TEXT EZEK 2:1- 8.
SUB: The preacher’s commission.
Intro: 1) This is Ezekiel having just witnessed the vision of God, now standing in the presence of God, after God told him to stand.
2) Now he is being commissioned by God to go with God’s message to the people.
3) To be noted is the fact that Ezekiel can only hear God’s word after the Spirit enters him. Vs 2.
1.
GOD GAVE A COMMISION WITH A PURPOSE. He was sent to a particular people. Vs 3
GOD GAVE A COMMISION WITH A PURPOSE. He was sent to a particular people. Vs 3 A. God described them as a rebellious people. Webster definition of REBEL'LIOUS, a. Engaged in rebellion; renouncing the authority and dominion of the government to which allegiance is due; traitorously resisting government or lawful authority.
i)They had experienced the deliverance of God.
They had experienced the deliverance of God.ii)They had experienced the miraculous providence of God.
They had experienced the miraculous providence of God.iii)They had experienced the sure protection of God.
They had experienced the sure protection of God.Yet they were described as a rebellious people!
B. They were described as impudent children. Webster describes Impudent IM'PUDENT, a. [L. impudens.] Shameless; wanting modesty; bold with contempt of others; saucy.
i)In spite of all God’s blessings, they were shameless perhaps attributing their seeming success to themselves and their intelligence.
In spite of all God’s blessings, they were shameless perhaps attributing their seeming success to themselves and their intelligence.ii)In their impudence they perhaps were expressing contempt for others by elevating themselves in their own eyes not seeing their own disobedience or shortcomings.
In their impudence they perhaps were expressing contempt for others by elevating themselves in their own eyes not seeing their own disobedience or shortcomings.C. They were described also as stiff-hearted. Of this John Gill says… stiff-hearted or "strong of heart"; whose hearts were like an adamant stone, and harder than the nether millstone; impenitent, obdurate, and inflexible; they were not only stiff-necked, as Stephen says they were in his time, and always had been; but stiff-hearted; they were not subject to the law of God.
11. THE MESSAGE GOD GAVE. “Thus saith the LORD”.
A. This establishes the authority of the message. Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
i) It is from God Himself.
ii) It establishes the importance of the message. It should be heeded.
iii) It implies rejection of God’s message will result in punishment because of disobedience.
iv) While the message is given generally, there is a responsibility for personal obedience.
vi) Personal rejection carries personal responsibility which results in individual punishment.
111. WHATEVER THE RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE, THE PREACHER MUST FAITHFULLY OBEY GOD. He must preach it. Vss 5-8
A. Through the message, they will know that there is a prophet amongst them.
i) God’s man will be identified by his faithfulness to God’s word.
ii) God’s man will be identified by His unquestionable acceptance of God’s word.
iii) God’s man will be identified by His preaching of God’s word.
B. The preacher is warned by God of persecution.
i) The rebellious hearers are described as briars and thorns and scorpions. What they all have in common is that they pierce you if you are not careful.
ii) They will attack you preacher.
iii) They will collectively attack you.
C. God encourages the preacher to be faithful in presenting His words.
i) Whether they accept or reject the word.
ii) Faithfully proclaim my word to them.
iii) God said, “Eat what I give you”.
D. Your attitude to preaching should never determine what the preacher preaches. He must preach God’s message.
1V. THE PURPOSE FOR THIS MESSAGE. There should always be purpose in preaching.
A. In commissioning me to preach, God gave me a message.
i) God had used His servant to prophesy of a coming Savior. Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
ii) That prophecy was fulfilled in our Savior. Mat 1:21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
iii) John described Him as… The Lamb of God. John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
iv) He was called the Lamb because in God’s plan, His blood had to shed for His people. He appropriated our salvation through His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross.
vi) By believing in Him, trusting in His finished work, you can receive forgiveness of sins.
APP:
Can you see your need for forgiveness of sins?
Will you trust in His finished work?
