HOLE IN THE WALL
Ezekiel 8: Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem
Ezekiel 8: Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem
It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there.
7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall.
8 He said to me, "Son of man, now dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance.
Intro
Chapter eight of Ezekiel is titled as “Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem”, though prophet Ezekiel was now in Babylon, God gave him visions of Jerusalem.
1) SITTING BEFORE GOD:
Ezekiel 8: 1”It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there.”
Sitting quietly before God is crucial in our ‘agenda-filled-busy-schedule’ life today, are you listening? People are able to sit for 3 hours and watch a movie without batting their eyelids; however, they are not able to sit before God even for 5 minutes. Sad. We suffer much, we are confused, and filled with angst because we have failed to separate quiet time with our Father. In the above scripture, we see prophet Ezekiel sitting in his house and all the elders of Judah were sitting before him. Elders will sit before you to listen to you, if you are a person who sits before God! Amen. The people of God (Israelites) were now in Babylon, waiting to hear from God; because of their disobedience, the people were taken away to a foreign land and now God did not leave them but He kept prophet Ezekiel in their midst. Clap hands for God! The prophet had learnt to sit in the presence of God and therefore we read that the Hand of the Lord fell on the prophet. God is thrilled when His children sit before Him, I’m excited as I write this…..portion.
Jesus looked adoringly at Mary who sat at His feet (Luke 10:39) and said: ”Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42) Yes, Jesus is our good portion! Make time to sit calmly at His feet! You can choose your car, backyard, garden, corner of your room, terrace…wherever.. but sit in front of Him.
Friends, today you can decide to sleep till 8 am or make a tough decision to wake up at 5 am and pray. Choice is yours, otherwise there would be chaos! Today I was unable to sleep after 2.30 am in the morning, I wriggled and struggled for half hour but 2.55 am I woke up, sat upright and started to pray. We conduct 5 am early morning daily zoom prayer and one particular dear girl was unable to join for several weeks, I was burdened and started praying for our participants. When I started the zoom ‘Booster group prayer’ at 5 am, I had a pleasant surprise – BANG- the girl I was praying was sitting, she had joined after several months. God watches as you sit in His presence!
Dexterity, nimbleness to speak with wisdom, fortitude, durability and resilience comes from sitting before God. Did not Jesus say: “ I am the bread of life?”
When the law had perished from the priests at Jerusalem, whose lips should keep knowledge (ch. 7 :26), those in Babylon had a prophet to consult. Hallelujah!
2) SITTING WITH PAIN: People sitting before prophet Ezekiel were in pain, confusion and were waiting on God for His next move. Waiting is painful!
Personally I had to wait for years to see a single move in my life. I started my ministry in our living room and there were days I would fast and prepare for the prayer meeting three days ahead, but the attendance would be very poor. One day there were 10 people sitting for the meeting, out of which 6 were from my own family. My mom was there on that particular day and she asked, “have you prayed about the situation, what is your next plan?” I said, ‘my next plan IS TO WAIT.’ After few years God gave me a small platform and then slowly opened doors for me, just a small ray and a small glimpse now and then, but surely, all this waiting and pain has humbled me a lot. Through the “waiting period” God has molded my character and still working on me. Today, God looks at each one of you and says, ” I am never too late!” Friends, if you feel you are running out of time, then you are wrong, trust God to work in your life. Once we settle into His beautiful Hands, I assure you, you would never come out. Learn to nuzzle close to Him and stay silent rather than kick and scream.
Sometimes we get worried when things do not go our way, when prayers are not answered even after a long wait, when time does not move and when nothing seems to happen. Never give up hope but trust in God, who would surely deliver us out of the situation. Often we think we are the worst sufferer in the whole universe, everybody seems to be enjoying except me. It may seem so at the time, but it’s not so really. God is much more concerned with how we respond, than with the trial itself. Someone has said, “God will take care of what you go through if you take care of how you go through it.
Job 36 :
8 "And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.
10 "He opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they return from evil.
Like people sat in zoom to listen to God during Covid.
3) LIFTED BY THE HAIR
Ezekiel 8:3:He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located.
The Hands of God took hold of Ezekiel and caught him by his hair and lifted him between earth and heaven because he was now going to be taken to a place and see things which are overwhelming hence the Hands of God also supported him. Amen. When the task is huge and above your strength then be sure that you are not alone in this.
