Ezekiel the Prophet Born during the reign of Josiah Witnessed the height of Judah’s reform and the depths of her fall Began his work in Babylon Wrote to convince the captives of the length of the captivity and the coming fall of Jerusalem

Judah’s Collapse Witnessed on Every Level In the “little” things - vs. 6-7 In the obviously vile and wicked - vs. 9-11 Led to the nation being as “dross” to be burned away - vs. 19-22 Due to their total abandonment of even the basic principles of God’s law - vs. 29

Judah’s Collapse Facilitated by a total collapse in leadership The nation was betrayed by her prophets - vs. 24-25,28 Polluted by her priests - vs. 26 Plundered by her Princes - vs. 27

BECOMING LIKE DROSS 19 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because all of you have become dross, therefore, behold, I am going to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 ‘As they gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into the furnace to blow fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger and in My wrath and I will lay you there and melt you. 21 ‘I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it. 22 ‘As silver is melted in the furnace, so you will be melted in the midst of it; and you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out My wrath on you.’ ” Ezekiel 22:19–22 (NASB95)

BECOMING LIKE DROSS “That which is natural” - “in accordance with the basic order of things in nature” The context deals with leaving the the order of things asGod established to do things not proper in a world judged by Him Rom 11:24 - whose longstanding practice made the Jews “natural branches” and the Gentiles “wild branches” 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. Romans 1:26–27 (NASB95)

BECOMING LIKE DROSS Homosexuality/Transgender Desires are Unequivocally Unnatural Their homosexuality did not violate their own “nature” but God’s long standing pattern Rather than recognize the Divine Creator as God they chose to worship the creation itself Vs. 23 This led to a condition that God never desired, but allowed to exist due to rebellion - vs. 24 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:23–24 (NASB95)

BECOMING LIKE DROSS 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:18–24 (NASB95)

BECOMING LIKE DROSS THE GENTILE WORLD Suppressed the truth - vs. 18 Exchanged the glory of God for the image of man - vs. 23 Dishonored their own bodies - vs. 24 GOD GAVE THEM UP To moral impurity - vs. 24 To vile affections - vs. 26 To a reprobate mind - vs. 28 BECAUSE He had revealed His will - vs.19-20 They exchanged the natural use for… - vs. 26,27 Did those things which were not proper - vs. 28

The Natural Pattern Marriage Any sexual fulfillment outside of this relationship is referred to as “fornication” A man cannot enter into a sexual relationship lest he “have his own wife” Likewise a woman cannot lawfully enter into a sexual relationship lest she “have her own husband” 1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:1–3 (NASB95)

We Must Stand in the Gap “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 (NASB95)