What we just read was Ezekiel’s vision of him being visited by the glory of God and then being transported through visions from where he was in captivity, to the temple in Jerusalem. The northern kingdom of Israel had already been taken into captivity 100 years earlier because of their idolatry. This was to serve as a warning to the southern kingdom of Judah, but they heeded it not. They went right on in their abominations and idolatrous practices and were self-deceived in believing that God didn’t see it not did He care.

The LORD told Ezekiel that He had made him a watchman unto the house of Israel. A watchman was stationed on the wall of a city, and his job was to be on constant lookout for danger and to warn the inhabitants of the city when danger was approaching.
Ezekiel’s ministry was to tell the truth given to him by God for the correction of His people. God said that the warning the wicked with the truth had the ability to save their lives if they would turn from their iniquity. It also had the power to keep the righteous from turning to iniquity. Then God laid a heavy responsibility on Ezekiel. He said if he failed to warn the people and they died, that he was responsible for their blood.

Fasting is not about earning God’s favor or trying to manipulate Him in some fashion, but it’s the way to two things the Lord has commanded in scripture – James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Humbling ourselves and seeking Him with all our heart.

In the text we just read, we see a man of reputation and position, trying to see Jesus as he is passing through Jericho…but he can’t because he is disadvantaged. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was despised by his own people because he worked for Rome, and he took advantage of his own countrymen by stealing off them while collecting taxes for the empire. The fact that he was called “chief among the publicans” means that he had climbed the ladder and had people working under him. The Bible records that he sought to see Jesus who he was…I’m led to believe that something was working on Zacchaeus, possibly his conscience was troubling him about how he made a living, or the deceitfulness and covetousness of his heart was bothering him. Here’s why I’m led to believe that because when Jesus approached him, he didn’t preach a message or point out his sin…he simply told him to come down because he was going home with him.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
The book of Proverbs is about wise living. Written by the inspiration of God and penned by the wisest man to ever live outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “honor” as a verb means to show great respect and admiration for someone or something, to fulfill a promise or agreement, or to accept and pay a bill or a debt. There are different ways we can and should honor God… with our time, with our talents and with our treasure. Here the verse says to honor God with our substance. Substance means our possessions and our living. Does God need our money? No, He doesn’t “need” anything, but we should honor God with our substance because everything we have is directly due to Him.

At different times in scripture, the phrase “and God remembered” appears. It does not mean that God had forgotten people or promises, but rather that He began to act on a past promise, covenant or situation. It’s a form of human language used to help us understand God’s actions, and signifies God’s compassion, grace and fulfillment of His word by bringing His attention and purpose to a particular person or situation. It means that something was brought to the forefront of God’s mind, leading to His intervention and care.

The first psalm is one of my very favorites because it speaks in such an illustrative way on the importance of the word of God in a person’s life. The first verse describes the blessing of not being influenced by the lost world. It’s a progression: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly – counsel is advice or instruction given for directing the conduct or judgment of another Don’t get your instructions from the ungodly – because the ungodly are cut off from God and this is how they think

Outline Available Here

Outline Available Here