This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it

Ezekiel 11:1-13

The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city. They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’ Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man.”

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.

I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners and inflict punishment on you. You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.”

Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?”

Why?

This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it： City of Jerusalem is safe?

People thought this city could defend the enemy, but we depended is the Lord, not the city or others

I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord. 

But you conformed to the standards of the nations around you. The enemy is because we are away from the Lord. Most people and leaders did not know this. are easy to rely on our own, this is the sin of pride.

Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel? Ezekiel shows his love and pity to his people.

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神在異象中帶以西結到耶路撒冷看到的現象。讓以西結從神的角度來看民間首領的作為

看到25個人在圖謀罪孽。因應特別狀況，定些重要決策，如果神不在其中，最後都會變質，殘害百姓。

你們殺在城中的人就是肉，這城就是鍋： 當時反對首領的人，可能是政治犯被關，反而安全在城裏。

我必在以色列的境界審判你們： 人以為最安全的地方，會在城裏。結果跑到邊界，

神讓人看到自己的愚蠢，

毘拉提可能是很有影響力的人，向百姓保證絕對安全的人，反而先死了。這麼為百姓著想，這麼正直的人死了，尼西米問那麼其他人怎麼辦呢?

只有在神的旨意中行事，我們才能是鍋中的肉!

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How?

May my heart and my mind always accompany with my Lord!

God’s Glory Departs From the Temple

Ezekiel 10:1-22

Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. 

Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

Why?

For the sins of people, the glory of the Lord left the Temple in Jerusalem.

The burning coals symbolize the punishment. 

If I do not listen to the word of the Lord, the Holy Spirit will leave me either.

How?

May my mind and my heart follow the way of the Lord! Dear Lord please give me the strength to honor your Holy Name.

But do not touch anyone who has the mark

Ezekiel 9:1-11

Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.

He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”

Why?
During the wrath of the Lord, God still has mercy on those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things. God remember them and keep their life.

Jerusalem was full of bloodshed and the city was full of injustice so the Lord has forsaken the land.

The Lord is full of justice and mercy to his people, so be aware we are people of the Lord.

How?

Doing the right things in the eyes of the Lord.

Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them

Ezekiel 8:1-18

In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.

He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”

He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

Why?
The Lord took Ezekiel to Jerusalem in Spirit to see what Judah did in the Inner court of the Lord.

Those elders and people did many detestable things in the Temple of the Lord, so the wrath of the Lord on Judah is not pity or spare on them.

The Lord shows this vision to Ezekiel to show the evidence that Judah did, so the judgment came upon them for they forsake their God.

They say, 'The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land'. Actually, is they forsaken the Lord, the Lord has seen what they have done.

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第七章提到聖殿中有偶像。猶大的眾長老因為祭司已經沒有了，或是留在耶路撒冷，眾長老來到以西結前來聽到更多他們想聽的話，知道他是神的先知，知道之外，是否願意聽從是另外一件事。

神的榮耀在門口：代表神的榮耀準備離開，神無法與罪惡同在，神的離開是慢慢的，是不捨的。朝北的內院有偶像。沙番是約書亞的書記官，沙番的兒子雅撒尼亞及70個長老在其中，以為自己是祭司，拿香拜偶像。

耶路撒冷的屬靈狀況非常糟糕，猶大家在此行這可憎的事還算為小嗎？這個惡實在太大，以致神都不容忍，「誰知」出現多次。以西結看到都不致相信，無法接受居然有這種事，人不自己人有多壞，多麼墜落！

你看見了嗎？出現多次！讓以西結看到神的愛和憐憫已經夠大夠包容了！

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How?

The Lord knows everything, my God is full of love and righteousness. God's way and mind is higher than all of us.

Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath

Ezekiel 7:14-27

They have blown the trumpet, they have made all things ready, but no one will go into battle, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. Outside is the sword; inside are plague and famine. Those in the country will die by the sword; those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.

The fugitives who escape will flee to the mountains. Like doves of the valleys, they will all moan, each for their own sins. Every hand will go limp; every leg will be wet with urine. They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Every face will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved.

Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

They will go searching for a vision from the prophet,  priestly instruction in the law will cease, the counsel of the elders will come to an end. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards, I will judge them. 

“‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Why?
Under the wrath of the Lord, no one can escape from the judgment. Outside is the sword; inside are plague and famine.

