Help QuickNav Adv. Options
KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Prior Book Prior Section Back to Commentaries Author Bio & Contents Next Section Next Book
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources

Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Ezekiel 9:8

Choose a new font size and typeface
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources

Click here to view listing below for Mat 24:23

Intro: Ezekiel's vision of slaughter in Jerusalem - "...and I was left." We have all had close brushes with death - another inch, a few more seconds.
I. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY YOU WERE LEFT?
A. If you are not a Christian.
1. Could it be that God in His goodness is giving you another chance?
a. How long do you think God will forbear?
1. "My Spirit will not always strive with man."
2. "Do you despise the goodness and forbearance and long-suffering of God, not knowing that..."
b. How many more chances will He give you to reject Him?
1. As of this moment, you can say "I was left."
2. You have no assurance you'll be here tomorrow.
c. God is not obligated to sustain you.
B. If you are a Christian, you've been left that -
1. You might accomplish His perfect will.
a. Paul had close brush at Lystra.
b. Later, Paul wrote Timothy, "I have finished my course."
2. Since I am left, the paramount question should be -
a. "What would God have me to do?
b. How long must He forbear while I pursue my own pleasures?
II. "I WAS LEFT," IS OFTEN THE LAST LINE OF A STORY.
A. Usually said with a sigh of thanksgiving.
1. It could have been me!
2. I came so close!
3. Thank God, I was left.
III. A TIME IS COMING SOON WHEN THAT WILL BE A BITTER WAIL - "JESUS CAME FOR HIS CHURCH, AND I WAS LEFT."
A. Jesus has promised to come again and to remove His own before God's judgment upon the earth.
1. John 14 - "And if I go, I will come again."
2. Luke 21 - "Pray ye always that you will be accounted worthy to escape all these.
3. "Because you have kept the words of My patience, I will also..."
B. The world is on the brink of disaster.
1. "There shall be a time of trouble..." -Dan. 12.
2. Matt. 24 - "For then shall be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world to this time or ever will be." Greater than the great flood in Noah's day.
C. Imagine waking up some morning and finding that the church is gone.
1. You call the church and only get a recording.
2. You call your Christian friends and there is no answer.
3. You turn on the news and hear of the weird and bizarre events around the world. Don't worry, the major networks will still be on.
4. Jesus kept His word - He came for His own, and I was left.
D. Why were you left?
1. It wasn't easy, it was a tough fight.
a. You had to resist the call of God.
b. You had to deny your reason.
c. You had to turn your back on the love of Jesus for you.
d. You had to ignore all of God's warnings.
e. But you hung in there - tough, rebellious - and now, you are left.
2. What awaits you now?
a. Hebrews 10:26.
Sermon Notes for Ezekiel 9 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for Ezekiel 9:8 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Lamentations 3:21 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Daniel 1:8 Next Book →
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources
← Back to all Commentaries
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.