

20250713 6PMp DT The gifts of Serving and ministering

Statistics indicate that Volunteering in Australia has been declining since 2009. In the church, God has given various “gifts” to different people to serve one another. A reason why we should serve others is because of what God did for us in sending Jesus who died for us.  Paul urges us not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed, thinking differently to the world. As we minister, we set an example.  There are various types of gifts.  Some are in acts of service to others. Some are in the words of the scriptures.  Together we grow and are built up, to become more like Jesus.  And others are built up also. Even small acts of service can be significant.

 Speaker: David Tyndall.