When anger and bitterness sabotage sharing the Gospel of Christ

Ezekiel 3:12-15

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“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!” Ezekiel 3:12

When a person comes to God through Jesus Christ and receives the Holy Spriit, there is a thunderous voice of praise, “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!” That is a time when we receive the commission to spread the testimony of Jesus Christ. “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

“I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise.” Ezekiel 3:13 

Ezekiel also heard something else, and this thunderous noise comes from vision he saw in Ezekiel chapter one that relates to the space shuttle, space station, and the space satellite system. This vision relates to the entity that has power over physiology and gives people what to feel, think, say, and do.

“So the spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.” Ezekiel 3:14 

Ezekiel was lifted up in the Spirit with praise to God, but at the same time he was filled with anger and bitterness associated with the vision seen in Ezekiel 1. Through it all, the hand of the Lord was on Ezekiel.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to be lifted up in Jesus Christ for the praise of God. We want to be a witness for Him in our spirit and in spreading His Gospel. At the same time, the entity with power over physiology wants to fill us with anger and bitterness to sabotage the ability to spread the Good News. Even so, the hand of the Lord’s Holiness will be on us in a strong way.

“Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.’ Ezekiel 3:15 

Ezekiel is filled with anger and bitterness but at the same time has the commission to share the word of God to the captives of the Israelites. What does he do? Because the hand of God was on him in a strong way, he sat among them for seven days, not speaking a word. He was able to refrain from speaking a word or doing anything in the spirit of bitterness or anger. He sat in astonishment without saying a word or doing anything.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a commission to spread His Gospel to the captives of sin. We may have many different feelings that cause us to lash out in anger and bitterness at those who incite debate, conflict, and friction when the Gospel of Christ is spoken. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we walk in Holiness in what we say and do. The best we can do when we are among those who detest Jesus Christ is to keep our mouth closed and refrain from doing anything. We may find we are quieter and reserved more than we are talkative and interactive. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1