The Call of Ezekiel

Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel is prostrate before the Lord at the conclusion of the vision of God’s glory seen in the four living creatures, the wheel, the throne, and the personage seated on the throne. But Ezekiel is not to remain is a position of perpetual wonder or worship, nor feeling unworthy or disqualified. God had a work for Ezekiel to do and so He must propel him into ministry.

For until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by His fatherly care, that He is the Author of their every good, that they should seek nothing beyond Him — they will never yield Him willing service. Nay, unless they establish their complete happiness in Him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to Him. – John Calvin.

It was not until Ezekiel had a firm grip on God’s glory was, he fit to be used by God. I feel that the lack of people surrendered service to God in the church is due in part to a low view of God and too high of a view of self. Our time is precious, our treasures are of greater value in personal needs, our talents best used in ways we deem more effective. Seldom if ever do you hear the silence broken from unyielding people by the cry, “here am I Lord, send me!”

Isaiah 6:8 “8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.””

When was the last time someone surrendered to the call to ministry, the call to the mission field, the call to menial tasks in the church for the sake of the unsaved?

Psalms 84:10 “10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

How does a person know if God’s hand is on him, Ezekiel 1:3, if I’m never open to God doing something in my life?

What are the prerequisites for being in a place where God can use me?

I will never be used by God until I am aware of my place in God’s plan, Ezekiel 1:1 “son of man” or “human.” Implies the lowliness and frailty of the prophet as man.

A person must have a distinct call from God, Ezekiel 2:1.

Too often we are content on being in a place of worship, than propelled into the work of God. It’s easy to get comfortable in God’s presence.

We like being in the seats at church rather than the streets of our community.

God makes demands on all of our lives. Everyone is called to serve in some capacity for the Lord.

How many times do we have to hear that God wants to use us before we get it?

In Ezekiel’s case, God spoke five times, Ezekiel 2:3; 3:4, 11, 17, 22.

Take not of the early church in Acts.

Acts 1:8 the church had a clear mission. This was not a new mission, but a reemphasis on the churches overall ministry and purpose for existence, Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15.

Acts 8:1 after a lengthy time of stationary ministry, Jesus had to turn the heat up on the church to get them to move.

God is telling Ezekiel that he has something for him to do, stand up and I will tell you what it is.

A person must be filled with the Holy Spirit, Ezekiel 2:2.

Before Ezekiel can even begin to serve, He must be filled with the Spirit of God.

Nothing in God’s service is effective or successful without the power and presence of the Spirit of God.

How do we do ministry without the Spirit’s help?

Two factors must be considered when it comes to serving God.

The Spirit of God is us.

The Word of God to us. ]

It is only by the presence of the Spirit of God can we hear what God is saying to us. (Note the order: “The Spirit entered…and I heard him speaking to me.”)

Ezekiel could not stand to serve until the Spirit gave Ezekiel the ability to serve, “The Spirit entered…and set me on my feet.”

A person must understand the difficulties in serving God, Ezekiel 2:3-7.

Serving the Lord is not for the faint of heart!

Serving can be a grueling task that must be taken seriously.

Service for the Lord will be met with every sort of resistance and opposition imaginable.

Not everybody is going to agree with you.

Not everybody is going to listen to you.

Not everybody will be accepting of you.

People will be critical, complaining, and cruel.

Some of the most difficult people to serve are the very ones in your own church, Ezekiel 3:11.

It is worth noting how Jeremiah began his ministry.

Jeremiah is called by the Lord, Jeremiah 1:4-5.

Jeremiah feels unqualified, Jeremiah 1:6-8.

Jeremiah is aware of what his job is, Jeremiah 1:9-10.

Jeremiah is informed of what he is up against, Jeremiah 1:18-19; 7:27.

A person must be prepared before being used, Ezekiel 2:8-9.

God must prepare a person before He ever propels a person into the work of the Lord.

“But you…” there must be proper attention to our own personal lives.

Servants for the Lord must remain teachable, “hear what I say to you.”

Servants must be open to God’s instructions, criticisms, and corrections needed for healthy service.

A person must have a bold approach to God’s word, Ezekiel 2:10.

Every servant of the Lord must know the Bible from front to back, “And it had writing on the front and the back…”

You must never hesitate to talk about the difficult stuff people need to hear in order to turn back to God, “words of lamentations and mourning and woe.”

Don’t tell people what they want to hear.

Tell people what they need to hear.

This was not a spontaneous word, but one that was well thought out.

God’s word is not only a well-defined, but also a complete message.

Ezekiel may not modify it with his own comments, nor does God allow himself any room for adjustments.

The most important thing you can do for any person is to be speaking the Word of God to them.

The greatest message any person can hear is the “Good News” concerning Jesus Christ.

Recap: Howard Hendricks once described the local church as a football game: Twenty-two people on the field, badly in need of a rest, and forty thousand in the stands, badly in need of exercise.

God is looking for servants not spectators.

God places a demand on my life to serve.

I have to be filled with the Spirit of God before I can serve effectively.

Serving God made not always be easy work.

I have to be prepared before God will propel me into service.

I must unashamedly speak the truth to those who need to hear it.