Silver and gold are expensive in daily life, but these will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomach because them stumble into sin.

People searching for a vision from the prophet or counsel of the elders will come to an end. All of these are useless. 

At the end of the world, there are false prophets, the beast, and the dragon coming together to cheat people.

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人都預備好了，可是當神的審判來的時候，吹角是否軍事方面的預備卻毫無用處，甚至成為麻煩。預備軍事方面的，預備齊全，糧食也夠，卻無人出戰，因為內有瘟疫、飢荒，以致無人出戰。外面又有刀劍！外患！以為有路可走。第二是經濟上的預備。神發怒時，金銀也沒有用。買不到武器、買不到食物。第三是宗教方面的預備，聖殿建造很美，但是人覺得不夠，沒有神像，加入偶像，穿金戴銀。正如一本聖經不夠，還要加摩門經等等，結果變成污穢的。

軍事、經濟、宗教的預備，反而惹神更多的憤怒！

賽55:6 當趁耶和華可尋找的時候尋找他，相近的時候求告他。

要趁可以尋求神的時候尋求神！當人不聽神的話，等到想聽的時候，神已經不說了

約12:36 你們應當趁著有光，信從這光，使你們成為光明之子。

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How?

Be aware of the word and sign of the Lord, trust in the Lord, and obey God's command.

Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life

Ezekiel 7:1-13

The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity;  I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’

Disaster! Unheard-of disaster!  See, it comes! The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. See, it comes! Doom has come upon you, upon you who dwell in the land. The time has come! The day is near! There is panic, not joy, on the mountains. I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity;  I will not spare you. I will repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you.

See, the day!  See, it comes! Doom has burst forth,  the rod has budded,  arrogance has blossomed! Violence has arisen,  a rod to punish the wicked. None of the people will be left, none of that crowd— none of their wealth,  nothing of value. The time has come! The day has arrived! Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller grieve, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. The seller will not recover the property that was sold—  as long as both buyer and seller live. For the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed. Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life.

Why?

The end is come upon them, the day is come the time of God's judgment is come!

The main purpose of the Lord is to let his people know that "I am the Lord"

All of this disaster come upon them because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life.

The judgment of the Lord because of their conduct.

How?

It is not so important to know the meaning of the Bible, but what I have done before the Lord.

Wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the Lord

Ezekiel 6:1-14

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them and say: ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols. I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and ruined, your incense altars broken down, and what you have made wiped out. Your people will fall slain among you, and you will know that I am the Lord.

But I will spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Strike your hands together and stamp your feet and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked and detestable practices of the people of Israel, for they will fall by the sword, famine and plague. 

And they will know that I am the Lord, when their people lie slain among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oak—places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste from the desert to Diblah—wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Why?
The judgment of the Lord is to let his people know that He is the Lord. All of the Idols will fall down.

The judgment of the Lord to Israel are sword and devastated famine and plague.

All of these disasters come is reveal that the Lord is the God. Only He is the Lord!

How?

My Lord is the only God in the world, without Him I am nothing. May my daily life go with my Lord and Jesus Christ.

God’s Razor of Judgment：more famine upon you and cut off your supply of food

Ezekiel 5:1-17

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.

A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword.

“I will make you a ruin and a reproach among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. You will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and an object of horror to the nations around you when I inflict punishment on you in anger and in wrath and with stinging rebuke. I the Lord have spoken.  When I shoot at you with my deadly and destructive arrows of famine, I will shoot to destroy you. I will bring more and more famine upon you and cut off your supply of food. 

Why?

The judgment of the Lord is severe and terrible. Fear the Lod is wisdom.

Jerusalem was set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. But she has rebelled against the laws of the Lord so the conflict and disaster came upon them. So the war between Israel and Hamas is in the hands of the Lord. We don't know the consequence but I know the Lord has his way. For He is the Lord, I am a human being, be created man.

With 3 one-third of the hair of Ezekiel to describe the destination of people in Juda.

Usually, we rely upon the food or living, but more import relies on the words of the Lord, under the rape of the Lord the food will be wiped out, famine come nothing can eat.

