August 25, 2019, | Pastor Nathan Elms
https://firstchurchclt.com/notes
Ezekiel's call (1:28-2:8)
-This is an image of surrender. "When I saw [it], I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking" (Ezek. 1:28).
Here's what he heard:
• Stand up on your feet
"He said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet . . .'" (Ezek. 2:1).
God wanted Ezekiel to be fully alert. He was about to receive direction.
• Listen to the One
"'. . . and I will speak with you.' As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the One who was speaking to me" (Ezek. 2:2).
• The Mission of God
There is an action component to the call of God. We cannot be where God wants us without going to where God sends us.
• Remember Who You Are Serving.
Ezekiel, you must decide who you are serving.
• Receive what I am giving you.
Ezekiel means "God is strong" or "God makes strong."
This was Ezekiel's call to be a prophet.
What is God calling you to do? What is God calling you to support?
Paralysis is your enemy. What can you do to help?
• Spiritually.
• Relationships.
• Career and Business.
Pastor Nathan’s personal experience of freezing in fear... (snakes in the face … yuck!)
So why do we freeze?
This is something we should pray about.
• Fear of failure.
• Fear of shame.
• Fear of other people’s laughter.
Takeaway #1: Fear will keep you from the purpose of God.
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt
Takeaway #2 Past failures will keep you from future victories.
-You failed before and remember the pain.
-You may be misunderstanding the nature of the work we are called to do. Failure is part of EVERY successful undertaking.
-Failure is how we learn. God uses failure. Remember Calvary...
-It is no wonder then that many of us just don’t want to make an effort unless we are guaranteed success.
Takeaway #3: Fear will keep you from taking action and tempt you with delay.
Fear can lead to the “paralysis of analysis.”
• You think you need more information.
• You think you need to develop more skills.
• You think you aren’t good enough.
“A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.” Ambrose Bierce
Takeaway #4: My self-esteem will not survive failure.
This is tragic. This means you are living in the pain of the failure without even having failed.
Why would you do that to yourself?
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Steve Jobs
Takeaway #5: If I fail I will be known as a loser.
The need for the approval of other people will destroy your effectiveness for God.
You may know that in 1978, sophomore Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School, but he didn’t make the varsity team.
Ezekiel!
1. Stand up
2. Listen well
3. I have a mission for you!
4. It won’t be easy because people are stiff-necked and small-minded, so remember who you are serving
5. Receive this word, and embrace the mission!
