RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-05-17	How To Speak The Truth To Someone Headed For Disaster (Ezekiel 3)
		Perhaps you know a relative or a friend, and he is clearly headed in a direction which will result in a disaster. This could be a financial disaster, or a relationship disaster, or anything you perceive ahead of time that they cannot see. You can see the heartache coming. Do you warn them? Do you correct them? Are you the person to do that? If you are, how do you tell them so that person will turn their life around? Ezekiel 3 provides principles for us to consider so you understand how to lovingly warn someone whose life is headed for disaster. The context is that God is positioning Ezekiel to be a watchman of the nation of Israel. PRINCIPLE 1, Pray Eze 3:4 Then He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. Later God describes Ezekiel “a watchman for the house of Israel” (Ek.3:17). God has not positioned every one of us to a watchman over everybody as He did Ezekiel. So our prayer is to ask God whether you are the one that needs to share the message so their life can be changed. PRINCIPLE 2, Ask God to Soften and Prepare Their Hearts Eze 3:7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. More than likely the truth you want to share with this person is something they do not want to hear. PRINCIPLE 3, Check Your Approach People will respond a lot better to you whenever you go to them with a posture of humility. Eze 3:10 Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. Eze 3:11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse." So only when we have first looked deep within our hearts, and assessed whether we are guilty of doing the same thing, before we try to correct someone else. PRINCIPLE 4, Be Sensitive To God's Timing You may be the right person with the right message to share but timing is critical. Eze 3:14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Eze 3:15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. When the Lord gives you a word for somebody, sit on it for a little bit. See if the message remains burning in your spirit as time passes. PRINCIPLE 5, Walk In Obedience And Share The Truth Immediately When it is clear to you that the message you want to share is something you must share, do not waste time. Obey by moving in faith and boldness, and tell the message. Eze 3:16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Eze 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me For Ezekiel after 7 days the Lord gave him confirmation to share the message. PRINCIPLE 6, Consider The Consequences Of Not Warning This Person Eze 3:18 When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. If God has put it on your heart to share, and you become too timid and shrink back in fear you are in disobedience before God. PRINCIPLE 7, Only Speak The Word The Lord Has Given You Eze 3:26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. Eze 3:27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. Here we have to trust that the Lord will give you the right words to say to this person. Take your opinion as far out as possible and tell him how God wants to change the trajectory of their life. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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