Ezekiel 15 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 15.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/15/1/s_817001

Meditate on verses 6.

Therefore, thus says the LORD GOD, “As the wood

of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have

 given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

The LORD  gave  another  sermon  illustration  for  the  inhabitants  of Jerusalem, comparing them to a vine’s wood which is useful if it is producing fruit. The Israelites did not produce fruit; instead they produced and worshiped worthless wooden idols (Hosea 4:12). God was going to destroy them like the branch of a vine thrown into a fire.

God often compared His people to a vine’s branches (Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21). His warning to Christians sounds similar to His warning to Israel:

" I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him,

 he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch

 and dries up; and they gather them,

and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

—John 15:5-6

Devote your life to fruitfulness in Christ and pray for the opposite of Ezekiel 15:7-8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, _________ and I know You are the LORD.

 Do not set Your face against us.

 Do not let the fire consume us. 

Please do not make us desolate. 

Help us to act faithfully!

Because You are the vine in Whom we abide, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/14/1/s_816001

Meditate on verses 6-7.

Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says

the LORD GOD, ‘Repent and turn away from your idols

and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 

For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants

who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up

 his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling

 block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of

 Me for himself, I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person.’”

Have you ever had someone seek your advice about a bad situation caused by sinful behaviors? Have you ever been tempted to give them worldly counsel instead of Godly counsel because God’s Word  would tell them  to stop sinning and flee from wickedness? The world advises God wants them to be happy, so whatever they need to do to make that happen is certainly okay.

God warned Ezekiel to tell the idolatrous elders, “Repent and turn from all your abominations” (v. 6).

It doesn’t matter to whom you are talking; do not water down God’s Word. God would have destroyed Ezekiel along with the idolaters if he had not spoken the whole truth of what God said (v. 9).

Use Ezekiel 14:6 as a prayer of repentance for yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, I repent and turn away from my idols,

and I turn my face away from all my abominations.

 Please convict ___________ to do the same.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 13 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/13/1/s_815001

Meditate on verses 3 and 6.

Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the foolish prophets

who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.

 They see falsehood and lying divination who are

 saying, 'The LORD declares,' when the LORD has not sent them;

yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word.”

God is against those who prophesy contrary to His Word, yet claim they have a word from the LORD (v. 8). False prophets and teachers who do not counsel according to God’s Word have no place among God’s people (v. 9). It is against God’s will and angers Him to prophesy according to one’s own inspiration (vs. 13, 17).

These are harsh words spoken by God Himself against the false prophets and teachers of Ezekiel’s day. And they are words to take to heart, today. God’s hand is still against those who claim to have a word from the LORD, but they have not tested it with God’s Word. God’s wrath will tear down their lies. Do not fall prey to such people and make certain you are not one of them. Know God’s Word by reading, studying, and memorizing it. Do not hesitate to stand boldly on God’s Truths, confidently speaking them.

Pray to be the opposite of Ezekiel 13:22 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let __________ and me dishearten

 the righteous with falsehood. 

Help us encourage the wicked to turn from their

 wicked ways and preserve their lives. 

Because we know You are the LORD Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/12/1/s_814001

Meditate on verses 1-2.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

 "Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house,

who have eyes to see but do not see,

ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel again became a walking sermon illustration for the rebellious people of Israel and their king, Zedekiah. Morning, evening, and night Ezekiel carried around baggage as a message that they would indeed pack their bags and be taken to Babylon, just as the two waves of exiles before them were taken. Even King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, would be exiled with his eyes blinded by the Babylonians (v. 13; 2 Kings 25:1-7).

As the time drew near (586 BC) for this 3rd and final exile, the people believed everything would be fine, and the exilic prophecies would prove false (v. 22). However, God promised the fulfillment of every vision (v. 23).

Some people today are still in denial of Scriptural prophetic truth. They mock the promises of Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:4). Some listen to false prophets who speak destructive heresies and malign the truth (2 Peter 2:1- 3). The Word of the LORD, spoken through the faithful prophet Ezekiel, still rings relevant and true today.

Ask God to make you a faithful watchman who boldly speaks His Word. Pray using the words from Ezekiel 12:22-23.

