When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." How many times have you said, "If only"? "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). |
Hey everyone!
In the days leading up to the Southern California Harvest at Angel Stadium, I thought I would focus on the topic of evangelism.
Before that, a couple of updates:
First, I spoke at Mariners Church in Irvine last weekend.
We had a tremendous response to the invitation to receive Christ. We had at least 500 people come forward at invitations at one of the three services I spoke at! It was fantastic!
Second, I am speaking at Saddleback Church this next weekend. This is, of course, pastored by Rick Warren, who has written the best-selling Christian book of all time (next to the Bible, of course), The Purpose Driven Life.
We will show the newly-edited Lost Boy: The Next Chapter film, and I will speak after each showing.
Now, back to our topic . . .
We over-complicate evangelism
It is my firm belief that God can use you to bring others into His Kingdom. Why would God tell us to engage in this thing we call evangelism if it were not so?
Know this: the calling of God is the enabling of God.
I believe that God wants to use all of us to bring people to Himself.
The book of Proverbs says, ”The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Scripture also tells us, “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever” (Daniel 12:3).
So, with the Southern California Harvest only days away, I thought I would talk about the who, where, why, what, when, and how of evangelism.
Who is called to share their faith?
Let’s start with the question of who is called to “go into all the world and preach the gospel?”
Answer: You are! We are! Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In the original language, these words are addressed to everyone. Not just pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, but everyone.
Businessmen, housewives, students . . . everyone. No one is exempted.
Also, in the original language, this is a command. Jesus is not saying, “If you can find time in your busy schedule, as a personal favor to me, would you mind ‘going into all the world and preaching the gospel?”
No, as our Savior, Lord, and Commander-in-Chief. He says “Go!”
Not a suggestion
This is not “The Great Suggestion,” but rather “The Great Commission.”
If I am His disciple, I am commanded to go and make disciples of others. If I am not making disciples of others, then I’m not really being the disciple He wants me to be!
For many of us, however, it is “The Great Omission,” instead of ”The Great Commission.” We are simply not doing it.
Let me say something provocative to you: to not do it is a sin! The Bible tells us, “Any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
But God doesn’t want you to share the gospel out of mere duty, but with joy and passion. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things you can do is tell others about Jesus.
This message God has given us was meant to be shared not hoarded. You were blessed to be a blessing.
When you do not share, you begin to stagnate; when you do, you revive. Scripture tells us, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
We have a choice: evangelize or fossilize!
People follow those whose leadership they respect. The less skilled follow the more highly skilled. In general, followers seek those who are better leaders than themselves. Read Judges 4:1-16.
Few women in Deborah’s day rose to leadership positions but Deborah’s leadership gifts commanded respect of both men and women. Even Barak, the military commander of the northern tribes of Israel, sought her help.
In notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Maxwell writes about Deborah and the Law of Respect.
Take a look at the process any leader (including Deborah) must go through, a process summarized by the word R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Respect yourself and those with whom you work.
Gaining the respect of others always begins with respecting yourself and your associates. Deborah did this, and people from all over Israel came to her to settle their disputes. If you desire to win the respect of others, first demonstrate a healthy respect for yourself and for your associates.
Exceed the expectations of others.
Few observers might have expected Deborah to change the way they lived. Yet she raised the standard of living for the common person and returned the nation to peace. Leaders who earn the respect of others go the extra mile, fight to achieve victory, and take others with them.
Stand firm on your convictions.
It must have taken convictions for Deborah to summon Barak and command him to fight. Even when Barak doubted the campaign, she did not waver, and proved her convictions by agreeing to accompany Barak to battle. Followers respect a leader with conviction and willingness to join the journey.
Possess uncommon security and maturity.
Deborah never tried to take credit for Israel’s victory, but recognized those who helped the nation win. Respected leaders don’t grab all the credit for themselves. They give as much as they can to others.
Experience personal success.
Leaders cannot help others enjoy success unless they have succeeded themselves. Deborah already had succeeded as a prophetess and judge before she asked the people to fight.
Contribute to the success of others.
