It's Within Reach

LIT VERSE: Ezekiel 36:26-31

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.

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.

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

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.

30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, that you may not receive again the disgrace of famine amongst 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 failures and shortcomings.

THOUGHT BREAKDOWN: (Keep the Text in the Context)

BUT… you will have a new heart and spirit, and His Spirit will be inside you!! WOW!

The New Heart and New Spirit Promises are INCREDIBLE! The verses that surround them are too! You can’t just claim the promise without taking a sober look at what's being said in its entirety.

Here’s the context. God is saying to Israel, His chosen nation, “you guys have blown it.” By the way, like Israel, you are God’s chosen too, and you have also blown it. That’s how you can easily apply this text to your life as long as you keep it in context.

Here’s a paraphrased version of what God is saying to Israel in the surrounding passages. “You have been selfish and sought your own ways and wants over following me. Because of that I have humbled you and scattered you. I’ve driven you from the good land I had for you. Now, people are talking about you and won’t shut their mouths. But don’t worry I am going to rescue you. I am going to give you a new heart and spirit, I am going to make you feel again, and bring you back into the good land. I am going to bless you and allow you to thrive. BUT. It’s not because you are cool or great. It’s because I want the world to see that I love you and have chosen you. So don’t get too big for your britches as they say and think it’s because you are so wonderful and do everything right. It’s not. It’s because I love you and that's it.”

Most of us don’t need a lot of help knowing that we miss the mark. Again, I’m saying most of us. Some people really do think pretty highly of themselves. That’s just not most common. What’s most common is that we know that we could be better, we know that we fall short in many ways. Ok, so what’s the point?

Even though you miss the mark, God’s goodness is within reach. Even though you could do better, God’s favor is within reach. Even though you don’t try that hard, God’s blessing is within reach.

For those of you who think yourselves pretty highly and consider yourself the center of the universe I pray you get knocked off your high horse and come down to reality. In and of yourself, you are not that cool, special, or unique. However, when you live into your created purpose and do so in a humble way, not thinking more highly of yourself than you should, you have access to great amounts of divine power, love and energy. For the humbled you, God’s goodness is within reach.

The New Heart and New Spirit are within reach of all. The broken and humble, the arrogant and ignorant, all have the same opportunity. Admit our need and receive His free gift of newness.

WHAT IS THE SPIRIT SAYING?

Son, encourage the people with this word and stand on these promises.

A new heart and a new spirit are right before you. The opportunity is now, it’s at hand, it’s within reach. I will put My Spirit with you. The Spirit that formed the world and knows all. I will multiply the goodness around . But don’t act like it’s because you are so great and you deserve it. You don’t. I am doing this to reverse the curse on your life. I am doing this so that all will see that I love you and people will shut their mouths and see that my goodness is irrevocable.

WHAT WILL I DO ABOUT IT?

Today, I will share this word with people.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR… for mercy, grace, undeserved favor, a new heart, a new spirit, and your Spirit living in me and in our midst. I pray we never take your kindness or goodness for granted and live into our calling with humility and wisdom.

TRACKER QUESTIONS

• Be honest. Do you think highly or lowly of yourself? Why?
• Do you see a need for God’s mercy in your life?
• Do you believe newness is within reach or do you doubt it’s true?
• What are you going to do differently because of what you’ve just heard?

Neal’s Personal Track Steps for Today. A Track Step is “how we start small but start now.” If you’re not stepping your stalling

• Track Step #1 (God) Share the Word
• Track Step #2 (Health) 20 min power up
• Track Step #3 (Money) Johnny Check In
• Track Step #4 (People) Wayfinder book talk - Contact the Crew
• Track Step #5 (Mission) Disciple Track - 4th Q Big Rocks