EZE. 22:30 “WHERE IS THE MAN?”
A) In the book of Ezekiel we find about as dark a picture of the conditions of this day in which
he preached as you will find painted anywhere in the Bible!
* v.23-29 … It was a day of uncleanness … A day of murdering … Not many drawn to God …
* God’s Word was dishonored … Dishonesty was rampant … Selfishness … Compromise …
* Unconcern … Sin on every hand … Kind of sounds like the day we’re living in, doesn’t it?
B) In the days of evil, God found men like Noah, Moses, Gideon, Elijah, Moody, Sunday …….
* My question for today is, “Where are the men today to make up the hedge and stand in the gap?”
* Let me paraphrase this verse … God said, “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of
righteousness that guards the land …….”
* “I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land,
but I found no one.”
C) This being Fathers’ Day, I wonder if God can find a man in this hour?
* Some people say that any man can be a father … It’s a job that takes very little talent.
* The facts, however, show that the rate of failure at fatherhood is higher than any other
occupation that you can name.
D) Being a father is actually a job that most people underestimate!
* Just what does it take to be an adequate father? * How do you measure up?
* Is it true that being a father is the most important job on earth?
* I BELIEVE SO … And I also believe that being a father is not a part-time job!
E) A man that would be a true father … A father that does his job well … And fulfills his
responsibilities must work at it full-time!
* And there are not many full-time fathers these days!
* The Bible is very clear that the ideal pattern for every home and family is built on a godly father.
* The father is the dominate figure in the home and his role is vital and important!
F) The Bible implies that to be without a father is the greatest affliction for a family!
* In fact, the law said in Exo. 22:22-24 says, “Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows,
and your children fatherless.”
* God Himself is moved to pity the fatherless … Hos. 14:3 “… for in thee the fatherless findeth
mercy.” * Psa. 146:9 “ … he relieveth the fatherless.”
* Psa 68:5 says that God is “A father of the fatherless,”
G) But even worse than a home without a father, is a home in which the father fails to fulfill
his role … And there are many today!
* Maybe they’re too busy, or maybe they just don’t see the responsibility of their task.
* Whatever the reason, one of our greatest needs today is for fathers to fulfill their roles, and to
fulfill it full-time!
H) Now let’s get back to my text … God said, “I sought (looked) for a man among them …….”
* My question today is, “Where is the man?” * Let me ask you three questions …….
(1) WHERE IS THE MAN PROVIDING?
A) The first need of every family, and probably the most obvious is the material need!
* Not many fathers fail here … We may not give them everything they want, but we take pride in
giving them all that we’re able! * Providing is a great privilege for the parent!
* Paul writes in 2 Cor. 12:14 “… for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the
parents for the children.”
B) The man who does not do his best to provide the material needs of his family commits a
great sin! * Listen to 1 Tim. 5:8 …….
* “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel.” * No greater charge could be hurled at anyone!
* The Greek word for infidel is “apistos” (ap’-is-tos) and means, “a heathen, untrustworthy person,
faithless, unbeliever, disbelieving, i.e. without Christian faith.”
C) But perhaps the greater danger for most of us today is that we sometimes provide beyond
our needs! * Wants ……. * When I was growing up my mama use to tell me …….
* “Boy, you’re big enough where your wants won’t hurt you.”
* A father can lead his children to want and expect too much by overstressing the importance of
money in their lives.
* The wise father will not infect his family with the love of money which Paul says brings many
sorrows (1 Tim. 6:10).
* His counsel to Timothy in 1 Tim. 6:8 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
D) But the father’s duty to supply provision for the family doesn’t stop with material things!
* More important, but often completely forgotten, are such spiritual and emotional needs …….
* Such as … Love, training, a positive example, encouragement, and spiritual leadership!
* Let me ask you this, fathers … Are you providing these for your family?
E) You are the priest in the homes … It’s your responsibility to provide for them spiritually!
* I ask you again … Where is the man, providing?
* “I sought for a man among them to ‘provide,’ but I found none.”
(2) WHERE IS THE MAN PROTECTING?
A) The man has the same role over his family that God has over His people!
* God protects and nurtures His children and every father has the same responsibility!
* Few fathers fail to provide physical protection for their families!
