Hey Pastor John,
About a week ago I felt like the Lord put it on my heart to read Ezekiel. I’m not finished yet, but whew it is very sobering. These verses stood out to me:
“Then said he unto me, ‘Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth’” (Ezek. 8:12)
(This reminded me of what you have been saying, “Serving the Lord Jesus means that you are suppose to live right, that you are supposed to be faithful, honest, and conduct yourself with integrity and not do evil in secret.”)
“And the Lord said unto him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’
And to the others he said in mine hearing, ‘Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.’ Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, ‘Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth!’ And they went forth, and slew in the city. And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, ‘Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?’
Then said he unto me, ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, “The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.” And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, ‘I have done as thou hast commanded me’” (Ezek. 9:4–11).
After I read this, the fear of God covered me. This is real! Nothing, absolutely nothing, is hidden from God. I just sat here and prayed, “Please Lord, help me, help us, to get out into the open whatever may be hidden so we can make it home together!” I asked him that if there is anything in me that I don’t know about that does not please him, to bring it to the open, so I can get it right, to give me/us a chance to repent so that we can all be together forever.
I don’t want to be lost and I don’t want to lose anyone else.
Thank you for loving and guiding us, Pastor John. What an honor and blessing to have an anointed man of God to rest in while in this weary land.
Michelle