Hear Him - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) May 13, 2022

Have you ever studied the Book of Ezekiel? I find this particular prophet to be very interesting. For instance, he's the only human recorded in the Bible to have ever told God 'No!' I kid you not! He wasn't like Jonah who just decided to disobey God's instruction. Ezekiel came right out and told God he couldn't do something he'd been commanded to do. Now, I do not recommend any of us try this and caution everyone to go understand how he was able to essentially refuse an instruction. In Ezekiel's case, to obey would have meant disobeying the Law of Moses, given by God Himself. The prophet respectfully expressed his reasons why and praise God He's a kind and loving Father because Ezekiel wasn't immediately burnt to a crisp.

Don't dismiss my concern for Ezekiel potentially being turned to ash for refusing to obey the Lord. After all, a few chapters later in the very Book of Ezekiel, God exacted immediate punishment on someone. He dealt with a wicked leader, named Pelatiah, right as Prophet Ezekiel was speaking God's verdict on the leader. Ezekiel hadn't finished prophesying when Pelatiah dropped dead for his sins against the Lord. So, as you can see my concern for Ezekiel that he'd face God's swift justice wasn't overblown.

However, today's message isn't about God's justice. It does, nevertheless, cause us to take a look at leaders but from a slightly different perspective. Let us consider our scriptural basis in Ezekiel 13:22 - "By your lies you discourage good people, whom I do not wish to hurt. You prevent evil people from giving up evil and saving their lives (GNT). For some background, the Lord was speaking against false male and female prophets. He'd detailed how these individuals erred then stated what their punishment would be. In this verse, He was telling female prophets that their offense included discouraging the righteous with their messages while preventing those living in sin from repenting, because they weren't being told they needed to.

And now, you're thinking we're going to discuss false pastors and other wolves disguised as sheep in the Body of Christ, right? You'd be wrong. No, the Lord's word was to not point fingers at these types but instead to take a good look at ourselves.

Ask yourself, would you be susceptible to the words of a liar perpetrating as a man or woman of God? Have you ever fallen for one? If the answer is no, congratulations and keep it that way. Please, remain cautious and be mindful of 1 Corinthians 10:12 - So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Now, if the answer is yes or if you aren't sure, please don't beat yourself up. The truth is, it can happen to anyone and that is why we need to train ourselves to hear the Lord and obey Him when He speaks. God has given us the ability to stay out of all sorts of trouble through His word and His voice. He gave this capacity because He loves each of us and wants us to live as earthly overcomers with heaven as the ultimate destination. Knowing His voice and His word will help us in tough situations. We'll hear the scripture - which is His voice written in the Bible - play in our heads when someone speaks a word contrary to the Lord's. We'll hear His voice within us telling us to leave a place or end a conversation that could potentially cause us to sin or walk outside of His protection.

The same evil spirit causing people to share false visions and speak lies packaged as the word of the Lord is the one striving to ensure that God's people don't hear Him. So while it may be very easy for us to condemn the wolves in sheep's clothing, let us prayerfully seek to hear God and resist the devil which stands against our rightful position as people who listen, hear, and are led with zeal by the King of kings. We need to study His word and eliminate the things that create so much noise in our heads whereby we can't hear that soft, loving whisper. Then, we must pray for better hearing and practice hearing and obeying His instructions. May the Lord help each of us, IJN, Amen.

I pray you'll join us at 12 Noon EST today to obey God's instruction to praise Him and intercede for others before we seek His face to have our entire being open to His voice. God bless and see you then!