Ezekiel

Today is Saturday, so I have a meeting with men this morning for our Prayer Breakfast.  It is called our Men of Destiny Men's Meeting.  I give a devotion and share with them a truth.  This morning I want to share with you the truth that I will share with them later this morning.  I will not elaborate on it nearly as much, but would like to share it with you.  This would be the type of challenge I would give to our men: 1. BE THE MAN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE- Jeremiah 5:1  "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it."  Here, God is looking for a man to stop the judgment upon the city of Jerusalem.  He is saying for men to run throughout the city and find a man that loves judgment and truth.  He does one and seeks another.  God is more than willing to pardon the city, but looks for a man to intercede on it's behalf.  Then notice things get worse, and now... it is too late.  Jeremiah 15:1  "Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth."  Now even these two great leaders of the Old Testament could not influence God to put His mind towards Jerusalem.  The sin has gone too far!  Then notice in:  Ezekiel 14:14  "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.";  Ezekiel 14:16  "Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate."; Ezekiel 14:18  "Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves."; Ezekiel 14:20  "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness."  You see, now God brings out the spiritual big guns, and even their influence would only save themselves if they were in the city.  These are men who intercede for a world, and for nations, and families.  These are not the leaders like Moses and Samuel, but these are godly men!  God is saying that even these godly men could not turn judgment around!  Now the last thought is this:  Ezekiel 22:30  "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."  Now, even God Himself is searching for a man.  It all started in Jeremiah 5:1, when God told others to find a man.  They could not, so now, God looks for a man, and He cannot find one either.  The key is that way back in Jeremiah 5:1, someone should have started to be the man that the land needed.  Why don't we right now decide to be the man that God needs?  Why wait until it is too late?  Let us be that man! Well, today, only Ezekiel 22:30 was in my reading and I ended with chapter 35.  Let me give you one other quick thought: 2) SERVING IN SORROW- Ezekiel 24:18  "So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded."  Ezekiel was told not to grieve.  He did so on the outside, but was filled with sorrow on the inside.  Men of God look like all is wonderful, and yet so many, many times.... sorrow is in their hearts.  Sorrow for a wayward member, son or daughter; sorrow for health issues of a loved one or family member; sorrow for hurts they have endured, dreams they have seen crumble, attacks upon their character, or family that they secretly endure.  AND... so is the Christians' life.  We serve with sorrow.  Be good to everyone, because everyone is have a tough day.  That is what Dr. Jack Hyles use to say all of the time.  Let us serve with our sorrow, and let us lift up the sorrowful spirits of others. Well, so much for today.  May God bless you! Pastor Mike Mutchler