“…on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.  All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me. “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.”… (Ezekiel 1:26-28;2:1)

One day, while sitting alongside the River Chebar, Ezekiel had a vision of  heaven.

Ezekiel is going to be commissioned by God to speak to His people.
He was a young man, trained to be a priest. And the Lord was going to do incredible things in and through him.
A portion of the Jews were  already in captivity in Babylon for their disobedience to God. Ezekiel would be the one to speak God’s word to them in their captivity.

But before Ezekiel could speak for God, he needed to have a vision of God.

Many of us are eager to speak for God.
But like Ezekiel, we must first have a vision of God.

If we are going to have anything of worth to speak to others, we must first marvel at His glory and worship at his feet.

It’s in His presence –gazing into His glory, his beauty, majesty and power, falling on our faces before Him — that’s the place where we hear His words, see His heart, and begin to know what He is desiring to do among His people.

If we are caught up in the message, we will lack power, wisdom, focus, effectiveness. If we are caught up in Him — we will never lack for words.

After Ezekiel falls on his face — He stands on his feet.

The Lord was about to speak, and commission Ezekiel to be his prophet.

Now it was time to stand.

When the Lord is present — we must fall on our faces before Him, worshipping Him. But when He desires to speak to us, we must stand.

Standing speaks of two things:
1) Readiness and
2) Resolve

If we are to be obedient to the Lord’s voice — we must be first in a position of readiness.

Like a soldier — always ready to go into battle, we must be standing firm against our enemy, standing firm in our faith – or else we will not be in a position where we will be able to do the things the Lord is calling us to do. (I Cor 16:13; Gal 5:1; Eph 6:11).

If you are entangled in sin, or spiritually dull from laziness — you will not be in a position where you can obey the Lord’s voice when He speaks.

Standing also speaks of resolve.

We must have both readiness and resolve when the Lord speaks. Being ready to obey — but also resolved to do it when the opportunity comes.

When Jesus healed the paralytic — His words enabled the man to walk, but He told the man to “stand up”. (John 5:8)
We can hear God’s word –but we must be ready to stand up and walk when He speaks.

Those who are captured by the beauty and majesty of God, worshipping Him continually, will hear His voice.
But those who are standing when He speaks will be the ones who will be able to do what He says.

• Are you tangled up in sin? Confess it, repent and run the race. (Heb 12:1)
• Are you paralyzed by your own laziness? Exercise yourself for godliness. (I Tim 4:7)

Let your life be marked by worship, readiness, and resolve.