It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing
John 6:63
The Prophet Ezekiel is a good example for us to study and consider. Yahveh (the LORD) commanded Ezekiel to speak His very words to the children of Israel—“whether they listen or not” was not to be his concern. (Ezekiel 2:5) The Almighty says, “I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” (Ezekiel 3:9) Precious readers, you cannot be afraid of others’ reactions. Self-consciousness is a robber and the opposite of being Yahshua (Jesus) conscious. If we are thinking about ourselves rather than allowing our Savior to have His way, by being conscious of His heart, purpose, and His divine appointment with whoever He puts us with, our self-consciousness will be the robber of the blessing of Yahshua (Jesus) being lifted up to draw others to Himself.
Yahveh spoke to Ezekiel, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people … warning [them] from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3:10-11,17-19)
Beloved, the prophet Ezekiel was called to be an ambassador for Yahveh to speak and warn the house of Israel that they might be saved. We have been called with a similar ambassadorship. Listen to Apostle Paul’s words defining who we are through faith in the Savior, “Therefore if anyone is in Messiah (Christ), he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Messiah reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
This beseeching is pouring our lives out as a drink offering not holding anything back from the Spirit crying out in love for that person’s soul. His wisdom will give us the right words, the fish bait so to speak, to speak to them. All of these abilities to win souls are a gift that flows as a river of life to those who have surrendered their lives, dying to their flesh. They hear the voice of Yahveh (the LORD), saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then [they say], "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8) I long to do You will, it is the desire of my heart!
These lips along with our bodies are temples that have been redeemed to house the Presence of the Holy One, by His Spirit deposited in us. We are to be the throne room for His holiness and the instrument through which He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12) Those works are ultimately to glorify the Father in word and deed. By the power of the very Spirit of Yahshua (Jesus) in us we are to be fishers of men, feeders of sheep, seekers who save the lost, and fulfill the great commission. (Matthew 28:16-20)
Our lips are a very vital part of our redeemed temples, they need to be cleansed and purified and given to Yahveh (the LORD) to be used as instruments. Through them He will bring forth His words that have the power to save everyone He puts in our path. If we get out of the way, die to ourselves, get rid of self-consciousness, the fear of man, fear of a reputation, and fear of rejection by allowing the Spirit in us, which is love, righteousness, and joy to have His way. This is the Kingdom of Yahveh within, and this is how others will know they have come into contact with the Yahshua (Jesus) and His Kingdom.
We have very little daylight left by which to work, and we are going to be held accountable for other people’s blood. (Ezekiel 3:18, Mark 16:15, 1Corinthians 9:16) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Yahshua (Jesus) made it very clear, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36) Idle words are words that do not come from the Spirit in us but originate from our flesh. They are an impediment blocking the flow of the words of love, truth, and Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) life, that have the power to save men’s souls.
When we stand before the Great Lawgiver and Judge, giving an account of what we have done, we will be shown many things that will cause great sorrow and grief. We will see the many ways we had fallen short, including how we didn’t seize opportunities to lay down our lives, and many souls ended up never hearing the love and truth of Yahshua (Jesus) from His Spirit. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) These lost souls died and went to eternal darkness where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42) Most likely there will be great screams of all those crying out to the people they knew, “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME? THEY WILL BE IN ANGUISH ETERNALLY WAILING, “WHY DID I PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE? WHY DID YOU NOT HAVE COURAGE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO ME?” Many will hear those screams—probably more than not. Will you join Yahshua (Jesus) in His sufferings and lay down your life for the lost?
We have got to reach the point in our walk, sooner than later, that we “do not love [our] life so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11) The blessing of a child of Yahveh is to choose death to self instead of eternal death so that others can live with them in the Kingdom of our holy and righteous King. The great blessing of death being at work in us moment by moment is the choice we have to make. We are to choose every moment, who are the people going to see? Who are they going to hear from? Whose words are going to come forth Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) or ours?
Will you make a conscious choice not to bring them idle chatter? "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63) Are you going to let Yahshua (Jesus), through you, bring forth His words that are spirit and life? These are decisions we must vigilantly and continually be aware of and choose wisely: life to others—death to our flesh, or our lives—denying others the life of Yahshua (Jesus) because we want to be the one seen and heard.
Will you lay down your life at any cost so that others can hear and be drawn to Yahshua (Jesus)? Or will you go through a ritual and a motion, giving them a tract and hoping for the best, or giving them a few words and not giving them the reality of the life and love of the Savior? His life and love will cry out beseeching them to repent, to come out of the darkness, out of deception, and the judgments that are coming on all sin and sinners. Will you speak the good news of His gospel so they can be freed from the eternal judgment and damnation by His atoning blood covering and removing their sins, so they can be welcomed as His children, family, and ultimately His holy Bride in His kingdom forever?
The Holy Spirit warns, “Do not be deceived, Yahveh (God) is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
Prayer:
Yahveh (LORD), I am convicted that there have been more times than I even know, that I have been so self consumed and preoccupied with my own life that the thought of other people’s salvation was very far from my thoughts and desires. I have sinned in being self-centered, indulgent, and so heartless and insensitive to Your heart that pours out unceasing love and anguish as You see and hear the cries of all those who are waiting to find their Savior. Father, please wash me with Your blood, fill me with Your Spirit, give me Your heart for the lost that I might gather with You to seek and save the lost. I desire to pour out my life on Your altar as a drink offering so that others can live because You will be magnified in my crucified selfless life.
Father in heaven, I want to be an ambassador, who is beseeching and imploring others on behalf of Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) atoning sacrificial blood, to be reconciled to You. I have been negligent. I have lived an earthly selfish existence and have neglected the call to be one of Your passionate sold-out ambassadors, willing to lay down my life that others might know You. I pray to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of [other’s] faith, and to rejoice and share my joy with others so they can live. I ask for a fresh anointing to pour out upon my surrendered heart to do the work of a fisher of men and women as I seek Your heart and the souls You lead me to. I thank You for the words You will give me that will draw them with Your cords of lovingkindness into Your kingdom by Your Spirit in and through me. In Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) precious name I pray, Amen.
