Sunday, February 25, 2018

EZEKIEL BREAD

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 4-6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Bread is being cooked over a fire in Nazareth. The only recipe in the Bible is in today’s reading. Ezekiel bread can be purchased at many health food stores across the country such as “Goodness Me” in Ontario, Canada. Of course one can bake their own fresh bread with this recipe.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Ezekiel 4:9

Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it.

 

Baking bread is the third of four visual object lessons Ezekiel was to preform in order to increase the impact of his message. Getting people to pay attention is more than half the battle in successfully communicating. Ezekiel was making sure that people who would hear him or read his words would know that the coming total destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple of God did not take God by surprise and that God’s purpose to bring His people to repentance would become a fact in history. Following the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people would never again fall into such evil practises which they had committed during the times of the Judges and the Kings. They learned very hard lessons! How would it be known that they had repented? Ezekiel 6:9 states that “They shall loath themselves for the evils which they have committed.” True repentance produces a loathing for sin!

Three times Nebuchadnezzar took captives to Babylon from Jerusalem. Daniel came to Babylon in the first wave, Ezekiel came eight years later. Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem during this time, and finally the prophecies of both Jeremiah and Ezekiel were fulfilled 11 years after Ezekiel was taken to Babylon. By the time of Jerusalem’s destruction, Daniel had already been in Babylon for 19 years and was well established as a leader in that empire. Jeremiah was taken by force to Egypt by some of the leaders of Judah who survived the Babylonian siege.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, grant me daily the grace to repent! May I have a constant sense of true repentance, so that I will loath my sin and cry out strongly to You in my repentance and pray for repentance to take place in people’s hearts everywhere. Like Daniel and others in Babylon, I get Ezekiel’s message, and I pray that You will enable me to live a holy life before You and before people. I ask this in the Name of the only One who always lived a holy life, Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

It was at least 25 years ago that we actually baked Ezekiel bread live on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. Rev. Val Dodd, who had at one time been the executive chef for the Holiday Inns in Toronto, had joined our staff team, and we took a page from Ezekiel’s book. Television is, of course, a visual medium of communications. We’ve never been as radical as Ezekiel in such graphic visuals to support his message (like laying on one side and then the other for many days). I think such a visual would have increased the number of people watching. In fact, the entire country would have been aware of the show. I’m not recommending this to the current leaders in Crossroads Christian Communications Inc., but I do recommend powerful visual aids wherever possible. The more people watching means that the seed of God’s Word will fall into more good soil and will produce good fruit in more precious lives. One rather conservative pastor who pastored a church nearby said in reference to the Crossroads telecast and my somewhat radical approach to communications, “We should not try to be entertaining, we should just preach the Word!” True, but if we don’t get the attention of those who would not otherwise watch, how will they hear the “Word!” I would venture to say that Ezekiel was most entertaining. His ratings were really high, probably 100% of the people along the river Chebar watched him and got the message!

Yours for communicating in such a way that many more people “Get the Message!”,

David

16 thoughts on “Sunday, February 25, 2018

  1. Such graphic scripture, message, prayer and accompanying photo, this morning. There is always so much more behind God’s instructions to his prophets. We shall know that you are Lord, indeed! Ezekiel bread is delicious. Today’s scripture has been a great reminder to go back to eating this bread, daily. It is sold in many grocery stores, now. Here is a recipe:

    Ezekiel Bread Recipe (Ezekiel 4:9)

    INGREDIENTS
    • 8 cups wheat flour
    • 4 cups barley flour
    • 2 cups lentils, cooked and mashed
    • 1⁄2 cup millet flour (grind up millet in the blender)
    • 1⁄4 cup rye flour
    • 1 1⁄2 cups water
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 4 -6 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 (1/4 ounce) packets yeast or 1 tablespoon yeast, in
    • 1⁄2 cup warm water
    • 1 tablespoon honey

    DIRECTIONS
    1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and honey and let sit for 10 minutes.
    2. Mix the wheat, barley, millet and rye flour together.
    3. Blend lentils, oil and small amount of water (from the 1 1/2 cups water) in blender and place into large mixing bowl with remaining water.
    4. Stir in two cups of mixed flour.
    5. Add yeast mixture.
    6. Stir in remaining salt (1 tbsp) and flour.
    7. Place on floured bread board and knead until smooth.
    8. Put in oiled bowl.
    9. Let rise until double in bulk.
    10. Knead again and cut dough and shape into 4 loaves.
    11. Place in 4 greased pans.
    12. Let rise until double in bulk.
    13. Bake at 375* for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
    Yields: 4 loaves. Ready in 3 hours (includes letting dough rise).

    Blessings dearest saints in the Lord.
    Reaching For You with lyrics by Hillsong
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e2cBx-fZ7g

  2. Imagine criticism from a fellow Christian. I think we should always encourage our fellow believers as long as we’re not breaking God’s laws. Keep wondering if envy and jealousy doesn’t kick in once in a while of a well-known public figure. Rev. Mainse has done such a marvelous job over the years of bringing lost souls to Jesus by entertaining and grabbing people’s attention. He will now be reaping the rewards. Praise the Lord!

  3. Thank you Beverlee Kay for the recipe for Ezekiel Bread, and also the wonderful music and songs you choose. They are so fitting for the Bible message.
    I do hope to make this bread sometime, it does sound tasty.

  4. 100 Huntley St. has certainly grabbed my attention as I have been watching it since 1979. Thank you for the recipe Beverlee. I was going to make some homemade pancakes with some of the recipe. Maybe the local Superstore would also make it. We will not forget this visual Ezekiel was told by God to use. Thank you also for posting the words of Rev. Graham’s sermon Beverlee.

  5. Through the years 100 Huntley Street’s presentations were well done, with interest and integrity; and continue to do so!

    It is one TV program we can be proud off! Thanks to the Mainse family and those who have worked with them through the years. Praise God for the message that has been brought forth through Crossroads Communications, Inc.
    Agreed in prayer with David;
    Would not want to go through what Ezekiel was asked to do; What a great profit of God!!

  6. well here we go again blessed saints!
    I thank God for David Mainse and his preaching over the years! He had some very funny stories from time to time and they were all true and little portions of his life most of the time!
    I personally thank the Lord for a Pastor that gives a very good sermon and points out some little tid bits of comedy!
    I remember one Pastor talking about the Israelites wandering for some 40 years! I wonder how I would handle this incident! I’d have to think of the funny side of life, God gave us a sense of humour!
    Or I wonder what I would do If I had been David out looking after sheep! I wonder how I would have handled protecting the sheep from any and all harm!
    I’d be just a kid! I would have a sling shot and some rocks, I probably would have aimed at some targets once in a while……Our Lord God created everything we are and everything we have and that includes laughter, sorrow, tears, empathy, integrity,sense of humour and He gave each of us different gifts to share with one another……we are to encourage one another in prayer, let’s do that….
    TY Beverlee Kay for all your inspirations that you share with everyone on his site…
    God bless all those who are in need of healing, of financial breakthroughs, for those who are traveling, for all the missionaries throughout the world sharing the Love of JESUS CHRIST!

  7. dear Irene Ochotta
    TY for your prayers, please do not give up praying for me and my financial needs!
    I don’t know what do, I need God’s help! I have people available to do upgrades, but I need a financial breakthrough, Lord hear our prayers! amen in Jesus Name amen

  8. Thank you Beverlee for the Ezekiel Bread recipe .I would love to try this one day soon. Really appreciate and enjoy the David Mainse daily bible
    reading and blog and also the blogs from other readers.Thank you all. Elfreda

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