Indulging Sinful Ways Hurt (Oct 4)
Turning from the present state of
wayward Judah, Ezekiel examines
her past and catalogs her history
of sinfulness: idol worship, dishonor
of parents, extortion, mistreatment
of the defenders, profaning Sabbath,
uncleanness, adultery, dishonest
biz dealings, even child sacrifice.
Through it all, God has patiently
held back His anger. But no more:
I… have drawn forth my sword…
The testimony of the prophets
point to the time-proven principle:
Sin hurts. Looking back over the
sinful history of Judah in today’s
passages, is it any wonder that
God’s patience at last ran out
toward people who simply wouldn’t
learn, people who continually hurt
themselves and damaged each
other by indulging in sinful ways?
How many times this year have
you been stung by the same sin?
Perhaps it’s a bad habit you can’t
seem to break; or an unhealthy
attitude you haven’t dealt with;
or a strained relationship you have yet to mend. Ask God to guide you.
Lord, Free us from Burden of sin.
Lord, Free us from Social Injustice.
Lord, Free us from Child Abuse.Amen
Lord, Free us from Burden of sin:
I gather you out of the countries
where you have been scattered…
Then you shall know that I am the
Lord.. There u will remember your
conduct and all the actions by
which you have defiled yourselves.
Then you shall know that I am
the Lord (who) dealt with you for
My name’s sake, not according to
your wicked ways (Ezek 20:41-44)
Lord, I don’t want to look back
over my life and feel bad about
myself because of the things
I have done wrong. Help me to
quickly recognise & confess sin.
Enable me to live in such a way
that I don’t have regret over
my words, thoughts or actions.
Help me Lord to fully repent
so that You will fully lift the
burden of sin from me. Amen.
Lord, Free us from Social Injustice:
Your priests have violated my laws…
To them there is no difference
between what is holy and what
is not… Even common people
oppress the poor, rob the needy
and deprive foreigners of justice…
I looked for a man… who would
build up the wall & stand before Me
in the gap on behalf of the land
so I would not have to destroy it,
but I found none. So now I will pour
out my fury on them (Ezek 22:26-31)
Almighty God, we lift up S’pore to U
with all its sin; and ask that You will
have mercy upon us and help us
not reap the full consequences of
what we have sown. We stand in
the gap to invoke Your power on
our behalf. Do not judge us as we
deserve, but rather pour out Your
Spirit over this land and bring
thousands of people to You. Amen.
Lord, Free us from Child Abuse:
The Lord said… You must accuse
Oholah and Oholibah of all their
detestable sins.They have commited
adultery by worshiping idols and
murder by burning as sacrifices
the children they bore to me…
They have defiled my Temple…
On the very day that they sacrificed
their children to the idols, they
boldly came into my Temple to
worship! They came in and defiled
My house (Ezekiel 23:36-39).
I will put an end to lewdness
and idolatry in the land; and my
judgment will be a warning not to
follow their wicked example (v48).
Lord, we confess that we may have
treated our children with contempt
abusing or neglecting their needs.
Help us Lord to treat our children
as the precious gifts from God for
that’s what they truly are. Amen.