Then... the Nations Shall Know That He Is Lord.
God's judgments on his people and their enemies are necessary for him to be known as the Lord, and this knowledge will ultimately convince the world.
Andrew Murray emphasizes that God's judgment is essential for His people to experience salvation and for the nations to recognize Him as Lord. The book of Ezekiel illustrates that God's judgments serve as a precursor to the blessings and sanctification that follow, culminating in the promise that the nations will know Him when His presence dwells among His people. The transformation of Israel through God's judgments leads to the establishment of His sanctuary, which ultimately reveals His holiness and power to the world.
Text
The whole of the book of Ezekiel proves how God's being known in judgment was the one condition of his being known in salvation.
The first twenty-five chapters with his judgments on his people, the next ten with his judgments on their enemies, are the introductions to the wonderful blessings that are promised in chapter 36, and following.
All is gathered up in the wonderful promises: 'The heathen shall know that I am the Lord when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes... And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore' (36:23; 37:28).
It is when God's judgments on his people have sanctified them and the sanctuary of God, and his holy presence is seen among them, that there will be power to convince the world, and the nations shall know that he is Lord.
(Excerpted from The Coming Revival, by Andrew Murray , pg. 46)
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Judgment as a Condition of Salvation
- A. The book of Ezekiel as an example
- B. God's judgments on his people and their enemies
- C. The promise of salvation in chapter 36 and following
- II. The Role of Sanctification in Convincing the World
- A. God's holy presence among his people
- B. The power to convince the world of God's lordship
- III. The Nations Shall Know That He Is Lord
- A. The ultimate goal of God's plan
- B. The result of God's judgments and sanctification
Key Quotes
“It is when God's judgments on his people have sanctified them and the sanctuary of God, and his holy presence is seen among them, that there will be power to convince the world, and the nations shall know that he is Lord.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must be willing to submit to God's judgments in order to be sanctified and to have his holy presence among us.
- God's power to convince the world of his lordship is available to us when we are sanctified and his holy presence is seen among us.