I Set My Face Like Flint

The commission of Ezekiel wow no easy task or any true prophet of the Lord.

A forehead hard as a stone gives us a little insight about what Ezekiel had to endure amongst the children of Israel.

Burdens, heavy burdens we may ask, really burdens in cushy western society huh? Jesus Christ? Church? Salvation and burdens? Most of us were taught that we say a salvation prayer and join a local church and drag our feet every Sunday and presto, we are true followers of Jesus Christ. This poison that is idea and mockery has anything to do with Jesus Christ we act as though this sad tale is the end all and be all of being a follower of Jesus Christ but wow how we are so wrong.

Our next question may be why me? That is the flesh btw? It is counter-cultural for most of us and what our society teaches us and even worse what is being taught in the house of the LORD God of Israel. This stench infection of Hollywood Christianity of this hyper-grace movement indoctrination leading our Father's children into the pits of hell. Defiling the Word and our Father's and deceiving the mass of His precious children.

For one to even hear "burdens" without becoming offended, is award-worthy in the church these days. But I assure you, yes indeed a large majority of us were created to be as strong as the Ox, not for selfish gain but to further the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.

Personally, as a human being on this earth at this moment, I have a natural propensity to gravitate towards what is going to give me the best result with the least work. We are all hardwired this way, and to be honest, it is not even our fault. We have been born bred into slavery dresses in what we perceive as an illusion of freedom. It is all a lie pretty much most of what we were taught our whole lives if it was not breathed by the Holy Spirit.

We all have been indoctrinated in our minds to some degree in some sense before we knew His name; by cultural, society, church, abuse, education factions, peers, and the list goes on. Until by the work of the Holy Spirit we are matured in the grace of Jesus Christ and digest solid food. We come to realize that the Kingdom of Heaven is governed with principles similar to agriculture, not Mr.Noodles. No agriculture grows quick and easy, it needs tending to be stewarded. The agriculture that is growing quickly to industrialize the farming industry that stuff is not really good. It gets worse the more it is manufactured.

It is pretty messed up as humans we actually try to bend the agriculture industry to fatten wallets and did not think this scheme would come with any serious consequences? We are constantly trying to alter the brilliant perfect ways of our Heavenly Father to our own agendas and we pay the hefty price. It is like our society is built to constantly hurt ourselves but we are ok with it as long as we have some extra money in the bank, and our diet cokes.

The Lord's way is always the best way He is the creator. As soon as we start to navigate away from this truth, that is when trouble starts to manifest for us all. The more alarming thing is that we all actually know this, we just don't care we are willing to make the foolish trade. We trade Jesus Christ for what? Anyways another topic.

Don't GMO your walk with Jesus Christ. You may get a yield of unnaturally oversized fruit, but it has no real nutrition to the soul. To those who have an ear. You need real food.

Carrying burdens doesn't exactly sound attractive or glamorous. The closer I move towards Jesus Christ I supernaturally by the Holy Spirit become more like Him, which means He entrusts me with more of His beautiful heart. What an honor and the truth is Jesus is a lover of our souls. Jesus went where no one else would go because the love of the Father compelled Him to. He did not advertise He just went out and did what He was born to do.

When the call comes, when it is our bidding to set our face like flint will we answer? Will we deliver the Thus says the Lord messages God has asked us to. The woes, the hard things His children do not want to hear? The scrolls of warning to watch over His precious children. To guide His precious sheep in the right direction and to cross the Jordan, and not be caught stuck in the murky waters around us.

I know we want to sit in buildings and have coffee and tea together, but this is why the laborers are few. We refuse to acknowledge and accept the truth of what is actually going on around us. Everything is fine the House of the Lord is falling apart just have another chocolate chip cookie?

To bear burdens? Not flesh burdens but spiritual burdens. Have you ever felt the discomfort in carrying something that is very heavy? and the good Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit has given us the ability to do so? When we are sharing in the hurt of Gods heart. We feel His pain in our spirit is grieved deeply.

It hurts, and sometimes it is overwhelming when your heart is broken just like Jesus. I am not going to sugar coat anything and tell you it feels great all the time, to do every assignment the Father has laid out before me.

