Upside Down, Inside Out Part 2

Opening Story

How do I struggle with this?

We talked last week about the world being Upside Down. The only thing that is going to change that is if we allow God to change us from the Inside Out.

Question

How do we all struggle with this?

Do you want to have heart surgery, or do you want a heart transplant?

Heart surgery, you still carry around the scars and at best have a temporary fix.

Heart transplant is when you allow God to give you a brand new heart. No scars.

Text

What does the Bible say about this?

Ezekiel 36:26–27 CSB

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

Ezekiel 36:26 CSB

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

A new heart and new spirit covers the person as a whole.

The heart is so much more than just emotions.

You read through Ezekiel you will see that ...

The people’s arrogance and stubborn self-reliance had hardened their hearts, making them unable to respond to Yahweh as they should.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Eze 36:26). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Ezekiel 36:27 CSB

27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 36

36:27 More than any other prophet, Ezekiel emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role in regeneration. When God places his Spirit in his people, they will be able to follow his decrees and keep his laws. Thus, the people will be transformed, never again to profane God’s holy name. This work of the Spirit is attested in many passages of Scripture (11:19–20; 18:31; 37:14; 39:29; Jl 2:28–29; Ac 2:17–18; 2Co 3:16–18; Gl 5:16–26). This work of God to transform lives through the implementation of a new heart and a new spirit is referred to in the NT as the “new birth” or being “born again” (Jn 3:3–8).

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 36

36:27 I will give my spirit into your inner parts The new spirit is Yahweh’s Spirit. Total transformation from rebellion to obedience requires divine intervention. Acts 2:4 and Romans 8:9 give a more concrete example, with God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in those who believe in Christ. An immediate application demonstrating the life-giving effects of Yahweh’s Spirit comes in Ezek 37:1–14 (Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones).

Thru the Bible Vol. 25: The Prophets (Ezekiel) Israel’s Past Sins Judged and Forgiven

This is what Joel meant in his prophecy—there is a day coming when God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, not just some. The Spirit was poured out upon very few on the Day of Pentecost. All Peter said on that day was, “Don’t ridicule us and say we are drunk. This is like what Joel said is going to happen in the last days.” The Spirit has come upon a few, and today God is calling out a people for His name. The minute you turn to Christ, you are regenerated by the Holy Spirit; you are indwelt and baptized by the Holy Spirit; you are put in the body of believers. “In that day,” God says, “I’ll put My Spirit within you.”

Application

What should you do about this?

Ask David to come up and play.

God wants to give us His Spirit and a new heart. Yet, He can’t as long as we have a heart of stone. That is why heart surgery won’t work. You may feel good, but feelings fade. You may look good but looks fade.

You allow God to take away your heart of stone and give you a new heart (being born again), His Spirit when be with you.

Challenge

How can we all live this out together?

We are family, we need to pray. Pray for each other. Pray for our families. Pray for ourselves.