Ezra 7: 9 For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
In the above text we read about Ezra, having received his commission from the king, had the great responsibility on his shoulder to take the Israelites to Jerusalem, now that the temple there is finished. They had to cross enemy territories, hence Ezra proclaimed a fast ‘to seek of God the right way.’ God wonderfully guides Ezra and the team. Look, let us commit all our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our lives to God, and allow Him to guide us. Ezra was able to take up this huge responsibility because the Hand of God was upon him.
My testimony of starting free School for the poor:
We were in Chennai, speaking tamil , ministering in Tamil Nadu, when God commanded me in the year 2009 to relocate our family, ministry and everything to Hyderabad. Isn’t it scary? Yes, it was! My daughter around that time had to join college and my son had finished class 3 (little boy). If God had not lifted me by my hair, like prophet Ezekiel and taken me to that new State, I would not have been able to do this. Let me explain. I had a vision around that time, when God took my spirit and I had an open vision of the particular place in Hyderabad where we had to move. I saw everything, also heard the local telugu language that they spoke and later when we visited that place, I was able to confirm that this area was the EXACT place God showed me in the vision.
I saw the little kids being carried on tri-cycles or tied around the hips of rag pickers as they are on the job from the wee hours of the day until the scorching heat of noon, then they off load the garbage at a particular location and straight charge to the toddy shop to pick up their quota of the day and then go home. It is now that their household work begins, the life and future of the kids are never in their agenda! I knew if I had to save the children, I had to step in. God had been stirring my heart regarding the ordeal the children were facing and also He was pushing me towards an ‘arena of education’ that I had never ever thought I would venture. A thorough city-bred-woman, having worked in many Corporate Sectors, last stint with a multinational bank and after having ministered to the urban crowd of metropolitan cities for nearly a decade, God maneuvered and propelled me suddenly into a new area of rag pickers, street children, child laborers and teaching. All this happened in a new city with new language and new culture; even now I shudder to think of how I managed! Nightmare! God orchestrated things many years ahead and brought me to the present juncture!
I wooed the parents to leave the children behind with me so that I could feed them and take care of them. (we started the ‘Abide Angel Home’ in the beginning – the School birthed later) I threw them a ‘carrot’ to open the Home as early as 6.30 am so that they could leave the kids behind and go for work. Deal done, they came promptly; I had to in turn provide the children breakfast and lunch, I cooked myself and later started the teaching as well.
The children were unruly, dirty, bad mouthed, indisciplined behaviour, unoiled hair and much more, I had to start from the scratch and teach them everything. The number of children multiplied and later we started ‘Abide School’ catering to such children absolutely free of cost. I not only had to tame and train the children, but the onus of training the parents also fell on me, because both were interconnected. During parents meeting, I advised and counseled the parents too; however, they never ever liked light or come to the Light. They considered the School as a baby-sitting unit, none of them wanted a change in their life style; they loved to cheat, lie, steal, slander and quarrel. Now, after 12 years, the school that we started has got Government recognition and functions as full-fledged English medium school for the poor – ABIDE SCHOOL.
A faithful ready servant of God will be drawn by the hair, to fulfill the assignment given by God, since he has already determined his heart to obey God in his heart. God can use a vessel which has made a decision to do whatever it takes to obey God and fulfill His will!
Hezekiah : How could a 25 year old young man take up a country that was filled with idols and corruption and turn it into heaven if not for the Hands of God. Tell me.
2 Chronicles 29:1Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.…
Also God can do great wonders with a person who is fully surrendered to God:
2 Chronicles 31: 20 So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God. 21He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.
DEBORAH:
Judges 5:6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways.
7 "The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel.:
UNTIL I, DEBORAH AROSE……these words captivated me so much, that I stopped reading but started to meditate the powerful life of Deborah. How easily people look down on women and think they are weak vessels; however, God anointed her to stand tall and strong in the midst of brutal beasts like Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army Siesara. The 900 Iron chariots of Siesara could not frighten her because the above verse says, when Deborah rose, people of Israel rose with her and they were no more frightened of the iron chariots. People started living a normal life when Deborah became their ‘spiritual mother’. Wow! Today we need such prayerful DEBORAHs’ in our churches and homes. Say Amen.
How was Deborah able to do such work for God because of the anointing of God in her which made her able to do such tough work. The Spirit of God that lifted Ezekiel’s hair and took him to Jerusalem, also took Deborah to the battle field.
