Ez. 22:30 Ez. 22:30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”

Jerusalem in the time of Ezekiel chapter 22: Problems / gaps in the wall (collective sins in society) in the time of Ezekiel Killing, shedding of blood Killing, shedding of blood vs. 2,3,4,6,9,12,13,25,27 Problems / gaps in the wall (collective sins in society) in modern times. Infant mortality Infant mortality Violent death among young people Violent death among young people Abortion Abortion Gendercide Gendercide Infanticide Infanticide

Time of Ezekiel Idolatry (detestable practices) vs. 2,3,4,9,26,28 Modern times Worshipping our pleasures. Worshipping our pleasures. Phil. 3: 19 their god is their stomach, (appetites) Addictions: Alcohol, Alcohol, Drugs, Drugs, Sex, Sex, Food, Food, Adrenaline Adrenaline Entertainment Entertainment Sports Sports

Time of Ezekiel Immorality (detestable practices) vs. 2,9,10,11 (including incest vs. 2,9,10,11 (including incest ) Modern times Sex tourism. Sex tourism. Pedophilia, Pedophilia, Sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and men and women, Sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and men and women, Human trafficking Human trafficking Incest Incest

Time of Ezekiel Corruption and abuse of authority by people in authority. vs. 6,7,12,25,27 Modern times Corruption and abuse of authority by people in authority Corruption and abuse of authority by people in authority Lack of a model of servant leadership Lack of a model of servant leadership

Time of Ezekiel Oppression of the poor, widows, orphans and strangers vs. 7,25,29 Modern times Inequality in social classes (cast system) Inequality in social classes (cast system) Oppression of migrant and immigrant workers. Oppression of migrant and immigrant workers. Lack of compassion, justice and mercy. Lack of compassion, justice and mercy. Compare with Amos 5: “Be perfect / merciful like my heavenly Father Mat. 5:48 e Luc. 6:36.

Time of EzekielExtortion, Unjust gain vs. 12,13,27,29 Modern times Greed, Greed, Slavery (half of all the slaves worldwide live in India) Slavery (half of all the slaves worldwide live in India) Bonded labor Bonded labor

Ez. 22:30 Ez. 22:30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but... “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but...

Ez. 22:30 Ez. 22:30 “ … I found no one.”

What a terrible conclusion for God to reach!! What a terrible conclusion for God to reach!!

Jerusalem and Jewish society lay in ruins for almost a century until Nehemiah comes unto the scene. Jerusalem and Jewish society lay in ruins for almost a century until Nehemiah comes unto the scene. God is challenging our generation to be like Nehemiah. God is challenging our generation to be like Nehemiah. Let us look at some of the characteristics and strategies of Nehemiah: Let us look at some of the characteristics and strategies of Nehemiah:

He had a heart for God and His kingdom He had a heart for God and His kingdom He had courage to ask questions He had courage to ask questions He was moved by the need He was moved by the need He depended on God and practiced the presence of God He depended on God and practiced the presence of God He sought God’s strategies. He sought God’s strategies.

Gaps in the wall, categories of children at risk Gaps in the wall, categories of children at risk Children at risk: Children that run the risk to never reach the dream, plan, intention that God has for them. Children at risk: Children that run the risk to never reach the dream, plan, intention that God has for them.

Some categories of children at risk: Some categories of children at risk: Street children Street children Sexually exploited children Sexually exploited children Children in slums, involved in crime Children in slums, involved in crime Children involved in drug traffic Children involved in drug traffic HIV/AIDS affected children HIV/AIDS affected children Unborn children Unborn children Children with special needs Children with special needs Child soldiers Child soldiers Refugee children Refugee children Working children Working children Female children Female children

Nehemiah prayed, fasted, risked himself to be able to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem God gave Him the right strategy to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah prayed, fasted, risked himself to be able to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem God gave Him the right strategy to rebuild the wall. Chapter 3: Everyone, side by side doing their part, taking up their responsibility Chapter 3: Everyone, side by side doing their part, taking up their responsibility

Final questions: Final questions: Will we be found? Are we available to be the Nehemiah generation? Will we be found? Are we available to be the Nehemiah generation? Which area, gap in the wall will you restore?? Which area, gap in the wall will you restore??

What would be the five major problems to overcome? What would be the five major problems to overcome?