Prayer: Father, I will allow Your word to speak to speak to me. I come with listening ears and heart today. Amen.
Reading: Ezekiel 20 key: vs. 31-32 “When offering your gifts, making your sons pass through the fire, you keep polluting yourselves with all your idols, up to this day. So should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live”—it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will not be inquired of by you. What comes up in your mind will not happen at all, when you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the families of the countries, worshiping wood and stone.’ TLV
Attention: My wife and I have been reading the book of Acts and today we read chapter 19 where Paul, in the power of the Holy Spirit is leading people to faith in Messiah. So great is deliverance people are receiving by the Holy Spirit, that “Many also of those who had believed came confessing and recounting their practices. And many of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together in a heap, burning them before everyone (Acts 19:18-19).” They not only renounced their practices, they destroyed the works of evil which was misleading them.
In the beginning of chapter 19 of Ezekiel, Adonai speaks with Ezekiel and commands him to go to the “elders” the leaders of the various clans and tribes of Israel. The term elder may be referring to “the council of elders” who were an “integral part of the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem (pg. 472 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).”
Adonai was serving notice that He would not be inquired of by religious leaders who were following the practices of their fathers and of other nations.
What makes us believe we can inquire of God about our lives and spiritual matters, when we too are inquiring of other gods, worshipping idols of other gods, and incorporating religious practices of other nations. It is incomprehensible to think God will overlook our compromised lives, our sinful practices, and bless us.
Ezekiel was task with the message to God to the elders. To those who are spiritual leaders and those who identify as followers of Messiah, may we receive the warnings of God through Ezekiel and repent. We are not exempt because we claim the name of Messiah. We are more responsible to represent His name in the Holy Spirit.
Action: I choose to be led by the Spirit of God and forsake all appearances of evil.
Yield: I choose to submit to the authority and power of the Holy Spirit.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in changing a culture toward Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, submissive relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, In the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul spoke boldly, and a culture steeped in idol worship and practices was so deeply impacted that it changed their whole economy. May I experience what Paul and his companions witnessed in Ephesus regarding healings (physical and spiritual), deliverances, transformations of culture, economy, and transitions from idol worship to the worship of You, the holy, living God. Amen.
Memory Verse: Acts 19:20 “So the word of the Lord was growing in power and prevailing.” TLV
Music Video: Michael W. Smith—More Love, More Power https://youtu.be/kAl9YFOIiz4?si=4FwBhiVFVBUMy-4g
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”