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Who Will Fill The Gap? · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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  in Ezekiel chapter 22.
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  Ezekiel chapter 22, the end of this chapter from verse 23 down to the end.
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  In particular, just that verse we mentioned before, verse 30.
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  And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach
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  before me for the land, but I should not destroy it.
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  But I found none.
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  And what's the biggest gap in our society today?
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  You think about all the different things that are going on around us in our day and in our time.
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  We hear talk of many different kinds of gaps that exist.
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  There's gaps in wealth.
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  There's gaps in education.
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  There's gaps in housing.
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  There's gaps in leadership.
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  There's all kinds of social gaps and various different kinds.
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  Of gaps.
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  But they're not new to our day.
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  There are gaps that have been there for generation after generation.
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  And even when you look back here in Ezekiel's day, there were these gaps in society then.
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  There was gaps in all kinds of ways in his day as well.
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  But there's a gap that's common in Ezekiel's day and a gap that's common in our day that is probably the most serious of all the gaps that exist.
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  And it's a gap that if it were filled would make such a difference.
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  And it's that gap we find in verse 30.
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  Looking for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach, stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it.
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  Ezekiel's day was a day when leadership changed quite often.
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  Kings would come and kings would go.
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  And the nation would be blessed under a king who was a godly king.
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  As we're looking here at Ezekiel's time, it was a time as an ungodly king ruling over them.
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  And because of this, there wasn't one who was standing in the breach, as he says here.
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  When we think of our own day-to-day as well, and we look around us and we think of our nation and the nations of the world.
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  And the leaderships that we have over us in different places.
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  Leaders that have come, leaders that have gone.
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  Times of great blessing under good godly leadership.
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  But times of such great uncertainty when God is neglected and when God is rejected.
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  And what Ezekiel is saying to us here is so relevant to our day-to-day as well.
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  And it's this urgency, this great need to cry out to God.
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  To call upon him.
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  And to see, not that we're looking for one who will fill the gap, as Ezekiel was in his day.
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  But that today we have one who has filled the breach.
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  Who has filled the gap for us.
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  What we read of in the book of Hebrews chapter 7.
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  The one who is a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
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  The one who is a priest forevermore.
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  In Ezekiel's day, there were kings and prophets and priests who so often failed the people.
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  Failed to lead them well.
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  Failed to lead them in prayer.
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  But here today we come together as people who we would long to stand in the gap.
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  And we feel unworthy of it.
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  Even as we ask men to come up and pray here.
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  As we lead in prayer.
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  We're not worthy to stand in the gap.
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  But we pray in the name of the one who is.
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  We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  The one who fills the breach for us.
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  And we're taught much of prayer in God's word.
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  The importance of it individually.
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  The importance of it as a church.
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  The importance of it nationally for a nation and our nation.
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  And not least are we taught in the Lord's prayer.
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  There we are taught of our dependence.
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  And our focus being on the Lord.
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  On the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  And remembering that every need can be met in him.
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  So as we look ahead to a national day of prayer.
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  This later this month.
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  We've been reminded in the prayers.
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  We remind ourselves again.
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  It's not just a focus on one.
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  Special day of prayer.
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  Important as that is.
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  It's the importance of continuing in ongoing prayer.
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  And the question this evening for us.
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  Are we construction workers?
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  Are we involved in the work of construction here in our church and in our society?
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  And what do I mean by that?
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  Well, I mean just what it means here.
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  To stand in the breach.
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  To fill the gap.
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  To build up the wall.
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  That's what Ezekiel was talking about here.
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  The example, illustration of a wall was what the cities were formed with.
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  And when a place was broken down in the wall.
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  It was weak to attack the city.
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  And so today we think of the breach in our society.
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  That godly breach.
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  Where there's a lack of godly wisdom.
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  Godly hunger.
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  Godly leadership.
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  And prayerful people.
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  The challenge to us today and always is.
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  To be a people who stand in the gap.
