Prayer of Jabez (092524)

Turn to and read Ezekiel 1:1.

When the book of Ezekiel opens, we find Ezekiel in Babylon, along the river Chebar.

Before God ever charges Ezekiel with his ministry to the captives in Babylon, Ezekiel needs to know exactly Who it is that He’s “working for!”

As I stated in the past, Ezekiel needed to be prepared to be the conduit through which God would give His message to the captive children of Israel.

Hence, it says in verse 1: I saw visions of God.

He also sees the four living creatures that minister to God around His throne and

The wheel in the middle of the wheel.

We then come to the end of chapter 1:

Turn to and read Ezekiel 1:24-28.

It should not take too much for us understand what it is that Ezekiel, in these verses, is seeing and hearing.

Ezekiel, in this vision, has been ushered into the very presence of God; into the throne room of God!

Ezekiel here was allowed to see the blazing light of God’s glory much in the same way the Peter, James, and John were given the opportunity to glimpse the glory of God when Christ was transfigured before them! Luke 9:32 states that they saw His glory!

Just as Ezekiel states in verse 28:

Ezekiel 1:28 (KJV 1900)

…This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

But I want to draw your attention to a phrase, in vs 27:

Ezekiel 1:27 (KJV 1900)

…I saw as it were the appearance of fire…

Among other things…

Fire, in the Bible, often refers to God’s presence.

Exodus chapter 3 / Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 13:21-22 / The Israelites were guided by a pillar of fire during the night

Exodus 19:18 / The Lord descended upon Mt. Sinai in fire

I’m sure that, given the daunting task ahead of him, that…

Ezekiel needed to be assured of God’s presence.

It’s interesting that Moses was in a similar situation.

Turn to and read Exodus 33:9-23.

We need to be assured of God’s presence.

I do not know what difficult days lie ahead but I do know that the only way we will be able to bear those difficult days is with the assurance of God’s presence!

Joshua 1:6–9 KJV 1900

Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

2 Timothy 4:16–18 KJV 1900

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 43:1–3 (KJV 1900)

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, And he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the Lord thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV 1900)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we are never alone!

Paul was in Athens. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 1 Paul states: …we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

Even though Paul was physically alone, he was never truly alone because again, as he stated in 2 Timothy chapter 4, the Lord stood with him!

Remember…

Ezekiel needed to be assured of God’s presence.

Notice in chapter 2…

Ezekiel 2:2 KJV 1900

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Ezekiel, through the Spirit of God, had God’s presence with him!

In the Old Testament, God endued individuals with the Spirit of God - the very presence of God - when they had a job to do. God empowered them to accomplish the task that they had given them to do.

One example: Samson

Judges 13:24–25 KJV 1900

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

In the New Testament economy, believers have the Holy Spirit with them at all times.

We cannot accomplish anything, for the cause of Christ, apart from the enabling grace of God through the Holy Spirit of God.

Zechariah 4:6 (KJV 1900)

…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.

Now, turn to and read Ezekiel 2:1-7.

Ezekiel’s Marching Orders

In these verses, God describes the people that Ezekiel was being sent to.

In verses 3-4, God’s description of Israel is very descriptive of our own country in which we live.

Our country has rebelled against God.

Whether people want to admit it or not, there is, within our country, open hostility towards God!

Note: This is one of the reasons for our ministries to and for young people - the generation to come!

Psalm 78:7–8 KJV 1900

That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

This is also the reason - this open hostility toward God - why the message of the Gospel has never been more needed!

Matthew 9:12 (KJV 1900)

…They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Our country has sinned.

We see the wickedness around us every day.

Sin is anything that we do, say, or think that breaks God’s law.

Our country is filled with those who are impudent and stiffhearted.

For they are impudent children and stiffhearted…

Prideful

Willfully disobedient

Stubborn

Unwilling to yield

Shameless

Instead of acknowledging God’s judgement and confessing its sin, our country stubbornly marches on in it’s rebellion against God and against all that is true and holy!

God, give us a meek and humble spirit; give us a broken and contrite heart!

Stay Faithful!

Vs. 5: Ezekiel was given no assurance that they would listen to his message.

But, they would know that a messenger from God had been amongst them!

It should be our desire that the people around our church know this - that we have given them the truth of God’s Word!

We've a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light, a story of peace and light.

We've a Savior to show to the nations, who the path of sorrow has trod, that all of the world's great peoples may come to the truth of God, may come to the truth of God!

Be Not Afraid!

Ezekiel 2:6 KJV 1900

And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV 1900

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be Obedient; Don’t Rebel!

Vs. 7: Regardless of how Israel responded, Ezekiel was to be obedient and speak God’s message.

Vs. 8: Ezekiel was warned: “Don’t rebel against Me!”

God’s Message

Ezekiel 2:9–10 KJV 1900

And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

We’ll not consider the particulars of God’s message at this time; we will do that as we walk our way through the book of Ezekiel.

But, in brief, notice, from vs. 10, what God’s message contained:

Lamentations: a funeral song for the purpose of expressing grief and sorrow.

Mourning: passionate and demonstrative words expressing grief

Woe: a kind of written expression of lament or wailing

Sound fun? Sound exciting?

Turn to and read Revelation 9:6-12.

We have the message of God; we have His Word.

We have been given a glimpse of the lamentations, the mourning, the woe that awaits those who do not turn to Christ.

What are we doing with THAT “vision?”