Collinsville-Troy CHURCH OF CHRIST

The Spirit of God Leaves the Temple

Ezekiel 10:18; 11:23

Jeff Arnette

There's a particular kind of silence that happens when someone you love pulls away from you a little at a time. No slammed door, no final argument. Just a slow, quiet distance that you almost don't notice until one day you realize they're gone.

That's the picture Ezekiel gives us in chapter 10. Israel had turned from God to idols, until God finally refused to keep dwelling in their presence. And the way he left was almost unbearable to read. "Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim" (Ezekiel 10:18, ESV). From there, the glory moved from the Holy of Holies, out of the temple, out of the city, and settled on the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23). One slow step at a time, God's presence withdrew from the people he had chosen. And no one noticed. No one cared enough to stop it.

We don't bow down to carved idols, so it's easy to assume this story isn't about us. But most of us have quietly turned our trust and confidence toward something other than God without ever calling it idolatry. It rarely happens all at once. It happens the way it happened to Israel, one small compromise at a time, until we're leaning on our own reasoning, our own comfort, our own plans, and calling it wisdom.

That's the real warning in this passage. When we place our trust somewhere besides God, it always moves us further from him, whether we feel it happening or not. Scripture is blunt about this. "Do not love the world or the things in the world" (1 John 2:15). "Friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4). "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2). These aren't threats. They're warnings from someone who wants to be trusted, not replaced.

Here's what's most sobering about Ezekiel's vision. It's possible for our lives to be far from God, and for us to still think everything is fine. Israel didn't grieve their loss until it was too late to do anything about it.

Jesus said plainly that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). We can't build our lives around what we want and still expect God to show up on our terms whenever we need him. He is not our slave, and he does not serve us. He alone is meant to be Lord of our lives.

If it feels quiet in your prayer life lately, that's worth paying attention to before it becomes normal. God hasn't moved. But it's worth asking, honestly, whether we have. The glory of the Lord left slowly and no one stopped it. We don't have to let that happen to us.

https://bulletingoldextra.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-church-is-not-swayed-by-society.html

Peter's Lunchtime Vision

Jason Wright

The book of Acts is fascinating. If you want to learn the history of the Lord's church, look no further. As you read about the early church and how it grew so fast, a pattern quickly shows itself. Preach the Gospel -people rejected the good news and people were saved -persecution comes for the saved -the Christians spread out -the church grows. This is a very interesting blueprint of the early growth of Christianity. Although the church was growing, the persecution often originated with the Jews as many of them rejected Christianity for Judaism. Changes were coming!

In Acts 10, Peter experienced a lunchtime vision. He was praying around noon and was hungry and was preparing to eat. At this point, he falls into a trance, and sees a sheet bound at all four corners lowered down from heaven. In the sheet were all kinds of animals and birds. A voice came to him saying, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. Peter refused. The Lord said, what God has cleansed you must not call common (polluted or unclean). This was done three times.

What did this vision mean? First, God confirms thru Peter that Gentiles would have the same access to salvation thru Jesus Christ that the Jews had. The barrier between Jew and Gentile had been removed. Later in chapter 10, Peter announces God shows no partiality, and that all men can be accepted by God if they fear Him and work righteousness (v. 35).

Later, we see that the Holy Spirit fell on those Gentiles in Cornelius' household. The baptism in water followed the Holy Spirt falling upon all who heard Peter's preaching. The Jews who travelled with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. They were speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then, Peter baptized them in the name of the Lord. The Jews and Gentiles were now part of the one body—the Church (Col.1:18).

A lot of people during this time had to overcome prejudices and not discriminate over bloodlines and economic status. Even Peter had to rise above and see people the way God saw them. Today, we serve that same God who does not discriminate. He has provided salvation thru His son for anyone who obeys thru repentance, confession and baptism. There is no room for discrimination in the Lord's church. A soul is a soul. Paul said in Galatians 3:28, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Reminder…this was written to Christians.

In a perfect world, Christians would not see the outside shell of folks, but realize each one has a soul. That soul is precious and outside of Christ is lost eternally. Watch what God does. Peter, a Jew, baptizes the first Gentiles. Peter had to make some changes and accept people as God accepted them. Prior to the baptisms, Peter witnesses Cornelius and his family receive the Holy Spirit as a sign Gentiles would be part of the kingdom. Peter would see that change is good.