November 1
Ezek 1:1-3:15 | PS 104:1-23 | Prov 26:24-26 | Heb 3:1-19
To my son I said, “If you were to die tomorrow, I will never see you again because you’re not heaven bound, and oddly when I get to heaven it doesn’t seem like it will bother me that much, though now the thought is devastating”. I then paraphrased Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”. My son made a decision to begin seeking the things of God. To one of my nephews, who was tired of my “Jesus talks”, I said, “I love you, but if you don’t accept Jesus as your Savior, I’m afraid you’re going to hell.” Though ridiculed for awhile he soon began to seek Jesus after his father’s death. To my dying brother, who was no longer able to speak, I directly and without holding back, presented the reality of not going to heaven by being religious or being good, but only through repentance of sins and acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice. On his final lucid day, through a series of hand squeezes, he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. To another brother, though he had began to study God’s word, I asked him if he was born again, to which he explained that he thought it was a denomination. I clearly explained the gospel truth to him, he thought about it and the next day, he called back and I forget if he realized that he was, or he decided to become born again. The other day at our home Bible study I conveyed directly that every time that anyone disagrees with anything in God’s word and questions the goodness or the truth of God’s word, quite simply they are wrong, because our Sovereign God is always right. These are few times that I didn’t hold back to those that I love. Whenever I hold back for fear of hurting others, or how my comments might be perceived, it comes at the cost of often losing its effect. God calls us to be bold and to state His truth without equivocation. If we hold back, why?
No matter their circumstances, the prophets did not hold back. We read in Ezekiel 2:3-5, “ “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation 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!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.” God clearly told Ezekiel that it was his job to declare His word. It was not his responsibility to convince them. We then read in 2:6-7, “ “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!” He told him that his statements will often be rejected, but to not hold back or fear them. We read in 3:10-11, “ Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”” He reminded him that he needed to listen to Him, before he was sent and talked.
We read of Jeremiah’s treatment to his bold statements in Jeremiah 37:15-16, “ They were furious with Jeremiah and had him flogged and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary. Jonathan’s house had been converted into a prison. Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days.” After many days being sought by the king of Judah who had the power to release him, the king asks if he received a message from the Lord about himself, to which we read Jeremiah’s response in 37:17, “…You will be defeated by the king of Babylon.”. So much for the prosperity gospel. So much for all things will go good and easy for those who believe in God. So much for holding back to provide a pleasant message to tickle the ears of those listening and raise one’s own popularity. Saints, we know why we were called. We also know the truth of the gospel message and the consequences of those who reject it. It is time that we look less like prosperity preachers and more like prophets. If not now, then when? Though there are times that I am bold, there are many times that I hold back. Lord, I pray that you open the mouths of Your children and embolden us to deliver Your message of hope to a dying world.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: