Doctrine: God the Father (E&R L1)

Have you ever been on a flight and experienced a sudden bout of turbulence?

Flying once through a storm I remember pit in my stomach as the plane bounced over and over.

But then came the voice of pilot.

His voice was calm and confident…Despite how it seemed…He was still in control of the plane- we weren’t bouncing about aimlessly.

He took us into the storm and he was going to bring us out on the other side.

This week in our scripture- Ezekiel has been taken into exile…

The turbulence he was experiencing was real….There was surely fear..doubt..worry…grief…had Israel been forgotten forever? Had God left them?

Last week we talked about the ruins around us…

often the ruins rarely feel stationary…like turbulence on a plane, we can often feel like we are being bounced around from one ruin to another..

Take just a moment- and write down how you have felt the turbulence of life this past week as well as the emotions that arise within you as a result.

(PAUSE) 1-2 minutes

and now with that at the front of your mind…

we come to Ezekiel…here God pursues Ezekiel…moving towards him and giving him what he needs most in that moment…

himself…

Our doctrine for this week is God the Father.

because what we need most in the midst of the ruins and the turbulence is to know the one who is in control.

God is the Father of creation and sustainer of all things..he is sovereign over everything and everyone…he is loving..good..and merciful…He is all-knowing and all powerful.…and he is all of these things, all of the time.

Ezekiel recognizes his place before the holiness of God and his response is to fall to his face..not in worship…but in terror at the realization of the greatness of God.

But God wasn’t revealing His glory to Ezekiel to scare him into submission.

God revealed himself to let him know that He saw him, cared for him, and that he had a plan for His people.

And Ezekiel would play a pivotal role in that plan.

Do not miss this- God the Father - exalted above all -moves towards his people…he gently lifts Ezekiel to his feet…

Ladies- God sees you, He knows all that is going on in your life and the world around you.

and like Ezekiel, you too play a pivotal role in his plan to restore all the sin has destroyed.

In John 6:33, Jesus warns his followers that there will be turbulence… But through his son, Jesus Christ, he has made it possible for us to enter into His very presence- to find rest in His arms.

As you lead in BSF this year- remember that the Spirit that raised Ezekiel to his feet, gave him a message, and commissioned him to speak to a people who wouldn’t listen- is the same spirit living inside of you.

The same glory that humbles and comforts, also equips.

That’s why we need Ezekiel’s vision.

It reminds us that before we speak for God, we must see God — and keep seeing Him.

His glory is not a one-time revelation to get us started.

It’s the sustaining reality that keeps us faithful.

As you lead this year, the turbulence will keep coming.

There will be weeks- like this past week- where the world feels heavy….weeks where women will resist or seem unmoved, when the children will cry and cry or ignore your words.

There will be weeks when your own heart feels dry, or when the pressures outside BSF press in.

A lot of you experienced all of these things..just this past week…and its only week 1…

In each of those moments, lift your gaze.

Picture the throne above the expanse.

Remember who is at the controls.

And let the glory of your Father comfort, humble you and raise you to your feet again, ready to serve.

Take a moment and write out some of the aspects of God’s glory that could bring comfort to your turbulence and ruins today, and in a moment we will praise him together for who he is through prayer.