The Need to Fight: Standing in the Gap (2)
What in the World is Going on? • Sermon • Submitted
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As you look around you its easy to ask, “What in the world is going on?” If we took a poll today, if I asked this question, “Are we living in the same world we were when you were growing up?” How many of us could honestly raise our hands? We have gone so far away from God that many of us do not even recognize this world anymore. Evil is called good, and good is called evil.
This is nothing new. Nearly 600 years before the birth of Jesus there was a prophet of the tribe of Levi, a priest of Israel named Ezekiel who stood on the shores of Babylon, being in captivity, and cried against the wickedness of Jerusalem. God is showing him what is happening in he holy city, and he can’t believe it. Read 22:1… God describes Jerusalem as the “bloody city”. What a title for the place where God’s temple stood.
That’s bad. That is a terrible description of this city. As awful as this description is, there is another verse in Ezekiel 22 that is worse. I’m going out on a limb today. I am going to read to you what I feel is one of the most pitiful descriptions given for those who are supposed to be the people of God. Read with mm Ezekiel 22:30
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Proposition: “What’s your point preacher?” God is right now looking for someone today to make up the hedge, to stand in the gap before Him
Interrogative: I wonder today, if God were to come to PCCC looking for someone, just one person to make up the hedge, to stand in the gap before Him, would He find someone like that?
Here are the reasons God found no one in Jerusalem to stand in the gap before him:
God’s Word was Ignored v. 23-25; 28
God’s Word was Ignored v. 23-25; 28
May I simply say to you, that you’re not worthy to stand in the gap if you’re ignoring the Word of God! Notice in this passage...
The False Prophets proclaiming lies...
They were preaching for gain v. 25
They were preacher for hire
They were tickling ears to line their pockets 2 Timothy 4:3 “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
They were preaching lies v. 28
Notice the last part of verse 25, where it mentions the prophets had “made many widows”
These men were telling the armies of Jerusalam to fight the Babylonians, that it was God’s will for them to go out and fight the Babylonians
The truth was, God has sent Babylon against them in judgment of their sin! Look back at Eze. 22:4 “4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.”
They were putting words in God’s mouth that He hadn ever said!
We have false prophets today that are guilty of the same crimes
That is why it is so important that you know what the Bible says.
If you are a Christian and you are not in the Word of God, then you are out of the will of God!
It is a crying shame that so many Christians are ignorant of what the Bible teaches!
Don’t be one of them! Be in the Word
Listen, if you want to stand in the gap, then you cannot ignore the Word of God. If that was the only crime Jerusalem was guilty of it would have been an easy fix, but the next reason God found no one to stand in the gap was that...
God’s Ways were Ignored v. 26
God’s Ways were Ignored v. 26
You cannot stand in the gap if you are ignoring God’s ways. Read Ezekiel 22:26 “26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
Christian, it is a dangerous thing to violate the ways of God. Notice the charges laid against them in this verse:
They violated the law of God
Violated = to show violence towards. This was their attitude toward the Bible.
Law = when used specifically refers to the first five books of the Bible, generally, however, it refers to the entity of Scripture.
They were saying, “I don’t care what the Bible says.”
So many Christians today know what the Bible says, but they do the opposite anyway!
Don’t believe me?
The Bible says Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
I know the Bible says Christians should be at church, but I don’t want to go.
I know I should go to church, but there are other things I’d rather do today than sit on a pew.
The Bible says we ought to tithe, Malachi 3:8-10 “8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Church, God gave you the health, the strength, and the ability to work your job and earn 100% of your income. Without Him you would have nothing.
When you refuse to obey this simple command you are saying two things:
I don’t care what God says about tithing, I’m keeping my money.
I don’t trust God to take care of me.
Listen, you can’t out give God.
The Bible says we ought to love one another, Romans 12:10 “10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Are you listening to me today?
When you’re angry at someone in the church, and you know you shouldn’t be, but you choose to be anyway, you’re saying, “I know the Bible says I shouldn’t hold that grudge, but I’m going to anyway.”
I know the Bible says I should forgive, I should let go of bitterness, I should be kind to my brothers and sisters, but I’m not going to...
You are ignoring God’s ways!
The Bible says you should not gossip! 1 Tim. 5:13 “13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”
I know I shouldn’t spread rumors and start gossip, I know the Bible says not too, but this is too good to keep to myself, I’m going to do it anyway.
I know this probably isn’t true, but I’m going to tell it anyway, who cares if someone gets hurt? God does.