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  And who stand in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Blessed.
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  So Ezekiel has this great challenge.
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  But also a great reminder to us as well.
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  That when we seek the Lord.
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  He is so able to bless.
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  So from our reading here in Ezekiel.
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  We're seeing Ezekiel writing to a day and a people.
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  Very much like our own day and people around us as well.
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  God being shunned.
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  Leadership lacking.
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  Sin being rife.
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  And much prayer.
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  Being needed.
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  And so our thoughts are going to turn to this passage.
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  But also remembering what we read in Hebrews.
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  That here we have a Lord and a God.
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  Who is there for us.
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  Who is there to be called upon.
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  The people here in Ezekiel's day.
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  Just like our own world.
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  So many people live with this attitude that.
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  Everything's going to be okay.
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  Everything's going to work out in the end.
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  Everything's going to fall into place for me.
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  Hoping that things are going to change.
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  But not seeing where ultimately we need to look for this change to come.
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  Where ultimately our greatest hope is found.
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  And if our nation does at all look to God.
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  It's so often just a token gesture.
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  So often just when something needs to be done.
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  You just look back a few weeks now to the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen.
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  And how the word was so central to all that was done on that day.
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  How much she had given instruction of what would be read.
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  What would be sung.
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  The order of things.
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  The word of God would be central.
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  And that was followed.
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  And people had to read the word of God.
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  I'm sure many of them against their own desires.
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  Not understanding the power of what they were reading.
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  And yet there we saw leaders.
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  And many powerful people involved.
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  In praying and in reading the word of God.
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  And we pray that that would impact.
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  That that would change.
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  So it's not just a token gesture.
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  But that our nation, our people would be turned towards God.
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  So there's a call here.
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  For a prayerful individual to come into the midst of the people in Ezekiel's day.
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  But today as we come in the name of Jesus Christ.
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  We are all called to be a praying people.
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  So we're going to look at this passage.
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  And just see how frightening it is in many ways.
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  But also to see the glory of the grace of God in this as well.
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  It's a call for us to pray.
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  But as you look at this passage as a whole.
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  You see just how serious this call is.
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  For all that's happening and taking place in their midst.
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  The first thing I want us to see is from verse 24.
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  There's an image there that speaks to us in a powerful way.
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  Son of man say to her.
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  You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation.
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  There's a word here for the nation then.
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  There's also a word here for our own nation too.
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  When you look at this version.
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  When it speaks about rain.
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  Especially throughout the Old Testament.
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  Rain was withheld by God.
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  To bring a judgment upon the people.
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  And rain was poured down from heaven.
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  To bring blessing on the people.
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  So often the image that you see that God uses.
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  And here there's a reminder to us.
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  Of not just one aspect of this.
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  But many different aspects.
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  Of both blessing and curse on the people.
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  Son of man say to her.
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  You are a land that is not cleansed.
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  Or rained upon.
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  In the day of indignation.
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  As I said.
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  The blessing of God comes with rain so often.
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  In Deuteronomy chapter 28.
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  You have two examples in that passage.
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  One where it speaks of the blessing of God pouring out rain.
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  In verse 12.
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  The Lord will open the heavens.
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  The storehouse of his bounty.
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  To send rain on your land and season.
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  And to bless all the work of your hands.
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  So when the people follow God's instruction.
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  Follow God's commands.
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  The Lord is able to pour down a blessing.
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  But then later on in that chapter.
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  In verse 23 of Deuteronomy 28.
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  It says.
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  The sky over your head will be bronze.
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  The ground beneath you iron.
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  The Lord will turn the rain of your country.
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  Into dust and powder.
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  It will come down from the skies.
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  Until you are destroyed.
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  There's both an image there of drought.
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  And a devastating flood.
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  From God.
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  And here in this verse in Ezekiel.
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  In verse 24.
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  It's almost like there's a reminder to the nation.
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  Of all the different ways.