At times I wish I did those extra Spirit man push-ups. Other times it doesn't go my way, sometimes what I think is supposed to happen doesn't, but what the Father knew what happen did. As humans, we are programmed to assume that if we have an assignment that a result is pending right away and we want to see, often time not the case. It could be the planting.

The human condition of the flesh and heart is easily discouraged. But thank you we have you Holy Spirit.

Carrying spiritual burdens is first of all only possible with the grace of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It has to be authorized by Jesus Christ himself, not your pastor, or else you may be carrying a yoke of the enemy. You will know if you have true intimacy with the Lord it is a deep stirring, one that never leaves until it is completed.

To bear burdens for the Kingdom. Lord bless and strengthen every single one of us who has been asked to do this for Your Glory Father, for the honor of bearing the marks of Your great name. Let us walk in Holy Spirit good courage, to step into and up to our positions for the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us all remember if you said we are able it is because you have already made a way. You have equipped us with your Holy Spirit.

I went through an intense season of being introduced to this in a larger measure than I ever have before. I was pushed and stretched in ways I never knew even possible for me, these were very intense moments of my life. I assure you though I know now how much my flesh is a liar. Things I thought were impossible for me and others became possible through you Jesus. That being said I still know that I will never stop being exposed to this beautiful gift from Jesus and assigned to it. Because to share in His sufferings is what I have given my life to be His.

Being exposed into a higher dimension of burdens to the ropes ever so gently too. To the Generals out there this isn't whining. I know all over the world our brothers and sisters carry huge burdens in ways most of us do not even appreciate. Whose charge is it to look to the starving children's well being? There are so many honorable servants who have laid down their lives to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and truly saves lives.

My season and your glance into Holy Spirit training 101. Holy Spirit is the best teacher. Usually, we have no clue we are being prepped for something until the Holy Spirit connects the dots for us later. I used to like to complicate things and the language of the Holy Spirit is very simple. Pray for me. I am thankful for those moments of dot connecting. I Praise you, Jesus, I bless you for teaching me Holy Spirit and it absorbing. Only you know how to truly teach any of us.

Bearing burdens. We know Jesus was the greatest burden bearer. He carried the weight of all of our sins. I cannot even imagine that. I just can't. I cannot even relate to enduring that much pain and not for yourself but for someone else. A bunch of evil jerks. What love. He was brutally murdered for us? often I think we smooth over the depth of His sufferings we act like it is some movie and we do not really connect to the realness of the fact that this was someone's real-life​ experience and suffering. The vile evil things human beings did to Him is just appalling and even worse than others stood there and engaged another human being tortured is too much.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it should be of no surprise to me that I will be asked to suffer for the cross of Jesus Christ. For the Kingdom of Heaven to be advanced, to pave the way for the next generation, to leave a legacy and torch to our youth. The real Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached. If Jesus suffered why would I think I am exempt from that? It is like signing up for the military with no intention of going to war with the rest of your comrades.

In the end the closer we get to our expected ends I realize nothing is about us at all. It is all about Jesus. No slave is above His master.

We need a Holy Spirit forehead and to set it like flint to be bold to declare the Lords will. Especially in the house of the Lord, and amongst religious people. We are to unapologetically go forth, and snatch people from the fire at whatever means necessary. As Ezekiel was commanded to speak regardless of audience approval or how his messages were received. The messages were to go forth. NO ONE likes a real prophet, people hate them because they tell the truth, as, and convict of sin.

In the church,​ most people are trying to control the dialog of the LORD to suit their own sinful lusts of their flesh. We all have some nerve and a true lack of the FEAR of the LORD.

We don't internalize this, if they do not listen to us it is because they are not listening to the LORD of Hosts, and that is between them and the Lord after we deliver. Our allegiance and duty is to Jesus Christ to deliver His words. With no apology. Bold as a lion. The Lord chastens those He loves.

Ezekiel's audiences were not people who purchased tickets to hear him and his swelling words. He walked amongst a massive brood of vipers in the presence of those who did not want to hear the truth. Like a true minister of Lord Ezekiel obeyed.

"I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people."