Deborah did everything right in calling the people to battle. She gave them a commander and the resources they needed. She also gave them the Word of the Lord that they would win. Under her guidance, “the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite King, until they had destroyed him” (Judges 4:24).
Think ahead of others.
Deborah didn’t simply tell Barak to fight; she furnished a plan for his attack. Then she accompanied Barak to the battle. The result: overwhelming victory. How could the people not respect a leader of such strategy and vision?
What actions are you taking to ever increase the respect of your team? Effective leaders find the area that causes their team to lose respect for them and then asks God to give them a plan to correct that part of their character.
We can have great certainty concerning the fulfillment of God's promises, because grace and faith are the foundation of our assurance. "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed." Grace is the heavenly resource behind all of God's promises. Faith is the simple means of accessing that grace. These realities make God's promisescertain to all who believe them, whether Jew ("not only to those who are of the law") or Gentile ("but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham"). This is how Abraham related to God's promises. Thereby, he became the spiritual leader for all who would follow His example:"who is the father of us all (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations') in the presence of Him whom he believed."
The true and living God, whom Abraham believed, makes two declarations here that strengthen our assurance in His promises. First, He is a God "who gives life to the dead." Consider the impact this attribute has on our confidence in God's promises. Often, the promises of God must overcome death (or deadening circumstances) in order to be fulfilled. The promise that Lazarus would live again was given while his dead body was lying in a tomb. "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Often, the deadness of our own circumstances wants to challenge the certitude of God's promises. Yet, the God who has made to us a multitude of promises is the God "who gives life to the dead."
Second, our God of promises is one who "calls those things which do not exist as though they did." We are not yet personally righteous (in any intrinsic sense). Yet, God calls us righteous (justified, declared righteous in Christ). "Whom He called, these He also justified"(Romans 8:30a). We are not yet glorified (experientially). Yet, God speaks of our glorification as already accomplished. "Whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Romans 8:30b). What a joy to know that our God of promises will bring to pass eventually that which He promises prophetically.
| Wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved. | ||
| Ephesians 1:6 | ||
| We are accepted because we’re in the beloved — we’re in Christ. It doesn’t matter how you feel about yourself. You don’t have to take your spiritual temperature hour by hour. You don’t have to wonder, ‘Am I hot? Am I cold? How am I doing?’ You won’t have to go through the kind of introspection which will inevitably set you up for spiritual depression if you understand the simple principle that you are embraced not because of who you are, but because of where you are. Where are you? You’re in Christ. And once you accept this truth, you will enjoy your relationship with the Father in a brand new way. You’ll throw away your spiritual thermometer; you’ll quit analyzing how you’re doing; and you’ll rejoice that you are simply, totally, wonderfully in Christ. | ||
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Today's Golden Oldie is from August 27, 1980.
Back in 1980, capitulating to Arab threats, the nations of the World bowed their heads and moved their embassies out of Jerusalem, Israel's capital city.
In 1995, the US Congress voted to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but the move was never carried out for political reasons. In June, President Obama postponed moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for an additional six months. Meanwhile the U.S. is represented in Jerusalem by the U.S. Consulate ...which does not recognize that it is in Israel.
The U.S. Consulate's Jerusalem website has no reference whatsoever to Jews or to Israel, promotes Palestinian causes, and has an Arabic version of the site but no Hebrew version.
Years ago I had my U.S. Passport renewed in Jerusalem. In order to avoid using the word "Israel" they did not stamp the place of issuance as "Jerusalem, Israel" ...instead, they stamped it as having been issued in "Jerusalem, Jerusalem".
Your thoughts?
"As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
NKJV
Bumps are what you climb on.
As the Pastor of a large congregation, I often speak with and pray for those who are in the midst of monumental life changing challenges. It might be unemployment, eviction, addiction, separation, divorce or even death. Whatever it is, for those going through it, it seems to be a Mount Everest of a challenge. One thing I've noticed is that those who dare to take on mountains often triumph while those who survey the towering heights and presume defeat... buckle. Colossal cliffs teach the deepest lessons - the kind you never forget.
