untempered mortar

Seeking for Someone to Stand in the Gap

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

In a political, religious, and evil world there must be more than these to work the tide against what is vile, and evil.  There must be Righteousness;  God’s Righteousness which as humanity we have none, except it be given us through the Son of God, and His death on the cross.  Yet in the day we live we who profess, and worship Jesus Christ must “Stand in the gap” which is keeping the condemned human race from God and His Righteousness.  Hear what God says:

“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. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 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.” Ezekiel 22:26-30 (KJV)

After I read the above verses I wrote the following in my journal:

My reading today was Ezekiel 22 – 23. I have particularly noted verses 23-31 of chapter 22. The priests (v. 26), the princes (v. 27), and the prophets (v. 28) are said to be profane in the work, words, and deeds of God’s Word.

“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.” (v. 30).A sad state for the nation – any nation. May God help us.

There is One who has stood in the gap – the gap between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5-6) – the Man Christ Jesus.

Today Believer’s who have been born again by Christ Jesus stand in the gap of a nation, a community, etc. that are on the brink of peril, decay, and destruction. If not then we are failing God and His Word, and need to repent. How do we stand in the gap?

The key to standing in the gap is looking at those things that are mentioned by the prophet related to the “Priests”, the “Princes”, the “Prophets” and the “People” (v. 29). Now, back to my journal:

Through a holy life and living praying for the people – the Priests;

When in places of leadership in our communities, States and Country we are fair and just in our dealings with people, make right and just judgments, and treat all equally – the Princes;

We faithfully proclaim the whole word of God – “All the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), not just the bits and pieces that suit us – the Prophets;

Going about our daily lives living for the LORD, doing His word and will, treating all like we ourselves want to be treated, loving God, and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves – the People.

In our society today, here in the U. S. of A. we Christians do fit into these categories. We are all priests, princes, prophets and the people of God. We are responsible in each area. Stand in the gap through Christ Jesus where you live, in what you do, or wherever you may go.

The Proof of Truth

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

There were a few times when I was a kid, that I got to use whitewash. Some may be asking, “What is whitewash?” I do not remember what the ingredients in it are, but I remember it was used by many people to put a cheap covering over a hard looking building, fence, or barn. It only had an appearance of looking good for a rain or two; then it was a mess.

Jesus referred to “Whited sepulchres” in Matthew 23:27; which is reference for covering, putting a false appearance on a tomb making it appear to be something it was not. He likens them to being “Whited sepulchres”.

The prophet Ezekiel speaking to the captives in Babylon is used by God to confront them of their trust they had placed in false prophets; and not in the LORD.

“Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.” Ezekiel 13:10-11 (KJV)

The “Untempered morter” is whitewash. The “Peace” the false preachers had proclaimed was untempered mortar and could not give strength to the wall they claimed they had for safety. It was a crumbling wall, daubed with color, but no real mortar.

The truth of this matter is that false teachings will not stand the test of truth. God is truth. One’s who claim to speak for God better be sure that God has spoken to them. Those who claim to have a word from God, and that word is not fulfilled; does not come to pass has not spoken for God.

For some reason it seems that false teachers who are always making people applaud themselves, never lift up the name of the Lord; and are always trying to increase their profit, by fleecing the sheep. It does not seem it is ever done without asking for a “Seed gift” or some other name.

Their words are like the whitewash. It cannot stand the rains of God’s judgment. The wall of false teaching will come crumbling down.

Here is the mortar that holds all of God’s truth together: Jesus Christ died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again from the grave. He is returning again some day to receive all who believe in Him to Himself; and so shall we ever live with the Lord (John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)