I Was Among The Captives By The River Chebar
Ezekiel’s story begins in an unlikely place. He wasn’t standing in a palace or celebrating a victory. He was “among the captives by the river of Chebar.” He was surrounded by people whose freedom had been taken and whose songs had been silenced. Yet it was there—among the captives—that the heavens opened and Ezekiel began to see visions of God.
His beginning did not determine his ending.
Ezekiel would become a prophet whose words have reached nations for more than 2,600 years. He would see dry bones become a mighty army. He would watch divided people become one. He would receive visions of restoration, revival, and a river flowing from the house of God all the way to the sea. But first, he sat among the captives.
That is a powerful reminder that where you start does not determine how far God can take you. Your family history, past failures, insecurities, limitations, or circumstances do not have to become your permanent address. The danger is not beginning at Chebar—the danger is building a house there.
We can become comfortable saying, “I can’t do that. I could never teach a Bible study. I’m not capable. God could never use someone like me.” But those limitations were never meant to become places where we settle.
God wants to give us vision beyond where we are. In Ezekiel 47, the prophet saw water flowing from the sanctuary. It began as a small stream, but it didn’t remain small. As Ezekiel followed, the water became ankle deep, then knee deep, then waist deep, until eventually it became “waters to swim in.”
That is often how God develops us. Consecration grows. Prayer grows. Faith grows. Ministry grows. What begins with a small act of obedience can become something far greater than we imagined.
Never despise the ankle-deep season. Every river has to start somewhere.
But Ezekiel was also warned about the marshes and miry places—areas where the water became stagnant. Negativity, bitterness, criticism, fear, and unbelief can become spiritual backwaters that keep us from moving with what God is doing.
The answer is simple: stay in the river. Keep flowing with God. Keep flowing with the church. Keep believing in revival. Keep moving toward deeper surrender until you reach the place where you no longer have control and must completely trust Him.
Ezekiel started among the captives, but his river reached the sea.
Yours can too.
Don’t build a house where God only intended you to begin. Get in the river, keep flowing, and impact your world.
Family Worship Center | 1 Restoration Way, Plaster Rock NB | familyworship.ca
Recap of message by Bishop Myers
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