Facing the Fear of Man

Facing the fear of man is one of the most difficult areas of our Christian growth. No doubt that was the case in the life of a man named Ezekiel. Let me give you a summary of the book and then highlight the running theme of the book itself.

Ezekiel was priest when Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians. When the Babylonians came, they spared the city, but captured the people of Israel and removed them in 3 stages – Ezekiel, his wife, and 10,000 Jews taken away in stage 1.

According to Ezekiel 1:1, we find Ezekiel in a Jewish refugee camp. It’s 5 years later. It’s his 30^th birthday, and he’s by the “the river Chebar.”

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And while he’s there in exile, the Lord gives him a vision of a storm cloud. And in the storm cloud described 4 bizarre creatures carrying a throne. And upon the throne the majestic King Yahweh in Babylon. And the Lord commissions Ezekiel to go back to Jerusalem to pronounce Judgment upon the city for their failure to repent.

So then, he’s commissioned by God to go back to Jerusalem and warn them of the coming judgment. And chapters 1-24 are all about the warnings of coming judgment.

So Ezekiel goes back to Jerusalem to be a living illustration on the streets of Jerusalem, warning them of coming judgment. For instance, in chapters 4-5, Yahweh commands Ezekiel to do all sorts of unusual illustrations to grab Israel’s attention, warning them of coming judgment, such as shaving off his hair and beard, laying on his side for one year, eating food cooked over manure – all to illustrate God’s coming judgment and the unfavorable circumstances they will find themselves in while in Babylon.

And despite all of the living illustrations Ezekiel would have to perform, Israel would not repent. Israel would not listen…

A year later, Ezekiel has more visions (chapters 8-11) of what is going on inside the Temple. And he discovers that the men and women of Israel are worshipping idols! So blatant is the idol worship that he receives another vision of God leaving the temple and toward Babylon.

But despite Israel’s rebellion, God would return to his people. He will return and change their hearts from stone to that of flesh.

But before he would do that, Israel needed to be warned…

The rest of the chapters, such as 25-32 would highlight God’s judgment upon the Gentiles and then God’s hope of restoration of Israel in chps 33-48. Now there’s a lot there, and we’re only looking at a slice of the book itself, namely an overview of chapters 2-3. Because in these chapters, the Lord is preparing this young man for a tough ministry – and to his own people no less!

Proposition: As we come to this portion of Scripture, I want to offer 4 encouragements to combat the fear of man.

Outline:

I. Do Not Fear: We Have Been Sent (2:1-6)

Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” ² As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. ³ Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. ⁴ I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. (stop)

A. Those who have the Spirit are sent as messengers (v 2) (stop)

I want to say right on the outset that our circumstances differ substantially from that of Ezekiel. We need to be careful not create a one-to-one correspondence between Ezekiel’s life and that of our own such that we come up with an incorrect application of Ezekiel’s life to that of our own.

For instance, when God had commissioned Ezekiel, he was told to go to the house of Israel, which was a stubborn people. But it does not follow or correspond that God is sending us to the church, which is an obstinate people – do you see the problem?

Israel is an ethnic category while the church is a spiritual category – they are not the same

When God called Ezekiel, he called him to a prophetic office – a prophetic role. But that isn’t true of believers today. That office has ceased in the church age because once the divine revelation came through Jesus Christ, then the Bible became the source of divine revelation (Hebrews 1).

My point is that it is easy to draw a conclusion on a passage of Scripture at the price of proper interpretation – so we don’t want to do that – we don’t want to draw any conclusion at the price of proper interpretation.

To put it simply, what is described in a passage doesn’t always mean prescription in every single detail…

If you want a more expanded understanding of what I’m talking about, pick up a neat little book titled How to Study the Bible by Dr. Richard Mayhue. https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/cbd/f400/502035.jpg

He was one of my professor’s at the Master’s Seminary. It’s a handy study tool that will expand upon what it means to study the bible in its literal, historical grammatical sense.

