Sincerity On Sunday
by Bro. Charlie Heath
08/04/2023
Ezekiel 33:31 - “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”
This verse finds itself at the conclusion of one of the most powerful chapters in all of the Bible. God is speaking with Ezekiel and is telling Ezekiel that regardless of the people’s response to his message, his duty as a prophet is to warn others.
When looking at our key verse with this context in mind, it is clear that God is giving Ezekiel a glimpse into the hearts of the people he had been preaching to all of this time. I imagine that Ezekiel may have prayed and asked the Lord why the people were not repenting at his message.
Maybe he was saying, “Lord, it appears that these people that I have been called want to change and turn back to you, but when I see them in the market it is clear that they could not be further away from you.” To which the Lord may have responded with our key verse, “they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”
Here at Joshua Baptist Church, we are blessed to hear powerful sermons that are based solely on the Scriptures. In a sense, our pastors are the Ezekiels, warning and proclaiming God’s message; we are the people of Israel. I wonder, if God gave our pastors a glimpse into our hearts, what would be revealed?
As we sit in the pew, service after service, would it be said, “They have listened and obeyed,” or would it be said, they are like the people of Israel, “They hear thy words, but they will not do them:”?
The Bible has much to say about hearing and doing. Jesus, Himself spoke on this principle in Matthew 7:24-27. He declared that the foolish man hears and does not, but the wise man hears then he obeys. He puts into action what he has heard from the Bible.
When the Bible is opened, and God is speaking to you, what will be your response? Will you be like the people of Israel who look as though they are sincere, but their hearts are seeking their own will, or will you be like the wise man in Matthew 7 who hears the Word of God and obeys? We need more Christians who are sincere with what they hear on Sunday.
08/04/2023
Ezekiel 33:31 - “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”
This verse finds itself at the conclusion of one of the most powerful chapters in all of the Bible. God is speaking with Ezekiel and is telling Ezekiel that regardless of the people’s response to his message, his duty as a prophet is to warn others.
When looking at our key verse with this context in mind, it is clear that God is giving Ezekiel a glimpse into the hearts of the people he had been preaching to all of this time. I imagine that Ezekiel may have prayed and asked the Lord why the people were not repenting at his message.
Maybe he was saying, “Lord, it appears that these people that I have been called want to change and turn back to you, but when I see them in the market it is clear that they could not be further away from you.” To which the Lord may have responded with our key verse, “they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”
Here at Joshua Baptist Church, we are blessed to hear powerful sermons that are based solely on the Scriptures. In a sense, our pastors are the Ezekiels, warning and proclaiming God’s message; we are the people of Israel. I wonder, if God gave our pastors a glimpse into our hearts, what would be revealed?
As we sit in the pew, service after service, would it be said, “They have listened and obeyed,” or would it be said, they are like the people of Israel, “They hear thy words, but they will not do them:”?
The Bible has much to say about hearing and doing. Jesus, Himself spoke on this principle in Matthew 7:24-27. He declared that the foolish man hears and does not, but the wise man hears then he obeys. He puts into action what he has heard from the Bible.
When the Bible is opened, and God is speaking to you, what will be your response? Will you be like the people of Israel who look as though they are sincere, but their hearts are seeking their own will, or will you be like the wise man in Matthew 7 who hears the Word of God and obeys? We need more Christians who are sincere with what they hear on Sunday.
Posted in Living for God, Scripture, The Church
Posted in Ezekiel 33, speaking, people, Message, sincerity, preaching, hear, obey, doing, Bible
Posted in Ezekiel 33, speaking, people, Message, sincerity, preaching, hear, obey, doing, Bible
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