Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel
The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility in serving God, using the examples of the prophets Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel, as well as Abraham, Job, and Moses.
Clement of Rome emphasizes the humility and faithfulness of biblical figures like Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, Abraham, Job, and Moses. Despite their great honor and righteousness, they all displayed humility before God, acknowledging their weaknesses and unworthiness. These examples serve as a reminder for believers to approach God with humility, recognizing His greatness and our own limitations.
Text
Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding the glory of God, humbly declared, "I am but dust and ashes." Moreover, it is thus written of Job, "Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil."
But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, "No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day." Moses was called faithful in all God's house; and through his instrumentality, God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures.
Yet he, though thus greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush, "Who am I, that You send me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue." And again he said, "I am but as the smoke of a pot."
Sermon Outline
- The Example of the Prophets
- The Honored yet Humble Servants
- The Importance of Humility
- Recognizing our own limitations and weaknesses
- Serving God with humility and obedience
- Moses' humility in the face of God's greatness
Key Quotes
“I am but dust and ashes.” — Clement of Rome
“No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day.” — Clement of Rome
“Who am I, that You send me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- Recognize our own limitations and weaknesses, and serve God with humility and obedience.
- Learn from the examples of the prophets, who were willing to serve and proclaim God's message with humility.
- Apply the lessons of humility to our own lives by being faithful and obedient to God.