Ezekiel 8:5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the Altar Gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

 

As we study the Prophesy of Ezekiel, we find where the Lord foretold of the condition of the Church. The Lord gave Ezekiel a vision of the Temple and escorted him inside. God directed Ezekiel's eyes to the north where the Brazen Altar was placed. This is where the sacrifices for the sins of the people took place.

 

God showed Ezekiel that the image of jealousy was blocking the Altar. and there, north of the Altar Gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance. This was an indication that the people had allowed the sin of jealousy to block the way to the Brazen Altar; the place of Sacrifice. This would jeopardize the Redemption of their sins because if they couldn't get to the Altar, they could not make their sacrifices and therefore, there would be no redemption.

 

How is this relevant to us today? The Cross of Christ is the Altar upon which Jesus was made the Sacrifice for the sins of the world. Just as the Brazen Altar was the focal point in the Temple, the Cross is to be the focal point of the Church.

 

In Old Testament times, the people worshiped in the Temple because it was the place of Sacrifice and Redemption. Today, in New Testament times, we go to various places of worship, but we also know that our bodies are the Temple of God. Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

 

The question is: Are we allowing jealousy to block the way to the Cross in the Temple? This would include our places of worship and our individual lives since every believer is the Temple of God. Is jealousy blocking the pathway to Jesus, God's Sacrifice, and His Redemption Plan?

 

Are we personally envious of others? Do we covet the ministry, spiritual gifts, or possessions of another? If so, we are blocking the pathway to the Cross of Christ, which is the source of Redemption and all God's Blessings.

 

Is jealousy blocking the way to the Cross at our place of worship? Is your Pastor (or others) jealous of what is happening at the church down the street? Are they competing for the people who attend another church? If so, the pathway to Christ and every Blessing of God is blocked in that place.

 

We may not be in control of all that goes on in the church we attend, BUT we are in control of our own body, which is the Temple of God. Let us ask God to reveal to us any and all jealousy that may be in our Temple. We want nothing to block the gate to the Cross of Christ and all God's Blessings and Benefits. 

 

Total faith in the Cross will.......turn the tide .........in your life.

 

Thank you Lord,      Doreen

 

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