Hardman Truth – Page 6

Responsibility

Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.
— Ezekiel 3:16-17

Men, following the vision where Ezekiel met with the Lord in His glory, Ezekiel sat by the river Chebar for 7 days. These 7 days marked a time of consecration, and also a time of mourning over Israel’s condition.

At the end of 7 days, the Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. The Lord calls him a “watchman” and tells him to hear the Word given to him and to warn Israel accordingly. This time, Ezekiel receives instruction from the Lord by Word, instead of by vision. Ezekiel has graciously been given time by the Lord to process all He has experienced, and given time to accept within himself all he would be called into. The Lord knew when he’d be ready and came to him with a title.

The Lord has a formal role for him to take part in and has impressed upon him the significance of this role. Like a guard or Shepherd, Ezekiel will listen for the Lord and convey any message given to the people. A guard or sentry was a common position in this time, and they were charged with sounding an alarm at the moment trouble was revealed. Ezekiel will be asked to sound the alarm and communicate various troubles for many chapters coming.

Announcing trouble is meant to grant opportunity to respond to that trouble appropriately. Ezekiel will “hear a Word from My mouth” v17, and convey that Word. We all, regardless of the age, have a responsibility to listen for the Word of the Lord. We each have influence given to us by the Lord. We may not hear the audible voice of God, nor speak before a national address, but we each have access to the Word of God, His Holy Spirit, who illuminates His Word, and an audience we can reach. Our audience may be small, but no less important to God.

Move forward men, taking the opportunity to acknowledge and accept our responsibility to take His Word into our hearts with understanding. Speak truths and warnings found in His Word to those you have influence over. May the Lord direct your steps and give us each a voice befitting His Word.

Vance Durrance

Excuses

“I answered, ‘Oh, Sovereign Lord, Really I do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.’ The Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,’ says the Lord.” –Jeremiah 1:6-8

What does the LORD say to Moses when he tries to back out of God’s calling with the same excuse of being “slow of speech”? “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say,” (Exo 4:11-12).

The LORD is our Creator. He knows us intimately better than we know ourselves (Mat 10:30). So why would we ever use our weaknesses as if that were a factor in limiting God in His works? If we do so, we are admitting our weak faith and demonstrating a prideful confidence in our own strength and not a humble confidence in His.

And as for the excuse of age before men, “Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity,” (1Ti 4:12). It matters not our status before men, but simply our faithful obedient walk before our Heavenly Father. So do not fear men, but God alone (Mat 10:28); and live not to please men, but seek to be a slave to Christ (Gal 1:10; Eph 6:6), living only to do the will of The Father (Luke 22:42; John 5:19).

Go as He has directed, and begin to see His gracious hand granting you immense favor and faith (Psa 84:11; 1Pe 1:3-6) as He fills your heart with the joy of His calling and presence (1Ch 16:27; Psa 16:11).

Billy Neal

Living Among Scorpions

“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” —Ezekiel 2:6-8.

Men, Ezekiel is meeting with the Lord within a deep vision. The Lord has called Israel impudent and stubborn. As the Lord continues, He tells him “Son of man, do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you live among scorpions.” Putting in plainly, Ezekiel is set among sharp, hostile people. He lives among back biting people with unwelcoming disposition. These are people with hardness around their hearts. The Lord says not to be afraid of their words as He tells Ezekiel these people are scorpions, because their words will sting.

Like a scorpion, the rebellious captives may gnash out as with pincers or claws. Again, the Lord says, “You shall speak my words to them whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.” Who in our age would want this job? Doesn’t this commission sound fun? In our age, believers are more likely to whine to our pastors about the people we find ourselves surrounded by. “Pray for me pastor, it’s just so hard, I’m the only Christian.” We search out employment among other believers so it’s not so hard to live out our faith.

