Sermon Title: Still Time to Turn It Around!

This Week’s Word is Repentance: A change of mind leading to a change of action. It involves a sincere turning from sin to serve God and includes sorrow for, and confession of, sin and where possible restitution.

Memory Verse: Acts 17:30 “30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”

Essence of the Text in a Sentence: The LORD called the Israelite elders to repentance after condemning them for having other gods in their hearts.

Sermon Proposition: Every Christian should recognize and repent of erecting an idol in his or her heart.

Sermon Objective: I want those in attendance to accept God’s rebuke from His Word by acknowledging and abhorring their sins and then abandoning them by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sermon Text: Ezekiel 14:1-7

Ezekiel 14:1–7 NKJV

1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? 4 “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’ 6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself.

INTRODUCTION:

TRANSITION:

I. Recognize Your Symptoms

Ezekiel 14:3; 5:12, 17; Hebrews 12:5-11;

Explain: SOME THINGS ARE JUST OBVIOUS. LIFE HAS TAKEN A TERRIBLE TURN.

GOD SENDS TROUBLE

Ezekiel 5:12 NKJV

12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

Ezekiel 5:17 NKJV

17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

Hebrews 12:5–11 NKJV

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

GOD DOES NOT ANSWER

Ezekiel 14:3 NKJV

3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

Ezekiel 14:7 NKJV

7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself.

Apply: [embrace this about God / embrace this about man]

Illustrate: [show an example of one who knows and loves God’s Word, Will, and Ways]

iT IS ONE THING TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING TO RECOGNIZE THE ROOT, YOU ARE SICK.

Did this passage revealed or exposed an intentional or unintentional sin in your life? If so, what is it?

What problem, difficulty, sickness, lost (ex. financial), etc. has occurred in your life that you need to see as a symptom to a greater problem? Sometimes you may not see it and need to ask a godly friend to diagnose your situation.

II. Recognize Your Sickness

Ezekiel 14:3-4, 7;

Explain: [know this about God / know this about man]

Ezekiel 14:3 NKJV

3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

Ezekiel 14:4 NKJV

4 “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,

Ezekiel 14:7 NKJV

Psalm 95:10 NKJV

10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’

Apply: [embrace this about God / embrace this about man]

Illustrate: [show an example of one who knows and loves God’s Word, Will, and Ways]

THIS MORNING MY BROTHERS AND SISTER IN CHRIST YOUR NEED TO ADMIT YOU ARE SICK. INSTEAD OF

COMFORTING, YOU HAVE BEEN Crafty and Cunning

STRENGTHENING, YOU HAVE BEEN Shifty and Shady

FORGIVING, YOU HAVE BEEN Fraudulent and Fake

EXCUSING, YOU HAVE BEEN EVIL

MERCIFUL, YOU HAVE BEEN MAD

NURTURING, YOU HAVE BEEN NASTY

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON AND JUST ADMIT YOUR WRONGDOING. JUST ACKNOWLEDGE NO ADORING AND ADMIRING HIS NAME, JUST SPIRITUAL ADULTERY

THIS MORNING THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT SAVED.

NO RIGHTEOUS LIVING, JUST RIOTOUS LIVING

NO PRAISING HIS NAME, JUST POLLUTING HIS NAME

NO GLORIFYING GOD, JUST GRATIFYING SELF

NO WITNESSING FOR GOD, JUST Wretchedness

NO WORSHIPPING THE LORD, JUST Wickedness

DO YOU SHOW disrespect for the holy

DO YOU SHOW disregard for the pure

DO YOU SHOW disdain for the virtuous

DO YOU SHOW disinterest for the blessed

DO YOU SHOW dissatisfaction with the eternal

and ARE YOU HARBORING disbelief in the heart

LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY OR LET MY ASK A DIFFERENT WAY

HAVE YOU BEEN comforted BY THE Prince of Peace

strengthen BY THE Almighty

counseled BY THE Wonderful Counselor

IF NOT I RECOMMEND JESUS

HAVE YOU BEEN established BY THE Rock of Ages

guided BY THE Good Shepherd

held BY THE Arm of the Lord

IF NOT I RECOMMEND JESUS

HAVE YOU BEEN satisfied BY THE Bread of Life

delivered BY THE Deliverer

reigned over BY THE King of all kings

rescued BY THE Savior

IF NOT I RECOMMEND DR. JESUS BECAUSE YOU ARE SICK, SIN SICK

Look in Galatians 5:19-21 and identify your sickness. What is it or are them?

III. Recognize the Solution

Ezekiel 14:6; Joel 2:12-13; James 4:9; Acts 20:20-21; 26:18, 30; Matthew 3:8;

Explain:

TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS

Ezekiel 14:6 NKJV

6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

TURN TO GOD WITH BROKENNESS

Joel 2:12–13 NKJV

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

James 4:9 NKJV

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

THE LORD CALLS FOR SINNERS AND SAINTS TO CHANGE THEIR DISPOSITION.

