A Heart Of Passion For The Lord Ezekiel 3:1-15
You’re here this morning because you love something about God. Perhaps you are considering Him further or maybe you have known Him for many years, and you are very well acquainted with your Lord and Saviour Jesus. Either way, the Bible for you is a guiding light. You would accept it as the Word of God. You may struggle with understanding some parts of it. You may love some parts and not only find them easy to read but you rejoice in applying them into your life. Other passages, you find difficult to read, perhaps not as edifying and more difficult to see how to apply them. But as a lover or serious seeker after the Lord, you accept and respect the Word of God, the Bible as a document that you desire to model your life by.
It's a sweet book – As such, you love the book. It is sweet to you. This is exactly what it was for Ezekiel. As it says, “"Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So, I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.” (Ezekiel 3:1-3) Ezekiel loved the Lord, and this is representative of his love for the Word. The scroll was sweet to him. It is very similar to what happened with the Apostle John when he received the scroll as part of the Revelation of Christ – It was sweet to the taste. (Revelation 10:10)
A not so sweet message – Ezekiel was called to speak to the exiles. They were there because they had already rebelled against the Lord and God had judged them by taking them to Babylon. Changing locations does not change the heart. You take ‘you’ with you. Ezekiel spoke fluent Hebrew and was instructed to speak to those of his native language; words that they would readily understand. The issue was not with the understanding, it was with the will. The Israeli hearers were still hard-headed and hard hearted, even after captivity.
Sweet to a foreigner – I remember speaking to an Israeli in 2002. We were holidaying at Rainbow Beach, and I was asking him about Mt Zion and the Temple Mount and the history of the nation. I told him I was excited to one day go to Israel, to see these places, be on the ground of such rich history and to especially walk in the steps of Jesus. He was not excited at all. He was a secular Jew and Israel, though religious, is a very secular state. Ezekiel’s message, though sweet to him, was abhorrent to his hearers – “the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.” (verse 7) Wonderful! Not.
Harden up Ezekiel – The Lord prepared Ezekiel for the challenge. He was told, “I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not.” (verses 8, 9) Anyone being prepared for ministry will eventually have to be made of iron if they are going to be successful in any capacity, but the reason you begin is that you have a heart for people, you love them, you want the best for them. The last thing you ever think is that you will go into battle against them, but that’s exactly what was happening here with Ezekiel.
Speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God. Don’t hold anything back Ezekiel. “"Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.” (verses 10-11) This is always the challenge. Some things you want to hold back; you know they are not wanting to hear it, but God said – give the whole counsel of My Word. Well, this isn’t very encouraging, is it? Think of a person right now, someone you know reasonably well. You know that if you started speaking to them about the Lord or anything of your faith, not only would they shut down, this person would probably get angry with you, defriend you, avoid you, etc. We all know people like that. Ezekiel was told to speak to those people!
There’s no doubt this was God – What has been the most significant spiritual experience you have had? For me, as I have shared many times, it was my conversion and the events immediately preceding and post that experience. We have all had something like that to some level or another. God confirmed that he was in this – no doubting it – earthquake occurred as well as the wings of the living creatures and the sound of the wheels beside the creatures; God’s clear and obvious presence and leading. You need something that confirms that, if you are to be a preacher or a pastor, but I think all Christians are given a confirmation one way or another with respect to their callings in spiritual ministry. What is yours? I have asked a few of you about this: not just your secular calling but what the Lord wants you to do in spiritual service to Him, because as Christians we all have a spiritual gift/s.
I’m angry with you – Ezekiel knew this was a message from God, but it didn’t mean that he liked it. Look at what it says, “The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.” (verse 14) This word, bitterness, is the same Job had when he was chastised and broken, the same word is used when Jonah was not happy that the Ninevites repented. He was bitter, angry, that God would show mercy. Interesting that they were of a foreign language and listened to Jonah’s message, as the Lord said “hear” to Ezekiel. Ever been angry with the Lord for what He has done or what He told you to do or say? I’m encouraged by the reaction of some of the prophets. Jeremiah was also bitter of spirit – same thing – rebellious house, before the exile.
I’m dumbfounded – People amaze us with their hatred and hardness to God. Look what it says, “I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.” (verse 15) Why was he overwhelmed? He was amazed at the incredible calling on his life. He had a vision of the Lord, but possibly more than this, he was overwhelmed with the weight and responsibility of the call and the word that there would be the continued rebellion of his fellow countrymen. The next few verses in the chapter support that analysis.
Ezekiel went. He was obedient, and the rest of the book is the record of that obedience; not only a record to him, but for us. So, how do we maintain a heart of passion for the Lord, even though it may be a tough season or even a ministry like Ezekiel’s or Jeremiah’s?
1. Supernatural call from the Lord. Eg. Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1-3) Jeremiah wanted to quit, but the Lord’s words burned inside him; he couldn’t keep quiet.
2. God’s energy, not our own. God’s scroll. Ezekiel, but also John – interesting that John’s scroll turned bitter in his stomach, just like Ezekiel was bitter in spirit. But God gives you strength as you speak on His behalf.
3. Obedience even when it doesn’t mean heaps of success. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Isaiah even said, “Lord how long must I speak to this people?” The answer – till there is nothing left – a stump; only be faithful to the Word of God.
4. Earthly vineyard, but a heavenly vision. Isaiah saw the seraphim, Ezekiel the same and more, John the Apostle the throne room and the same vision of God and the heavenly creatures. Something supernatural must be evident in our lives. Note: not everyone saw these visions, just Ezekiel. It must be a supernatural experience calling for you. But this must be evident in the life of every believer.
Christ commissions and calls us to Himself. He is the Word. He has called us to go and make disciples. There is no greater supernatural evidence needed than the words of Jesus.
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Title was “A heart of passion for the Lord” – Reading Ezekiel 3:1-15
1. You love the Word of God. It is sweet to you, but there are some difficult truths. What truths in the Word of God do you struggle with?
2. Ezekiel was to go to his own countrymen: the Israelites. They were hard headed and hard hearted. What similarities do they have to Australians?
3. Jay mentioned 4 things that affirm and maintain our passion for God.
A supernatural calling.
God’s strength, not our own.
Obedience – even when it doesn’t mean heaps of success.
Earthly vineyard, but a heavenly vision. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Discuss how these have applied to you.