So then, although we need to be careful in rightly dividing the Word of Truth, what can we apply that is true of all believers today? And I’ve already provided it for you, which is those who have the Spirit are sent by God as…messengers. Messengers who carry the message of truth to a dying world.

If you bear the name of Christ, if you profess Christ as Lord, that means he has changed you, and is changing you. You’ve been set apart like Ezekiel for a specific work. You’ve been set a part like an Apostle Paul, called by the grace of God.

All believers in Christ are set apart – and for those of you who are perhaps struggling under the sun, because you think you have no purpose, my friend – look to the Cross, and that is where your purpose begins.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

So in the case of Ezekiel, the voice of God calls out to Ezekiel, saying “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” Over 90 times we see that phrase used because God is calling to mind the person’s humanity and dependence upon the Spirit of God. (see The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 761).

Ezekiel was set a part for a purpose and was told not to fear? He’s told not to fear based upon the sovereignty of the One who can touch mountains and make them smoke. (Psalm 104:32).

He was told not to fear based on the One who’s Word is like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jer. 23:29)

He was told not to fear based on the one who is an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1-3)

Why are we not to be afraid? You do know the One who saved you, yes? You do know the One who set you apart, yes? You do know the One who commissioned you, yes? Do you know the One who sends you? Christian, do you know the character of your God who will never leave you nor forsakes you?

B. Those sent by God should not be afraid (v 6)

Verse 6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”(stop)

I want to highlight a point of interest to your hearts and to mine in the life of Ezekiel. Deep was the sense of motivation that he had for his divine call. He was told not to be afraid because he was afraid much like we are told not to be afraid because tend to be a fearful people and it doesn’t take much for us to become afraid and we like, like Ezekiel needed to understand who it is who had called Him to assuage his fears before going against an angry and rebellious people.

Let me add a footnote for you to consider. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You will not find a single passage in the Bible in which we are told to fear man because that would be a misplaced fear, yes?

There is only one person we are told to fear – and that it who, church? God. Yahweh is his name. So what happens when our fear is misplaced – when people are big and God is small. Who are we treating as God…? Who are we treating as Sovereign? Take a wild guess?

Every time we are fearful, the needed reminder at that moment is who is our God?

“…My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

Transition. Who do you fear, Christian? Are your fears misplaced? If it is…

II. Do Not Fear: We Have His Word (2:7-3:4)

Verses 7-8 “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (stop)

Despite the opposition Ezekiel would face, he was reassured to not be afraid. It’s not as though the Lord hid this from Ezekiel, my friends. Israel was in a state of such obstinance and rebellion that God would describe them as “thorns and scorpions.” And Ezekiel would experience the kind of opposition that would hurt him.

Lest you think you are so far removed from the life of Ezekiel that there cannot be a fitting application – if you are looking for a ministry to serve in here at Faith Church, let me introduce you to the Hartford Hub.

The Hartford Hub is an outreach ministry of Faith Church. It’s essentially based on two things: (1) Galatians 6:10 and (2) Matthew 28:19-20

Galatians 6:10 “So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”

Before we ever get to the discipling and baptizing, we have first go and give the message of the Cross, don’t we? Before the people of any given community bathe in a common grace like a Hartford Hub with the hope that they would see that the goodness of God and be led to repentance (Romans 2:4) do we not have to first at least go…to count the cost?

And note this: with the ministry like the Hartford Hub, you may not see the impact you have for the kingdom there until years later. Or, what if you don’t see it at all? Are you ok with that? Perhaps all you are there is a Gospel seed planter at the Hartford and it will be the next generation of Gospel workers who will reap the harvest of what you’ve planted for the sake of the Gospel – that’s ok!

There are other ministries here at Faith Church to serve in that are all designed by God to sanctify you. Are you ready to eat those parts of the Word of God that specifically warn Christians of the opposition you will face for following after Christ?

