Don’t Settle for an Empty Temple

Ryan Heathco

January 12, 2025

About the Sermon

The departure of God’s glory from the temple is one of the most heartbreaking moments in Ezekiel’s visions. It shows how sin and spiritual complacency create distance between us and God. But it also sparks a hunger for His presence to return. Revival begins when we recognize what we’ve lost, grieve over it, and long for His presence to fill our lives once again.
More from Ezekiel

The River That Heals

Ezekiel’s final vision is of a river flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing wherever it goes. This image captures the full power of revival: it starts in us but doesn’t stay there. God’s renewal flows outward, touching every aspect of our lives and reaching the world around us. Revival is never just personal—it’s a movement of God’s Spirit bringing hope, healing, and abundance to all it touches.

When Dry Bones Dance

God takes Ezekiel to a valley of dry, scattered bones—a symbol of hopelessness and lifelessness. But through His Word and Spirit, these bones come together, flesh is restored, and life returns. This vision reminds us that no situation is too far gone for God. He specializes in breathing life into what feels dead and hopeless, reviving our souls, and restoring our hope.

New Heart, New Start

Revival isn’t about behavior modification; it’s about total heart transformation. In Ezekiel, God promises to cleanse His people and replace their hardened hearts with new, responsive hearts that beat with His Spirit. This passage is a powerful reminder that revival is God’s work in us, enabling us to live in obedience and joy through His power, not our own efforts.