Text: Ezekiel 3:1-21
Our Commission
- We do not have the same commission as Ezekiel did
- The Great Commission was given to the apostles (Mark 16:15) and was fulfilled (Colossians 1:23)
- Our responsibility is to live & serve God and teach about Him wherever we are
“Eat This Scroll” (v. 1) — the scroll represented the word of God
- Consume it — read (1 Timothy 4:13), listen (Matthew 13:9), study (Acts 17:11)
- Have it within you (Colossians 3:16)
- Allow it to sustain you (Matthew 4:4)
“Go to the House of Israel” (v. 4) — Ezekiel’s target audience; our target audience is the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10)
- Sow the seed wherever you can (Matthew 13:3-8)
- If people reject it, move on (Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:51)
- If they accept it, continue to teach — after planting comes watering (1 Corinthians 3:6)
“Speak with My Words” (v. 4, 10)
- We have a divine obligation to speak God’s words today (1 Peter 4:11)
- Not our opinions (Romans 14:1)
- Not traditions (Matthew 15:6)
- Not doctrines of men (Matthew 15:7-9)
“Speak… Whether They Listen or Not” (v. 11)
- Simple reality — not everyone will listen; perhaps most won’t listen
- Focus should be on the message, not the results (1 Corinthians 1:17; 3:6)
- Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see as many converts as you’d like — just keep teaching
“A Watchman to the House of Israel” (v. 17)
- If he failed to warn them, he was guilty for their deaths (Ezekiel 3:18,20)
- If he warned & they failed to listen, they were responsible for themselves (Ezekiel 3:19,21)
- We must teach what is needful, regardless of its popularity or difficulty (Acts 20:20,27)
Read the article: Hard-Headed Preachers
