God’s Calling of A ProphetGod’s Calling of A Prophet

Ezekiel 1:1 - 2:10

What is the meaning of the calling of God?

What is the meaning of the calling of God?

• Calling to be a christian• Calling into His ministry

• What is God’s calling for you?• Being called primarily means being obedient to

the ongoing direction of the Lord's leading in your life. God is calling every Christian to submit his whole life to Him and thereby bring glory to His name.

God’s Calling for EzekielGod’s Calling for Ezekiel

• God calls Ezekiel through a vision.

• Ezekiel 1: 1 - 2:10

A. The VisionA. The Vision

1. The windstorm

2. The creatures

3. The wheels

4. The man on the throne

1. The windstorm1. The windstorm

• An immense cloud with flashing lightning & brilliant light.

• The centre of the light/fire looked like glowing metal.

The GLORY OF GOD is very VERY BRIGHT much greater than any idols that the people around worship.

2. The Four Creatures2. The Four Creatures

• They have the form of a man.• Each has 4 faces & 4 wings.• Their legs were straight.• Their feet were like a calf & they gleamed

like burnished bronze• In Eze 10, these creatures are cherubims.

They guard the holiness of God. Anyone who is unholy, cannot come close to God.

2. The Four Creatures2. The Four Creatures

• They had the face of a man, a lion (right), an ox (left)and an eagle (behind)

• The faces of the cherubim show a real picture of the way that the four Gospels present Christ in the New Testament.

• a. Matthew presents Christ as the King (Lion) • b. Marks presents Christ as a servant (Ox)• c. Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man (Man)• d. John presents Christ as the Son of God (Eagle)

3. The Wheels3. The Wheels

• 1 Chronicles 28:18 – talks about the chariots of the cherubim.

• Proverbs 15:3 – The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. • -There are many eyes on the wheels : The Lord sees

and knows everything that happens.

• -Both the good & bad things that happened, the Lord knows. The Lord goes wherever we go. (just like the cherubim will go wherever the king would go).

3.The Wheels3.The Wheels

• When we know that the Lord knows and sees everything that’s happening in our lives & around us, how do you feel? • Do we feel happy & secure because we know

that he is in control? Or • Do we feel scared & worried because he knows

the secret sins in our lives.

4. The Man on the Throne4. The Man on the Throne

• from his waist up, he looked like a glowing metal, is full of fire, the brilliant light surrounded him.

• The radiance around him is like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds.• Ezekiel was given the opportunity to see Christ.

• We could see the glory Christ had before he came to become man. His glory was GREAT. However, Christ was willing to leave all that to die for our sins.

B. Ezekiel’s ResponseB. Ezekiel’s Response

• He fell facedown• He was overwhelmed for 7 days• The Spirit came into him & raise his feet.• The Spirit spoke to Him and he heard the Lord

speaking to him.• What kind of attitude should we have when we come

before our Great & Glorious God?• When we see the glory of God (the holiness of God),

we’ll respond in fear & reverence.

B. Ezekiel’s ResponseB. Ezekiel’s Response

• I believe that when we come before His presence to see His Holiness & Glory, we really feel that we are unworthy and filthy if we

• - still live in sin or

• - live in the bondage of sin or

• - have any unconfessed sin in our lives

C. God’s Calling for EzekielC. God’s Calling for Ezekiel

• - Sending him to a rebellious nation – for generations

• - They are obstinate & stubborn• - Speak God’s word to them whether they listen or

not.• - Do not be afraid of them or their words.• - You listen to what I say & do not rebel.• - Open your mouth & eat what I give you.

C. God’s Calling for EzekielC. God’s Calling for Ezekiel

• God calls Ezekiel

• He warns Ezekiel

• He encouraged Ezekiel

• He gave his Words to him

C. God’s Calling For EzekielC. God’s Calling For Ezekiel

• When God calls us he prepares us for his service.

• His word of encouragement to Ezekiel was Ezek 26b - 7: DO NOT BE AFRAID of what they say or terrified by them. You must SPEAK MY WORDS to them, whether they listen or fail to listen……

God’s CallingGod’s Calling

• When God calls us to reach out to others, His words say that• Go & make disciples of all nations……and I will

be with you till the end of the age. (Matt28)• You will receive power when the Spirit comes on

you….you will be my witnesses….(Acts1:8)• Be strong & courageous (Joshua 1:6)

God’s CallingGod’s Calling

• We need ask God for BOLDNESS to share the gospel to people who are resistant towards the gospel. We also need God to give us PERSISTANCE to continue to pray and share to them no matter how many times they resist towards the gospel.

• NEVER GIVE UP on them because our LORD has NEVER given up on us.

SummarySummary

• The Vision - The Glory of God

• Ezekiel’s Response - The Unworthiness of Man

• God’s Calling For Ezekiel - The Grace of God