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We recommend you read Ezekiel chapter 4 and 5 in preparation for this Sunday's sermon.
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Ezekiel part 3 The Preparation of the Preacher
Ezekiel chapter 2 & 3
What drives us to serve God? What is the reason that we serve God? Is it to be a winner of souls? Is it to be referred to by others as a great Bible teacher, as a missionary? Is the purpose of serving God even to bless God's people? Is it to be appreciated by the sheep of God's flock, to be loved by them because you feed them, because you tend them and look after them? What is the realistic expectation of what it is to serve God? What are we in the service of God for? Is there a place in between where we can be satisfied that God is using us, and still have a holy discontent and thirst after God and holiness.
It must come down to what God, first of all, has called us to do, and secondly what then our goal should be. Our goals will be determined by what God has actually asked us to do! We need to realise what misconceptions make us become shattered in the service of God.
Ezekiel's calling.
2:1 "He said unto me, Son of man". 90x in Ezekiel you find this title 'Son of man'. it is allocated to Daniel, Ezekiel and Jesus Christ, things common to each of those three individuals. Rejection, humiliation. and exaltation. The plan of God: you cannot have glorification before humiliation. If you want to serve God you need to realise that you are called to humiliation! In verses 3 and 4 the Holy Spirit outlines for him what that humiliation will be: 'You are to be a prophet to a rebellious house'. The chosen people of God, the Israelites, God is no longer calling them 'My people', 3:11 - He describes them as “Your people in exile”.
They were like disrespectful children - Matthew 11:16,17 'But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, who call out to other children.” God labels them as a rebellious, hardhearted people. 3:7 'They're not going to listen to you, Ezekiel, it's not you they're not listening to - it's Me! My people don't want to listen to My word'.
Ezekiel's success was measured by another standard 2:5 this is the standard where he would know that he had succeeded: 'They will know that a prophet has been among them'. As we seek to preach the Gospel to a world around that is dying, how can we measure success? Ezekiel's success and faithfulness could not be measured by numbers. His primary desire was not to see souls saved, but it was the glory of God – even if souls were not saved. The amazing thing about our God is that He can work all things together for good. It may take a greater call to go and see nothing, than to see mighty things – Ezekiel had to have a vision of God so uplifted, because he was going to go into a ministry that was not going to be fruitful.
2:2 the Spirit raises him to his feet, and enables him to hear the word of God. 'Ezekiel' means 'God strengthens'. Ezekiel had to be made a strong man, and when his vision is over, the Spirit lifts him and He sets him among the exiles back beside the river. He sits there, for a week absolutely stunned. This is the message, without God's power Ezekiel, can do nothing. Jesus said to His disciples 'Without Me, you can do nothing!'. The Spirit was poured upon His church, For the prophetic task of God, to go out and to preach the word of God but the problem today is the same problem of Ezekiel, and that is: a rebellious, stiff-necked people that will not hear the word of God – people who are dead in their trespasses and in their sins.
Ezekiel's equipping. See the parallels between Ezekiel and Genesis. Adam, received the breath of God and became a living soul - through his nostrils by the 'ruach', the spirit of the living God - Ezekiel has the breath of God, the Spirit, the same word 'ruach', infused into his being. In chapter 37, you see the dead bones of Israel brought back to life by a breath of the Spirit of God!
John 1:14 they said: 'We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth'. Like John on the Isle of Patmos in Revelation 10, who also swallowed the word of God - it was sweet to his taste, but it says of John that when it reached his stomach it was sour. Sweet to the mouth, sour to the stomach, because when we take the word of God to a dying, rebellious, hard-headed nation it is a bittersweet experience! Like Ezekiel we need people ingesting the word of God. Are we relying on ourselves or are we people of the Spirit of God? How do we know? Here's how we know: the test will be our emphasis on prayer! Prayer is the sole test of whether or not you are relying on God. are we filled and motivated by the Spirit of God?
Ezekiel's commission. in 3:14, he actually felt the anger and wrath of God. he feels God's frustration at a sinful world, yet it in exile he sits with the people. That is the dilemma of the prophet. A man who is called to bear witness to God's heart, but yet a man whose passion is for the people. God tells Ezekiel: 'You're my watchman. A man of sorrows, but a man who would be the watchman for the people and would warn them - and if he didn't warn them he would be responsible.
God finally shows Ezekiel the Shekinah again. He tells him to go into his house, to close the door, and he's not allowed to go and speak to the people. God tells him, 'You will go when I tell you to go, and you will say what I tell you to say - and whenever you're not saying that you'll not be saying anything, because I'll make you dumb'. We ought to say what God says, and say no more. The message is this is our responsibility: if they believe it, they believe it; and if they don't, they don't - but all the glory goes to God.
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We have a target of £3000 to reach by the end of June to do some essential structural work at Mossvale Community Sanctuary, our sister church in Ghana. All donations most gratefully received!
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Woman2Woman Tea & Testimony Night
Thursday 20th June 7.00pm
£5 per ticket for Mossvale Community Sanctuary
THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT
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We will be holding a worship and baptism service at Luss, Loch Lomond on Saturday 22nd June at 9.30am. Please speak to Pastor Hugh if you are considering being baptised.
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Family Movie Night Returns for a sing-a-long film that is practically perfect in every way!
Doors open 5.45pm, movie starts 6.00pm prompt.
Parents need to remain with their children.
Ice cream or popcorn provided at the break.
A suggested donation of £1 per head would be appreciated - all funds raised for Rescue Aid Mission.
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Join us at Kids Connection this summer for Summer Fruits... keeping in step with the Spirit of God!
Every Sunday from June 30th for primary aged children... worship from 11.15am then join us in the Mossvale Hall when the message appears on the overhead screen.
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