So you want a prophet?
EZ
EK
IEL
EZEKIEL
The essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. Rev 19:10 (NLT)
Let love be your highest goal!
But you should also desire
the special abilities the Spirit gives -
especially the ability to prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1
No prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
Luke 4:24
Who was Ezekiel?
• Younger contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel.• Taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.• A priest, a prophet and God’s ‘watchman’:
Whenever you receive a message from me,
warn people immediately. (Ez 3:17)• Dispels the false hope of a short captivity.• Nations judged re joy of temple’s destruction.• Proclaims hope of forgiveness & restoration.
Relevance today
• God is holy (morally perfect)
- we are not.• Nations & individuals are
accountable to God.• God will Shepherd those
who turn to Him.• Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
gives Himself for us.• Worship & service are our
response to His love.
Revelation and ResponsibilityOn July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exilesbeside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened andI saw visions of God. (Ez 1:1)
The Glory of the LORD
Ez 1:4a,5-6 & Rev 4:6b,8
Ez 1:15,18,22,26-2:5 & Rev 1:17-18
Andrew WhiteThe Vicar of St George’s Baghdad
Faith Under Fire
Horror and HopeRevelations of captives
being forced into exile,
the siege & destruction of
Jerusalem, & the LORD’s
glory leaving the temple.
Ez 12:1,3-6a,7-12a,13a
2Kings 24:18a,19a, 25:1-6a
Yet hope... Ez 11:14,16-21
Background:
605 BC: Daniel taken captive to Babylon
597 BC: Ezekiel taken captive to Babylon
586 BC: Jerusalem destroyed
Tears and Tenderness
Ezekiel’s wife dies – Ez 24:15-20,21b,24b,26
Yet – Ez 16:59-63
Who is righteous
& loves like God?
(Ez 18:5-9)
The Watchman’s Message:
The LORD is our only hope (Ez 33:10-14,15b-19)
Searched for and SavedThe Shepherd’s search (Ez 34:11-12a, 23-24)
The Saviour’s Spirit (Ez 36:22,25-29a, 32,36)
The simply sublime (Ez 37:1,2b-14,24,27, 43:2-4, 48:35b)
• So you want a prophet?• So you want an apostle?• So you want an evangelist?• So you want a pastor?• So you want a teacher?
Their responsibility is to equip God’s people
to do His work and build up the church ...
that we will be mature in the Lord. (Eph 4:11-13)
Do we really want what God wants?
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