Major Lessons in Ezekiel Reading the Old Testament Prophets (Jeremiah-Malachi) 06

God can use you to speak into difficult situations! Ezekiel 3:4, 7-9 4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. . . . 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

When developing a ministry, get a vision of God and a vision from God! Ezekiel 1:26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.

When developing a ministry, get a vision of God and a vision from God! Ezekiel 1:28 This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel’s Vision by Cari Von Sternberg

“The word of the Lord came to me.”

God’s judgment is his last level to move us to repentance! Ezekiel 6:3-4 3 I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols. . . . 7 Your people will fall slain among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 5:7, 9 7 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you. . . . 9 Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.”

God uses four levels to move us to repentance: Conviction

God uses four levels to move us to repentance: Conviction Consequences

God uses four levels to move us to repentance: Conviction Consequences Discipline

God uses four levels to move us to repentance: Conviction Consequences Discipline Judgment

The greatest loss is the departure of God’s manifest presence! Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.

The greatest benefit in every church and believer is the inflowing, life-giving, ever-increasing manifest presence of God! Ezekiel 37:4-6 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

“All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.” ~ George Atkins

The Spirit of God lives within us now, and we will live with God forever! Ezekiel 43:4, 7 4 The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. . . . 7 He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. Ezekiel 48:35 “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

To be in God’s presence – under his love, under his eye – is heaven, wherever we are! foehn wind