The message was brought by Brother Jimmy Taylor.
Ezekiel 1:4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. 11Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
This had to be one of the greatest sights ever seen. These four creatures were seen by Ezekiel. He saw the brightness of God. The creatures had the likeness of man. Jesus came in likeness of man to know everything about us, to feel our pain and what we face in life. They had intelligence with four faces, four wings, and feet. They had the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle.
The lion. A lion is bold. It is patient to get its prey. It will lie in wait for a weak or young animal. God wants us to be patient and bold. We need to stand for what is right. The Word of God has been watered down. Some say that hell isn’t real and that you can live anyway you want and still go to heaven. Churches that teach such are full of people, people who don’t know the truth. Stephen was bold. He stood for what was right and wasn’t liked for it. Sometimes when we stand for the right, our neighbors might not like it. Our family and friends might not like it. Co-workers might not like it. The truth is there is a hell to shun. Sin will keep you out of heaven. Stephen told it like it was. They resisted Jesus whom they crucified just as their fathers had done. The people were cut to the heart. They gnashed on him with their teeth. He was full of the Holy Ghost. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He stood up for Stephen. We need people who will stand for God no matter what. If you know something is wrong, speak up. Be bold. The people stoned Stephen as he called on God. He said lay not this sin to their charge. He fell asleep, safe in the Lord.
Peter and John saw a man begging alms at the temple and healed him. The people were grieved. People saw Jesus perform miracle after miracle and still didn’t accept him. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they marveled. They knew they had been with Jesus. We should be bold as a lion. Take the Word to people in love. People are looking for someone who will stand up. Let God use you.
The ox. God is looking for laborers. Too much is put on the pastor. He needs others to help carry the burden. An ox goes steady all day long. We need steady people who will work for the Lord. The Bible says there is profit in labor for the Lord. People are going to hell because there are no laborers in the field. This is the end time. If there was ever a need to get out and work for the Lord, it is now. There is so much going on in the lives of people now days that they don’t have the time to work for God. We need to pray for one another and work for the Lord. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the word of the Lord. God will bless our labor. There is a job to be done. Be an ox.
The eagle. The eagle is a great bird. It can soar toward the sun and in an instant see the prey with his eyes and soar straight down and get it. We need the eyes of the eagle to see the weak, see those that are going astray and help them. With our eyes on the SON we can see what’s going on. We can see the needs if we focus our eyes.
The face of a man. We need men (and women) in the church. We were made in the image of God, in his likeness. He needs someone willing to stand up. Be who you are in church and out.
Ezekiel said they went everyone straight forward. We need to go forward and follow God’s direction. Don’t put God behind you or beside you. Put him in front and move forward. Paul said Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Don’t look back at yesterday. Keep your eyes on God. Faults and failures may happen, but keep pressing on.
The four faces: lion, ox, eagle, and man. They all followed after God. Let’s do the same. Be bold. Be a laborer. Be watchful. Be a man or woman of God.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 