I’ve Got Work To Do (Rev.)

Text:

Ezekiel 3:22-27:

22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.

25 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

 

Theme:

I Got Work To Do (Rev.)

 

Introduction:

• The prophet Ezekiel writes the Book of Ezekiel. During the beginning of the Judaic captivity in the land of the Chaldeans, God commissioned Ezekiel in a unique fashion compared to the pre-exilic prophets of before:
  • to prophesy to the entire house of Israel and not just a portion
  • to show God’s people their transgressions
  • to prophesy what to some is gloom and doom – terrors of the Lord in their destruction
  • to prophesy an encouraging word to the people in the coming of the Kingdom of the Messiah
• The Book of Ezekiel is divided primarily into four parts:
  • The account of his call to the prophetical office
    • The first four chapters give an account of God calling, qualifying, preparing, and commissioning the prophet Ezekiel.
  • The prophecies of denunciation against the Jews
    • Israel will suffer because of its sin.
  • The prophecies against various surrounding nations
    • The surrounding countries that are also wicked will get their just reward also.
  • The prophecies delivered after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar
    • Chapters 33-39 depict the good times to come à the ultimate prosperity of Israel and the Kingdom of God as well as Messianic times.

 

Body:

• The text is found in the second section of the book during the prophetic denunciation of the Jews.
• Three things to notice about God’s prophet in this commission:
  • Ezekiel was sanctified for the work of God.
    • Ezekiel 3:22-24, “And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee. Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face. Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.”
    • God first separated Ezekiel from the object of his work à We have to be separated from the sin before God stands us AGAINST the sin!
      • “the hand of the LORD was there upon me”
        • God getting the servant’s attention à God’s choice
          • God can use whatever or whoever He wants to use
          • Psalms 95:3, “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.”
        • “Then the spirit entered into me”
          • God getting the servant’s life à Servant’s choice
            • Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
  • Ezekiel was made to experience the sin in his own life first.
    • Ezekiel 3:25, “But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:”
    • God humbled Ezekiel and substantiated Ezekiel’s message by giving him the experience of those whom he must preach to.
      • Ezekiel 37:1-2, “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.”
      • 2 Timothy 1:8, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
      • During this time, Ezekiel’s mouth was shut!!
      • Ezekiel 3:26, “And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.”
        • Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”
        • People usually don’t want to be quiet because they don’t want to learn!!
        • We learn through listening…We promulgate what we have learned through speaking!!
  • Ezekiel spoke ONLY under the unction and direction of God.
    • Ezekiel 3:27a, “But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;” è Keep yourself in check….
      • “When I speak with thee”
        • Has God spoken with you?
      • “I will open thy mouth”
        • Has God opened your mouth?
      • “Thou shalt say unto them”
        • Are you doing what God called you to do?
      • “Thus said the Lord God”
        • Are you saying what God told you to say?

 

Conclusion:

• Another thing to notice in this 27^th verse is that Ezekiel was not to preach based on the response à preach no matter what!!
  • Ezekiel 3:27b, “He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.”
    • 2 Timothy 4:2 reminds us, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
      • Don’t worry about the bills…PREACH
      • Don’t worry about the rumors…PREACH
      • Don’t worry about your past…PREACH
      • Don’t worry about your weaknesses…PREACH
      • Don’t worry about the membership…PREACH
      • Don’t worry about the other preachers…PREACH
      • Not matter what the world may say or do…PREACH!!!
    • God says in Matthew 13:30, “Let both (wheat and tares) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
      • When God gets ready, He’s gonna fix it! Now, you just TELL it!!
        • When Jesus comes riding on a cloud in the air
        • When the angelic host is gonna tune and sing “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”
        • When there will be no more dying
        • When there will be no more crying
        • When the lion is gonna lay down with the lamb
        • When my Father is gonna come get His children

In the great getting’ up morning!!!!!