How can we prepare ourselves to speak God's words as Ezekiel was commanded? Setting the Scene: Ezekiel’s Call “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak My words to them.’” (Ezekiel 3:4) God commanded Ezekiel to deliver His very words, not personal opinions. That same privilege and responsibility rests on every believer who opens Scripture and shares it with others. Recognizing the Same Call Today • Jesus commissions His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) • Paul reminds us that “we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). • Peter urges us to “speak as one who speaks the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). So how do we prepare to do that faithfully? Step 1: Internalize the Word • Daily intake: immerse yourself in Scripture until it saturates mind and heart (Psalm 1:2; Colossians 3:16). • “Eat the scroll” as Ezekiel did (Ezekiel 3:1-3); Jeremiah echoes, “Your words were found, and I ate them” (Jeremiah 15:16). • Memorize key passages, letting them shape your thinking and speech. Step 2: Cultivate Reverent Submission • Approach the Bible as God’s infallible, authoritative voice (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Yield personal preferences to divine truth (James 1:22). • Pray for teachable humility like the young Samuel: “Speak, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Step 3: Depend on the Spirit’s Empowering • Jesus promised, “The Holy Spirit … will teach you what you should say” (Luke 12:12). • Seek continual filling (Ephesians 5:18) so that words flow “not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Step 4: Practice Holy Boldness • God strengthened Ezekiel’s face “harder than flint” (Ezekiel 3:9). • Ask for the apostles’ courage: “grant that Your servants may speak Your word with complete boldness” (Acts 4:29-31). • Remember you speak with divine authority, not human bravado (Matthew 28:18-20). Step 5: Maintain Spiritual Integrity • Ezekiel sat overwhelmed among the exiles for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15), sharing their grief before speaking. • Let life and lips match (Philippians 2:15-16). • Confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9) to keep the channel clear. Step 6: Guard Your Audience with Love • God sent Ezekiel to stubborn people yet called him “watchman” for their sake (Ezekiel 3:17). • Speak truth seasoned with grace (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 4:6). • View listeners as sheep needing a Shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Summing It Up Prepare to speak God’s words by feasting on Scripture, submitting to its authority, leaning on the Spirit, standing in courage, modeling holiness, and loving those you address. Then, like Ezekiel, you will be ready when God says, “Go … and speak My words to them.” |
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