What level of faith does it take to demonstrate our belief in a risen Lord among ourselves? Ezekiel is called to a people who are more likely to reject him. After refusing anything hard, we then look up at Heaven and ask why we aren’t being used of God for His Kingdom work. We’ve barely begun in Ezekiel and God has already said, “This is going to be hard, don’t be afraid”. How would you respond?

Move forward men, with the Word the Lord has given us. Whether they hear or refuse, we too have a commission set in Mathew 28, to “Go into all lands making disciples”. Most of those lands will be hostile. Even the “lands” just down the street are likely to refuse. Jesus didn’t promise plush and effortless evangelism. He promised to go with us. The Lord tells Ezekiel, “Do not be afraid or dismayed by their words or looks, but speak My Words, whether they hear or refuse”.

Vance Durrance

Have You “Seen” Jesus Lately?

Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.

As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies.And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.

Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.

And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.— Ezekiel 1:4-29

Men, it takes the rest of the chapter for Ezekiel to express what he saw as the Lord approached him at the Chebar River while a captive in Babylonia. Repeatedly he uses the words “likeness of” as he struggles to express the wonder of what he saw.

A whirlwind of raging fire approached Ezekiel, and in it where 4 winged creatures, each over a wheel inside a wheel, and each wheel had eyes all around it. Each winged creature had 4 faces, 4 wings and their appearance was like burning fire. Above them was a crystal like form of platform. On the platform was a throne like sapphire stone and something like a man sat upon it. As the Spirit inclined, the wheels and winged creatures moved and it made a noise like rushing waters, or of the Almighty, or of a marching army. The man upon the Throne shone with the color of amber from His waist up, and from the waist down He appeared to be of fire and a great radiance like that of rainbows was all around Him.

Ezekiel fumbles for words to express an inexpressible wonder of power, glory, radiance, and awe as the Lord of Heaven came to earth to meet with him in His vision. A.W. Tozer wrote in “Knowledge of the Holy”, “What comes to mind when we think about God, is the most important thing about us.”

Ezekiel had been taught about God in preparation to serve as priest his whole life until the captivity. But nothing could prepare him for what He saw and experienced. Every preconception, ever traditional interpretation, every teaching about His likeness fell flat. Whatever pursuit he had for God, through His Word and in service fell flat. At once, Ezekiel was reduced to awe struck, paralyzing, sensory overload.

Jesus said, “to see Me is to see the Father”. So we have to ask, have we really “seen” Jesus? We see Him in pieces, but if we ever saw Him in the form of His glory as Ezekiel has, what would we then think of God?

Move forward men, questioning the insufficiency and error of our thoughts about the Most High.

Vance Durrance

Doubt

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. — Matthew 28:16-17

Men, the women who witnessed an angel at the tomb of Jesus have returned to the disciples. They report what they have seen and conveyed the message, “Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” The 11 disciples go to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed. When they saw Jesus, they worshipped Him, but some doubted.

The word translated here as “doubted” may better be translated as “hesitated”. Some may have hesitated in wondrous disbelief, others in awe, or concern for how their personal failures may be handled by the resurrected Savior. The text says “they worshipped”, but doesn’t say, “Some worshipped”.

This leads our minds to believe there was an acceptance of His resurrection once each one saw Him, but there likely would have been various responses to Whom they saw. Each person processed the occasion differently, but history would record that each one would be martyred for their belief in Jesus as the Risen Savior.

Our experiences with Jesus through Holy Spirit today also come with a mixed bag of response. Some fall apart in tears as years of hurt fall away. Others take a knee in humble submission to the King of kings. Whatever the response, it is clear, those who seek Jesus with their whole heart, find Him.

How many of us are too busy to go to Galilee? Sunday marks a time when seekers set aside a morning to encounter Him at least in His Word and through fellowship. How many of us fail to be counted? The 11 seen Jesus and worshipped Him. They wrestled with all the various implications, after they sought Him.

