Empower! Fill Yourself with the Word

To be empowered for ministry, Ezekiel must be filled with the Word that comes from God. In this blog, let’s see how the exilic prophet began his ministry. For context, read Ezekiel chapters 1-3.

One of the most intriguing, and perhaps one of the most mind-boggling accounts in the Bible is Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 1. Medyo mahirap ma-imagine yung nakita niya. Four living creatures, each with four faces and four wings. The faces were that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle, turning into any of the four different directions. My words are not enough to describe what Ezekiel saw, and I encourage you to read that for yourself for surely it will stir your imaginations as well.

But what we can relate to is his reaction after seeing such a heavenly scene: he fell on his face  (1:28) – I believe in fear, in awe, in worship and adoration of the glory of the Lord.

Kung tayo ang nasa sitwasyon ni Ezekiel, what would be our reaction kaya? Hindi ko siguro kakayanin yun!

The daunting task

Soon after his overwhelming heavenly vision, God revealed his mission for Ezekiel. He is being sent to the rebellious house of Israel. Here’s the catch – he is to speak the Word whether Israel listens or not (2:5).

E paano yun, ang titigas nga ng ulo nila kaya sila na-exile e.

I like this part: God has given Ezekiel a literal heads-up:

“Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.” – Ezekiel 3:8

God is basically telling his prophet, “kung matigas ang ulo nila, patitigasin ko din ang ulo mo.” Wala nang excuse si Ezekiel.

But let’s go back a few verses. In 2:8 it says, “But you, son of man [Ezekiel] … be not rebellious like that rebellious house [Israel]; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” It was a scroll of a book, and we believe it to contain God’s Word, for it says in 3:2-3:

So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.”

In Ezekiel’s case, the scroll he ate contains words of lamentation, mourning and woe (2:10). Hindi masyadong appetizing, if you’re gonna ask me.

Not always appetizing, but nourishing

Kagaya ng maraming bata, hindi ko masyadong type ang ampalaya. Bukod sa unappetizing tignan, ang pait-pait pa! Pero pinipilit akong kumain ng nanay ko, otherwise mauuwi sa paluan ang eksena kung hindi ako kakain. Ang ending, kakainin ko ang gulay kahit pa anong tanggi ko. Little did I know then na para yun sa sariling nutrisyon ko!

The same goes for God’s word. Kahit hindi natin masyadong type ang sinasabi, we need to consume it because it is for our spiritual nourishment.

No matter how difficult or challenging or harsh the Word of the Lord is, it is meant for our spiritual nourishment. And no matter how unappetizing we think the Word is at times, we are to be filled with it to get its full nourishment.

Fill your stomach with it

Ang sabi ni Lord kay Ezekiel, “open your mouth… fill your stomach with it [the scroll/Word].”

Para makuha natin yung full nourishment ng ating pagkain, we need to actually consume it. Hindi pwedeng tinitignan lang, pini-picturan lang, pinag-uusapan lang, ini-imagine lang. We need to put it in our mouth, chew it and digest it!

The same goes with the Word. We need to have our fill! But unlike physical food, there is no such thing as being overfed with the Word of God. So God said, “feed your belly with this scroll and fill your stomach with it!”

Do not expect nourishment when we just nibble and play with our food. Dapat nguyain yung mga promises, instructions, at declarations ni Lord sa atin through His written word hanggang sa tuluyan itong maging kalakasan ng ating pagkatao! Yes, kahit minsan may challenge sa pagbabasa!

As sweet as honey

Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

Ito ang kaibahan ng ampalaya na pinapakain sa atin ng mga nanay natin at ng Word of God: If we consume His Word, it tastes like honey! It gives us delight!

In 1 Samuel 14, after being exhausted from battles, Jonathan ate honey and was strengthened (read the whole account, it’s an interesting story!). The word of God is like honey. Actually, it is even sweeter than honey! (Psalm 19:10, 119:103).

The word of God strengthens us from the inside. It gives us the power to do the work of the ministry. It satisfies us and it is everything we need.

God called Ezekiel to do a daunting ministry. Hindi madali, hindi simple. But he was able to do so because he had his fill of the Word. Kailangan niya yun para harapin ang katigasan ng ulo ng Israel. And we need to be filled with the Word as well to do whatever the Lord asks us to do.

When was the last time you filled yourself with the Word?