The Strength Of God

Date: Friday, August 29, 2014
Today's Chapters: Ezekiel 1-4
Message Title: The Strength Of God
Hello My Friend,

The Book of Ezekiel is the twenty-sixth book of the Old Testament/Bible and it contains forty-eight chapters. The author of the book is Ezekiel and it was written to the people of Judah. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 590BC to 570BC. The purpose of the book was to inform them of the events that would take place during and after their captivity. The Book of Ezekiel is a complete covering of what will happen to the children of God, the saved Jews and Gentiles, scattered around the world today. What we are to learn from the book is that God orders historical events so that all nations will know He is God. “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 38:23.
Ezekiel, which means “strength of God” or “strengthened by God”, was one of the Jews held in captivity to Babylon, he was a godly priest, and those were very rare to find in those days. God came to Ezekiel with a very peculiar vision. “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.” - Ezekiel 1:4-6,9-11.

In this rather peculiar example, the creature represents one person, Jesus Christ, the faces represent the likeness of Jesus Christ, which we are to conform to. The man's face represents man, we are created in the image of God, which means that He has given us the ability to speak His language, to know right from wrong, and to make choices (free will). The lion, being the strongest and king of the beasts represents the strength of Christ, our King. The ox is the biggest and strongest of all cattle, yet very gentle, it represents the meekness of Christ. The eagle, who gets it's strength from it's eyes, can see sharply and clearly, able to look straight into the sun, it represents the eyes of Christ that are on His people. Jesus is always watching, never taking His eyes off us for a second. What does all this mean to us? It means that a life without Jesus Christ is no life at all, it means that He gives life to the soul. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” - 1 John 5:11-13.

Ezekiel, having been overwhelmed with the vision of God, is strengthened and comforted by God, then He gives a command by, Jesus Himself, to speak the Gospel to the house of Israel with the assurance that He would always be with him. He also commanded him to be fearless and faithful in telling it to all of them. “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. 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. 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. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. 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. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;” - Ezekiel 2:1-4,7-9.

The same command that was given to Ezekiel is given to those who are saved also, we are to go and preach the Gospel to the rebellious. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:19,20.

God continues to tell Ezekiel to speak to Israel His Word, and reveals to him that he will be the watchman who will send the judgment warning message to all mankind. “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. 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. 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. 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.” - Ezekiel 3:1,17-19.
A watchman is a guard, someone to look after people and make sure they are safe or can find their way to safety. While many get saved and that's about all they will do, God will appoint some of His people as watchmen to make sure we tell the Gospel to everyone we see. While we who are saved do not face the judgment of Christ, we will face the iniquities, the heartaches and grief over loved ones, and even people we do not know, if we had the opportunity to speak to them and did not. It's important that we speak to everyone who is not saved, if they rebel there is nothing you can do and although you may feel some sorrow for their rejecting Him, God will bless you for your efforts. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” - Romans 10:14,15.
Today's Prayer: God, All the signs in the world today indicate that Jesus can come at any moment, and You have given us the knowledge to know the Gospel and be saved from judgment. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us, when He died, was buried, and resurrected He gave us hope from the judgment and only those who believe in Him will be saved. Lord, give us Your power, make us more like Christ, help us to be bold, yet gentle in reaching those who are not saved, give us a passion to preach the Gospel to every creature, keep us savfe and protected as we serve You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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