========================================================================
  EZEKIEL 22:30
  by Chuck Smith
========================================================================

Summary: God's primary desire is to have a relationship with humanity,
but He must judge due to His righteousness, and He is searching for men
and women to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of a corrupt
nation.

Topics: "Intercession", "God's Call"
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverbs 14:34, Isaiah 59:16, Jeremiah 5:1, Ezekiel 22:30, Matthew 6:33, Romans 3:23, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:8

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chuck Smith emphasizes that God is actively seeking individuals to serve
Him, highlighting the deplorable state of Judah, where corruption
permeated leadership, the priesthood, and the prophets. Despite the
nation's moral decay and rejection of God's guidance, God remains
merciful and desires repentance, searching for someone to intercede on
behalf of the people. However, He found none willing to stand in the
gap, leading to inevitable judgment. Smith draws parallels to
contemporary society, urging listeners to recognize the need for
righteousness and the importance of seeking God amidst a morally corrupt
world.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"GOD WANTS YOU"

Intro: Old recruiting signs, "Uncle Sam wants you." God is always
seeking

to recruit for His service. God is plenteous in mercy - slow to

judgment. The last thing God wants to do is judgment. Yet because

He is righteous, He must judge. When everything else fails,

judgment must come. Right up to the moment the axe falls, God is

crying, "Turn ye, turn ye, for why..."

I. JUDAH'S DEPLORABLE STATE.

A. Nation thoroughly corrupted.

1. Government leaders corrupt.

a. Filled with greed, self interest - accepting

bribes.

b. Dishonest, corrupt!

2. The priesthood had failed.

a. God's representatives.

b. They became materialists.

c. They denied the supremacy of the spiritual.

d. They sought to interpret the Word of God rather

than believe.

3. The prophets were liars.

a. They were saying, "peace, peace," - when God

was bringing war.

b. They were predicting victory - when God had

determined defeat.

c. They were crying prosperity - when God was

about to take away their possessions.

4. The people had become irrecoverably corrupt.

a. When the foundations are destroyed, who can

stand?

b. Lack of true spiritual guidance led to carnal

cesspool.

1. Pornography, adultery, fornication,

incest.

c. With the false prophets holding out false

hopes, no need to repent.

II. GOD'S SEARCH FOR A MAN.

A. God is so merciful - even now He would forgive them, if they

would only repent.

B. God sought for a man to stand in the gap.

1. A great breach had come in their relationship with God.

2. The hedge of His divine protection was gone.

3. God was looking for intercessors.

C. "But I found none."

1. Everyone had his own excuse.

a. I'm building a house.

b. I'm planting a field.

c. I'm developing financial security.

d. These things will all soon be destroyed.

2. Carnal man is absorbed in what to eat, drink, wear.

a. But seek ye first, the kingdom of God...

III. "I FOUND NONE, THEREFORE I POURED OUT MY WRATH UPON THEM."

A. They gave Him no alternative.

1. He had called - they would not answer.

2. He had warned - they ignored it.

3. He pleaded - they mocked Him.

4. He stretched out His arms - they walked away.

5. Being righteous He must act, He has left no excuse.

6. He had desperately sought for a man.

B. History, they say, repeats itself.

1. Principles are the same.

a. "Righteousness exalts a nation, sin is..."

b. Seek God and you will be blessed - forsake God

and you will be destroyed.

2. Times may change - principles don't.

a. Man is the same. He is a sinner and lost

without God.

C. Looking at our nation today.

1. Moral cesspool.

2. Corrupted leaders.

3. Corrupted prophets.

4. Hedge of defense broken down - great gap.

5. God is seeking men and women.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/ezekiel-2230/
========================================================================