Genesis 22:8 "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." KJV
From the stable to sacrifice, Jesus knew His mountain. Awaiting Him at the top were false accusation, humiliation, torture, pain, suffering and death on a cross. For us, our Savior set His jaw and pressed forward. Jesus made the greatest climb - to Calvary.
Willingly, Jesus took that hill. He knew what was waiting, and He went. It was His joy to do so. He did it to purchase you and change your destiny. Friend, because Jesus made His ascent, you can climb your mountains with victory in hand. The next time you see a mountain looming in the distance, remember, you're a conqueror. With Jesus, you will take that hill.
Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. It is through You that I do not have to fear the difficulties of this world and that I have everything I need for the challenges of life. Please forgive me for times when I've stalled in the face of trials instead of relying on You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
reachthetriad.com
twitter.com/ccot
Posted:
“Under His Influence – The Design” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 8/1-2/09,
Message #MB383;
Daily Devotional #1 - “Holy Spirit Who?”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): I grew up in church, so I have always known about the Trinity. I knew, believed, and understood about God and Jesus, but was a bit sketchy on understanding the Holy Spirit. I knew He was there as a helper to me, but I never called on Him for help.
I have to admit that, during all the years I never called upon Him, I felt as if something was missing. I would call to Jesus or God for help, but never the Holy Spirit, and I truly believe it is because I didn’t really understand what part He played in the Trinity except for the fruit of the Spirit. So, who is the Holy Spirit, and why should we live under His influence?
It wasn’t until reading and studying 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 that it clicked. …The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thought of man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. We know the thoughts, attitude, and mind of men/women because we ourselves are men/women.
It comes easy for us to identify, sympathize, and relate to each other because our minds are alike; however, we do not have the same mind as God. Why? "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8) God is not human like we are, so our inner thoughts are going to be drastically different than His. So, who does know the inner thoughts of God, and how do we gain access to His thoughts?
Reread 1 Corinthians 2:11, No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. The only one who knows the inner thoughts of God is the Holy Spirit. And guess what? It is the same Spirit who searches the depths of God’s thoughts that lives inside us, if we are followers of Christ. We have complete and total access to God’s inner heart, if only we call upon the Holy Spirit. Who better to call upon in times of help than the One who understands God fully, the Holy Spirit? Who better to call upon when we are studying the inner thoughts of God, His Word, than the Holy Spirit?
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. (John 16:13-14)
The Spirit only speaks what He hears, and what does He hear, but the Word of God, which He wants to make known to us. What happens to us when we hear the Word of God? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17) The more we hear the Word of God through the Holy Spirit, who knows the mind of God, the greater our faith becomes, and in turn we long more and more to be under His influence and want to live in His power and truth.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): As I admitted before, it took a very long time to recognize the Holy Spirit as being part of my Christian walk. In truth, I am still learning. It may be the first time you ever heard of the Holy Spirit, or it may be a familiar reminder of your long walk with Him, in either case take time to pray for God to reveal more of His Spirit to you. Ask God to fill you today with the Holy Spirit, so that you may walk under His influence, power, and truth.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
When Relevance Becomes Dangerous
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
--John 14:6
I have been preaching for a fairly long time now and have seen a number of generations come and g the Boomers, the Busters, and Generations X, Y, and Z. And one thing that has not changed over the years is my emphasis on the teaching of the Bible and the preaching of the gospel. That can never change, and it never will. It must never change, because I know the gospel is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16), and I have experienced the impact of it in my own life.
But the gospel is under attack like never before. While the church has always had its disagreements, this is a life-and-death debate. It is a debate among a growing number of people who call themselves evangelicals as to whether or not Jesus Christ really is the only way to salvation and whether all Scripture is indeed inspired by God.
There is a movement afoot known as The Emergent Church that is gaining momentum today. It is especially popular among people who have been raised in the evangelical church and who want to be real, who want something that is authentic, just as my generation did. But being real is not the most important thing; being right with God is the most important thing. And sometimes in the quest of being "real and authentic," some of these people are buying into dangerous ideas.