DON’T LAUGH AT SIN BUT LOATHE IT.

DON’T BE MERRY OVER YOUR SIN BUT MOURN OVER IT.

DON’T BE GLAD ABOUT YOUR SIN BUT BE GLOOMY.

Don’t Overlook your sins Own them

Don’t Dismiss your sins Divulge them

Don’t Brag about your sin be Broken over your sins

Don’t Cover your sins Confess them

RAHAB WAS A POSTITUTE

PETER WAS A CURSER

PAUL WAS AN ABUSER

MOSES WAS A MURDERER

DAVID WAS AN ADULTERER

MATTHEW WAS A CHEATER

WOMAN AT THE WELL WAS A FORNICATOR

BRIAN WAS A LIAR

MAYBE YOU’RE A PUSHER OR A PIMP

MAYBE YOU’RE A HATER OR A HOMOSEXUAL

MAYBE YOU’RE AN ADDICT OR AN ADULTERER

BUT THE WORD CRUSHED THAT SIN LIKE A HAMMER

MAYBE YOU’RE A THIEF OR A

MAYBE YOU’RE A IDOLATER OR

SOMEBODY ELSE WAS A IDOLATER

BUT THE WORD CHANGED YOU

BUT THE WORD BURNED THAT SIN WITH FIRE

TURN TO GOD WITH FAITH

LOOK AT VERSE 18 IN THE 26 CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF ACTS, HERE, PAUL IS RETELLING HIS CONVERSION AND HIS COMMISSION. THE LORD SENT HIM TO THE JEWS AND GENTILES

Acts 26:18 NKJV

18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

REPENTING INVOLVES TURNING FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

FROM WRONG TO RIGHT

FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD. NOTICE IN ACTS CHAPTER 20 PAUL IS EXHORTING THE EPHESIANS ELDERS WITH HIS MINDSET, MISSION, METHOD, MANDATE

Acts 20:20–21 NKJV

20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

WITH HIS MINDSET (I KEPT BACK NOTHING THAT WAS HELPFUL

HIS MANDATE (PROCLAIMED IT, TAUGHT IT, TESTIFIED )

HIS METHOD (PLACE: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE (HOUSE TO HOUSE) AND PEOPLE: JEWS AND GREEKS)

HIS MESSAGE: REPENTANCE AND FAITH,

SHOW YOU TURNED WITH YOUR WORKS

Matthew 3:8 NKJV

8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Acts 26:20 NKJV

20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Illustrate: The Prodigal who came back home or the lost son.

Luke 15:17-21 “17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Apply: [embrace this about God / embrace this about man]Jeremiah 36:3 (NKJV)

“It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Jeremiah 36:7 (NKJV) “It may be that they will present their supplication before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way. For great [is] the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”

Psalm 10:11 (NKJV)

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].

Jeremiah 7:10 (NKJV)

10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Matthew 24:48,49 (NKJV)

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NKJV)

11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Jeremiah 7:10 (NKJV)

10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

Psalm 86:5 (NKJV)

5 For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 78:38 (NKJV)

38 But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Jeremiah 3:12,13,22,23 (NKJV)

12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 22 Return, ye backsliding children, [and] I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou [art] the LORD our God. 23 Truly in vain [is salvation hoped for] from the hills, [and from] the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God [is] the salvation of Israel.

2 Peter 3:9,15 (NKJV)

This passage communicates the goodness of God seen in His mercy and grace toward those who have sinned, have you responded to God’s mercy through Christ with acts that show others that you have repented? If yes, write down what you did.

Have you convinced yourself that sin is not that bad? Are you truly broken and grieved over your sin? What needs to happen in your life so that you will mourn over your sins?

Use the outline below to live differently this week.

Monday: Align your thinking with God’s Word concerning sin and righteousness. Read (9 times: 3 morning, 3 noon, 3 night), meditate (after reading going over what God wants put the scripture in your own words), and pray over these passages:

Tuesday: In addition to the previous day, add this to your prayers so you will hate your sins and and love God’s righteousness.

LORD, just as You hate idolatry, I want to hate and despise idolatry in my life. I also want to love righteousness. I know You are holy and have called me to be holy.

Wednesday: In addition to the 2 previous days, name the people, places, things, and ideas that draw you away from doing God’s will, and write down ways you can avoid the counsel of the ungodly, way of sinners, and the seat of the scornful.

Thursday: Repeat day 3

Friday: Repeat day 3

Saturday: Repeat day 3. Evaluate by writing down what has changed in you, and share it with others.

Conclusion: A concluding statement to recapture interest (a reason to remember).

Restatement of main idea and summary of main points so that the listeners will respond (specific action or attitude change) to God’s will.

Respond to God’s Message by

Committing Your Way to the LORD

Resting in the Lord

Waiting on/for the LORD

Delighting in God

Trusting God

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