The Story 2024
Captive Audience
May 5, 2024
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch
The book of Ezekiel is about Ezekiel, who ministers in Babylon among God’s people after they were deported to Babylon.
The book of Jeremiah is about Jeremiah’s ministry in Jerusalem before, during, and after the invasion.
The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah lamenting over the ruins of Jerusalem and what has happened.
Reflections From Ezekiel in Babylon…
- Sometimes the way God recaptures our attention is through allowing us to become a captive audience.
- Sometimes God steps back and allows us to experience the futility of living life apart from Him.
- When God allows us to be torn down, it’s so that He may be revealed, and we might be transformed.
(The Story page 245, Ezekiel 36:22-23)
“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.’”
(The Story page 245-246, Ezekiel 36:24-36)
“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
“‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
“‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and will do it.’”
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
… God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace … .
(The Story page 237-238, Jeremiah 1:4-9, 18-19)
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words into your mouth.”…”Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Reflections From Jeremiah In Jerusalem …
- We are known.
- We are not our own.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- We are not alone.
- We are called to faithfulness more than success.