WHAT GOD SHOWED EZEKIEL
Ezekiel 8:3 the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located.
Before showing what was inside the sanctuary, the Lord showed the seat of the idol at the entrance that caused great pain for God.
Holy Spirit takes Ezekiel into the sanctuary and showed the prophet what happened inside the church.
Let me speak about the EYES OF GOD before I go into this:
EYES OF GOD
Ezekiel 8:9 And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here."
Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
Not two eyes friends, but HIS SEVEN EYES were on them! Glory, glory. Glory! I’m excited! Seven eyes are watching you too! To hold you, watch over you, protect you, pick you, lift you up, feed you and set you high on the Rock! While Zerubbabel looked discouragingly at the problems around Him, the seven eyes of the Lord rejoiced to see the plumb line (work) in the hand of Zerubbabel. God looked at the finished point and rejoiced, while we are stuck with a short vision! We say, ‘now Lord’ but God says ‘not yet’. Dear, dear friends, you can never rejoice if you look what lies under your nose, stretch your vision and look ahead at the promised blessings kept for you. Yes, for you! Mature today! Stop being a fast-food Christian! Marinate yourself in His Word, obey Him, correct your life, work hard, be humble, separate quiet time with Him and be sure to be blessed. Stay patient! His Seven eyes are on you!
Job while going through a miserable path of pain, loneliness and loss said: Job 23:9 ‘When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take.’ I reiterate, He knows and He watches all your ways! You may not be able to see Him but He is watching you! I want each one of you to get this into your heart (in fact, your whole system) today that you are perpetually under His gaze! Like a mom who watches over her kid! He has not taken His eyes off you! Yes, 24 x 7! Round the clock! Never say again, ‘who cares for me?’ He cares a lot, lot for you!
Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
As much as it is lovely to know that His gaze is upon you to take care of you, it is also scary to know that you are always watched! Are you there? When you are gazing at the pornography movie after everyone had gone to sleep, when you are watching the porn stuff in the dark corner of your office cabin, when your eyes rove on the next door married woman, when you are bribing, when you are cheating, when you are stealing, when you are sending that dirty sms, when you are chatting with a stranger for long hours, when you are exchanging notes with a married man on the Face Book…the list goes on – God’s eyes are watching you! Proverbs 15:3”The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good!” Hmm!
Are we not living in such times where atrocities are happening inside the church:
WATCHING THROUGH THE HOLE:
Ezekiel 8:7”He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall…”
Everybody watches the glittering lights, decorations, flashy music instruments, trendy suits and what not…. in the church: however, God can see through and through behind this and He would show it to His prophet like He did to Ezekiel by making him view inside the sanctuary through A HOLE IN THE WALL:
WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE CHURCH:
• Coir member comes to participate in the worship, after watching porn on his mobile. He doesn't have an iota of guilt about it because he is planning to go back and watch it again. Wicked heart!
• The smart, stylish keyboard player thinks of quitting church and joining the cinema industry, because the dollars are heavy there, not to mention the top class , plush, ostentatious life .
• Pastor had come to church to preach after abusing and beating his wife.
• Associate Pastor had come to church to serve the Lord after spending the night with his girl friend leaving his wife behind.
• I know of a married 50 year old pastor who had hid his girl friend in a room inside the church, who translated for him inside the church premises.( He was actively writing books, preaching and doing God’s work, all the while the girl friend was inside the church)What do you call this?
* 40 year old man who worked with me, was translating for a senior pastor of a mega church, while he was having a secret affair with a girl half his age, he refused to listen to me when I warned him, eventually he committed suicide leaving behind 2 small children and his wife.
• Pastors who pretend to be very active, doing great ministry with lot of noise, spend zero time with God. ( I was personal witness to this)
• I personally know of a pastor’s wife who would secretly watch movies in the night.
• The elder of a church was daringly participating in the Holy communion, while he was actively having an extra marital affair outside marriage. (His wife shared this with me)
When I preached this sermon in one of our zoom night prayer, in the quietness of the night, I was sobbing heavily more than preaching. The burden of the Lord choked me heavily, we servants of God need to repent and come before God, as a warning I want to quote Ezekiel 9 and conclude this sermon:
4 The LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst."
5 But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.
6 "Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary." So they started with the elders who were before the temple.
7 And He said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city.
8 As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, "Alas, Lord GOD! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9 Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!'
10 "But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads."
11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case reported, saying, "I have done just as You have commanded me."
God bless you!
