Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. 4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, 6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Ezra was a prophet in Israel at a time of rebuilding, near the end of the captivity. A remnant had been left behind, but they were no better off. They didn’t have a nation. Everything was a wreck and in shambles. The time we live in now is like this. Wickedness and darkness of the times are evident. By and large people don’t realize the shape our country is in. They have fallen for what has been put out. We have to be careful not to be weakened and slip from God. The wickedness is hammering at the church world. People have sold out to mystical beliefs, other religions, and wickedness. Even in the times of the Revolution there were other religions present in American but by a small minority. The changes in the last 20 years have broken America down.
Truth is what people want it to be. In 2013 a bill was introduced in Congress to protect marriage and define it as between a man and woman. They said they had to define the word is. If something IS right, then it’s right. If something IS wrong, then it’s wrong. After deliberation it was determined that is means whatever an individual believes. No matter what history says; no matter what the Bible says, it is irrelevant. What anyone wants to believe is right is right. So, therefore, now it is legally right for two men or two women to marry. That followed suit with other countries. Truth has been kicked out. Christians can believe what they want as long as it doesn’t go against anything else. It’s been heading to this for years.
People are confused. The time has come when people don’t know their left from their right. We’ve lived long enough to see this come to pass. What is wrong is lawful. Sin is okay. It is legal for a person to live however they want. Times are crazy. News. Politics. Media. They drum up something all the time. It’s more than scary. I heard a preacher the other day whose topic was “America, have you lost your mind?”
Ezra saw the shape of the people and the triumph of wickedness. The Levites were intermarrying. Baal worship was introduced because King Ahab married Jezebel. We have to make sure that watching America fall doesn’t make us fall. Ezra prayed and rent his clothes. He blushed, ashamed at what he saw and asked for grace for a little reviving in their bondage.
We have an opioid crisis in America yet people talk of legalizing marijuana. Have we lost our minds? It’s not the time to get drug out. It’s time to get on our knees and call on the Lord. Serious prayer occurred and things happened for Ezra. When much of the world has gone to a Sunday morning only service, I’m glad we’re still here on Sunday and Wednesday nights. We might not fit in with the world but let’s tremble at the Word. Only by the gospel were we saved. That’s what brought about our change.
The people got down and prayed. Their trespasses reached the heavens. God sees it all. If we don’t intercede for America where will she be? Had not this remnant prayed for Israel, she may have been gone. There may be only a few who call on God but I want to be part of that number. In order for our nation to turn back to God people have to turn back to him.
And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. God could strike this world down. We’re on the verge of judgment, but God is still offering grace. If a nail works loose on the steps you know what will eventually happen if you don’t nail it down. The board won’t hold up. One day it will come out and you’ll hit the ground. Let’s hammer down the loose nails.
Let’s do some serious praying.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 