Is a prophet called to pamper people with smooth words? Let’s look at Ezekiel 2.
How did God begin His calling of Ezekiel as a prophet? Did the Holy Spirit enter him? Was the term Son of man also used by Jesus?
And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. (Ezek 2:1-2 NKJV)
To which nation was Ezekiel assigned? Are the two nations of Israel and Judah righteous, or stubborn and rebellious and hard-hearted against God?
“Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation [Heb. nations] that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ (Ezek 2:3-4 NLT)
Does a prophet or preacher know whether or not their message will be refused? Is there a temptation for any preacher to water down God’s message so people won’t be offended?
They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them. (Ezek 2:5 WEB)
Is the church really any different to Israel, a household of rebels? How many Christian preachers preach the Word undiluted, whether they listen or not?
And as for you, human one, don’t be afraid of them or their words. Don’t be afraid! You possess thistles and thorns that subdue scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or shrink from their presence, because they are a household of rebels. You’ll speak my words to them whether they listen or whether they refuse. They are just a household of rebels! (Ezek 2:6-7 CEB)
How many Christian preachers are in rebellion against God by refusing to listen to everything God has to say, to digest what God has given?
Ezekiel, don't rebel against me, as they have done. Instead, listen to everything I tell you. And now, Ezekiel, open your mouth and eat what I am going to give you. (Ezek 2:8 CEV)
How many Christian preachers totally ignore the passages of lament and mourning and woe, only to focus on passages of encouragement?
And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. (Ezek 2:9-10 ESV)
Was John told something similar to Ezekiel, to consume God’s word? Did it start out sweet and end up bitter?
Now the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. (Rev 10:8–10)
Is a prophet called to pamper people with smooth words? You decide!
