“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!
Ezekiel 14:6 (NIV)
Sovereign.
I’ve heard the word many times before, both in and outside of church circles. I’d first heard the word when referring to the British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II was sovereign over as many as 70 nations during her reign. She was the supreme ruler over those nations.
Within church circles, God is often referred to as Sovereign, or God’s sovereignty. This references the fact that God is the Creator of life. The heavens and the earth were created by Him and for Him. No one is above Him. He rules and reigns over everything.
Supreme Ruler.
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Right now, I am beginning a study on God’s sovereignty.
I’m learning how to study. I mean, I know how to study, but He is teaching me to study in a deeper, more meaningful way. In early December, He said that I needed to “have a relationship with His Word”.
In the early stages of this study, I am looking up all of the verses that include the word “sovereign”. First, I’m using the NIV (New International Version). Once I’m done with that, I’ll cross-reference the verses with other translations, compare Hebrew and Greek, and so on.
That’s the goal.
Until I came across Ezekiel 14:6.
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Back in December, as we approached the new year, I was praying and talking with the Lord. Long story short, God graciously provides me with a word for the year ahead. Generally, it’s just a word for me.
This year, my word is “untethered”. He actually told me that prior to the end of the year. I was wrestling with that word and all that it meant, which is why I continued asking Him about the year ahead.
Either it was New Year’s Eve or Day, I’m not sure which, but I sat in my hotel room (attending a conference), and He said the word, “red”. I wrote it down.
Pondering this a bit, wondering why He said “red”, I then wrote down, “bloodshed”. Later that same week, as I continued to meditate on this, I wrote down, “blood shed”.
Bloodshed
Blood shed.
Ezekiel 14:6
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Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.
Ezekiel 14:1-5 (ESV)
Idolatry.
Merriam-Webster defines it as:
- the worship of a physical object as a god
- immoderate attachment or devotion to something
Brittanica.com defines it as, ” idolatry, in Judaism and Christianity, the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God.”
It’s not a word often used in today’s culture, although there are signs of it everywhere. Including the Church.
Celebrities, influencers, professional athletes, politicians – all want you to follow them. They want your devotion. They want you to attach your life to them. They want you to “buy” what they are selling. They want you to trust them because they are in the spotlight. They are in the public eye, and surely that means success, right?
Follow them and you will be successful too! Align with them. Believe what they believe. Do what they say and it will go well with you too. (sarcasm)
NOT!
Dangerous. These are dangerous times we live in, and not just from a physical standpoint. From a spiritual standpoint, it is fraught with even more danger for the unprepared.
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REPENT!
I wanted to sing some old worship songs tonight, so I went into a room and closed the door behind me. I began to sing, and then it became an intense time of prayer.
REPENT!
REPENT, PASTORS! REPENT, LEADERS! REPENT, PEOPLE OF GOD! REPENT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE TURNED INTO! REPENT FOR THE PATHS THAT YOU HAVE TRAVELED WITHOUT ME! REPENT, FOR I DO NOT RECOGNIZE YOU AS MY BRIDE! REPENT FOR THE IDOLATRY THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTO MY SANCTUARY, BEFORE MY ALTAR. REPENT!
My prayers began one way, and then they went down the road of intercession for the Church. The body of Christ. The bride.
Forgive us, Lord, for what we have made it (Church). Forgive us for pushing you aside. Forgive us for pushing Holy Spirit out of Your worship services. Forgive us, forgive me, Lord, for not putting you first. Forgive us for our lack of reverence for Who You Are. Father, forgive us for turning aside to idols. Forgive us for what we have made it, Lord.
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What does this have to do with red, bloodshed, blood shed? I don’t know. Maybe something. Maybe nothing.
All I know is that I have not had a prayer time like that in a long while. Completely unexpected. Completely unique. Completely His.
What does it mean? I believe the LORD is trying to impress upon His Church and people that idolatry must be dealt with. The old ways of doing things that do not line up with His Word will no longer be accepted. Every apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher must repent! Look at every single aspect of your ministry and determine where idolatry exists. Every person who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must review their lives and see where they have allowed idolatry to dwell.
We must renounce all of our detestable practices. He has been patient. He has been merciful. But He is LORD, holy and righteous, Almighty God. Turn away, turn away, He says. Turn away from our idols. Turn away from our sin and compromise.
REPENT!
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Sunny Cadwallader 
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