Sunday, January 18, 2009

Sanctity of Life Sunday...


Our sermon this morning was from Ezekiel 22...

Ezekiel 22:30
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Sin makes a gap in the hedge of protection that is about a people at which good things run out from them and evil things pour in upon them, a gap by which God enters to destroy them.
There is a way of standing in the gap, and making up the breach against the judgments of God, by repentance, and prayer, and reformation. Moses stood in the gap when he made intercession for Israel to turn away the wrath of God, Ps. 106:23.
When God is coming forth against a sinful people to destroy them he expects some to intercede for them, and enquires if there be but one that does; so much is it his desire and delight to show mercy. If there be but a man that stands in the gap, as Abraham for Sodom, he will discover him and be well pleased with him.
It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained, so that not one is found that will either give them a good word or speak a good word for them.
When it is so, what can be expected but utter ruin?
Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them (v. 31), have given it full scope, that it may come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever God’s wrath inflicts upon a people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God deals with them no worse, but even much better, than their iniquity deserves.
As Christians, we should be willing to 'stand in the gap'. Our pastor also gave all the statistics on abortion in America. It's staggering. At one point he shared this question... I know we've all received this email... Question: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion? If you said yes, congratulations you just killed Beethoven.
Our Pastor urged us to think about the 40+ million babies that have died since legalizing abortion. One of them may have been the one to know the cure for cancer, or aids, or diabetes. One of them may have been the God fearing president that would start revival and turn America back to it's roots. We may be experiencing God's judgement right now.
Anyway, all of this of course got me to thinking about all the birth mom's. How grueling their choice must have been. How easy it would've been just to have an abortion. How hard it must have been to give birth, fall in love then give up their child. We wouldn't be adopting our daughter if her mother had chose abortion. We are so entirely grateful and will never forget her sacrifice or take it for granted. Eternally His... JMS

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