MEN ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND THEIR UTOPIA, BUT EVERY ATTEMPT BRINGS DEFEAT & FAILURE

The depth of Israel's fall is contrasted greatly by her previous height of Glory - why? Man falls because of sin, If Solomon did, what chance do we have? So should we not try? If god could promise a new heart and spirit to fallen Israel, can we not claim it too?

I. ISRAEL AND ALL MANKIND FAIL * UTTERLY

By the river of Babylon, they could look up and remember their former glory- what a fall

A. THE THEOCRACY OF ISRAEL FELL (17-19) The greatest government possible to men

• The glory of Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon - the beautiful Temple, God dwelling in Glory
• But because of sinfulness this government fell, Idolatry, Intrigue, captivity, slavery
• Ezekiel the priest stood by River Chebar and ministered to Displaced Persons - slaves

B. EVERY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT DEVISED BY MEN HAS FALLEN, AND EVERY NEW ONE WILL ALSO  New Deal

• Atlantis, Plato's Republic, Rome's Democracy, Mein Kamp, Das Capital, Technocracy, Great Society
• Even Christian governments have failed to succeed - Germany, Jamestown, Puritans,
• The reason is that man still is a sinner, and prone to sin- Original Sin & Satan's Snare

C. BUT GOD PROMISED TO SANCTIFY HIS NAME (24) HE WILL CLEAR HIS NAME OF ALL BLAME & GET GLORY

• God could do it by punishing the sinner- the Judgments of God, and eternal hell
• Man is to blame for the the fall, not God!  We are not fatalists, but are to fight nature
• Instead of destroying us, God has a unique way of getting glory- SALVATION FOR SINNERS

The more terrible the sin, the greater the grace, and God will save to the Uttermost!

II. GOD PROMISES A NEW HEART * COMPLETELY

Since man has never been able to raise himself above Satan's power, God provides the way

A. GOD PROMISED A RESTORATION TO THE PROMISED LAND (24) A SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE FOR US TOO!

• Israel was scattered wide, and this promise was a physical, actual restoration to Palestine
• It was fulfilled then, fulfilled again, and Egypt can't believe it, & Israel is in unbelief
• Sometimes God gives material possessions when we earn them, but this took more than earning

B. GOD PROMISED A CLEANSING (25) WITH A NATION FILLED WITH THE FILTH OF SIN THIS IS IMPORTANT

• The Sprinkling is taken from Num 19, the Ordinance of the Red Heifer, to cleanse from Sin
• This time God did it Himself- the Captivity cleaned up their idols, troubles purify.
• The symbols- of Baptism, Sprinkling Blood on Mercy Seat, The Blood of Christ cleans all sin

C. GOD PROMISED A NEW HEART AND SPIRIT (26,7) NEW DESIRE TO KEEP AND POWER TO OBEY LAW

• They had never walked long in His Statutes, the trouble of sin touched every life & age
• In Ezek 18:31 God commanded them to Repent, and to leave sin, and make self a new heart!
• But the only way- Ezek 36:26 is if God does it Himself- God must and will give new heart

John 1:13 to be a new person, be born of God, II Cor 5:17- a new creature in Christ Jesus

III. THE PROMISE IS FULFILLED YET MORE TO COME

God has not finished His work of Grace yet; we have part, and best is yet to come

A. ISRAEL RETURNED TO THE LAND, HAD A NEW LEASE ON BLESSINGS, BUT WAS NOT PERFECT AND SO FELL

• Ezra and Nehemiah had revivals, rebuilt the temple, and sin led to Greek & Roman captivity
• But in the land, the people heard about Jesus. Some believed & were saved; some crucified Him
• Acts 2:17- Peter declared that God was fulfilling - gift of new Spirit, v.21- Salvation

B. THOSE WHO WERE SAVED WERE MADE SAINTS, BUT STILL WERE NOT ABLE TO WALK IN PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Paul was plain to declare that he was not perfect- Phil 3:12, Church in Corinth proved it!
• I work mainly with Saints, & we are not saintly!  Harder you work, the more you get criticized
• I Cor 13:9,10,12- It is no amazement that the world cannot govern self, if Church can't without fighting

C. GOD GIVES US THE DOWN PAYMENT, AND REGULAR PAYMENTS, BUT THE INHERITANCE COMES LATER

• For those who receive Jesus as Saviour- we receive the new heart-earnest of Spirit Eph 1;13,4
• But we must also do our part- Eph 4:22,3,4- and put on the new man & off the old man ourselves
• To do this we must study the word, strive to live Godly, resist the Devil, & work hard

But we won't completely make it until - I John 3:2, we see Him, and are made like him- Rom 8:18-23- the redemption of the body-

ACCEPT WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU TODAY!

If you do not have desire (food) you are dead, no spiritual desire- Spiritual death

The only way to get a new heart is to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour

The  only way to receive power to be victorious- is to use what is available in Christ

But keep humble, and keep up hope- the final fulfillment is yet to come- so pray- Come quickly, Lord Jesus