Ezekiel Ezekiel is one of the great prophets of the Old Testament He began serving as a prophet of God while in Babylonian captivity before the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians ID: 637966
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Ezekiel
Peace when there is no peace!Slide2Ezekiel
Ezekiel is one of the great prophets of the Old Testament.He began serving as a prophet of God while in Babylonian captivity before the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the BabyloniansNebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army attacked and conquered Jerusalem on at least 3 different occasions over about a 20 year period
Each time they carried away Jews captive to Babylon.Slide3
EzekielSlide4Ezekiel
Jeremiah, Isaiah and other prophets had prophesied the impending destruction of Judah years before.We see these prophecies begin to be fulfilled when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 605 BC.It was at this time that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were all taken away to Babylon.
After a few years the Jews revolt against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar comes back to Jerusalem retakes the city again in 597 BC.Slide5Ezekiel
Once again the Babylonians carry many of the Jews away captive to Babylon. The captives this time included Ezekiel.Ezekiel began to prophesy after being in Babylon for about 5 years.
At this time the city of Jerusalem was still somewhat in tact and the Temple was still standing.
But God was not done with Jerusalem yet.Slide6Ezekiel
Early in Ezekiel’s ministry he condemed the false prophets who prophesied “peace! when there is no peace”Eze 13:10 ¶ "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 “
These false teachers were comforting the people with lies. Telling them that God would protect them from the Babylonians.Slide7Ezekiel
What they were teaching was far from the Truth.Many of the Jews believed these lies and did not repent of their sins.This sounds a lot like false doctrine that is taught today.Lets go to Ezekiel chapter 13 and see just how similar what is transpiring today is to what was happening then.
Eze
13:1 ¶ And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,Slide8Ezekiel
Eze 13:2 "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!'“These prophecies were from their own mind not God’s!
3 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
They claimed to speak for God but God had told them nothing!
4 "O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.Slide9Ezekiel
These false prophets were sneaky and conniving like a fox. They would capture their prey then run away and hide with their spoils.Looking out only for themselves while pretending to look out for others.Sounds like our modern politicians and preachers!
Eze
13:5 "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.Slide10Ezekiel
Walls were used for the defense of a city but a wall with gaps in it was of no use. These false teachers were doing nothing to fill the spiritual gaps in the lives of the Jews in order to prevent their destruction.
Let’s read what Adam Clarke says about this verse.Slide11Ezekiel
“Far from opposing sinners, who are bringing down the wrath of God upon the place, you prevent their repentance by your flattering promises and false predictions. Ye have neither by prayers, example, nor advice, contributed any thing for the preservation of the place, or the salvation of the people's souls.”
Although these false teachers made the people feel better about their situation, in reality, they were doing far more damage than good.Slide12Ezekiel
Eze 13:6 "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."Slide13Ezekiel
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.How many false teachers do we here today saying “God told me this and God told me that”?
Human nature hasn’t changed. There are still those who make a profit by lying about the Word of God.Slide14Ezekiel
God says He is against those who do such things. What a terrible position to be in!Eze 13:9 "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.Slide15Ezekiel
Because of their lies they will not be able to enjoy the good things God has waiting for those who obey Him.Instead they will be destroyed!Eze 13:10 ¶ "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 Slide16Ezekiel
The fact that they were able to convince the people to believe in this phony promise of “peace” is evidence to me that some just don’t want the Truth!Many of the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah concerning the captivity had already been fulfilled.
The Babylonians had already conquered Jerusalem twice.
Jeremiah had also prophesied the captivity would last for 70 years and they were only about 12 years into it.Slide17Ezekiel
With all of this evidence before them they still would not turn from their sins and accept the Word of the Lord!Instead of listening to men like Jeremiah they turned to false prophets who told them what they wanted to hear.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it.
Ezekiel says their false prophecies were like building a wall with
untempered
mortar.
Mortar is what holds the brick and stone together in a wall.Slide18Ezekiel
Remember they had not filled the gaps of the wall in verse 5 but they pretended they had.Their false prophecies were worthless in actually protecting the Jews. Those prophecies were as worthless as using sand with no cement for mortar in a wall.
This type of wall may look good initially
But, the first time that type of wall is tested it will fail!
Likewise, their false prophecies sounded good but were going to fail when the Babylonians returned.Slide19Ezekiel
Eze 13:11 "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?'"Slide20Ezekiel
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.Slide21Ezekiel
Eze 13:15 "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.
