Awake! Awake! By Brother Duke Hansen

         We will be going to the book of Ezekiel this morning. Turn to the 15th chapter please. Before we begin I want to say that Pastors, preachers, and prophets are watchmen or shepherds over their flock. There are examples in both the old and New Testament. The end time began when Jesus was on earth as we moved into the dispensation of grace. Let us start reading from verse 1 of Ezekiel 15;

        15 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

        2 Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

        Our world is currently in a time of pestilence and disease, The vine tree which the Lord was speaking of in verse 2 is Israel. In these extraordinary times we are in, man will apply his knowledge and wisdom to err on the side of caution. Another term is to be overly conservative. In the 11th hour which we are in, only God knows how far along the hour is. We certainly don't know, but, it is important to be aware. When the world falls into distress and worry, many run to the nearest church house for comfort and reassurance that they are going to be ok. You need to understand that what we are in isn't a church. It is a building just like the many denominations here in the area have varied priced buildings. The church is the person next to you. The real work is going out in the streets and witnessing. When I speak of witnessing it isn't just standing on a street corner with a bull horn and sign. Witnessing is being Christ like in your life around others. Being prayed up and knowledgeable of scripture and its meaning. If you want to be like man in times of crisis and err on the side of caution, closing yourself into this building and pray you wait it out, you're destined to fail. Be wise. Be a witness. God is still the head of the church. 

        In verse 3 of Ezekiel chapter 15 it reads;

        3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

        4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

        5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

        6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

        7 And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

        8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord God.

        In God's prophecy against Israel spoken by Ezekiel for their various sins, the same warning is for our world, and especially our country today. In the last days. God is going to pour out his wrath upon man and his land. In chapter 16 Ezekiel is listing the various sins and abominations committed by Jerusalem. Here in verse 16 it reads;

        16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and decked thy high places with divers colors, and played the harlot thereupon, the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

        God adorns the church much like Israel, with fine linens and jewelry. It has entertained worldly spirits in the last days, where there is no longer a distinct separation between a church service and the world. The church has chased after wealth, status, and power, forgoing the commandments God put forth for it to follow without fail. 

        30 How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

        The church has been so quick to see what is around it, paper tigers, fleeting causes, victimhood, and nonsense to get worked up and outraged about in the world, but it cannot see what worldly spirits that have been permitted in the sanctuary every Sunday for the sake of entertainment. If your church is more about quarterly business plans, money, marketing, and mirroring the current hot nightclub to add atmosphere for the "praise band" rather than preaching the truth, street witnessing, reaching out to the poor and downtrodden, Wake Up! Get Out! 

        In the 18th chapter of Ezekiel verses 2-4 it speaks of a proverb concerning Israel. The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge. God wants us to see what we are sacrificing and giving up in obedience to him, instead of merely going through the motions and pretend that we are one of his sons or daughters. In verse 30 of Ezekiel 18 it says I will judge you O house of Israel. Make you a new heart and new spirit in verse 31. Chapter 19 is judgment of both Babylon and Israel. 

        If you go and read the book of Exodus when Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness, his prayers and intercession saved them from death. The sabbath was at one time a beloved covenant between God and man, that man begrudging recognizes now every once in a while. Man has more faith and devotion to sports on Sunday than giving God praise. 

        In 1 Peter chapter 4:17-19 Judgement begins at the house of God. Righteous are scarcely saved. Read and study this book.

        We hear God in the American church, we just don't like listening to him. God is calling and has been calling the church to repent today before he turns away. The church has wasted more time, effort and money in chasing different idols, theologies, apostate gospels rather than heeding God's call to repentance. We need to get serious about our own temple, our own life and whether it lines up with his word than showing out and acting a fool in public because we feel the need to tell everyone our opinion and why we are right. 

        These is some hard truths I admit. No one wants their feet stepped on or called to the front. You need to understand this correction is from a place of love. This chastisement is for you to correct your failings and get back on course. 

        2 Chronicles 7: 14-15 reads; if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.  The church needs repentance today at this very hour and not let it go. It needs to be completely focused on Jesus and his commission and not on the world and whether it's going to like it. You need to have a repentant and dedicated life to Jesus daily.