Like a Burned VineLesson Text: Ezekiel 15

Maud church of Christby Jim BradshawSunday Evening, Jan. 5, 2014

A Good Night for a Fire

Like a Burned Vine

Eze 15:1-3 NKJV Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: (2) "Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? (3) Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

Israel was to be God’s Vine

Isa 5:1 NKJV Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill.

Hos 10:1 NKJV Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.

Jer 2:21 NKJV Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

Israel was to be God’s VineJoh 15:1-8 NKJV "I am the true vine, and My Father is the

vinedresser. (2) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (5) "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (8) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Israel was to be God’s Vine

A vine with no fruit is only good for the Fire?

Israel Burned at Both EndsEze 15:4-6 NKJV Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire

devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? (5) Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned? (6) "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

The northern kingdom (Israel) already taken into captivity.Southern kingdom partially taken & under control of Babylon.

A burned vine is not good for anything. It is not even good for charcoal.

Israel Became DesolateEze 15:7-8 NKJV and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them. (8) Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,' says the Lord GOD.

Psa 1:1-6 NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (3) He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (4) The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. (5) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (6) For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Israel Became DesolateMat 3:12 NKJV His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

2Th 1:7-9 NKJV and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Hear – Romans 10:17

Believe – Heb. 11:6; Mark 16:16

Repent – Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38

Confess – Matthew 10:32,33

Be Baptized – Acts 2:38; 22:16

Live faithfully – 1 Corinthians 15:58Steps to Salvation