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The Lord woke me up at 2:30 this morning (on New Years Day) and ministered something to me that I felt I needed to share with you.  May it bless you and speak to you in a very deep way.

In Ezekiel’s vision of the future Messianic Temple (the Lord Jesus’ dwelling place of government during the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ), most of the revelations given to him are by an angel.  But in this section of Ezekiel (“O my Great God in heaven, open our eyes to see the truth. Enlarge our spiritual capacity to receive; but more importantly Lord, enlarge our hearts to believe.”) you will notice something.  You will notice that at the beginning of the chapter the Lord Jesus comes in from the East in all His glory and Ezekiel falls on his face. For it is the same glory that he beheld in Ezekiel chapter 1. And you may find it very interesting that the Lord Jesus Himself gives the dimensions of the altar.  Every last thing concerning the building and the dimensions of this temple are given to Ezekiel by an angel; but when it comes to the altar the Lord gives all the details about it.  Why is this do you suppose?  Could it be that the altar is a type and shadow of your heart (the place where real sacrifices are offered).  Yes, dear reader, this is the case.  The Lord will only trust your heart with Himself and with no one else…not even an angel…for He has seen what another angel (satan) has done to the heart of man.  And during this entire chapter, the Lord is doing the speaking.  Now for he who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit of the Lord from Ezekiel 43:12 is saying to you today:

“This is the law of the house…absolute holiness“

There will be many making all kinds of New Year resolutions this day (with over 90% of all resolutions ending in failure by the end of the first month). But as Colossians 2:23 says, “Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.” For the person who is not seeking God and living a holy life and keeping His commandments…the flesh will reign supreme.  In this person’s particular case…”The law of the house is fleshliness.” 

Dear reader, your body (spirit, soul, and physical body) is the house of God. 1 Cor. 3:13, Hebrews 3:6, and Ephesians 2:19-22 all bear out this fact. Friend, let the “law of the house” – YOUR HOUSE…WHICH IS YOU – be “holiness” this year.  And this is done by a simple choice of your own free will.

You won’t believe what can happen to you if you’ll give yourself wholly to the Lord this year.  Ezekiel was given a great prophecy beginning in Ezekiel 29:17 concerning the breaking of Pharaoh’s arms.  This represents the power of the world (as Egypt in the bible symbolizes the spirit of the world).  But notice when this prophecy came to Ezekiel…”in the first day of the first month.” On New Years Day was the promise given that the arms (the strength) of the spirit of the world would be broken.  Claim this word for yourself, and walk in it’s truth and let 2013 be a year of holiness and true separation from the world for you.  Let all the things that bind you be broken off in Jesus Name!! 

In Exodus 40:2, the Great God Jehovah tells Moses to erect the tabernacle that took almost nine months to build (remember that the command to build it was given in the third month).  But take special notice of the exact day that The Lord told Moses to erect it.  Yes, you guessed it…”the first day of the first month of the new year.” And then we see in verse 17 that this is exactly what Moses did – he erected it completely on New Years Day.  God wanted their new year to start off with the presence of Christ in their very midst.  He wanted to walk with them on their new journey across the wilderness on their way to the promised land.  Can you see the parallel here and connect the dots?  Erect your tabernacle today for the Lord.  Peter called his body a tabernacle twice in scripture.  Peter saw the parallel and consecrated himself unto the Lord for His work, His living, and for His service.  Dear reader, God wants to live and walk in you, and dwell among you…but He can only do this if the tabernacle is erected and consecrated.  You see, Moses had to consecrate all the vessels in the tabernacle.  Everything had to be anointed.  Dear reader, consecrate all the vessels in your tabernacle to the Lord today.  See Romans 6:19b & Romans 12:1 for a further understanding of what these vessels are…”so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” & “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

In the first year of King Cyrus’ reign, the Lord moved on King Cyrus’ heart to make a decree to the children of Israel. And you will notice that in Ezra 7:9 something very interesting happens.  “On the first day of the first month” Ezra leaves Babylon to go up to Jerusalem. Ezra the man of God leaves Babylon.  Hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church that is choosing to live, move, and have their being in Babylon: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

Ezra left Babylon on New Years Day to do what? Verse 10 tells us…”For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Word of the Lord. and to do it, and to teach in Israel its statutes and judgements.”  This is the divine order of the kingdom.  1) You seek God’s Word, 2) You do God’s Word, and 3) You teach others God’s Word.  This was Ezra’s New Years resolution!! Think of it.  His resolution was to leave Babylon and forsake all that Babylon had to offer; and forsake her he did…and he NEVER returned again!!! And many left with him, and never returned either (when you consecrate your heart, your life, and your living to the Lord, and walk away from Babylon…many will leave with you).  Can it really be a coincidence that Ezra was 14 generations form Aaron the High Priest (Moses’ brother – see Ezra 7:1-5)?  I’m reminded of Another who was 14 generations three different times.  See Matthew 1:17, and you will also notice Babylon mentioned twice in that same verse, and Ezra falls under the timeline of the last 14 generations of that verse.  May the Lord grant us all wisdom to understand these deep and wonderful gems found hidden in His word, “Open my eyes, that I might behold wonderful things out of Thy law.” Psalm 119:18

Now, lets end this letter of encouragement by connecting some dots together.  On New Years Day, Moses erects and consecrates the tabernacle – On New Years Day, Ezekiel receives the prophecy of the arms of Pharaoh (God calls Pharaoh in this same chapter “the great dragon.” [v.3] Compare this with what satan is called in Rev. 12:9 “the great dragon”) being broken.  The strength of sin has been broken, because the strength of sin is the law, the strength of death has been broken, and all of the strength (yea, the very arms) of satan has been broken – and Ezra left Babylon on New Years Day.  Rise up (erect the tabernacle) & consecrate all the members of your body to the Lord – See satan’s dominion over you as completely broken down – See the Lord coming in His Word & in your heart – Hear what the Lord is saying to you about the altar (your heart) – Make a decision to fully follow the Lord as Ezra did and seek His Word – And walk out of Babylon on New Years Day.

 

Ezra left Babylon on New Years Day –

He never looked back – he walked away.

He set his mind to find the Lord,

He set his heart to seek the Word.

 

A four month journey in his youth,

A four month journey to find the truth.

A four month journey to find his way…

Ezra left Babylon on New Years Day.