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Ezekiel 11:19, 20 - The New Heart and New Spirit.

Ezekiel 11:19, 20: The New Heart and New Spirit. 

Ezekiel 11:19, 20 (NIV) I will give them an undivided heart and 
put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of 
stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees 
and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will 
be their God. 

Ezekiel 11:19, 20 (NLT) And I will give them singleness of heart 
and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of 
stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws 
and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be 
their God.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   If I've learned one thing from working out, it's what happens 
when I stop for a while. Usually because of injury, and sometimes 
when my schedule gets too busy, I'm forced to skip the gym. But I can 
always tell the difference when I return. 
   Without exercise, our muscles atrophy. They become weaker and 
get stiffer at the same time. Without the benefit of regular 
exercise, our muscles deteriorate until they can no longer support us or 
perform the regular functions they once maintained. To be healthy, we 
must keep moving, stimulating our muscles in order for them to grow 
stronger. 
   Our heart muscles work the same way, both literally and 
figuratively. When we're not praying, giving, serving, and loving on a daily 
basis, it becomes harder and harder to feel connected to God, to relate 
to other people, and to feel the joy that comes from serving them. 
   Stone hearts don't harden overnight. They gradually atrophy 
until we find ourselves with a heart as cold as granite. Regular 
exercise allows us to love more deeply and serve more humbly. It keeps 
our heart tender and compassionate, alive and grateful 
   Power Lift
   Dear Lord, I want my heart to be alive and tender, not hard 
and cold. Even when it's painful, help me to be sensitive to the 
needs of others. [Daily Power by Craig Groeschel] 

COMMENTARY

   Ezekiel's prophecies are harsh, stern indictments against 
Judah and her sins. But sandwiched between the many rebukes are 
several passages of marvelous hope. This is one of them, and its message 
is repeated later in chapter 36. It's a promise not just to bring 
God's people back into the land He had promised them long ago; its a 
promise to correct the fundamental problem that led them into judgment 
to begin with. He promises to fix their hearts. 
   That's an amazing promise if you think about it. Many propose 
for our world political, economic, military, social, and religious 
remedies. We've heard that the answer is education or adequate health care 
or pursuing world peace. But God promises something more 
fundamental, more at the heart of the problems of the human race. He promises 
to change what's in our core. It's the only plausible solution for 
a world that has tried all of the above answers and failed. You 
won't get perfect solutions from flawed people. God foretells a day 
when He will address the fundamental flaw. 
   And what is that flaw? We have divided hearts and dead 
spirits. That happened at the Fall in Eden, when for some reason we 
decided to believe the serpent's suggestion that God must be holding out 
on us. It was a lie of epic proportions, and the consequences have 
been devastating. East of Eden, where God seemed so much more 
invisible and distant than before, we learned to depend on ourselves. It 
was the only way we could cope, we thought. But in so doing, we 
developed other allegiances - attachments to what we thought would fulfill 
us, give us power, or save us. We became idolaters. 
   God has a solution. He foretold it in Ezekiel and elsewhere, 
and He fulfilled it in His Son. The radical truth of the Kingdom is 
that the human heart really can, contrary to popular opinion, change 
from the inside out. It can be reborn, reconstructed, rewired for the 
Spirit of God Himself. It can be made whole. [The One Year Heaven On 
Earth Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

   If you've raised children, you know about selective hearing. 
Whisper something about them while they're watching TV, and they perk up 
immediately. Ask them about their homework in a normal tone of voice, and 
they somehow don't hear...  
   God's Word is God's Word whether we accept it or reject it. 
In our most rebellious times, we - like the people Ezekiel was 
addressing - may not hear, but we can't say that God does not speak to us. 
The truth is that we simply do not want to listen. Ezekiel's 
audience had the ability to hear God's warnings, but their sin 
desensitized them to God's words. The same thing happens to us. 
   Repeatedly disobeying God leads to a hardening of the heart 
until we are impervious to the Holy Spirit's conviction. Nevertheless, 
God offers to replace our "stony heart" with a heart of flesh that 
is soft and tender toward Him. If you have developed a hard heart, 
turn to God, repent, and receive a heart of flesh. Then you will find 
yourself seeking His promises and desiring His way. You will begin to 
regularly hear His voice and find delight once more in spending time with 
Him. [Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby] 

   Heres some good news. You arent stuck with todays 
personality. You arent condemned to grumpydom. You are tweak-able! 
So what if you were born a bigot? You dont have to die one. 
   Where did we get the idea we cant change? Where do 
statements come from such as, Its just my nature to worry, or  
Ill always be pessimistic. Im just that way. Or, I have a 
bad temper. I cant help the way I react? Who says? Would we 
say, its just my nature to have a broken leg. I cant do 
anything about it. Of course not. If our body malfunctions, we seek 
help. Shouldnt we do the same with our hearts? Cant we seek aid 
for our sour attitudes? Of course we can. Jesus can change our 
hearts! He wants us to have a heart like his! [Max Lucado Daily 
Devotional at maxlucado.com] 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Moses made a life-changing decision on that day he renounced his 
old life and identified with God's family.  His environment changed; 
his circle of friends changed; his life-style changed; his 
opportunities changed; and his future changed - forever. Not many of us 
realized that, at the time of our conversion, all of these same things 
changed for us, too.  Or did they?  What difference has accepting Christ 
really made in your life?  Can you list any sacrifices that resulted?  
Have you suffered at all, in any area?  Have relationships changed 
since that time?  If nothing has changed in your life, then it is 
likely that what you experienced was not a conversion experience.  
Think about it.  [In His Time Walk With Wisdom re Heb.11:24, 25] 

If our hearts are not changed, following God's rules will be 
unpleasant and difficult. We will rebel against being told how to live. The 
Holy Spirit, however, gives us new desires, helping us 'want' to obey 
God (Philip. 2:12, 13). With new hearts, we find that serving God is 
our greatest joy. [Life Application SB] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20131105-1628.html

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170604-1615.html

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050725-1103.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

Musical Devotional On Christian Living: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: 
https://vimeo.com/162267518