The Four Faces Of A Spiritual Man

The Four Faces of A Spiritual Man / Ezekiel 1:1-10 NIV

INTRO: I want to you for a subject this morning - “The Four Faces of a Spiritual Man”.

In doing so, I want to turn your attention to a portion of the Scriptures that were term as Apocolyptic Literature – It is God Almighty speaking of the future from the life and spiritual experience of the speaker. In this case, we are hearing prophetically from the Prophet Ezekiel.

As you turn to this OT prophet, let me draw your attention to the fact that this section of verses is under the heading “The Living Creatures and the Glory of the Lord”. The glory of the Lord has always represented the epitome of spirituality. ** HOLD YOUR PLACE IN EZEKIEL 1 right now and let me say a couple of things about the glory of the Lord…..MARK YOUR PLACE in Ezekiel 1.

The glory of the Lord demands a response! Look with me at II Chronicles 7:1-3.

1) It was the glory of the Lord that filled the house when Sollomon dedicated the temple. The Book of II Chronicles tells us that when the temple of God was dedicated, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” It goes on to tell us that this glorious presence of God was so powerful that the “priests could not enter the temple”. In addition to that, the glory of the Lord caused the Israelites to “kneel with their faces to the ground worshipping and giving thanks unto the Lord”.

The glory of the Lord demands a spiritual response!

It was the glory of the Lord again in the NT, when John the Apostle was exiled to the rocky island of Patmos and shown a vision of the glorified Christ. Look with me at Revelation 1:14-17—

2) Verse 14 has the head and the hair of the Lord white like wool and his eyes blazing like fire. Verse 15 states that his feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. Verse 16 pictures Him with the church in his hand and the Word of God coming out from his mouth. And this glory of the Lord results in Verse 17….John says, “I fell at his feet as though dead.”

The glory of the Lord demands a spiritual response. You and I must respond to the glory of the Lord. Spiritual encounters demand a response.

Let’s go back to Ezekiel 1:1-10 --

1:1

In the 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.

1:2

On the fifth of the month--it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin--

1:3

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 upon him.

1:4

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,

1:5

and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man,

1:6

but each of them had four faces and four wings.

1:7

Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.

1:8

Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings,

1:9

and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

1:10

Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, 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.

I want to share with you what the life a spiritual man will be like. This prophet has unfolded for us the characteristics of the glory of the Lord in our lives. He has proclaimed for us what our “face” should look like if you will.

Look again at verse 10 - 1:10

Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, 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.

Ezekiel’s vision has some striking imagery in it. It’s enough to make anyone take notice. But there is a message in this picture of a being with four faces.