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以行動劇來吸引人來聽。剃髮表示哀痛、剃鬍鬚代表失去尊榮。三等分的人分成三種結局。頭髮很輕，所以用天平很精準的量，即使是神的審判也是非常精準的，不是隨便的抓一把。被風吹了再找回來，是很不容易的。表示被擄的百姓分散各地，再一個個的找回來。很細心有耐性的找。表示耶穌的委屈，把我們找回來。

「過於列國」出現四次，以色列人腳踏兩條船、腳踏多條船比外邦人還要糟糕。

斷絕你們所倚靠的糧食和水。神把人的路都堵死了，門都關了。因為人關了與神之間的門。

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How?
May my heart and my mind be with the Lord forever.

I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem

Ezekiel 4;1-17

Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.

“After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.

Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. Weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. Also measure out a sixth of a hin of water and drink it at set times. Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” The Lord said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”

Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.” “Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”

I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.

Why?

The Lord declared his punishment to Israel and Judah through the behavior of Ezekiel to warn them of the sins of Israel and Judah.

Because the people of Israel defiled the Lord the Lord punished them 390 years for their sins are many.

The situation of Jerusalem will be hard and no food. For they did not obey the word of the Lord, they will defile themselves as they had defiled the Lord.

How?

Everything happens in this world under the way of the Lord, God always gives love and mercy to his people and has the chance to repent.

彼此團契的宣教模式 翰一 1:1-4

 短宣於我們又益，更勝於旅遊。結交一生的朋友。

認識耶穌，聽見，親眼看過，(親身體會，心裡領會), 親手摸過。

相交:團契

四律是知識，我們習慣用知識，理性傳福音 。

神與亞伯拉罕每日團契方式教導。雖然沒有肉身相交，卻在靈裡相交。

祖孫三代都遇見飢荒，雅各反應不同。

聖父，聖子，聖靈，1x 1 x1=1位神，不是三個神

讓我們可以讓別人看見，摸著。

Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people

Ezekiel 3:16-27

At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

Why?

Seven days mean sad for the dying men, And it also as a watchman among the people.

During this generation, it is not I am a good follower of the Lord, but I need to speak the words of the Lord to remind others, to witness the greatness of the Lord, and help others out of the way to die. So we have to deliver the good news to others as we can.

Even though many people do not listen to the word of the Lord, whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse. My job is to tell them and do the mission the Lord has told me.

How

Do my best to witness the Name of the Lord in my life and tell others the Gospel as I can.

Listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people in exile

Exekial 2:9-3:15

Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed.

Why?

 Listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you, Go and speak to them. To serve the Lord, and preach the word of the Lord, the first step is to take to heart all the words God told to us.

No matter what circumstance we meet, we should say to our people the word of the Lord for the Holy Spirit can give us strength. Say to them is my obligation, and the consequence is in the hands of the Lord.

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讓以西結服事前預備三件事。1)認識神的知識，話語。開口吃書卷。把神的話語吃進去，消化、成為力量，轉為生命。

耶和華為以色列人的罪嘆息、哀痛，運神的心情也消化進去。 生命就是見證，以實際行動來表現。神的話語讓人心靈得到滿足，舒爽

2)心智的預備： 去的地方是文化、環境熟悉的地方，對象是本國的百姓，溝通沒有問題。額政硬過他們，心智堅定，可以好好講完，臉硬過他們，臉皮比他們厚、堅強表示以西結堅定的可以傳誦，即使台下人不聽或是拒絕，仍然繼續講。

3)心情上的預備： 心情上與神一樣，聽到這些聲音，讓他定睛在神的榮耀，心被激動。心與神契合，可以完全同理神的心。出於愛這群他要去傳講的人。不是單純的工作、而是服侍主的心。代表神在做這件事。如抹大拉的馬利亞為耶穌打破香膏，這事體貼到耶穌的心。

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How?

Do not be a heart-hardened man before the Lord, carefully listen to God's word and understand the real meaning to me.

Do not be afraid them, You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen

Ezekiel 2:1-7

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 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. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

Why?
Three times the Lord said to Ezekiel do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, you must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen.

I have to confess that I am sometimes afraid people refuse me, so I am afraid to say the word of God to others. May the Lord give me the wisdom to deliver good news to my college and others.

Most people are rebellions, but our mission is to deliver the word of the Lord to this dark world.

