Answering the Call: A Blueprint for Modern Prophets
Ezekiel 1-2; 2 Corinthians 6; Proverbs 14
I love when our chapters overlap in their theme, and today’s reading definitely does.
In the book of Ezekiel, we are immediately brought into a heavenly encounter. The glory of God descends, and Ezekiel is apprehended by the call of God. His call wasn’t just a good idea. Ezekiel wasn’t considering prophetic ministry as a good schtick. He beheld the Lord! And in a moment, the Lord staked His full claim on his life.
Ezekiel 1: 1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
The text doesn’t give us more insight into Ezekiel’s background. One day Ezekiel is sitting with some folks by a canal, and the next thing, the very heavens are opened, and he’s seeing God.
Astounding!
After being caught up into the atmosphere of heaven, Ezekiel is told what to say and to whom to say it.
Ezekiel 2: 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
Ezekiel didn’t get to choose his call, the field of ministry, or his message. He was an apprehended man. A sent one. As we continue to press into the Lord for insight on the true prophetic, we need to let this story do its work in us.
With all the exposure of the prophetic church, we can learn much by coming back to the basics of the main and plain. We are being challenged by the Word. The prophetic church, if it is a prophetic church, is an apprehended church. We aren’t peddling our good ideas. We don’t come selling programs and wares. We must come together as apprehended people. …open your mouth and eat what I give you.
Are we saying yes to this call? We can do all our conferences about the prophetic and still miss the mark. We can have our apostolic accolades and never come close to the simplicity and rigor of what this means.
Our God chooses the scroll and the timing.
As we continued in our reading, about 600 years after Ezekiel had written his account, the Apostle Paul is living a similar story. Another apprehended man, Paul was not his own. His ministry schedule was not his own. His words were not his own.
2 Corinthians 6: 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Paul was an apprehended by the Lord. have a sense that only apprehended men can truly ever be sent. He wasn’t in it for the honor. He wasn’t in it for the praise. Paul was called and yielded to that call. That’s it.
I follow many people, many of whom have substantial followings, who often share on the true prophetic and apostolic mandate of the church. They herald their success and travel schedules. They point to their conferences and financial favor as proof of their anointing. But none of this matters. None of this proves anything of God’s call or approval.
And seriously, haven’t we had enough already? When are we going to learn?
Read the text! The only thing that matters in regard to our calling is whether we are saying what He says and going where He sends. That’s it. You may be loved for it, or you may be hated for it. Doesn’t matter. You may be successful or an utter failure by the world’s standards. None of that matters.
Please! Please let’s not be duped again. Don’t fall for lofty words about the prophetic or apostolic that are really just a cover for more spiritual elitism.
Tear it all down, Father!
It’s time to come back to the basics. My friend, Chris Berglund, and I have been praying into some significant dreams he had some years ago that relate to coming back to the basics. We’re coming back to the simplicity of communion and praying the Lord’s Prayer. We’re coming back to Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17, back into Oneness.
We were made for this.
As we’ve been studying more and more about the power of coming to the Lord’s table and taking communion, a new invitation is opening up over us. As we’ve been peering into each phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, we are seeing the wisdom hidden in each sentence.
We can’t do better than Jesus. We can’t be more spiritual than Jesus.
If you want to learn what we’re learning, then join us here. The study guide should be finished this week, and once you sign up we will send it to you.
That being said, you don’t need the study guide!! Seriously. Set your heart to commune with God, and then open your Bible to Matthew 6, and pray what Jesus prays. Your Teacher will lead you through the phrases and your life will be transformed. It’s guaranteed.
I have nothing to sell you. I offer my friendship and fellowship as we walk together, every step keeping our eyes on Jesus. Only Jesus.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on your own “heavenly encounter” moments with God. How have these experiences influenced your understanding of your call and purpose in life?
- Consider the concept of being an “apprehended” individual in your faith journey. How does this idea challenge the way you view your service and ministry to others?
- Ezekiel was given a specific message and audience by God. In what ways do you feel God has specifically equipped you to serve and speak to those around you? How can you better align with this divine assignment?
- Paul’s life was marked by trials yet also by great spiritual victories. Reflect on your own struggles and triumphs. How have they shaped your reliance on God and your understanding of His strength in your weakness?
- The idea of coming back to the basics and focusing on the simplicity of communion with God through the Lord’s Prayer is powerful. Spend some time meditating on each phrase of the Lord’s Prayer. What fresh insights or convictions does God reveal to you about each segment?
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