* It would be hard to find a father who, if someone came into his house threatening his children
with physical harm, would not fight to the death to protect his family!
B) We look down on a man who won’t provide for his family …….
* But we would respond in anger to a man who wouldn’t protect his family from physical harm!
* But what about spiritual protection? * How can you protect your family spiritually?
C) First: You must set an example of spiritual strength! * Look again at v.26 of our text …….
* The priests in that day were not setting an example of spiritual strength for the people!
D) Here is the one area where I feel I have made the most blunders as a father!
* I would like for my children and family to remember that I was kind; gracious; generous and
loving. * However, I know, with deep regret, that that has not always been the case!
* What’s so scary is that children retain so much of their parent’s personality and characteristics!
* As my kids watch me be a father before them, they will remember how I reacted to certain
situations and they will probably react much the same way when they are raising their children!
* God help us to have the right spirit about us as we parent these blessings God has dropped
into our lives!
E) One evening a father came home from work to find that his boy had been sent to bed for
swearing, so the father stormed up the stairs, vowing to teach his son a lesson!
* On the way, he tripped on a step and skinned his shin.
* When he did, he began to curse loudly and violently.
* His wife said, “You better come down now ... He’s had enough for his first lesson.”
F) I heard a story about a humble, consecrated pastor whose young son had become very ill!
* After the boy had undergone an extensive series of tests, the father was told of the shocking
news that his only son had a terminal illness.
* The youngster had accepted Christ as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher him
into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of their youth that he soon would die. * After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Sprit, he went with a heavy heart through the
hospital to the boy’s bedside.
G) When he got there, he read his son a passage of Scripture!
* Then he said a prayer with him ... Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him
only a few more days to live. * And he asked him, “Son, are you afraid to meet Jesus?”
* Blinking away the tears, the little boy said bravely, “No, not if He’s anything like you Dad!”
H) The second way you can protect your family spiritually is: “Be yielded to the Lord!”
* James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
* Third: Arm yourself with spiritual armor that Eph. 6:10-17 talks about.
* And last: Train your family in the Word of God … And this is so important!
* I ask you again, Where is the man protecting?
* “And I sought for a man among them to ‘protect,’ but I found none.”
(3) WHERE IS THE MAN PRAYING? * Every father has a duty to supply prayer!
A) Abraham was a man of prayer!
* This is seen in that every time Abraham moved, he erected an altar, and there he sacrificed
and prayed! * Abraham prayed about many things, and one of them was his children!
B) Job was a praying father!
* Job 1:5 tells us that Job made it a habit to pray for each of his children!
* What a great thing it is to have a praying father!
C) Fathers, one of the greatest sins you can commit against your children is the sin of not
praying for them!
* God has committed your children to you and part of your responsibility is to pray for them.
* The time you spend in prayer for your family is rich!
D) There is no greater blessing that children can have than to know that their father is praying
for them! * Fathers should make it a practice to pray for their children daily!
* Pray for their salvation ... Their protection ... Pray for them that they will be used of the Lord for
His glory! * And let them know that you are praying for them!
E) Paul was a spiritual father! * Look through the epistles of Paul …….
* And see how many times he assures his spiritual children that he does not cease to pray for them!
* In 3 John 4, John wrote about his spiritual children, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children walk in truth.”
CLOSE:
A) Fathers, are you providing for your children? * Are you giving them all they need?
* Are you providing for them physically and spiritually?
* Are you protecting them … Physically and spiritually?
* Are you praying for them … May God help us all to be full-time fathers!
B) Dads, look into your hearts today ... Are you saved? * Have you placed your faith in Christ?
* If not, then there are children in your life, and others around you who deserve better than you are
giving them! * Why don’t you come to the Lord today and get things settled with Him?
C) Fathers, are we what God wants us to be today?
* When we are the men we can be, our children will become the children they should be!
* If God were to weigh us men here today in the balances of fatherhood and manhood, how would
we do? * Would we be found wanting?
D) If so, there is a remedy in Jesus! * It may be too late to undo every wrong done .......
* But it is never too late to become the man God wants you to be!
* “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.”
E) Where is the man providing … Where is the man protecting … Where is the man praying?
* Can God find that man right here at RLCC?
