So you want a prophet?

EZEK

IEL

EZEKIEL

The essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. Rev 19:10 (NLT)

Let love be your highest goal!But you should also desire

the special abilities the Spirit gives -especially the ability to prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1

No prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

Luke 4:24

Who was Ezekiel?

• Younger contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel.• Taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.• A priest, a prophet and God’s ‘watchman’:

Whenever you receive a message from me,warn people immediately. (Ez 3:17)

• Dispels the false hope of a short captivity.• Nations judged re joy of temple’s destruction.• Proclaims hope of forgiveness & restoration.

Relevance today• God is holy (morally perfect)

- we are not.• Nations & individuals are

accountable to God.• God will Shepherd those

who turn to Him.• Jesus, the Good Shepherd,

gives Himself for us.• Worship & service are our

response to His love.

Revelation and ResponsibilityOn July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exilesbeside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened andI saw visions of God. (Ez 1:1)

The Glory of the LORDEz 1:4a,5-6 & Rev 4:6b,8

Ez 1:15,18,22,26-2:5 & Rev 1:17-18

Andrew WhiteThe Vicar of St George’s Baghdad

Faith Under Fire

Horror and HopeRevelations of captivesbeing forced into exile,the siege & destruction ofJerusalem, & the LORD’sglory leaving the temple.Ez 12:1,3-6a,7-12a,13a2Kings 24:18a,19a, 25:1-6a Yet hope... Ez 11:14,16-21

Background:605 BC: Daniel taken captive to Babylon597 BC: Ezekiel taken captive to Babylon586 BC: Jerusalem destroyed

Tears and Tenderness

Ezekiel’s wife dies – Ez 24:15-20,21b,24b,26 Yet – Ez 16:59-63

Who is righteous& loves like God?

(Ez 18:5-9)

The Watchman’s Message:The LORD is our only hope (Ez 33:10-14,15b-19)

Searched for and SavedThe Shepherd’s search (Ez 34:11-12a, 23-24)The Saviour’s Spirit (Ez 36:22,25-29a, 32,36)The simply sublime (Ez 37:1,2b-14,24,27, 43:2-4, 48:35b)

• So you want a prophet?• So you want an apostle?• So you want an evangelist?• So you want a pastor?• So you want a teacher?

Their responsibility is to equip God’s peopleto do His work and build up the church ...that we will be mature in the Lord. (Eph 4:11-13)

Do we really want what God wants?