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看到異象後必帶來使命、差派，神不會無緣無故顯現在人面前給人家看。事奉看來是人在做，但是動力來自神！事奉的人是背逆之家。我們不能挑服事地方，神要我們去那裏就要去。

荊棘和蒺藜在你那裡，你又住在蠍子中間，蠍子還會攻擊人。我們去傳去講，使人信的是主，不是我們會講，不是我們的能力。

可能我們就是悖逆之家，我們是否只希望聽我們想要的，神已給我們答案。我們會以為我們是以西結，是摩西！

只管忠心的傳講神的話，人聽或是不聽都要說。這就是以西結的任務。

不僅以西結的話，更以他的生命來見證神，堅持他的事奉，即使人的冷嘲熱諷，仍然以生命來，聖靈使以西結站起來！願神讓我們心裏的力量剛強。 我們只管繼續傳講，人是否信主是神的責任。

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How?

Do I obey the command of the Lord? Yes, I do, but not so completely. Dear Lord, forgive us and give me strength to obey your command and honor your Holy Name.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown

Ezekiel 1:15-28

As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Why?

The Lord has the appearance of man, so the Lord appears before Ezekiel to talk to him. 

The Glory of the Lord is hard to explain in human language.

The Lord shown before Ezekiel has the mission to this priest even though he was exiled to Babylon.

How?

God is glorious beyond our imagination, God's love is over anyone in our world. It is the Lord who comes to show himself to us.

The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God; Ezekiel 1:1-14

Ezekiel 1:1-14

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him.

I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings.

Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

Why?

Ezekiel saw the vision of God showed to him.

The Lord showed to Ezekiel that the Lord cares his people in exiled to Babylon, And the Lord has word to his people through Ezekiel.

Ezekiel means God is strong or God is power.

The four creatures are the Lion: power, ox: serve; man, wisdom, and the eagle: holy. The relationship to the New Testament is Lion: Mattew; Judia, Ox: Mark: servant, man: Luke, Christ; Eagle: John, son of God.

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天上的異象通常很難描述，只能用我們的經驗來描述，超過我們的經驗，則很難說明。

以西結： 耶和華使我堅固，耶和華是力量的含義。是第一批被擄的人。當三十年：當時他30歲，是作外加的年齡。

四個活動表達神的本質或是神的僕人的特質。火、光、閃電出現多次，是神的本質，讓以西結成為祭司，卻不是家族的祭司職分，給予新的服事方式。

四活物即吉路伯，牛的腳表示每一步都很實在踏在地上，一步一腳印。行走不轉身：順服神的帶領，如走直路一樣每個方向都是往前走。翅膀相接：行動一致的。順著聖靈都是最好走的。

四個臉是要以西結的僕人本質，1)尊貴的獅子，說話有權柄  2)有神的眼光如老鷹，看的清楚。3) 任勞任怨如牛一樣的服事

神愛以色列人，也愛外邦人。讓我們看見神在掌權，不要失望！

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How?

The Lord is Holy and there is no image of the Lord, so we should not worship the Lord in any image. God is a spirit beyond all of us. No one can find the Lord, but our God come to find us for the Lord love me.

So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task

Nehemaish 13:15-31

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.

 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”

When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.  But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 

Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?”

One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.

Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.  So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. 

Why?

Purifying ourselves before the Lord is an important thing. Keep us away from unbelieved marriage, keep the Sunday worship in the church.

Nehemiah let us learn following session, 1)we work has a clear target 2)Plank to do everything, 3)No excuses before others, 4)Always pray to the Lord

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出自申命記，亞捫人和摩押人不可進入神的殿，祭司以利亞實與多比雅結親。第10章他們曾經起誓守約而且簽名。大祭司以利亞實的孫子和外族通婚，猶大的貴冑賣東西，未守安息日，十一奉獻沒有做到等4件事要處理。當時帶頭的首領做這些惡事。

我就斥責官長說：為何離棄神的殿呢？我便招聚利未人，使他們照舊供職。因為生活出問題回去耕種田地。

違反安息日是猶大的貴冑，這些都是棘手的事，他都向神禱告，求神憐憫！因為做這些事都有危險，可能會受到攻擊。只是單單討神的喜悅，不是討人的喜悅！執行公義和律法。

祭司帶頭行惡，有利可圖，於是有樣學樣！異族聯婚影響到十一奉獻，屬靈光景走下坡，猶大人的信仰。異族聯婚影響到十一奉獻，主日敬拜。路得、拉合則是已經信主的，情況不同。

我們也要禱告：我的神啊，求你因這事記念我，不要塗抹我為神的殿與其中的禮節所行的善

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How?

Separate us from this world for we are sons of the Lord!