4 QUESTIONS LEADERS ASK

Ezekiel 13-14

EZEKIEL 13.1-3

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of Man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

God’s WISDOM outweighs

My IMAGINATION

4 Questions to Ask:

1. AM I ADDRESSING PROBLEMS? (13.5-14)

EZEKIEL 13.5

DON’T IGNORE PROBLEMSYou have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.

EZEKIEL 13.10-11

BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMSPrecisely because they have misled my people saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it will fall!

EZEKIEL 13.14

COVERING PROBLEMS UP MAKES THEM WORSEI will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare.

WAYS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS

1. Stop ignoring what you know to be true 2. Have the conversation you keep talking yourself out of 3. Be completely transparent and receive feedback

4 Questions to Ask:

1. AM I ADDRESSING PROBLEMS? (13.5-14)

2. AM I BEING MYSELF? (13.20-21)

EZEKIEL 13.20-21

I am against your magic bands with which you hunt souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free. Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand and they shall be no more in your hand as prey.

WAYS TO TEAR OFF VEILS

1. Name your strengths and weaknesses2. Stop denying clear feedback 3. View criticism as a valuable source of information

4 Questions to Ask:

1. AM I ADDRESSING PROBLEMS? (13.5-14)

2. AM I BEING MYSELF? (13.20-21) 3. WHAT IS MY HEART CAPTURED

BY? (14.1-5)

EZEKIEL 14.1-5

Some of the elders have taken their idols into their hearts and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore speak to them and say, ‘[If these men come to you] I the Lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are all estranged from me through their idols.’

ROMANS 1.21-23

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or given thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man.

CS LEWIS

It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.  We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drinking and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the seat.  We are far too easily pleased.

DO YOU TALK LIKE THIS ABOUT JESUS?

MOSES: “Show me your glory.” (Ex 33.18) DAVID: “My soul pants for you, my God” (Ps 42.1)PAUL: “I want to know Christ…” (Phil 3.10)

BROTHER LAWRENCE

I have had such delicious thoughts about God that I am near ashamed to mention them.

WAYS TO LET JESUS CAPTURE YOUR HEART

1. Are your aspirations the same as Christ’s?2. Set time aside to “Get to Know Jesus” by reading scripture and praying3. Learn from others in a Small Group

4 Questions to Ask:

1. AM I ADDRESSING PROBLEMS? (13.5-14)

2. AM I BEING MYSELF? (13.20-21) 3. WHAT IS MY HEART CAPTURED

BY? (14.1-5)4. DO I PRACTICE CONFESSION

AND REPENTENCE? (14.6-11)

EZEKIEL 14.6,11

Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices…Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.

shuv – to return

Gב ׁשIּו

JAMES 4.8-10

Come close to God and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up in honor

WAYS TO CONFESS AND REPENT

1. Say I am sorry and don’t qualify your action2. Own your sin personally and don’t try to excuse it3. Come close to God.