Ezek 3:27

"But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD." He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house" Ezek 3:27

Ezekiel had been having a wonderful conversation with God when the Lord told him to go to the plains to finish the discussion. When Ezekiel arrived there, he saw the glory of God as he had done earlier. Then God spoke - and Ezekiel's life would never be the same. Ezekiel was to return home (did he ever ask "why didn't you just tell me this when I was home?"). There he would be bound in iron. His mouth would be sealed shut. He would not utter a word - until the Lord entered his humble home, unsealed his lips and gave him words to speak! Then the process was reversed and Ezekiel would be silent again.

What a life! Many men would wish the Lord would so move upon their wives! (Carmel is not included in that statement) To top it all off, when he did speak, Ezekiel was told that the people would most likely not listen to what he said! Talk about waste of time.

But Ezekiel did as he was told, and God moved to save a nation. "So, Pastor Edwin, what does this say to us?" you ask. Several things are notable.

1) Ezekiel did whatever God told him to do - no matter how insane it sounded. We must learn to do the same. God wants nothing from us but our obedience. And that obedience must be learned. We must first learn to recognized God's voice. Then we must be able to discern what He is saying. Next, we must learn to trust Him. Only then can we offer complete obedience to the Father.

2) Ezekiel knew the power of the words he spoke did not come from within himself. He recognized the presence of God - from the fantastic vision of the wheel within a wheel, to the quiet presence of God in his home. It's one thing for us to know God in a Church service when His Spirit is pulsating with the music. It is quite another to know Him as he visits us in our prayer closets.

3) Ezekiel knew the victory that only God can give. And we can do the same when we learn to obey without question, without doubt, without hesitation. Hallelujah Amen and Amen.