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  In which God is working in their midst.
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  The reminder that he has blessed them in the past.
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  What he has done for them.
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  How he has led them.
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  How he has been with them.
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  There's also the reminder too.
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  Of how there's a time of need.
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  To bring judgment.
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  And drought.
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  And famine upon them.
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  Even a time of devastating flood.
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  It's almost like God is using every means possible.
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  To bring his people to their senses.
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  It's a reminder of God's anger.
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  And his judgment.
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  And you just read through this chapter.
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  It's full of God's judgment.
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  Because the people have turned away.
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  Turned away on every level of society in their day.
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  From the leadership at the top.
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  Right down to the people.
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  They've turned away from God.
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  And God is using every means possible.
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  To try and bring them back to their senses.
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  Devastation on a large scale.
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  Right down to individual things going on.
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  When you think of our own times.
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  Our own age just now.
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  The way God has spoken to us.
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  The way God continues to speak to us.
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  Through so many different things.
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  In all the needs around us.
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  When we think of the devastation of COVID.
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  The financial crisis.
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  The wars going on.
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  Natural disasters.
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  Disasters almost on a weekly basis.
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  God's voice is speaking powerfully.
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  God is reminding us.
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  Of the power and authority that he has.
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  He is shaking us as a people.
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  And yet are we listening?
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  We're just like the days of Ezekiel.
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  God is looking to see if there's one.
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  Who will stand in the bridge.
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  Before me for the land.
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  That I should not destroy it.
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  But there was none to be found.
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  It's a great reminder to us.
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  Of our need to call upon the Lord.
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  God is shaking us.
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  With a purpose.
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  But as well as reminding us.
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  Of God's judgment.
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  And our need to call upon him.
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  There's a reminder to us here.
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  Of God's grace.
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  He's not destroyed.
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  The people.
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  And you think of that psalm.
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  That we sang.
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  Psalm 106.
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  And there we were reminded of.
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  The grace of God towards his people.
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  In all that he had done.
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  What did they do?
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  They formed an idol.
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  And made it of an ox out of gold.
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  This was their God.
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  God would have destroyed them.
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  But there was one to stand in the breach.
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  Moses.
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  And you think.
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  Now here he is.
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  Is there anyone who will stand in the gap?
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  And he says no.
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  And judgment is poured out.
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  But not full destruction.
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  And in our day and age.
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  Today as well.
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  We see this.
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  But ourselves as well.
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  There is a need for us.
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  To listen to God.
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  Because his judgment.
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  Is all around us.
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  But we have a great message.
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  Of hope too.
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  A rejection of God.
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  Deserves his anger against us.
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  But he withholds it.
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  For a time.
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  He gives every opportunity.
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  To turn.
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  And that's a day.
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  We're living in today as well.
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  To call upon a people.
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  To turn to the Lord.
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  And twice.
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  In the book of Ezekiel.
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  You have us.
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  The same verse.
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  Repeated.
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  And it reminds us.
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  Of the grace of God.
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  And you read through Ezekiel.
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  There's so much judgment.
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  But twice.
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  He says this.
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  In chapter 18.
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  Verse 32.
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  And in chapter 33.
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  Verse 11.
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  He says.
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  Say to them.
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  As surely as I live.
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  Declares the sovereign Lord.
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  I take no pleasure.
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  In the death of the wicked.
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  But rather that they turn.
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  From their ways.
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  And live.
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  Turn.
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  Turn from your evil ways.
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  Why will you die?
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  O house of Israel.
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  That is the mercy of God.
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  That is his call.
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  To a people today.
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  Turn.
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  Turn from your evil ways.
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  Why will you die?
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  O house of Israel.
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  God.
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  Today.
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  We recognize God.
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  Withholding his wrath.
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  To a point.
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  As he calls on us.
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  To turn.
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  And no greater.
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  Do we see that.
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  In what he has done.
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  Through Jesus Christ.
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  Who for our sake.
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  Went to the cross.
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  Who stood in the gap.
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  That we could never stand in.
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  Who bore our sins.
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  And we are to call.
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  On the name of the Lord.
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  Through Jesus Christ.
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  That he would spare us.
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  And many people.
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  From that great wrath.
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  Poured out on the day of judgment.
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  We see our nation.
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  And the nations of the world.
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  And the great need.
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  Of prayer.
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  And that the breach.
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  Would be rebuilt.
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  That there would be people.
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  To stand in the gap.
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  To stand in the name of Jesus Christ.
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  And know his power.
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  But we also see here.
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  Just how.
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  The wrath of God.
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  Is deserved.
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  Again when you.
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  Continue reading down.
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  From verse 24.
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  You just see.
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  How the whole of society.
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  Is rotten to the core.
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  There is corruption.
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  From the top.
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  To the bottom.
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  And the cause.
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  A rejection.
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  Of God.
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  They have completely.
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  Turned.
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  Away.
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  And.
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  Ezekiel.
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  Is looking.
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  To the people of God.
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  To the children of Israel.
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  And describing.
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  The kind of place.
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  That it's become.
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  And if you just read through.
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  About the prophets.
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  The priests.
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  The princes.
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  The people there.
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  You see the mentioned.
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  Through verse 25.
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  The conspiracy of her prophets.
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  Verse 26.
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  Her priests have done violence.
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  Verse 27.
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  Her princes in her midst.
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  Are like wolves.
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  Her prophets again.
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  In verse 28.
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  Have smeared whitewash.
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  For them.
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  Verse 29.
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  The people of the land.
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  Have practiced extortion.
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  And committed robbery.
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  It's just a list.
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  Of one thing.
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  After another.
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  The nation.
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  Is thoroughly corrupt.
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  From top.
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  To bottom.
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  The government.
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  You would call it.
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  Today.
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  Has become greedy.
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  Accepting bribes.
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  Ruling in their own interest.
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  They've become dishonest.
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  For their own gain.
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  You look at the priests.
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  They've failed in their duty.
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  They were supposed to represent God.
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  To the people.
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  But instead.
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  They're looking after their own interests.
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  They began to deny.
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  The supremacy of God.
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  And instead.
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  Looking at things.
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  In a very materialistic.
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  Kind of way.
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  They're more interested.
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  In their own physical needs.
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  And the spiritual needs.
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  Of the people.
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  The prophets.
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  They've become liars.
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  It says.
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  The prophets have smeared.
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  Whitewashed.
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  For them.
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  Seeing false visions.
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  And divining lies.
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  For them.
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  Saying.
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  Thus says the Lord God.
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  That powerful voice.
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  And yet.
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  What does the Lord say?
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  The Lord has not spoken.
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  You're speaking lies.
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  To the people.
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  You're deceiving.
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  The people.
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  You're giving them false hope.
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  Predicting.
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  Prosperity.
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  When God has taken so much away.
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  Predicting victory.
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  When God is bringing defeat.
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  Upon them.
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  So there's a seriousness.
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  On all the leadership.
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  Of the people.
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  And then you see.
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  This runs down.
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  To the people.
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  In verse 29.
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  The people of the land.
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  Have practiced extortion.
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  Committed robbery.
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  They have oppressed.
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  The poor and the needy.
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  They have extorted.
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  From the sojourner.
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  Without justice.
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  Corrupt leaders.
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  Leads to corrupt followers.
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  And so.
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  It goes on.
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  Society.
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  Society.
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  Has turned away from God.
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  And the ripple effect.
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  Just goes right down.
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  Through.
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  All the people.
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  On every level.
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  Of society.
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  That's the kind of day.
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  That we're living in.
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  How does it not resonate.
• 19:38
  Into our own day to day.
• 19:40
  From the very top.
• 19:42
  Down through all the levels.
• 19:43
  Of life and society.
• 19:45
  Right down through all the people.
• 19:47
  There is this corruption.
• 19:50
  There is this self-interest.
• 19:52
  And a denying.
• 19:53
  Of God.
• 19:54
  It's like a volcano.
• 19:55
  Which erupts.
• 19:57
  The lava.
• 19:58
  Spews out from the top.
• 20:00
  And begins to run down.
• 20:01
  Right down.
• 20:02
  The side of the mountain.
• 20:04
  Into all the valleys.
• 20:05
  And channels.
• 20:05
  It'll find.
• 20:06
  Destroying.
• 20:07
  Everything in its way.
• 20:10
  That's what moral corruption.
• 20:11
  A moral decline.
• 20:13
  Is like.
• 20:14
  Destructive.
• 20:14
  But instead of that.
• 20:17
  What do we need?
• 20:19
  We need to stand.
• 20:21
  In the breach.
• 20:22
  We need to look.
• 20:24
  To the Lord Jesus.
• 20:26
  Without Christ.
• 20:28
  Our lives are deserving.
• 20:29
  Of judgment.
• 20:31
  We are to look.
• 20:32
  To him.
• 20:34
  Being careful.
• 20:36
  Not being deceived.
• 20:37
  By the ways of this world.
• 20:39
  But looking for blessing.
• 20:41
  That's found in him.
• 20:42
  So instead of the volcano.
• 20:43
  With its lava.
• 20:45
  Spewing down.
• 20:46
  And destroying.
• 20:47
  We are looking.
• 20:48
  To pray.
• 20:49
  For the blessing of God.
• 20:51
  That we sing.
• 20:51
  And hear of.
• 20:53
  In Psalm 133.
• 20:54
  We're going to sing it.
• 20:55
  At the end.
• 20:57
  That Herman's Jew.
• 20:59
  Upon the hill.
• 21:00
  Of Zion.
• 21:00
  It descends.
• 21:02
  The Lord bestows.
• 21:03
  His blessing there.
• 21:05
  The life.
• 21:05
  That never ends.
• 21:06
  That's what we want.
• 21:07
  To pray for.
• 21:09
  And so.
• 21:09
  The devastation.
• 21:10
  And destruction.
• 21:11
  Of our moral corruption.
• 21:13
  That instead.
• 21:14
  We would pray.
• 21:15
  The Lord's blessing.
• 21:17
  The Lord's peace.
• 21:18
  Peace to descend.
• 21:20
  Like the Jew.
• 21:21
  On Herman's hill.
• 21:22
  And to see that peace.
• 21:24
  Of God.
• 21:25
  Just wiping away.
• 21:26
  All the tears.
• 21:27
  Wiping away.
• 21:28
  All the suffering.
• 21:30
  By people turning.
• 21:32
  To the Lord.
• 21:33
  Jesus Christ.
• 21:35
  That is to be.
• 21:36
  Our prayer.
• 21:38
  And just finally.
• 21:39
  That's what we want to see.
• 21:40
  God's search here.
• 21:42
  For a people.
• 21:43
  To pray.
• 21:44
  One who will stand.
• 21:46
  In the gap.
• 21:47
  Lest the nation.
• 21:48
  To be destroyed.
• 21:49
  And he says.
• 21:49
  But I found.
• 21:50
  None.
• 21:52
  What a day.
• 21:53
  They were living in.
• 21:54
  When there was no one.
• 21:55
  To stand in the gap.
• 21:58
  Praise God.
• 21:58
  We have one.
• 22:00
  Who has stood.
• 22:01
  We have a great.
• 22:02
  High priest.
• 22:03
  Over us.
• 22:04
  In whose name.
• 22:05
  We pray.
• 22:06
  Our Lord.
• 22:07
  Jesus Christ.
• 22:08
  Christ.
• 22:09
  And we must remember.
• 22:10
  The power.
• 22:12
  That there is.
• 22:12
  In prayer.
• 22:13
  Through him.
• 22:14
  As we live in a day.
• 22:16
  Of such moral corruption.
• 22:19
  And we think of our leadership.
• 22:20
  And all that's going on around us.
• 22:23
  And think.
• 22:23
  Is there any.
• 22:24
  Who will stand.
• 22:24
  And pray.
• 22:26
  Well.
• 22:27
  We are called.
• 22:29
  You and I.
• 22:30
  To stand.
• 22:31
  In the name of Christ.
• 22:32
  And pray.
• 22:33
  For God's healing.
• 22:35
  On our land.
• 22:36
  For godly wisdom.
• 22:37
  And leadership.
• 22:38
  To come in.
• 22:38
  From the very top.
• 22:40
  Right down.
• 22:41
  Through our society.
• 22:43
  To pray.
• 22:44
  To this God.
• 22:45
  Who is able.
• 22:48
  There is a gap.
• 22:49
  That needs to be filled.
• 22:51
  By a praying people.
• 22:53
  But sometimes.
• 22:54
  The devil will have us think.
• 22:56
  What difference.
• 22:57
  Will my prayer make.
• 23:00
  Well.
• 23:00
  We must remember.
• 23:02
  To whom we are praying.
• 23:04
  And the power.
• 23:05
  That he has.
• 23:07
  And sometimes.
• 23:08
  It's good for us.
• 23:09
  Just to remind ourselves.
• 23:10
  Of the power.
• 23:12
  Of answered prayer.
• 23:14
  And I'm sure.
• 23:14
  Many of you.
• 23:16
  Can look back.
• 23:16
  In your own life.
• 23:17
  And see.
• 23:18
  The wonderful ways.
• 23:20
  In which God.
• 23:20
  Has answered prayer.
• 23:22
  Be it in a personal sense.
• 23:24
  For someone.
• 23:25
  Around you.
• 23:25
  Or even.
• 23:26
  Hearing of other stories.
• 23:27
  Around you.
• 23:28
  Of people.
• 23:28
  Who have had wonderful answers.
• 23:30
  Of prayer.
• 23:32
  Being answered.
• 23:33
  Maybe you've read.
• 23:34
  Of stories.
• 23:35
  Of praying people.
• 23:36
  In the past.
• 23:37
  You've got your own.
• 23:38
  Favorite story.
• 23:39
  You like to go back to.
• 23:41
  Well.
• 23:41
  There's a couple.
• 23:41
  I was reading recently.
• 23:42
  I just want to share them.
• 23:43
  With you.
• 23:44
  As we come.
• 23:45
  To a close.
• 23:45
  Just to remind us.
• 23:47
  Sometimes how.
• 23:49
  Simple prayer.
• 23:51
  Can achieve.
• 23:52
  So much.
• 23:52
  And the two little stories.
• 23:54
  I want to share with you.
• 23:55
  Both involve.
• 23:57
  Little children.
• 23:58
  Praying.
• 23:59
  As a reminder to us.
• 24:01
  That that's the way.
• 24:02
  We come to God.
• 24:03
  In prayer.
• 24:04
  As little children.
• 24:05
  Dependent on God.
• 24:06
  As our father.
• 24:08
  In heaven.
• 24:09
  The first was a story.
• 24:10
  Told by Helen Rosevear.
• 24:13
  I mentioned it.
• 24:13
  A few weeks ago.
• 24:14
  In a different story.
• 24:16
  That she told.
• 24:17
  About her own suffering.
• 24:18
  When she was a missionary.
• 24:20
  But she told this wonderful story.
• 24:22
  Of answered prayer.
• 24:24
  She said.
• 24:24
  A mother.
• 24:25
  At her mission station.
• 24:26
  Had died giving birth.
• 24:28
  To a premature baby.
• 24:30
  And we tried to improvise.
• 24:32
  An incubator.
• 24:33
  To keep the infant alive.
• 24:36
  But the only hot water bottle.
• 24:37
  We had.
