CHAPTER 2

1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. 2 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. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. 4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. 5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. 6 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. 7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

The vision from chapter 1 continues, and Ezekiel is given a very tough assignment!

God spoke to Ezekiel, and told him to "stand up." Ezekiel had fallen on his face when he saw the vision of God and the wheels (see Chapter 1, verse 28).

The "word" that God gave him was to prophecy to the "rebellious house" of Israel there in Babylon. Evidently the people were STILL not listening fully to God! (see verse 3)

God said that whether they would hear or not, Ezekiel was to speak! (see verses 5 & 7)

As Christians, our mission is to carry the gospel to the world - whether they will hear or not! We are, like Ezekiel, NOT to be afraid of what may happen; but to carry the gospel (verse 6).

8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. 9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; 10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

The written Word of God is for the saved as much as for the lost.

The written Word of God is for our consumption. After we take it in, we are strong from it; and have knowledge to speak about it.

One of the greatest detriments to the propagation of the Gospel is the lack of study by the saved.

CHAPTER 3

1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. 4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. 5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; 6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

After having taken in the book, Ezekiel is sent as a "home missionary." God cautions him that the people are "impudent and hardhearted." (see verse 7)

The "home missionary" perhaps has the hardest job. Jesus Himself said, "...A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house." (Matthew 13:57).

8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. 10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

God promised to cause Ezekiel's countenance such that people would respect him whether they listened to him or not.

The seriousness of the Christian's witness is caused by the relationship he has with the Lord. If the relationship is one of reverence and diligence, people will respect the Christian's testimony whether they decide to believe it or not.

12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place. 13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing. 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

If God calls us to a work, He will also provide the way to the work. Each year, as I prepare to visit in the Philippines, I pray for God's way to be given. I know it is God's call, however, I must pray for His means. Each year God provides ENOUGH; never MORE than enough, but always ENOUGH!

It is the Spirit of God that "lifts" us up to spreading the gospel. He calls us to it, He provides the "Word," and He provides the means.

Ezekiel went in "bitterness" because he knew that the all people were not going to listen. However, he went in obedience because "the hand of the Lord was strong" upon him. It is a fact that ALL of the people are not going to listen to the gospel. However, it is a FACT that God has called all Christians to share the gospel, and God's hand is certainly "strong" upon us for that witness (See Matthew 28:18-20).

Ezekiel was "astonished." He was stymied. He didn't know what to say. He WAITED until God showed him what to say.

16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

God provided the right "word" to speak to the people. Ezekiel was to explain that he was a "watchman." The watchman was a sentry. He was to diligently keep watch and warn of any approaching danger.

The approaching danger to these people was whether they would hear and obey God's Word. God is certainly approaching, and will come in judgment of all mankind.

God's Word to the "wicked" (those who refuse Him) is that they shall "surely die" (experience eternal death). God's Word to the saved is that they must warn the wicked!

Yes! We ARE our "brother's keeper!" As Christians, we are responsible for telling others about the impending judgment of God. For those who will receive God's Word and become obedient to Him, they will be "guiltless" at the final judgment. For those who refuse God's Word, they will be found "guilty" at the final judgment.

But those who will NOT TELL of God's impending judgment will be GUILTY of their "brother's blood."

These are some of the strongest words in the Bible! God has provided EVERY Christian with the call to share the gospel. God has provided the way and the means for that work. God's Spirit is "strong upong" us to tell our brother of His impending eternal judgment. And if a person refuses to TELL, then that person has not received God!

We must realize, however, there is a TIME to share the gospel, and there is a time to be QUIET! The appropriate time for sharing is shown by our personal relationship with God.

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.

Ezekiel is called away to the "plain" for a personal conversation with God. Without personal conversations with God we cannot know His will concerning the right TIME to share the gospel.

God told Ezekiel that for awhile he would be quiet. But then when God told him to speak, he MUST speak.

The listeners would have the responsibility of choice. They would either hear or refuse to hear. That was THEIR choice. But the Christian has to listen to God and be obedient in sharing the gospel.

Let me point out four things important to believers here:

1. God has CALLED us to share the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).
   
2. God has EMPOWERED us to share the gospel with His presence (Matthew 28:20, John 14:23, John 14:26).
   
3. God has ENABLED us to share the gospel by assuring us of the way and means (Luke 10:3-6, 2Corinthians 11:9).
   
4. And God provides the Christian insight as to when and how to share the gospel (see verse 27 above, and Matthew 13:9-11).
   

If Christ is truly LORD of our lives, we will not refuse His command!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.