Let's get our priorities straight, and let's get back to the message again. Otherwise, we will lose what little influence we have as the church today. I am all for being contemporary. I am all for being relevant. But at the same time, we must be truthful, we must be accurate, and most importantly, we must be biblical.
| Idols of the Heart
In this verse, we find the core of all that was wrong with Israel. The hearts of God's people had forced out the true and living God for gods of their own making. Of course, these "gods" were not real gods in any fashion. Yet in blatantly rejecting a vital relationship with God based on love, they replaced Him with "gods" that supported the sins that had seduced their hearts. These gods represented the various pagan belief systems around them—everything from sexual practices to worshiping the gods and goddesses of fertility to the sacrifice of children upon fiery altars to receive personal blessing and prosperity. These idols had taken up the place in their hearts through the self-serving seduction of false prophets (13:1-19). False prophets and prophetesses gained great wealth in the process. In a real sense, things have not changed much since. We still seek out religious, philosophical, and political voices that validate our own sinful desires. How strange this must look from heaven's perspective. A God of love creates all things for us to enjoy as an act of love. Yet we soon seek to find a way to benefit and find blessing in the world He created without having to give our hearts to Him who has freely given us all things. In the end, our hearts become slaves to forces of darkness that relish the thought of robbing God of the one thing we can give Him—that is to choose to use our free will to love Him. When this misuse of our heart begins to rule our lives, our families, churches, and nations, we will suffer the consequences. We only need to look at human history from the day Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel. When our hearts are filled with self idolatry rather than selfless love, we become the source of every imaginable evil. Our hearts were made for God. Our lives will find meaning, fulfillment, and prosperity to the degree that love for God is at the center of our lives. Beware of any seduction that would rob you of loving God and being loved by Him. | |||
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Ezekiel 13:1-15:8 Woe to Foolish Prophets 1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, 'Hear the word of the LORD!'" 3 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. 6 They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, 'Thus says the LORD!' But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. 7 Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, 'The LORD says,' but I have not spoken." 8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you," says the Lord GOD. 9 "My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 "Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar— 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?'" 13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 "Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, 16 that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,'" says the Lord GOD. 17 "Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, 18 and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19 And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?" 20 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 22 "Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD."'" Ezekiel 14 Idolatry Will Be Punished1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? 4 "Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols."' 6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the LORD will answer him by Myself. 8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 9 "And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the LORD have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired, 11 that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God," says the Lord GOD.'" Judgment on Persistent Unfaithfulness12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying: 13 "Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD. 15 "If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, 16 even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate. 17 "Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land,' and I cut off man and beast from it, 18 even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered. 19 "Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." 21 For thus says the Lord GOD: "How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it? 22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it," says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 15 The Outcast Vine1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 2 "Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on? 4 Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? 5 Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned? 6 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 7 and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them. 8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,' says the Lord GOD." | |||
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| Ezekiel 13:1-15:8 v. 2 those who prophesy out of their own heart – Prophecy is only as true and powerful as its source. The source of these prophets' words is their own heart, not the word of the Lord. v. 3 who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! – Their source is their own human heart/spirit. Therefore they do not declare truth, are not able to predict the future, nor do they call to holiness and repentance. v. