How can we discern God's voice today, as seen in Ezekiel 24:26? Listening in Real Time: Ezekiel’s Moment and Ours Ezekiel 24:26: “On that day a fugitive will come to you to report the news.” God promised Ezekiel that confirmation of His word would arrive by a single messenger. The principle endures: the Lord still verifies His voice and guides His people with clarity, reliability, and consistency. What Ezekiel Experienced • God spoke first (vv. 24–25), then promised evidence (v. 26). • The “fugitive” carried a report that exactly matched God’s prior revelation. • Ezekiel’s credibility rested on the alignment between the message he’d already received and the messenger’s eyewitness account (v. 27). Drawing Today’s Lesson To discern God’s voice now, trace the same pattern Ezekiel lived: 1. God initiates communication. 2. He provides confirmation. 3. The final word never contradicts what He has already spoken. Primary Channels God Uses Today • Scripture – “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). – God’s clearest, infallible voice remains the written Word. Anything we sense or hear must harmonize with it. • The Holy Spirit – “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). – The Spirit brings passages to mind, convicts, comforts, and guides (Romans 8:14,16). • Providential Circumstances – Like the fugitive in Ezekiel 24:26, God arranges events that reinforce what He has said (Acts 16:6-10). • Godly Counsel – “Where there is no guidance, a people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). – Mature believers can help test impressions (1 John 4:1). • Inner Peace or Restraint – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). – The Spirit’s inward witness can affirm or hold us back (Acts 13:2). A Practical Discernment Checklist Use these filters—Ezekiel’s principle in modern form: 1. Scriptural Alignment – Does the impression agree with the Bible’s plain teaching? 2. Christ-Honoring Focus – “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). – Any true word will exalt Jesus. 3. Moral Clarity – God never instructs us to sin (James 1:13). 4. Confirming Evidence – Look for external corroboration: circumstances, trusted voices, open or closed doors—parallel to Ezekiel’s fleeing witness. 5. Lasting Fruit – Genuine direction produces the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and advances the gospel. Encouragement for the Journey God did not leave Ezekiel guessing; He will not leave us guessing either. When we anchor ourselves in the written Word, stay sensitive to the Spirit, invite confirmation, and remain humble enough to listen, we can echo the prophet’s confidence and say, “The word of the LORD came to me…”—and know it truly has. |
    |