PROPHETIC INSIGHTS FROM THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL FOR THIS SEASON ~ DAY 4
A few years ago, I did a detailed study in the book of Ezekiel. I’m going to be posting the prophetic insights from each chapter over the next little bit. If you want the full teaching, it’s available on my YouTube channel at this link:
I FELL ON MY FACE – SET YOUR FACE – EZEKIEL CHAPTER 4
Question: With tough days ahead of us, will we set our face like flint?
INSIGHTS:
1. Sometimes God asks us to do strange things. Do we obey?
Ezekiel is asked to do some very strange things in Chapter 4. If you don’t believe me, go read it for yourself. He was actually asked to commit things that were against the law such as cooking his food on dung. His life became a parable.
Allowing the text to speak to us today, sometimes the Lord can ask us to do some strange things that could look ‘unorthodox’. Much of this is happening in the Church at present with the mass exposure taking place. Has the Lord asked you to do something different? Have you obeyed? Please let me know in the comments
God knows the end from the beginning. We trust his leading.
“He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
Daniel 2:22 NKJV
The Lord delights in OBEDIENCE not SACRIFICE.
“So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV
2. Roll up your sleeves.
We have work to do. What work do you have to do in this season? Where do you need to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? I’d love to hear it in the comments
3. God’s favour may not always look like what we expect.
It may not be glamorous or glorious but there is a reward for obedience. God’s favour may not always look like what we expect. Remember Ezekiel was favoured by God in the concession of cooking his meals on cow dung rather than human fecal matter. Kind of a different view of the favour of God huh?
Look for God’s favour in unusual ways. Look for it in places you wouldn’t expect. His favour is attached to his promise. It just may not be wrapped in a package we like.
The complacency of the western church is being seriously shaken. The church must arise and awaken. We must fall on our faces in weeping and repentance for our nation and especially the sins of the church. Idolatry is being soundly dealt with in the church right now. We must examine the idols in our own hearts first. It starts with us. We must check what is on the throne of our hearts. Is there something we need to ask permission before we do the will of God? That’s the definition of an idol.
4. Set your face against tomorrow.
If we are obedient to what the Lord’s called us to, we have the backing of heaven. He’s absolutely got us in this season.
“For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord God will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; the moth will eat them up.”
Isaiah 50:7-9 NKJV
In this season, we are being called to have a look at what is on the throne of our hearts, setting our faces like flint and receiving the strength of the Lord. We must get right with God. CONSECRATION! We look to him and our faces will be radiant. We will never be ashamed.
“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”
Psalms 34:5 NKJV
We set our faces like flint against our circumstances and we look to him for our solutions. HE will contend with our adversary. The battle is ultimately the Lord’s.