The Commission of Ezekiel

Ezekiel 2:1-10 Ezekiel is called by God to be a prophet the house of Israel, Ezekiel 2:5. God is preparing the prophet to be propelled into the purpose of speaking a word from God to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 3:1-11 God is further conditioning His servant for the daunting task of being God’s spokesman to a tough crowd, Ezekiel 2:4.

We continue our thought on practical principles to serving the Lord. Your ability is not a prerequisite to serving the Lord, but are you available when God calls.

We’re here to be worshippers first and workers only second. We take a convert and immediately make a worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant that a convert should learn to be a worshiper, and after that he can learn to be a worker…The work done by a worshiper will have eternity in it. – A W Tozer (Ezekiel 1:29)

When…people learn to rely not on their own power and wisdom, but to depend on God, there is no limit to their usefulness in God’s service. – Oswald Chambers

There are three prerequisites to properly serving the Lord.

Do what God tells you to do, Ezekiel 3:1-3.

Ezekiel’s message from God contained heavy words to break the wills of this obstinate nation, Ezekiel 2:10.

In order to crush their proud and refractory spirit; and in such a time of spiritual disorder and corruption, their troubles would become more severe.

Ezekiel must eat it, not literally, but permit the seriousness of the message sink in.

It was sweet, v3, proof of covenant love and faithfulness in God, that he should condescend to deal with such a people.

It became bitter, v14, to announce a message and carry out a work that was to be painful and difficult.

Contemplation, whatever the will of God might call him to do magnifying the justice as well as goodness of God, he was ok with it, and was happy to do what God ask him to do.

Serving the Lord can bitter/sweet, Ezekiel 3:3, 14.

Serving requires that a person do some hard stuff.

Serving also requires doing things that really don’t make sense, “eat the scroll.”

Serving also means that you do whatever God tells you to do without question, “so I opened my mouth.”

Go where God tells you to go, Ezekiel 3:4-7.

Ezekiel message would difficult, but the audience would be even more difficult.

Ezekiel is not free to go and do how he feel best to reach these people, “speak with my words.”

God pin points Ezekiel’s target audience, Ezekiel 2:3-6, repetitive for emphasis, “will not be willing to listen you, for they are not willing to listen to me,” Ezekiel 3:7.

The people Ezekiel goes to know the speech and are familiar with the language, it’s not a message they’ve not heard before.

If Ezekiel were to go to people who never heard, there would be a tremendous response and a huge harvest.

They just refuse to listen or respond.

Hard headed and stubborn people who just would listen to God.

Our response would be, why even go? What is the use if there they will not listen?

Serving God means never asking questions against God plan or purpose.

You cannot, although often we do, take it personal when faced with opposition.

There is always a deeper underlying issue that often resembles open attacks against God’s servants. The issues is not with you!!!

A soldiers on the battlefield don’t wring their hands or ask the enemy soldiers firing at him, “What did I do to you?” Rather, he understands that the opposition is the result of a deeper and larger cause. He is a target only because he is serving the cause of his government or nation. Ezekiel was to have a similar outlook in his ministry.

Be who God made you to be, Ezekiel 3:8-11.

God toughens Ezekiel up for what he is called to.

God would equip Ezekiel with the emotional strength for the challenge.

Ezekiel was not to permit himself to be pushed around or intimidated.

Don’t change who you are, just push through and preach the word of the Lord.

Ezekiel 3:10-11, Ezekiel is to be the prophet God had called him to be.

In order to serve the Lord, servants often must be toughened up for the challenge.

The service of God will eat your lunch if you are the least be intimidated.

God’s servants must be just as stubborn in serving as those are to whom we serve.

Be determined that you will not be pushed around or intimidated, but faithful serve the Lord.

If you have no opposition in the place you serve, you’re serving in the wrong place. – G Campbell Morgan.

Sometimes God gives large encouragement, promises, hope, success, providing for our infirmities; at other times a bare commission and command must suffice to do that which would make one’s heart ache: it is his prerogative to send whom he will, and upon what service he will. – Puritan William Greenhill.