Ezekiel 2: 1 – 10
‘Sent and Went’
“So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. 1 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.”
Picture yourself at a sold out stadium, standing room only. People come from all over distant locations to see and hear you live. They have heard you on radio and seen you on television, and ‘gosh’ now they can actually see you in the flesh.
If that is your dream – dream on! God tells us in 2 Chronicles 16: 9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” And as our Lord says to Isaiah in his book chapter 6, verses 8 through 10, “8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “ Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘ Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “ Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”
You see, it is not about you whatsoever. It is all about Him – our Lord Jesus Christ! The only Evangelist in the Bible who was successful based on human standards was Jonah and look at how he responded to his success of converting a whole city for God.
“ 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”4 Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!"10 But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”
God is the only One Who saves people. You do not and will not. God doesn’t need us but in His Mercy He lets you be part of His work. It is kind of like a father who is painting. His son comes up and asks to help. The father knows that it is time consuming and he will have to touch up what his son does, but a half decent dad will let his son help because he loves his son and cherishes the fact that his son wants to help him. So, does our Heavenly Father, Who also allows us to help out in His plans.
Ezekiel was a man God selected. Here is a tip for Senior Pastors when they are looking for assistants. Pick the one who does not kiss up to you. The eager ones are the ones looking for promotion, power, prominence, and positions. Of course this is not always the case, but in most cases it is. So, let us see God’s calling on a person’s life in Ezekiel chapter 2 verses 1 through 5.
“So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. 1 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
The Lord uses the term ‘son of man’ 90 times in the book of Ezekiel. Our Lord Jesus Christ also used this term for Himself. However, the two terms are different. In Ezekiel the term ‘son of man’ means ‘son of Adam’ or ‘son of dust’. Our Lord Jesus use of the term 80 times as ‘Son of Man’ or ‘Human One’ He was the long awaited ‘Human One’ or the One promised by God as His Messiah.
Our God reminded Ezekiel right from the start of their interaction that he was simply a man. Yet, he would represent Him to all mankind not only in his day but to speak to us also.
We see God telling Ezekiel to stand on his feet. I know from reading the Bible that anyone who would come into the presence of an angel would drop on his or her faces. Think what it would be like if you were the one who actually experienced a direct vision of our Holy God. In Revelation 1: 9 – 18 our Lord Jesus appeared to His dear friend John on the island of Patmos.
“9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. “
Our Lord in His Loving care did not want John on his face but wanted him to do some things for Him. Is is a mark of great tribute for a man to stand before a king as described in Proverbs 22: 29, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.”
Those who are blessed to be in this condition receive assignments and are given authority and power from the king. In the book of Joshua we see the Lord Jesus deal with another one of his servants who was on his face.
“10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”
As shown here in the book of Joshua many times we are on our faces weeping when we should be up and about doing what is right for our Lord.
“And the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet.” We read in chapter 1 about the Holy Spirit’s Presence and work. We now see Him in the process of equipping Ezekiel for the work. There is a saying, ‘If God decides, God provides.’ Isaiah says in chapter 6 verse 5 that we also are without strength on our on to stand yet alone walk in paths of holy service.
“5 So I said: “ Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”
We need the Holy Spirit’s Power to do anything. Our Lord Jesus told us this in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Notice the statement in verse 3 of chapter 2. – ‘Nation of Israel’. Remember that the Kingdom of Israel was split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms right after Solomon’s reign. The nation of Assyria conquered the Northern kingdom and took away Jewish captives. Many of the people from these 10 tribes fled to the Southern kingdom which continued for a hundred more years As we read now in Ezekiel the people of the kingdom of Judah through three dispersions would also be taken away from their homeland. Here God is giving an encouragement to the Jews by re-unifying the people in His recognizing all the exiles as the ‘Nation of Israel’.
Today there has come into existence ‘seeker friendly’ churches that present themselves as social clubs. I am amazed how anyone can do this. They hold their Bibles up in the air to the congregations and never crack it open to share the truths of God’s Word. They will use a verse from their notes then expound on tickly feely verbiage. Don’t these people have any fear of a Holy and Powerful God who they fail to accurately represent? Don’t they realize that they will have to give answer to God for their deceit and lack of faithfulness as co-shepherds? Don’t they know they are leading many to hell for not talking about the Gospel?
Look at these verses:
Numbers 12: 6 – 9,“6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses? 9 So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed.”
1 Samuel 2: 35, “35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.”
Proverbs 13: 17, “17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.”
Proverbs 20: 6, “6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?”