Transition. Is that something you are ready to digest? Contrary to popular opinion. ministry is not sanitized. Ministry is work and it can be dirty and difficult and hard because you will have to deal with the kind of people both inside and outside the church who can be proverbial “thorns and scorpions.”

Ok – good – that’s good sanctification for both you and I.

Ezekiel was told by God that…

A. He gives the words, we give the message

Verses 8-9 “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” ⁹ Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. ¹⁰ When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.”

• § i. “eating” His Word

• § ii. speaking His Word

In other words, Ezekiel was told to receive God’s Word and to speak his Word. Eating God’s Word is tantamount to saying that Ezekiel accepted what God was giving to him, even if the truth is difficult to hear and accept.

Does that describe you, my friend? I’ve used this illustration before, so it seems apropos to use it again – in the movie, A Few Good Men. Tom Cruise is this high powered attorney cross examining Jack Nicolson – it was an exceptionally powerful scene to which Tom Cruise said, “I want the truth”, to which Jack Nicholson responded, “You can’t handle the truth!”

That’ll preach, right? Ezekiel was to accept the Word of God given to him, speaking the truth and letting the pieces fall where they may….

So then, Christian – Do you love enough to tell the truth even if the very truth to which you say you believe may be difficult to bear?

B. Success is measured by faithfulness, not results

“The measure of success in God’s work is not always in terms of the amount and frequency of visible response. Success is to be measured in terms of our obedience to the words, commands, and will of God regardless of the visible results” (Cooper, “New American Commentary,” 77)

III. Do Not Fear: We Are Equipped (3:5-11)

Verses 5-11 “For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, ⁶ nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; ⁷ yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. ⁸ Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. ⁹ Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.” ¹⁰ Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely. ¹¹ Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’”

The book of Ezekiel is a big book – there’s a lot going on and perhaps one day, we will have the opportunity to walk through the entire book. So, all I want to do is to draw the necessary application which is the running theme of the entire book which is simply this.

• Don’t fear: We’ve been sent

1. Those who have the Spirit are sent as messengers (2)

1. Because we are sent by God, we need not be afraid.

• Don’t fear: We have his Word

1. He gives the Words, we give the message, nothing more, nothing less.

1. We are to accept God’s Word and speak His Word, and let the consequences fall where they may.

• Don’t fear because God has equipped his people…that is to say…

He gives us what we need…

He’s already given to you all things pertaining to life and godliness. Have you digested that truth, Christian?

“it disturbs me when Christians ask for what they already have. You know, we ask God for strength, and we already have strength that Christ has given us: “We can do all things through Christ whose strengthens us.” We ask Him for power, and the Spirit’s there with all the power we need. We ask Him for grace, and He says, “My grace is sufficient.” We ask Him for love, and He says, “The love of Christ is shed abroad in your heart,” you know. And we ask Him to guide us, and He says, “I’m trying. Why don’t you follow?” We always ask for these things that we already have; and we have the Spirit.” – John MacArthur

If Ezekiel knew this and we know this, than…

B. Everyone’s account is to God, not man (v 7)

“But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.”

• § i. freedom in focusing on Him

• § ii. freedom in pointing others to Him

(Share to FN my sister’s husband’s funeral and what happened)

IV. Do Not Fear: We Are Called to Love (3:16-21)

1. The task of a Watchman

(briefly explain this to the congregation)

1. Love the wicked (vv 18-19)

Verses 18-19 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ¹⁹ Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.

They are not the enemy, but the mission field.

C. Love the righteous (vv 20-21)

Verses 20-21 “Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. ²¹ However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”

I want us to consider our interaction with the lost as we think through this passage. We come bearing a message. We are not to fear because it is God who sends us. And if he sends us he has equipped us he has tasked us to warn everyone we possibly can of the coming judgment.

They are not the enemy, but the mission field. And we tell the lost the message of the Cross out of obedience to our God and a divine love for them.

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon