November 5
Ezek 12:1-14:11 | PS 105:37-45 | Prov 27:3 | Heb 7:1-17
When listening to one speaking forth God's word, are you listening, positioned to absorb, or are you preparing your rebuttal? Realize Jesus, perfect in every way, walked and taught for three years during His ministry, yet most would not and could not allow His perfect words to penetrate their hearts. They were fixed like stone. Filled with their pre-conceived ideas, puffed up with their own sense of wisdom, they were deaf to truth. On the same note, we must be able to discern whether or not the one speaking for God is truly speaking for God, or speaking forth their own thoughts masqueraded in spirituality. To prepare our hearts to receive, and to avoid being deceived, the best strategy is to read, study, discuss, and apply the Bible daily for ourselves. Allowing God's perfect Word into our hearts daily is better than anything else, because you are then going to the source of truth.
We read in Ezekiel 12:2, "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house." In a similar fashion, when His disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables, He said in Matthew 13:13, "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." Later Jesus had seven literal messages to seven literal churches, and finished each message with “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 13:22). Jeremiah spoke forth the truth but was largely ignored. Ezekiel around the same time both spoke forth, and often acted out God's Word, but was likewise largely ignored. The false prophets know what people want to hear, and being liked or popular is more important than being truthful, as just before the fall of Jerusalem, they would say, "Peace! when there is no peace..." (Ezekiel 13:10).
Their problem in those days is our problem now, as we read in Ezekiel 14:3, "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?" They were full of idols, but so are we. Theirs often had names, such as Baal, Asherah, etc. But ours are no different, they are called intellect, degrees, children, money, self, media "experts", etc. Anything that deafens our ears and blinds our eyes to seeking God wholeheartedly, even if a good thing has become an idol. Everything must be in its proper perspective to receive God's truth. God's Word is truth. All can change as a result of it, if they are willing to be open to it. With eyes to see and ears to hear, may we approach the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and seek Him wholeheartedly, and may this clarification be our daily foundation in a world filled with chaos and falsehood.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: