Ezekiel 22:23 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26 Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
28 Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.
Christians, our nation is under attack. This text was written as a warning to the nation of Israel, but it is very clear that it stands as a warning for us today. False prophets, not making the distinction between clean and unclean things, hiding their eyes from the Sabbath (a day for God), dishonest gain, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken. Our very faith is under attack........ from within!
47% of young adult "born-again" Christians think it’s ok to vote for Obama despite his stance on the murder of innocents and gay marriage. This tells me a few things...first, that we aren’t teaching our young people truth! Heresy abounds in our churches. We have stopped preaching the Word and embraced the world. We don’t preach against sin anymore...it’s not popular. We are more interested in putting people in the pews than we are to teach God’s truth and judgement.
A lot of churches today are interested in dishonest gain, false "visions" that are opposed to the Word of God and teaching lies. Some churches not only embrace homosexual marriage, but order their pastors to perform the ceremonies. Some ordain openly gay people as clerics. Churches full of homosexuals meet every Sunday and sing praises to God and think they will go to heaven when they die. They won’t. It saddens me.
Vs 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Who will stand in the gap for our nation? Who should stand in the gap? It should be the church! Yet the church has failed to even embrace God’s laws inside it’s own doors. That’s why I am calling for a Josiah Revival. Let me show you.....
You’ll find the story of Josiah in 2 Kings 22 and Chr. 34 Vs 1-2 in Chr says1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
He distinguished himself by beginning a war of extermination against the prevailing idolatry, which had practically been the state religion for some seventy years. In the eighteenth year of his reign he proceeded to repair and beautify the temple, which by time and violence had become sorely dilapidated. He went to rebuild the church!
While this work was being carried on, Hilkiah, the high priest, discovered a roll, which was probably the original copy of the law, the entire Pentateuch, written by Moses. When this book was read to him, the king was alarmed by the things it contained. 2 Chr 34:19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.
He then sent for Huldah, the "prophetess," for her counsel. Vs 23 She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ’This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ’This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.
Josiah immediately gathered the people together, and engaged them in a renewal of their ancient national covenant with God. The Passover was then celebrated, as in the days of his great predecessor, Hezekiah, with unusual magnificence. During the progress of this great religious revolution Jeremiah helped it on by his earnest exhortations.
Josiah was later shot by an arrow at Middigo (Armegedon) and died from his wounds. 2 Chr 35:25 Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the men and women singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments. His death is also talked about in Zech. 12:11 and in Rev. 16:16.
He was known for rebuilding the church! He stood in the gap at 18 yrs of age. Listen, our young people aren’t totally responsible for what they know or don’t know if they haven’t been taught the truth by the elders of the church! It’s time to battle the lies and deceit of the enemy with the truth of God’s Word! It’s time to stand in the gap and repair the truth of God’s Word within the church first and then the world.
We can’t change the world with the gospel if we can’t even agree within ourselves on the gospel. It’s time to come together across every barrier imaginable to ALIGN IN THE GAP! Unity is a weapon when we align for the kingdom of God – for justice and righteousness.
It’s time to volunteer in the day of battle. It’s time to build an altar before Lord – to lift the name of Jesus above every name, false god, argument and ideology. It’s time to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the Lord – to come in the opposite spirit of pride and arrogance. It’s time for confusion to be replaced with clarity and God’s wisdom. It’s time for the body of Christ to awaken, listen and act.
It’s time for those with clean hands and a pure heart to ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in the gap. Look at Psalms 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
Our churches prayers cannot be heard until we clean ourselves up! Look at Jer 9:17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ Consider and call for the mourning women, That they may come;
And send for skillful wailing women, That they may come. 18 Let them make haste And take up a wailing for us, That our eyes may run with tears, And our eyelids gush with water.
19 For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘ How we are plundered! We are greatly ashamed, Because we have forsaken the land, Because we have been cast out of our dwellings.’” 20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women, And let your ear receive the word of His mouth; Teach your daughters wailing, And everyone her neighbor a lamentation.
21 For death has come through our windows, Has entered our palaces, To kill off the children—no longer to be outside! And the young men—no longer on the streets!
It’s time for skilled intercessors to cry out – to wail – and to mourn for the shedding of innocent blood, for the children and for their future! God hears cries. It’s not the time for passive, weak prayers. It’s the time to wail, travail and release a sound that causes God’s ears to hear and His hands to move. Exodus 3:9 tells us that God heard the cries of the children of Israel! There is a sound that causes God to act...it is the cries of His people!
It’s time to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and to wield the sword of the Spirit, to pull down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
It’s time to release light where the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelieving. 2 Cor. 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
It’s time to be like Josiah.....get ourselves firstly in line and then take it to our nation. And we need to do it the same way Josiah did...hear the truth, repent and destroy anything that would get inbetween us and God....remove all idols and turn to Him.
2 Cor 6:2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