1 Corinthian 4: 1 – 5,“ 1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”
In verses 4 and 5 of chapter 2 God told Ezekiel about the people that was going to be his congregation. They are a group that a minister would really look forward to serving in future interactions. They are rebellious and stubborn. They constantly broke God’s Holy requirements. They were stiff faced and hard hearted. They refused to recognize their sinful lives even when God pointed them out to them over and over.
Our God is a Loving and Merciful God. He loved them and He loves you and me. Even though He calls them ‘Rebellious’ He still calls them His ‘house’ (Temple). But notice the charge of rebellion and look at how God deals with rebellion.
Proverbs 17:11, “11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.”
1 Samuel 15: 23 “23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
When you are not wholeheartedly following God and obeying His Commandments you are considered a rebel. God considers this high treason. As it was true of the people then, it is true of us today. People turn a hard face toward the loving call of God to His Own.
This is why many men who have made a desire to work for the Lord have failed at their commission. In verse 5 we see God’s instructions as to how Ezekiel should speak for Him – ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh”. Look at the same instructions given to other prophets that existed before Ezekiel,
Moses in Exodus 4:22, “ Thus you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD”
Joshua 24: 2, “And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the LORD God’
Samuel in 2 Samuel 7:5, “Thus says the LORD of Hosts.”
Isaiah 10:24, “Therefore thus says the LORD God of Hosts”
If you are a Pastor or a want to be Pastor, are you getting the point here? We know from Romans 3:11 that no one is seeking after God, yet we also know that God is constantly drawing people to Himself as indicated in Jeremiah 30: 21 – 22,
“21 Their nobles shall be from among them, And their governor shall come from their midst; Then I will cause him to draw near, And he shall approach Me; For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the LORD. 22 ‘ You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’”
It is the role of shepherds to serve God’s sheep faithfully not entertains them. James 4: 8 say we are to encourage people to look to God and not ourselves.
“8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Officials at various sports should not be seen constantly but let the players play the game. The players are the important ones, not the referees. Yet, the game could not go on without the referee to supervise the game. Unfortunately, many men today are thinking about their own fame.
God has called ministers to be His mouthpieces to serve His sheep. The sheep belong to the Master – God. I employ those who are active in the Lord’s ministry to do some soul searching and get back to doing what is right in the sight of the Lord. I would hope that what is said in Matthew 25: 31 – 44 is true for all of us,
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
I want to see a smile on My Lord Jesus’ face when I come to Him and I desire this with all my heart for you also.
Sometimes it is true, ‘no pain – no gain’. You dwell among scorpions Ezekiel. It was a painful path that he was called to travel and also for us today who want to serve our God with all our hearts. A scorpion has a formidable head with claws to clamp down on its prey. Yet, the sting comes from its tail. The hardest thing I have to deal with is the sting of those who call themselves Christians. You expect shots from people who are in the world but when a so-called brother or sister seriously stings you, it is extremely hard to swallow. That is why it is right on target when our Lord tells Ezekiel not to be ‘dismayed’. After people have struck you with poisoned words and deeds, you need the only anti-venom that can heal you – that is running to the Lord and finding comfort and support from Him.
God instructs Ezekiel and us to ‘Open your mouth and eat what I give you.’ We need to internalize God’s message and give it back to God’s people. Ezekiel was to receive God’s word, chew on it or inwardly digest all its contents. God says in Psalms 34: 8 and 119: 103 this,
“8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
“103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
”A hand stretched out to me” Ezekiel informed us and handed him a scroll. In Daniel chapter 5 we read about another hand just appearing.
““1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.5 In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished. 10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. 22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the fingers[c] of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. 25 “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEK: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.”
Here we get the term ‘the writings on the wall”. Only in one other case to we read of a scroll having the writing on the inside and outside of a scroll and this was the ‘title deed’ of the earth as shown to us in the book of Revelation chapter 5.
“ 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “ Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
The hand gave the scroll to Ezekiel. In the book of Revelation only the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, could receive the scroll.
There have been scrolls found that have been up to 30 feet in length. Here this scroll has writings on both sides. The message it contained indicated the magnitude of the people’s transgressions and its warnings of the misery that is still to come upon Jerusalem. Zechariah came into the same condition of a scroll that contained only sorrow and sadness. This is shown to us in Zechariah 5: 1 – 4.
“1 Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.” 4 “ I will send out the curse,” says the LORD of hosts; “ It shall enter the house of the thief And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house and consume it, with its timber and stones.”
So for those who seek to be used of God I close with a word from God in 2 Timothy 5: 1 – 4,
“ 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