“LORD, let me never speak this false proverb:

 ‘The days are long and every vision fails.’ 

Let me boldly say, ‘The days draw near as

 well as the fulfillment of every vision from God’s Word.’

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 11 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/11/1/s_813001

Meditate on verses 19-20.  The LORD is speaking.

"And I will give them one heart and

 put a new spirit within them.

 And I will take the heart of stone out of their

 flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

 that they may walk in My statutes and keep

 My ordinances and do them.

Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.”

The glory of the LORD left not only the temple but the entire city of Jerusalem (v. 23). Prior to departing, the LORD gave a word of hope: He would restore a remnant and give them a heart and a spirit to obey Him and walk with Him (vs. 17-20).

Are you or someone you love in a hopeless situation? This chapter gives you great verses to pray! Pray Ezekiel 11:1-2, 5, 12, and 17-20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, by Your Spirit, lift ___________ and me up! 

Keep us from men who devise iniquity and give evil advice.

 Spirit of the LORD, fall upon us!  You know our thoughts. 

We know You are the LORD!  Please forgive

us for not walking in Your statutes nor executing

Your ordinances.  Forgive us for acting according to the

ordinances of the people around us.  LORD, please gather

us from the peoples and gather us from where we

have been scattered.  Help us to remove all the

detestable things and abominations from our lives.

 Give us one heart and put a new spirit within us. 

Take the heart of stone out of our flesh and

 give us a heart of flesh,

 that we may walk in Your statutes and keep

Your ordinances and do them.  We want to be Your people,

and we want You to be our God.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 10.

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+10&version=NASB

Meditate on verse 18.

Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple

 and stood over the cherubim.

What a sad chapter in Israel’s history—God’s glory departed from His temple in Jerusalem! The glory of the LORD first filled the tabernacle approximately 850 years earlier (Exodus 40:17, 34-35). Then, when King Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the glory of the LORD filled it (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Now, after approximately 370 years of God’s glory being in His temple, His glory leaves, and the temple will soon be completely destroyed in 586 BC.

But God’s glory will return—to a field—with sheep and shepherds— outside Jerusalem— where He announces the coming of His Glory (John 1:14):

In the same region there were some shepherds

staying out in the fields and keeping watch over

 their flock by night.  And an angel of the LORD suddenly

 stood before them, and THE GLORY OF THE LORD shone

around them; and they were terribly frightened. 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid;

 for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David there

has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

—Luke 2:8-11

And now, as the temple of God, the Spirit of God dwells in Christians, from whom He will never depart (1 Corinthians 3:16). What an exciting chapter of His story you have the privilege to be part of!

Pray Ezekiel 10:4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, please let Your glory go up to _____________, so

 they can become Your temple.

 As Your temple, You fill us with Your Spirit.

 Let our lives be filled with the

 brightness of Your glory, LORD.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezekiel 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezekiel 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/eze/9/1/s_811001

Meditate on verses 8:18-9:1.  The LORD is speaking.

"Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath.

 My eye will have no pity nor will I spare;

and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice,

 yet I will not listen to them."
Then He cried out in my (Ezekiel’s) hearing with

 a loud voice saying, "Draw near, O executioners of the city,

each with his destroying weapon in his hand."

Imagine the scenes from Ezekiel 8 and 9. The people sinned repeatedly against God with no regard for His Word, convincing themselves He did not see them. As their abominations and violence affected the entire land, the wrath of God came upon them; they cried out in the pain of their punishment. Then the LORD cried with a loud voice, and six executioners came, each with a shattering weapon to destroy the wicked. What a hopeless scene! But wait, God also summoned a man in linen to put a mark on every person whose heart grieved like His because of the abominations being committed. Those who encountered the man and were marked by him did not encounter the executioners’ deathblows.

What is your attitude toward sin? Do you “sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed” (v. 4)? Ask God to help you see with His eyes and perceive with His heart what is happening in the world. Pray for people to repent and desire Christ and His holiness.

Pray Ezekiel 9:4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD,  _________ and I sigh and groan over all the abominations

 which are being committed in the midst of our world. 

Put Your mark on our foreheads—we belong to You.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell