Ezekiel 2:1-2
(1) He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. ” (2) As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
Contemporary English Version
(1) The LORD said, “Ezekiel, son of man, I want you to stand up and listen.” (2) After he said this, his Spirit took control of me and lifted me to my feet. Then the LORD said:
What if you were asked to do something you can’t? Isn’t that unfair? What if you were asked to do something you don’t want and you don’t like to do? Isn’t that operating under duress? What if you are asked to do something you keep forgetting to do? Isn’t being led into trouble?
It is important that we ask people to do what we ourselves would be able and capable of doing. It is only fair that what we do or are asked to do is what we like and are able to do.
Matthew 23:4
They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
New Living Translation
They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
Jesus condemned religious leaders of the Jewish people during His time. Jesus condemned them for many reasons, one of them being, asking their followers to do things that are difficult or impossible. How do you ask people to fast for three days in a row when you yourself can’t skip a meal? Asking people to give sacrificially yet you have never ever given even under duress. Jesus completely rejected that kind of leadership. A good leader must ask people to do what they can do.
God is different. When God asks us to do something He knows we can’t. God asks knowing we are unwilling. God asks knowing we are incapable. God asks knowing we are forgetful. Why does God ask? To embarrass us? Does God ask in order to find fault?
The Bible today answers the questions. In our text today, God asked Ezekiel to stand up and listen to Him. While God was giving that order. Before God finished speaking. Before God ended His speech, something happened to Ezekiel. The Holy Spirit of God moved into Ezekiel made him stand up and listen to God. As God spoke to Ezekiel about what he should do, the Holy Spirit was at the same time enabling Ezekiel to do exactly what God was saying. When God gives an order He empowers!
Only two problems would exist. First, if Ezekiel never listened to God or heard God, he would not be empowered. First and foremost you must listen to God’s word. Only God’s word has such power. Human words are of no effect. Human opinions with unforgettable punchlines are just that. We must make it a habit to seek God’s word and listen to it. God gives us orders in His word. When God gives an order He empowers!
The second problem Ezekiel could face is if he lacked the Holy Spirit. If you somehow manage to listen to God’s word, but you lack the Holy Spirit, nothing will change. Without the Holy Spirit, you have no power to respond or obey God’s word. Without the Holy Spirit, all the sermons we read, watch, and listen to are such a waste. We all need the Holy Spirit so that He can empower us to do right and God’s will. When God gives an order He empowers!
Are you finding difficulty obeying God’s word? Are you finding religious issues too demanding and impossible? Do you feel helpless on the path of faith? First, you may be listening to everyone else except God. Read every book, philosophy, and theory except God’s word. Given every scholarly opinion a chance but not God’s word. Without God’s word, it will remain difficult.
Secondly, you may be lacking the Holy Spirit. Lack of the Holy Spirit leaves you powerless. Lack of the Holy Spirit means you try it on your own and obviously you fail. Personal efforts in religious matters record consistent failure. If what you wish to do or try is from God, He will empower you!
We can’t brag over the achievements with which we were assisted. If you are conscious that the Holy Spirit made you respond to God’s word, you don’t brag about it. You remain humble and tremble at God’s marvelous grace that enables you.
We can’t brag because we obey God. We can’t brag because we have been assisted to obey or else we would be failures. We can’t brag about patience, because without the Holy Spirit we would have messed up because of impatience. We can’t brag that we easily forget offenses, forgive and move on because it is God empowering us to do it. When God gives an order He empowers you to do what He has ordered!
You can’t brag because without the Holy Spirit we would be worse off than those who seem to be doing badly compared to us. Without empowerment from God, we would be much more immoral, much more corrupt, and much more evil. We are obedient because God made us obedient. When God gives an order, He empowers!
Because we are assisted by God, we sympathize with those who fail, because they are us if God had not helped us. We are polite and sympathetic to those who are wrong. We handle them kindly and politely knowing we are no better, only that we have been helped. We prefer to always err on the side of mercy than strictness. This is because if they had allowed God to help them they wouldn’t mess up. We are seemingly good, not because we are good, but because we have been helped by God. When God gives an order He empowers!
Every order comes with empowerment right along with the order. Help us to obey. Help us to be humble. Help us to handle politely those on the wrong for indeed we are no better. Empower us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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Amen
Amen!
Amen. God enables me!
Hallelujah!
Amen..
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen and be blessed man of God.
Hallelujah!
Amen.
Thanks a lot Pastor.
Hallelujah!
This is deep. All we have, we have been given; all we are we have been enabled. We thank God for His empowerment in His bidding 🙏
Hallelujah!