Move forward men, seeking Him while He may yet be found. Get off the couch and pursue an encounter. Go to church, open His Word, sign up for a conference, attend an event that facilitates encounters with Holy Spirit, but move toward a place where you may meet Him. He is alive and still reveals Himself to the earnest.

Consider this opportunity: The QuestLife

Vance Durrance

Deception?

deception

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. — Matthew 27:62-66.

Men, Jesus has been crucified and lay dead in a tomb offered up by Joseph of Arimathea. The next day the priests and Pharisees gather to meet with Pilate. Having remembered that Jesus had said, “After three days I will rise” they ask that a guard be placed at the tomb to secure it from any disciples who may steal the body and say to the people He had risen. The religious leaders feared that such an act would stir more emotion than Jesus had done while alive. Pilate sends them away to secure it themselves with a guard and seal.

Matthew has expressed the hypocrisy and corruption of the religious establishment well. As they called Jesus a “deceiver” they themselves have gone to Pilate with false concerns about Jesus usurping Caesar as “King of the Jews”. Now they again go to Pilate with concerns of deception.

Matthew, a disciple, may have been angry with the corruption of the religious authorities, but told as it is, Mathews account serves as an indictment of unbelief upon all the disciples. Even the enemies of Jesus had heard and interpreted correctly the meaning of Jesus’ Words, that He would rise. The Pharisees didn’t believe Jesus would rise, but at least they understood Jesus words. The disciples neither understood nor believed.

But, if this were a manufactured occasion, to deceive people into a false religion, who would include their own failings in their personal account? Matthew, a tax collector, already had wealth. Following Jesus cost him. A false claim of a Messiah would do nothing to help his standing among the religious establishment. If this gospel’s, or Jesus’ claim were untrue, why wouldn’t Matthew’s account be as guarded as Christ’s tomb? Jesus made bold claims, that were well understood, which came so true that an accurate telling of the story was possible even through personal failure to believe until after His claims were fulfilled.

Move forward men, with understanding and belief, that He did live, was crucified, He did die, and again LIVES!

Breaking Tradition

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” –Matthew 27:19

Men, Pontius Pilate has reviewed the case against Jesus, found no fault in Him, and now stands Barabbas beside Jesus and asks the people to make a choice between the 2. One will be released. At that moment, Pilate’s wife interrupts by a messenger. She sends word to her husband, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

In this time, regardless of religion, it was unusual for a wife to interrupt a husband from an official role. Some extra Biblical sources suggest that this wife may have become a convert to Judaism, but not likely until this point or later. In addition, this dream came before Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was loosed upon mankind in Acts 2.

Like the question Peter answered earlier, “Who do you say that I am?” When the question holds the weight of eternity, it seems that those who are available for the gift of hearing from heaven are imparted with clarity on the matter at hand.

As Peter knew and answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” this wife also knew Jesus was a “just man”. Like Peter, flesh and blood hasn’t revealed this knowledge to her. She sent word via messenger to say she had “suffered much”. Clearly there is deep conflict within her heart. How often do people breach traditional protocols because of a dream? The “suffering” she experienced because of the dream must have been at deep odds with what she thought she knew, and what was expected of her under normal circumstances.

How available are we to hear from heaven? We could argue that her hearing from heaven was positional, being the wife of the man trying Jesus in a capital case. Even so, she also had the option to dismiss the dream and hold tightly to the gods of Rome. This woman recognized truth and validity in a dream and acted upon it with the power she had.

Move forward in like manner! Make the choice if granted heavenly truth. Test all things by the Word of God, and obey His voice.

Vance Durrance

Be Patient

“Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters engulfed the earth.” –Genesis 7:6, NET

Consider the age of Noah and his three sons (who were roughly around 100, see Gen 5:32). Surely the norm at this time was to have a very large family (consider the multiplication of the human race). So a man with only three sons (and it took 500 years), who themselves had no children after living a century, must have seemed rather… unblessed?

