SOUNDING THE ALARM

Tonight (Wednesday,10/30, 7:00 pm), gather with your Calvary Chapel family in the Holy Grounds Cafe or on our website (www.calvaryinv.com), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we continue our new series in the book of Ezekiel (4-7).

Ezekiel was trained as a Priest but never ministered in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was taken into captivity as part of the second deportation in 597 b.c. when Nebuchadnezzar "carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land" (2 Kings 24:14).

He was assigned to the labor camp of Tel Abib on the shores of the Chebar River, a Euphrates channel south of the capital, Babylon.

During the first five months, Ezekiel spent adjusting to his new life. It must have been depressing. Each day was just like the previous one: work, work, and more work. All are designed to wear one down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

During this dreary existence, Ezekiel received his commission. He was to be God's watchman and spokesman. He was to sound the alarm to his fellow captives to quit resisting their captors. Those men over them were God's vessels. He was working through them to open the eyes of Israel to the reality of what their continual disobedience to His law did.

Ezekiel's message would not be well received; even in Ten Abib, false prophets constantly told the captives that they would soon be released to go home because God was going to topple Nebuchadnezzar.

Therefore, God sent Ezekiel to sound the alarm. He was to remind them that their sin landed them in captivity. And that they would be there for seventy years. When the seventy years were completed, God would release them, and they could return to Jerusalem.

But if they listened to the false prophets and attempted to overrule what God had done, their punishment would be severe. Therefore, God, who is merciful, had Ezekiel warn his people to submit to their punishment. By doing so, not only would they please God, but He would enable them to thrive in their captivity by His Holy Spirit.

Like Ezekiel, we have been commissioned to sound the alarm that Jesus is coming soon. May we be inspired by his example and be willing to offer ourselves to God, proclaiming the gospel of His Son to everyone, knowing that He will anoint us with His word, strength, and fortitude.

Please pray that this journey through the Word of God will be received by open hearts that long to grow in Jesus' grace and Knowledge. Moreover, He will do deep and abiding work in and through us for a world desperately needing a Savior.

In His Strong Love,

Pastor