• 24:38
  Was leaking.
• 24:40
  Beyond.
• 24:41
  Repair.
• 24:42
  Repair.
• 24:42
  So she said.
• 24:44
  We asked the children.
• 24:45
  To pray for the baby.
• 24:47
  And for her sister.
• 24:49
  And one of the girls.
• 24:50
  Responded in prayer.
• 24:52
  And said this.
• 24:53
  Dear God.
• 24:54
  Please send.
• 24:55
  A hot water bottle.
• 24:57
  Today.
• 24:59
  Tomorrow.
• 24:59
  Will be too late.
• 25:01
  Because then.
• 25:02
  The baby.
• 25:02
  Will be dead.
• 25:04
  And dear Lord.
• 25:05
  Please send.
• 25:06
  A doll.
• 25:06
  For her sister too.
• 25:08
  So she won't feel.
• 25:09
  So lonely.
• 25:10
  It's a simple.
• 25:13
  Little prayer.
• 25:14
  Isn't it?
• 25:15
  Well that afternoon.
• 25:17
  A package arrived.
• 25:18
  From England.
• 25:19
  This was all the way.
• 25:20
  To Africa.
• 25:21
  To Sair.
• 25:22
  And the children.
• 25:23
  Watched as the package.
• 25:24
  Was opened.
• 25:26
  And much to their surprise.
• 25:27
  Under some of the clothing.
• 25:29
  Was a hot water bottle.
• 25:31
  And immediately.
• 25:32
  The girl.
• 25:33
  Who had prayed.
• 25:33
  So earnestly.
• 25:34
  She started to dig.
• 25:35
  Into the box.
• 25:36
  All excited.
• 25:38
  If God sent that.
• 25:40
  She said.
• 25:40
  I'm sure he sent a doll.
• 25:43
  And there it was.
• 25:45
  At the bottom of the box.
• 25:46
  A doll.
• 25:47
  For the little sister.
• 25:49
  It's amazing.
• 25:50
  How.
• 25:51
  Five months.
• 25:52
  Before that time.
• 25:54
  Back in England.
• 25:55
  A group.
• 25:56
  Who had been praying.
• 25:57
  For this mission.
• 25:58
  In Africa.
• 25:59
  Had packed up.
• 26:00
  This box.
• 26:01
  With a doll.
• 26:02
  And a hot water bottle.
• 26:04
  And it arrived.
• 26:05
  The very day.
• 26:06
  They needed it.
• 26:09
  It's a reminder.
• 26:10
  To us.
• 26:11
  That God hears.
• 26:12
  And answers.
• 26:13
  Prayer.
• 26:13
  Simple prayers.
• 26:15
  Offered.
• 26:15
  In faith.
• 26:17
  Another story.
• 26:18
  I read.
• 26:18
  Was about a young boy.
• 26:20
  Who was in hospital.
• 26:21
  In Glasgow.
• 26:22
  This is going back.
• 26:23
  A good number of years.
• 26:24
  Now.
• 26:25
  He was 10 years old.
• 26:27
  And he hadn't been well.
• 26:28
  All his days.
• 26:29
  He'd suffered ill health.
• 26:30
  He'd come from a very poor.
• 26:32
  Family.
• 26:33
  And here he was.
• 26:34
  Lying in hospital.
• 26:35
  Awaiting an operation.
• 26:36
  That would help him.
• 26:37
  If all went well.
• 26:40
  And the doctors.
• 26:41
  And the surgeon.
• 26:41
  Who were going to be with him.
• 26:43
  In his operation.
• 26:43
  They came round.
• 26:44
  To see him.
• 26:45
  Before the operation.
• 26:46
  And little boy.
• 26:47
  Asked him.
• 26:48
  Will one of you.
• 26:49
  Pray for me.
• 26:51
  They all gave a little smile.
• 26:53
  But none of them.
• 26:53
  Would pray.
• 26:54
  They weren't familiar.
