Babylon was used as the Sword of God. He will use the Refiners fire to bring you back to your senses. He will separate the chaff, the product of sin, from the wheat, producing fruit, in our lives.
Jesus did not leave us to fend for ourselves!
What is impossible for us on our own power…Holy Spirit makes possible through His.
But we must stay alert and resist the enemy by resisting the ways of the world.
Justice happens to the degree that we align ourselves with God’s hand of fairness. When you teach a disabled child to walk or read, when you care for the elderly, when you rally to support the oppressed, you accomplish something that will continue into the world to come. It’s a wonderful thing to restore art or dilapidated houses, but it is a holy thing to restore human dignity. When we join hands with God’s, justice finds oxygen, and oppression hides in the corner.
To be clear, the day is coming when God will forever balance the scales of justice. The glory of the new kingdom will be hallmarked by prosperity and justice. Until then, let’s partner with him in the pursuit of what is right. When you stand up for the downtrodden, justice has a chance, and Satan has a fit. Max Lucado
God desires for us to declare war on our sin and hate it as much as He does. He sent Jesus to die for our sin so that we can live in the freedom of His grace. (John 3:16) He's provided everything we need to defeat the enemy, even a Comforter to help us become like Jesus. (Ephesians 6:10-17; John 14:26) First5
"Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, mighty in battle!" Thank You that I can count on You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to strengthen, equip and fight the enemy of our souls. We are victorious when we do what 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Laura “First5”
Ezekiel 20:45-49
45 Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, 47 and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. 48 All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ” 49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ “ The New King James Version
The forest land, the South refers to the land of Judah—the southern kingdom—which had more trees then than now. From the south to the north is a figure of speech and expresses totality, meaning “everywhere.” The NKJV Study Bible
Judah and Jerusalem had been full of people, as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God’s word prophesies against those who bring not forth the fruits of righteousness. When He will ruin a nation, who or what can save it? The plainest truths were as parables to the people. It is common for those who will not be wrought upon by the word, to blame it. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
In the Hebrew text, this verse marks the beginning of chapter 21. The change in subject matter is also marked by Ezekiel’s characteristic phrase, “The word of Yahweh came to me.” An expression indicating Ezekiel’s act of turning his attention toward his intended audience. Many of the oracles in Ezekiel open with this phrase. The Hebrew word used here, teman, was used for the direction south and as a name for a place in Edom, southeast of Judah. It literally means, “that which is on the right.” The south is on the right when facing east. Ezekiel’s oracles of judgment were also directed at geographical or topographical locations that represented the human recipients of judgment. Fire is the agent of destruction against the southern region. A figure of speech called a merism that indicates totality. Here it symbolizes that all vegetation will be consumed by this fire. The power of the fire will reveal its divine origin. Ezekiel wonders whether his parables and metaphors are getting through to his audience. Perhaps the people had come to hear him more for the entertainment value of his artistic word-images than for the conviction that should come from hearing God’s message. Their view of him as an entertainer would lessen the gravity of his warnings and neutralize his effectiveness as a watchman. Faithlife Study Bible
Isaiah 9:18 For wickedness burns as the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns, And kindle in the thickets of the forest; they shall mount up like rising smoke.
Isaiah 9:19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire; no man shall spare his brother.
Jeremiah 21:14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,” says the LORD;“ I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it shall devour all things around it.” ’ ”
Ezekiel 21:2 “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;
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