Those false prophets who prophesied peace contrary to what God had said would be destroyed.Slide22Ezekiel
God addressed the women who were teaching error.Eze 13:17 ¶ "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?Slide23Ezekiel
Eze 13:19 "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.Slide24Ezekiel
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.This all sounds so contemporary. Do we have women teaching false doctrine today?
You better believe it! They are all over television.Slide25Ezekiel
These female false teachers are described as hunting for the souls of men.When you hunt something you kill it!They are doing this for the monetary gain that they can obtain from them. (handfuls of barley and pieces of bread)
The apostle Peter warned us about these type of people.
2Pe 2:3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth
not, and their damnation
slumbereth
not.Slide26Ezekiel
Eze 13:22 "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."'“
How often have the righteous been saddened because those they love choose to believe a lie instead of the Truth?Slide27Ezekiel
When the teacher fails to correct error and instead tells the sinner he is “ok” then those who are sinning are emboldened to continue in their sin.The preacher says I’m ok so I must be ok, right?This is why we shouldn’t put our trust in any man.
Men will lie to us and lead us astray. We must depend upon the Word of God.
We must study the Word of God for ourselves and demand book, chapter and verse from those who tell us what God wants us to do.Slide28
Ezekiel
Peace when there is no peace!Slide29Ezekiel
When we don’t tell someone what God says about sin then we are not giving them the opportunity to decide what they will do with the Word of God.These false teachers were not telling the truth about sin because they wanted to gain from it.We may fail to tell others the truth about sin because:
We are afraid we will drive them away
We may think we already know they will reject it.
We don’t want to be confrontational.Slide30Ezekiel
Whatever our excuse may be the result will be the same for those who do not learn the Truth. They will be lost.And we will have to answer for not sounding the warning about the dangers of sin!God placed Ezekiel in the position of a watchman. The same position that we are in today as Christians.
Eze
33:1 ¶ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,Slide31Ezekiel
Eze 33:2 "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: 'When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 'when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4 'then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.Slide32Ezekiel
If the watchman warns the people then he has done his job and will be guiltless if some of them did not heed the warning.If the watchman fails to warn the people then he will be responsible for the deaths of those he failed to warn.
Eze
33:5 'He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.Slide33Ezekiel
Eze 33:6 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.' 7 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.Slide34Ezekiel
God has made Ezekiel a watchman over Israel to warn them about their sins.Eze 33:8 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
9 "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.Slide35Ezekiel
I believe we have that same responsibility today. To be a watchman!Jesus gave this great commission to His Apostles.Mr 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Paul sounded out this warning in his teaching.
Ac 20:17 ¶ From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.Slide36Ezekiel
Ac 20:18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,Slide37Ezekiel
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.Paul kept back nothing of the Word of God from them. Teaching them to repent of their sins.Ac 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,Slide38Ezekiel
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.Slide39Ezekiel
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.Why was Paul innocent of the blood of all men?
He had been a faithful watchman who had declared all of God’s Word to those he came in contact with.
Could the same be said of us?Slide40Ezekiel
Paul also encouraged Timothy to commit the Gospel to others who would be faithful watchmen2Ti 2:1 ¶ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.Slide41Ezekiel
Those Christians who were scattered from Jerusalem carried out the responsibilities of a good watchman.Ac 8:1 ¶ Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.Slide42Ezekiel
Ac 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 ¶ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.We have the same responsibility to teach others the Truth and expose sin today.Slide43Ezekiel
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.1Ti 5:20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.Paul even rebuked Peter because of sin
Ga 2:11 ¶ Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;Slide44Ezekiel
All of this rebuke and correction should be done with the proper attitude and motives.In Gentleness:Ga 6:1 ¶ Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.Slide45Ezekiel
In Humility:2Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,Out of Love:
Ga 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."Slide46Ezekiel
As with a dear brother:2Th 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Those false prophets in the days of Ezekiel were failing to be a good watchman because they did not warn the people against the sin they were in.Slide47Ezekiel
When we don’t warn the sinner today the result for the sinner will be the same. They will be lost.We have ample examples of God fearing people being a good watchman by pointing out the sin that exists in the lives of others.Will we be a good watchman?’
The first step to being a successful watchman is to heed our own warnings.Slide48Conclusion
Mt 7:3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Lets make sure we are doing what God wants then we can try to help others.