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall – The prophet's responsibility was to identify sin and weakness and call to repentance and repair. That way people and nation would be able to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. But these "prophets" had abandoned their call and the people were weak as a result. v. 6 they hope that the word may be confirmed – Israel was given the test of a true prophet in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. God clearly says that false prophets test our hearts to see what we believe and desire. v. 8 "I am indeed against you" says the Lord GOD – False prophets misrepresent God and bring God's personal opposition and judgment. v. 10 saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace – One of the greatest dangers of a false prophet is that they give a sense of security and passivity when destruction and judgment for sin are imminent, and repentance is needed. v. 11 with untempered mortar – Or plaster. Used to hold together as well as cover and protect. Their prophecies are like unproven, impure mortar and will not make a strong wall or protect them from the coming judgment. v. 14 I will break down the wall – The "wall" of these prophecies that the people are basing their security on are not prophecies from God. He will personally break them down and those who trusted in them will be consumed. v. 15 I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it – With God's judgment is not only on the wall of false prophecy but those who have built it to give false security to others who they should have warned in truth. v. 18 "Woe to the women who sew magic charms – These are other false women prophets or witches who make magic charms and use incantations to either give security, or to curse others and perhaps try to shift the destruction to others. v. 18 Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? – God sees these witches as "hunters of souls" killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live. They make these charms and curses for profit and are paid with handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. v. 21 they shall no longer be as prey in your hand – The Lord will deliver His people from these false prophets just like the others and judge them. v. 22 righteous – These witches lies are a curse on both the righteous, and the wicked as well because they are strengthened … so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. Ezekiel 14v. 1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me – This chapter continues the judgment of false prophecy, this time judging those who have sought prophecy from a corrupt motive or encouraged false teachers. v. 3 Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? – They seek counsel and prophecy but are in fact idolaters at heart. God will not answer them without directly confronting their idolatry and hypocrisy. v. 5 seize the house of Israel by their heart – God's target is the corrupted heart and knows that is where the change must occur. What He means by seizing their heart is explained in the following verses. v. 6 Repent, turn away from your idols – The first step in seizing the heart (v. 6-8) is to purge the idolatry. Repent means to acknowledge and turn the other away. v. 7 then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me – These hypocrites have separated themselves from God, but seek Him as if He is some kind of magic oracle where they can get answers about their problems or futures, while still having evil affections, and idolatrous hearts. v. 8 I will cut him off from the midst of My people – If they do not repent, the Lord answers their hypocrisy and their unwillingness to repent by cutting them off and destroying them. v. 9 I the LORD have induced that prophet – Both the "seeker" and the "prophet" are corrupt (v. 7, 9). So God gives a deceptive prophecy according to the desires of their heart that He might expose and condemn their hearts (1 Kings 22). v. 10 the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired – A prophet who would answer their inquiry without addressing their sin first is a false prophet who does not have God's priorities of addressing their sin first (v. 3) and is also guilty. v. 13 persistent unfaithfulness – In addition to first giving the Law as a standard, God has provided teachers to continually instruct and call to repentance. The pattern has been to persist in rejecting these warnings and calls from God. v. 14 Noah, Daniel, and Job – The presence of righteous men do not prevent the judgment of wicked, spare the children, or protect the land from invasion and destruction. v. 15 If I cause – Four means of judgment are listed in this chapter: famine (v. 12-14), beasts (v. 15-16), sword (v. 17-18), and pestilence (v. 19-20). God is very clear that He is the "sender" of these, He wants them to connect these events to His judgment of their sin. v. 19 pestilence – General term for epidemic disease, crop blights, or infestations of insects or vermin which devastate the nation. v. 22 there shall be left in it a remnant – There will be those who escape, to both speak of God's judgment (see notes on 12:16) as well as His faithfulness to the righteous. v. 22 they will come out to you – This is spoken to those already in exile. v. 23 I have done nothing without cause – The judgment of God on sin is not random violence. It is intentional and accomplishes God's purposes. He is still in control and will bring it to the ends He intends. Ezekiel 15v. 2 the wood of the vine – Vines are merely large, long, plant stems and are not technically wood like a branch. The picture of a vine is regularly used in the Bible as a metaphor for the nation of Israel, and spiritual life. This image is repeated through the next few chapters. v. 3-5 no object could be made from it – A vine has its value and life in being connected to the root from which it gets its life and bears its fruit. Once vines are cut from the root they cannot be used for any useful purpose and are burned as waste. v. 6 Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest – This is a contrasting picture of how the nation had become unfruitful and unusable because of their idolatry and rebellion and are fit only for destruction (John 15). v. 7 They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them – Multiple disasters are about to happen and there will be no escape for the unrighteous. v. 8 because they have persisted in unfaithfulness – Again, God connects the cause of the coming destruction with the judgment of their sin (14:13, 23). | |||
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| Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? –Ezekiel 14:3 Lord, we know that in our sinful, fallen conditions we have to continually guard our hearts against making material things into idols. Show us, God, reveal to us where we are idolizing the things that You have blessed us with. | |||
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14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?
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