Children are a reward from God (Psa 127:3) (although it doesn’t always FEEL as such). The LORD says He blesses His loyal followers and increases their numbers (Psa 115:12-16)? So did this glaring fact ever become an obstacle?

Did Noah, like his descendants (Gen 11:30; 25:21), struggle with his wife’s seeming barrenness—and for hundreds of years? Was Noah tempted as Job to wonder what profits a man to live for the LORD’s pleasure (Job 21:7-15; 34:9)? Did his sons ever throw a hammer down in frustration wondering how they could trust a God who had withheld such an important blessing?

Or did they remember the promise of salvation and keep in perspective the LORD’s timing in all things?

What about us? Do we get focused on selfish desires and outward blessings, and forget the undeserved promise of salvation? Or do we keep in perspective the LORD’s timing? This life is but a short inception to an eternity of rest that lies on the other side of judgment. This portion is not for leisure but preparation (Eph 6:15; Isa 40:3; Rev 21:2), and is but a flash and a vapor (Psa 39:5; Jam 4:14).

“So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.” –James 5:7-8

Billy Neal

Secret Schemes

In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
— Matthew 26:55-56.

Men, Peter has just struck the servant of the high priest and cut his ear off. Jesus orders a “stand down”, and speaks to the assembly. “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?” Jesus has made Himself a public figure, teaching in the temple, and town centers. While Jesus taught in front of these men, during the day time they made no arrest, but now, in the dark, they’ve come with fierceness.

Jesus goes on to say to them, “But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Jesus isn’t making a defense plea. He is making a case for fulfillment. Jesus states the obvious to make a point. There was nothing against Jesus that could form a legitimate indictment in the light, but now, in the dark, in secret, there is an action.

Jesus cares for individuals as much as nations. Jesus is speaking reason to the mob that they may see which side they’re on and come to repentance. Why else tell them in concession “that all this is done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled?” Though being arrested, in route to torturous death, Jesus is still at peace, bringing light into darkness.

Our natural response to trouble, especially false or erroneous claims is to emphasize defense, even with hostility. Not Jesus. Jesus has eyes to see the much larger picture of events and purpose and allows these things to unfold.

As He submits to their charge, the disciples forsake Him and flee. How many of us walk with Jesus daily, but when things get beyond our understanding, presuppositions or control, we turn and run back to the familiar asking “WHY?” Jesus doesn’t say anything new. He reminds everyone present, that this all was prophesied.

Move forward men, bringing light into darkness with peace and long-suffering. Jesus knew their hearts, and had authority in Heaven, yet spoke in simple terms to offer truth upon deception, light upon darkness, and legitimacy upon secret schemes.

Vance Durrance

Come in Surrender

Surrender

“But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” –Luke 12:5, NET

For humanity, the Devil is not our problem. God is.

Let that sink in.

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” –Deuteronomy 32:39, ESV

It is the sovereign God who is responsible for “both calamity and blessing” (Lam 3:38). He has made for us times of prosperity AND times of adversity for a purpose (Ecc 7:14). Thus, we must be willing to accept both good and bad from the Lord (Job 2:10). Consider this: if you feel forces coming against you, know that it is not “the devil keeping you down.” It is the LORD who is using the “cords of affliction” to reveal to us that we are “behaving proudly” (Job 36:8-10).

And if you do not know God (2Th 1:8), there is no escaping His wrath (Isa 13:6). You are His enemy (Rom 5:10).

“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” –Hebrews 10:31, NET

Yet He is a compassionate and kind God who desires that sinners live (Eze 18:23). So He comes with an outstretched arm of mercy (Eph 2:4-5). As long as you draw breath, the door to His ark remains open. Do not delay, you do not know if He will spare you another day (Jam 4:14). Run to the ark of your merciful enemy in full surrender for salvation (Jer 21:9). There is no other way (John 14:6).

“Please obey the Lord by doing what I have been telling you [and surrender]. Then all will go well with you, and your life will be spared.” –Jeremiah 38:20b

Billy Neal