• 26:55
  With what it was.
• 26:56
  To pray.
• 26:57
  So the little boy.
• 26:58
  Said I'll pray myself.
• 27:00
  And he offered up.
• 27:01
  A little prayer.
• 27:02
  He said Jesus.
• 27:04
  May you take care of me.
• 27:05
  And help those.
• 27:06
  Who will be with me.
• 27:07
  In surgery.
• 27:08
  That all would go well.
• 27:10
  Just a simple.
• 27:11
  Little prayer.
• 27:13
  Well the boy.
• 27:14
  Went through the operation.
• 27:16
  And the next day.
• 27:16
  After the operation.
• 27:17
  Had been done.
• 27:18
  The surgeon.
• 27:19
  And the doctors.
• 27:19
  Came round again.
• 27:21
  To see him.
• 27:22
  And everything.
• 27:23
  Had gone.
• 27:24
  Even more.
• 27:26
  Had gone better.
• 27:27
  Than they'd even imagined.
• 27:28
  It might.
• 27:28
  In the first place.
• 27:29
  And the surgeon.
• 27:30
  Who had done the operation.
• 27:31
  Said to him.
• 27:32
  Well you're Jesus.
• 27:33
  He heard your prayer.
• 27:35
  And the boy's response.
• 27:37
  Was well.
• 27:37
  I knew he would.
• 27:39
  And now doctor.
• 27:40
  I'm going to pray for you.
• 27:43
  As just a reminder.
• 27:45
  To us.
• 27:45
  Of simple.
• 27:47
  Faith.
• 27:48
  To come.
• 27:49
  With a childlike faith.
• 27:52
  To remind ourselves.
• 27:53
  Who it is.
• 27:55
  We are coming to.
• 27:56
  And who we are coming.
• 27:58
  Through.
• 28:00
  The one who fills.
• 28:01
  The gap for us.
• 28:02
  The Lord Jesus Christ.
• 28:04
  The one who we read of.
• 28:05
  In Hebrews 7.
• 28:06
  Where it says.
• 28:08
  Consequently.
• 28:08
  He is able to save.
• 28:10
  To the uttermost.
• 28:11
  Those who draw near to God.
• 28:12
  Through him.
• 28:14
  Since he always lives.
• 28:16
  To make intercession.
• 28:18
  For them.
• 28:19
  On the day of Ezekiel.
• 28:21
  There was a gap.
• 28:23
  And no one was found.
• 28:24
  To fill it.
• 28:26
  Well today.
• 28:26
  There is a major gap too.
• 28:29
  There is a breach.
• 28:31
  In our land.
• 28:31
  In our nation.
• 28:32
  In the nations of the world.
• 28:34
  We praise God.
• 28:35
  That we have us.
• 28:36
  Have a.
• 28:37
  One who makes intercession.
• 28:39
  For us.
• 28:40
  One.
• 28:40
  In whose name we pray.
• 28:43
  The name above every name.
• 28:44
  The Lord Jesus Christ.
• 28:46
  So may we have the faith.
• 28:48
  To come.
• 28:50
  And pray.
• 28:50
  In his name.
• 28:52
  For his blessing.
• 28:53
  To run down.
• 28:54
  And be poured out upon us.
• 28:56
  As a people.
• 28:57
  And as a nation.
• 28:59
  Let us.
• 29:01
  Take up the work.
• 29:02
  Of construction.
• 29:04
  And be a people.
• 29:05
  Who will stand in the breach.
• 29:07
  And stand in the name.
• 29:09
  Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 29:11
  Praying.
• 29:12
  His blessing.
• 29:13
  On us.
• 29:14
  May God bless.
• 29:15
  His word.
• 29:16
  To us.
• 29:17
  Well we'll conclude.
• 29:19
  By singing.
• 29:20
  To us please.
• 29:21
  That's Psalm.
• 29:22
  Psalm 133.
• 29:23
  Thank you.