EZEKIEL 1 AND 2EZEKIEL 1 AND 2

Not your most favourite passagesNot your most favourite passages

Bible readingBible reading

gives us a perspective regarding the lives gives us a perspective regarding the lives and times of God’s peopleand times of God’s people

gives us opportunity to compare our own gives us opportunity to compare our own reactions to those of the historical reactions to those of the historical characters being written aboutcharacters being written about

challenges us to change our wayschallenges us to change our ways

Is good for us!Is good for us!

So, how about you?

We learn most in difficult timesWe learn most in difficult times

God isn’t going to shy away from troubleGod isn’t going to shy away from trouble We need to put our trust in Him for all of We need to put our trust in Him for all of

our times and circumstancesour times and circumstances Self pity can seem comforting and Self pity can seem comforting and

appealing but has a bitter aftertasteappealing but has a bitter aftertaste

God has better in store for usGod has better in store for us

A message in the midst of difficultyA message in the midst of difficulty

The country had been over runThe country had been over run Ezekiel was depressedEzekiel was depressed He was not following God’s chosen He was not following God’s chosen

pathway; he was to change his vocationpathway; he was to change his vocation

How open are you to God’s calling?How open are you to God’s calling?

Chapter 34 Chapter 34

God’s view on the (lack of) God’s view on the (lack of) spiritual leadership within the spiritual leadership within the

NationNation

The shepherds’ responsibilityThe shepherds’ responsibility

V2 woe to those who only take care of V2 woe to those who only take care of themselves themselves

V4 weak, sick, injured, straysV4 weak, sick, injured, strays God is against harshness and brutalityGod is against harshness and brutality God’s sheep become food for wild animalsGod’s sheep become food for wild animals V10 I am against the shepherdsV10 I am against the shepherds

V11 I will search for themV11 I will search for them

God’s view of the flockGod’s view of the flock

V16 I will shepherd the flock with V16 I will shepherd the flock with justicejustice

V20,21 I will judge between fat and V20,21 I will judge between fat and leanlean

V23 I will place over them one V23 I will place over them one shepherdshepherd

John 10 v7 followingJohn 10 v7 following God is not going to leave us comfortlessGod is not going to leave us comfortless Leaders/shepherds are in place to serve Leaders/shepherds are in place to serve

God’s purposesGod’s purposes Eph 4 v11,12Eph 4 v11,12

God’s heart is with His flockGod’s heart is with His flock

The good shepherdThe good shepherd

Romans 5, 1-5Romans 5, 1-5

Since we have been justified through faith, we Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured His love into our us, because God has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given ushearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us

Ezekiel was equippedEzekiel was equipped

Ez 3,8 …I will make you as unyielding … Ez 3,8 …I will make you as unyielding … and your forehead like the hardest stone, and your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flintharder than flint

Ez 3,5 you are not being sent to a people Ez 3,5 you are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult languageof obscure speech and difficult language

Ez 2,6 and 7 do not be afraid of them or Ez 2,6 and 7 do not be afraid of them or their words…you must speak my words … their words…you must speak my words … whether they listen or fail to listenwhether they listen or fail to listen

Religious or spiritualReligious or spiritual

Does your current thinking dwell on the Does your current thinking dwell on the blessings and encouragements of God?blessings and encouragements of God?

Are you still as wound up about the issues Are you still as wound up about the issues which were a problem for you last week, which were a problem for you last week, last year or from ages ago?last year or from ages ago?

Do you want to grow spiritually or are you Do you want to grow spiritually or are you content merely to attend services?content merely to attend services?

God wants you to wake up and grow up … God wants you to wake up and grow up … to be an overcomer. The 7 churches in Rev to be an overcomer. The 7 churches in Rev 2,32,3