Ezekiel 33:12-16 –  “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. ¹³ Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. ¹⁴ Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.”

Let me say at the outset that I do not consider religion anathema, but the modern understanding and demonstration frequently is.  However, religion without righteousness is a shell, not a life.  

I urge you to remember that you are the apple of God’s eye, and He is watching over you, looking for an opportunity to bless you. Watch for it.   The door is open!

As I prayed, read, and reasoned in the Word, the Holy Spirit challenged and warned me sternly.  We are told that silence is golden.  However, sometimes silence is complicity and, in a measure, partnering with evil. May that never be our condition.

Ezekiel 33 and 34 are incredibly powerful and needed in today’s world and church.   History is filled with examples of when God’s people sat silent while evil prevailed, allowing many to perish. God does not take that lightly.

Let me briefly walk through what I heard in my inner man. The Lord drew me to the reality of Responsibility.   The watchmen are commanded to sound the alarm whenever and wherever they see danger.   Dangers can arise from many sources and endanger lives. It can be natural or spiritual.  God will hold us accountable if we don’t sound the alarm and point to the truth. (Ezekiel 33:6)

In Ezekiel 33:11, we see the unveiling of God’s heart.   God takes no pleasure in anyone’s death, even the wicked.   False Hope arises when we trust our religiousness.   It is not being religious that pleases God but being righteous (Ezekiel 33:13).   God desires true repentance (vv.14-16).

In Ezekiel 33:18-19 we are shown the truth of religion vs. righteousness. God is moved by repentance, and as we obey, He deposits His righteousness in us.

Ezekiel 34 addresses the silent church and God’s view of silence in the face of danger and trusting flesh pursuing greed and pleasure.  The sleeping church runs from controversy and thinks that by not addressing the dangers of public violations of God’s Word and precepts, it is safe. Wrong!

In Ezekiel 34:2, God addresses pastors who are in it for themselves and are not true shepherds. In verse 4, we see the exposure, danger, damage, and failure of that approach. We also see God’s attitude, and the passage reconfirms our purpose.

Ezekiel 34:11, 16 informs us of God’s Last Days move.  God is about to dethrone the self-serving who pastors the flock themselves.  Ezekiel 34:18 exposes hearts focused on name, fame, and fortune.   Ezekiel 34:19 identifies the needed ministry.   Verses 25-26 reveal what God is about to do.

Those who pursue God with fully surrendered hearts have this promise. “I will cut a Covenant of Peace with them and cause harmful beasts (natural & spiritual) to cease from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.”   

Regarding showers of blessing, I sense a two-fold message.  The shower of God will be showers of blessing, and those upon whom He pours His blessing will become blessings.

God is drawing His faithful into action. No more silence! We have the Word, the Call, the Authority, and the Power, so it is time to use it and begin enforcing the Victory of Calvary.

If we are silent, souls are destroyed. If we warn of danger, lives are spared.   God’s blessings enable us to be blessings. If we horde the blessings, we will become spiritual paupers in the palace. Our genuine love for Jesus is demonstrated in our love for people and His Word.

What is our love quotient?

Today is a day of victory!