DON’T STOP SPEAKING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS!
But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 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 3:7-9
Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” —Ezekiel 3:11
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. —Hebrews 3:7-9
Ezekiel was told to speak to the Israelites whether they would listen or not. If they were not willing to listen, Ezekiel was to be as committed to our Lord’s message to share as they were as committed to not listening. He was not to be afraid of them even though they were rebellious. He was to continue to speak what our Lord had said to them.
People today are warned, by the Holy Spirit, to not harden their hearts against our Lord’s today. And, as followers/disciples of Jesus, we are to be as committed as Ezekiel was to bring the message to people— “whether they listen or fail to listen.” Unfortunately, there are many who are, as Stephen said, “stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it” (Acts 7:51-53). Stephen was committed to sharing God’s Word and did so even when he was killed for doing so.
Why do people, as those who killed Stephen, get “enraged” upon hearing the message if they don’t believe what the person says? If someone tells me something I don’t believe in, I am not going to get enraged about it. Those who get “enraged,” and even kill followers of Jesus, do so because the message of Jesus challenges their ungodly character and beliefs. How sad it is that someone has to kill another person just because they don’t want to hear the message. This never will change on this planet in this age. Brothers and sisters in various parts of our world today give their lives unto death for sharing the message of Jesus. Let us learn from their faithfulness, and the faithfulness of others gone before us, and be faithful with the message of Jesus ourselves. Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. May it be so for the benefit of many others and for Your honor and glory! So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY&list=RDPcmqSfr1ENY&start_radio=1