Going through the Scriptures it happened to a lot of people:
Gideon with the narrowing down of his army from 32,000 men to 300 in order to fight the Midianites in Judges 7; a lot of people
would probably call him crazy.
Ananias in Acts 9 was called to go to the man who had persecuted and killed in order to share the gospel with him.
Peter in Acts 10 is following a vision to go to the Macedonians to proclaim the Gospel.
Our high schoolers made some renditions of some of the more interesting examples of people
who lived in the Spirit of God; speaking, acting, and showing people God!
This is Hosea and Gomer. The propehts (nevi'im) of God were God's spokesmen to the people.Not only did they carry the message of God; but often they were called to act out the very message that God had for his people. Hosea was called to marry an adulterous woman. Notice the fishnet stockings and strapless top; also there is an allusion to Nathanial Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter with the "A" emblazened on her corsett. The message of Hosea: No matter how many times we turn our backs on God and are unfaithful to him; he remains faithful to us and welcomes us back into relationship with him.
Ezekiel was another one of the prophets of God. He had a couple differnent instances where God told him to act out his message. In Ezekiel 24.15ff. Ezekile is told that his wife will die (God refers to her as "the delight of your eyes"). Ezekiel was not allowed to shed any tears about her death. He was not allowed to mourn the death of his wife. The point: Everything that they hold dear, the Temple ("the delight of their eyes") and their very relationship with God will be gone soon and they will do just as Ezekiel did and live without weeping our mourning it. Notice the use of the tombstone on the left. Apparently Ezekiel looked like Tommy Pickles from Rugrats with bling; an earring; and a Grease throwback jacket.
A second weird act from Ezekiel (mind you that is not an all
inclusive second act; there is a ton of weird stuff in Ezekiel so this is not all inclusive) is the action in Ezekiel 4. Ezekiel is told to draw the city of Jerusalem on a tablet; place an iron pan between his face and the tablet and lay siege to it. He was to lay on his left side for 390 days (one day for every year of Israel's sin) and 40 days on his right side (one day for every year of Judah's sin). The Point: You and the people will be deported for not to long because of your sin (Ezekiel 5.5-10). Nice use of the flaming catapult!
Jeremiah was another one of God's spokesmen. He had a couple cool object lessons in his book (the linen belt [13]; the Potter and the Clay [18]; the Broken Flask [19]; the Yoke [27-28]; the Scroll in the Euphrates [51]). This is a representation of the yoke that Jeremiah made and wore around Jerusalem. Throughout the book of Jeremiah (especially in chapter 28); Jeremiah was faced with men speaking words that made people feel good but were untrue. Jeremiah spoke for God; these men spoke for their own desires. Jeremiah made the yoke to tell God's people to submit to Babylon; or else face the punishment of Babylon. Tough words for a nation that had grown accustomed to doing what they want. I like the gigantic clock hanging from the yoke.
How does this apply to our series through the book of Acts? In Acts chapter 2 we see an interesting scene unfold. Men have the Spirit of God given to them; empowering them to speak God's message. Men who have no business being the mouth piece of God are now speaking not only different languages; but dialects (like boston english; and texas english)! Men with no formal training are speaking out about the love of God and the gospel. Acts 2.12 showed some men approved; Acts 2.13 showed some men made fun. "They are drunk!" was the theory they made. God instigated this by acting (pouring out his gift of the Holy Spirit) just as he did with the prophets earlier (he spoke). Now, once again, the men whom he communicated too are acting peculiar. If our lives are live in constant normality, the question must be posed as to whether we are living in the message of God? This is coming from a guy who has tried to fit in for most of my life; and if we have seen anything in our study of Acts and Scripture as a whole it is this: the message of God and the Spirit of God refuses to live within the rules and confines of our minds and our boundaries!
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