Ezekiel 3:9

The Lord confronted something in me, refining, exposing and awakening a part of myself. My understanding of what love really is. I don't think we realize sometimes, we are the light of the world and others only opportunity to hear about Jesus So many people will not walk into your building or conference. We are commissioned to go to those people. The ones no one wants to associate with. The ones oppressed and full of shame, guilt, bitterness, pain, anguish, destitution, poverty, and are absent from love. No one should never feel that there is no hope and love for them. But the sad truth is many do, this breaks the Lords heart. It should break our hearts too.

I had a situation in my life where the Lord asked me to be faithful and burden bear for another very difficult person. It was intense.

Looking back, I cannot stress the importance of asking and leaning on the Holy Spirit to identify what is happening, not just for the other person(s) also with yourself. Oh yes, and to ask for a Holy Spirit strategy. In all the lifting you can forget to process yourself spiritually, and start to dip into trying to push with your flesh.

Looking back I wish I asked some different questions Holy Spirit! I am thankful you work out all things for the good of those who love you.

If this is you and you are destined to bear burdens, a rock. Ask questions. The answer to everything is prayer, we all know that too we just become overfamiliar with the Kingdom and the Jesus.

Fight the good fight of faith smart.

The best I can do to describe it is in terms of an ox or a rock that endures the crashing of the ocean tides. Refuse to be shaken or moved, no carnal reactions or responses, you're a vessel of the Holy Spirit for the Lord to pour out His truth and lift, to stand for His righteousness for His Glory.

No matter what comes against you do not sit down and do not shut up. Even if everyone around you thinks you're crazy. Let them and press forward trusting in the Father's will knowing He is right with you. All you need is Jesus.

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Isaiah 50:7

I learned some tough grit, got some calluses, bruises, cuts. I also learned to partner deeper with the Holy Spirit. Giving up is not an option even if I cannot move forward, I am resolved to never be pushed back. That is the power of the Holy Spirit. I will stand on breaking loose ground. I will guard my position.

It is harder to hold a victory than obtain it. The real fight is holding your victories, not living in your highlight reel. Real champions who keep their position are true champions. As we read the Word we see this played out time and time again.

I may get hit in the head a lot, but no matter what hits me in the head the Lord Jesus Christ will empower me to stand firm. By the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, I can and am able to stand.

Warning: If the devil can throw a stone at the back of your head instead of your face, he will. The devil does not fight fair because he cannot win. He has to sneak around and look for doors and portals.

Plowing through blood, sweat, and a million tears, exhaustion became my normal in this season. I spent relentless hours warring in prayer, crying until my bones hurt.

The Lord is so faithful and kept encouraging me to just STAND.

If this is you please don't give up STAND. Don't stop grid your lions. Do not release until the LORD says release.

To my fellow big-hearted burden bearers may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and strengthen you.

May the peace of God be with you.

May we be found faithful to stand until the end. Continue the good fight of faith until your end. I bless you family and share a piece of me with you.

Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus,

Lord, I thank you for being the great lover of my soul. I thank you for your mercies they are new each and every day. I am nothing without you Father. I pray for your sons and daughters for those who you have called to carry your precious burdens may we always remember that you're right with us. Holy Spirit I pray that you open our eyes to see things the way you do. That your burdens Lord are a blessing and the center of your beautiful heart. You desire to make each and every one of us holy, continue to work our hearts out. Jesus help us to stay in your love. I pray Father that you will give us the grace to stand when everything else is falling. Jesus, our world needs your love, we need more and more of your love you know that better than us. Lord, I pray that you provoke our hearts to love deeper, to love you more. Give us eyes to see. Father, I pray that we would have your eyes to see others and ourselves as you do. Help us to continue to encourage each other. Give us a greater measure of discernment and loins steadfast as an ox as a stone. I pray Father for hearts and souls to seek you and to pray for each other. Show us how to move as you do, dance with us Jesus through this life. May we always be thankful, put a new song on our hearts to worship you, Jesus. I thank you and I love you precious Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit.

I pray all these things in the Holy name of Jesus Christ

Your love endures forever

I will exalt your name my God, my King

Amen & Amen

~A Woman called to bear burdens feeling the sweat and blood