Listen to me, if this is you, then you are ignoring God’s ways!
They profaned the holy things
How? Keep reading...
You could not tell where worship of God started and worldly living began!
The word profane, means to make common or to desecrate
In other words, they treated what God had made holy as though it was every day common place.
Do we not see that in churches today?
I don’t know about churches that look like a rock concert!
Dark rooms
Loud music
Fog machines and lights
Dancing around
Shouting
Tell me how God is honored in that?
We don’t just see this in churches today, we see it in the lives of Christians too!
If you claim to be a Christian today but you live like the world, then shame on you!
You are profaning the holy name of Jesus by your actions!
Listen to me, if you claim to be saved but you act the same, talk the same, live the same, treat people the same way as you did before you got saved…you need to take a long look at your salvation!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
If God came to PCCC today looking for one person, just one person to stand in the gap, would it be you? I want you to know today that if you are ignoring God’s Word and ignoring God’s ways, then you are no different than those He condemned in Jerusalem. One more reason God found no one to stand in the gap, because...
God’s Warning was Ignored vv. 27,29,31
God’s Warning was Ignored vv. 27,29,31
I want you to notice specifically what God said in verse 31… “…there own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.”
The word “recompensed” is an interesting word, it means “to give”. It is a banking term, akin to taking out a loan. It has the idea of something that is to be paid back with interest.
Do you understand what God was saying here? In essence:
“Jerusalem, you have borrowed from the bank of my mercy and grace. For too long you have tempted my wrath by living in sin. You have ignored my prophets who warned you to repent and to “pay back” your loan. Now I am calling your loan, and you will pay with interest.”
Peter put it this way, 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Those in Jerusalem thought that since God had not struck them dead the instant they sinned, then He must not care about their sin. They were wrong. They mistook the mercy of God for God’s approval. He was not allowing them to live it up, He was giving them a chance to repent! They refused, and He poured out His wrath on them.
Do not let this be you today. If you are ignoring God’s Word, ignoring God’s ways, then you cannot afford to ignore God’s warning! He will have the final word on your life, but today, He is calling for you to repent.
Conclusion: If you asked me what a believer’s responsibility is in this evil world we’re living in I would say it is to make up the hedge, to stand in the gap before God. I believe that today God is searching for faithful men and women to stand in the gap today. Will it be you?
I’m asking for our musician and song leader to make their way down front today. As they make their way I want to ask you, if God came to PCCC today looking for someone to stand in the gap, would that someone be you?
You say, “Pastor, how can I stand in the gap?” It’s simple:
Don’t Ignore the Word of God - He gave us His Word to guide us, to teach us, to challenge us, and to encourage us. Live by it. If you need help starting a Bible study, ask me, I would love to give some pointers.
Don’t ignore the Ways of God - there is a reason God has called us to separation and dedication - we are supposed to be different from the world. If your testimony does not reflect what God expects, then I invite you to this altar today to repent and restore that fellowship God desires with you.
Don’t ignore God’s Warning. If He is dealing with you, then take that seriously.
How many would say today, Pastor, pray for me, I’ve ignored God’s Word too long. I’ve not read I’ve not studied as I should, but today, I am promising God that I will be in His Word daily? Lift that hand.
How may would say, Pastor, pray for me, I have ignored God’s ways. My actions, my words, my life does not reflect the life of holiness that God’s calls us to. I’ve made wrong choices, I’ve lived in sin too long. Today I am repenting of my poor testimony and I am committing myself to living a holy life. Will you lift your hand?
I wonder if there is one here today that would say, Pastor, I have been ignoring God’s warning to me. I know that I am not saved and I do not want to leave here today without knowing for sure that I am a child of God.
Today, right where you are you can know that you are saved, “How?” you ask, by first:
Admit to God that you are a sinner…All have sinned and come short… That is step one. God already knows it. Second, believe, that is fully trust that what God says is true. That as a sinner you have no hope of ever seeing God’s holy face. But God loved you so much, that He sent Jesus to die in your place, to pay for you sin. If you fully believe that then right where you are, call upon Jesus to save you. Maybe pray from your hear a prayer such as this:
God, I know that I am a sinner because your Word tells me all have sinned and come short of your glory. I know that because I am a sinner that I cannot save myself, but I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again so that I can be saved. Right now I am asking Jesus to forgive my sin and to save my soul from hell.
If that’s you today, please, won’t you raise your hand? As we stand and sing, the altar is open...