Ezekiel: God who travels Chapter 10

 

True Prophet and Prophecy

In Ezekiel chapter 13 (NIV), God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against false prophets. This raises a question: Did God appoint Ezekiel as the leading prophet over all others? Did He elevate Ezekiel to be the chief among prophets? Let’s explore this further.

What is a prophet?
A prophet is regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of God’s will—a person through whom God reveals what will truly happen in the future.

What does “prophecy” really mean?
I love this definition: an inspired divine will and purpose, a prediction of something to come.

What does “prophesy” really mean? What’s the difference?

• Prophecy (pronounced “prof-a-see”) is a noun meaning “a prediction.”

• Prophesy (pronounced “prof-a-sigh”) is a verb meaning “to predict” — the act of delivering a prophecy.

Understanding these differences helps us develop the right mindset and grow in faith.

Prophecy is said to be a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. Not everyone receives this gift. Among the nine supernatural gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are: the word of knowledge, increased faith, gifts of healing, the gift of miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

The Holy Spirit distributes these gifts to individuals who, in turn, fulfill the mission of the Church.

This is why I began this series emphasizing that it is the Holy Spirit who empowers Ezekiel to stand before God, to hold angels, and to work with other angelic beings as described in chapter 1. The wheels Ezekiel sees are divine works of the Holy Spirit.

Many fall because they forget who is behind this power. Before anyone can stand before God, they must first feel the power of the Holy Spirit working within them. The work done in us is not by human strength, but “already by the Spirit of God.”

If you haven’t yet experienced this inner knowing or power, it may be that the Holy Spirit is not yet actively at work in you.

When the Holy Spirit overtakes you, it may feel as though you are no longer yourself. It’s as if God Himself has appeared before you even before you desire or expect it.

AC

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