Study Notes

Foundation Statement: Ezekiel 16-God called it a time of love, but it manifested in the prosperity of His people; Their prosperity was a manifestation of God’s love for them. 

 

I.      Ezekiel 16:1-5-Who you belong to is going to effect the level of prosperity you have; ***They belonged to people that weren’t interested in their prosperity because these people didn’t love them

A.    Before you were born again you were under Satan’s rule and dominion and you belonged to him, you had no hope, no covenant, you were strangers from the wealth common to Israel and you were without God in the world-Jn 8:44 Eph2:12

1.      When they didn’t belong to God they were separated from the prosperity and wealth and good that was common among God’s people

B.     People have missed out on the revelation that I’m with God, I belong to God, and I’m supposed to prosper in every area of my life because of it

1.      People who God is with, who belong to God are supposed to prosper

a.    Genesis 39:2-And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man

b.    Genesis 26:3-Sojourn in this land and I will be with you; And Isaac became great and gained more and more until he become very wealthy

c.     2 Chronicles 17:3-5-The Lord was with Jehoshaphat…The Lord established the Kingdom in his hand; and all of Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he and riches and honor in abundance

d.    2 Chronicles 1:1-And Solomon was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly (God increased him exceedingly in body, mind, estate, and honor)

2.      Luke 13:8-People who belong to God have no business being broke in any area of their lives (She belongs to God and it’s not right for her to walk around sick)

3.      Acts 20:28, Galatians 3:13-I was bought with a price and I don’t belong to the devil, I belong to God; My spirit, my soul, my body, my relationships and my finances don’t belong to Satan

C.    Born-again people don’t belong to the devil in anyway, but many believers are thinking and living like they still belong to the devil

1.      The enemy wants to keep you attached to the past b/c it keeps you hooked to him

2.      “Well were just all sinners saved by grace” --- These statements keep you hooked to who you used to belong to

D.    8-“You became mine” --- This changes everything (God prospers is excessively)

1.      9-THEN-Prosperity in their lives didn’t begin until after they belonged to God; but the moment ownership of them changed into God’s hands the level of their prosperity increased exceedingly

II.     Ezekiel 16:5-There is an absence of love and where there is absence of love there will be an absence of prosperity---When love showed up later in theses verses prosperity showed up

A.    Love gives to prosper the one loved; The act of love is giving with purpose of prospering-John 3:16

B.     6-It wasn’t God’s will that they just live, but that they live prosperously

1.      When God said to them, “Live” he said that because He loved them and this was an act of His love with the purpose of prospering

2.      8-14-In these verse God describes the time of love as a time of prosperity

III.   Ezekiel 16:8-The spreading of the skirt is the first thing that happened and it is the ultimate act of love; This is a representation that you are now under my care, you have become mine; Nothing prosperous happened until they got under God’s skirt– Ruth 3:9-11

A.    She is seeking that skirt because that skirt represents something

1.      The result of that skirt being spread over you is “I will do all you require.” –John 15:7

2.      Ruth 2:7, 3:11-Ruth was out here working for it all (works), but we she came under that skirt, the working stopped; Once you get under God’s skirt you don’t work for His blessing and prosperity you receive it

3.      11-Fear not-You don’t have to be afraid of anything when you are under that skirt-Luke 12:32, 15:31, Psalm 91:4

B.     Ruth 2:12, 3:10-She wasn’t out following men around, she was trusting God; God was her source and she was under His skirt and that’s why Boaz showed up and put her under his skirt and favored her

1.      To access this prosperity God has for you, God’s got to be your only source

2.      Many people aren’t prospering in life because they got too many men in their life (their medicine man, their boss man, their job man, their own effort man)

3.      You got to have the attitude that Ruth had that, “I ain’t got no man so I am going to become yours and your going to be my man.”

C.    Ruth 3:9-Ruth knew who she was, who she belonged to, and who Boaz (God) was and that’s why she was able to unlock this prosperity in her life

1.      Who are You? – You have to be able to answer that question (I am God’s)

2.      Thou art – You have to be able to tell God who He is

IV.   The time of Love-When the love of God manifests in the lives of God’s people it shows up in the prosperity of God’s people; The demonstration of His love was seen in the prosperity of His people-Ezekiel 16:8-14

A.    A covenant was made and you became God’s and God became yours

B.     When God’s love was present their prosperity was excessive and luxurious

1.      Prosperity comes in levels (Washed, clothed, decked, crowned)

2.      Their wardrobe was well furnished with rich apparel; they had embroidered work to wear, shows of find badgers’ skins, linen girdles, silk veils, bracelets and necklaces, jewels, ear-rings and even a beautiful crown; He fed them with abundance, with plenty, with dainty (elegant)

3.      Psalm 105:37-He brought them for also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes

4.      Genesis 15:4-Also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance (possessions)

C.    14-God’s putting His prosperity on you---You prosper to the level of the one whose skirt is covering you, not according you’re your own ability our background

1.      Their prosperity was complete, whole --- It was in every area of their lives

D.    They were known by the world because of the perfection of their prosperity

1.      Jeremiah33:9-God wants the world to be in awe of the prosperity of His people

2.      Romans 2:4-God’s goodness on display in your life will lead people to repentance; God wants to use you to show the world how good He is so that He can win the world, but God’s people won’t let Him use them

3.      Psalm 37:18-19-In the day of famine we will be overflowing