Our Hope is Lost

Our nation is going through a lot today.

I guess we've gone through a lot over the years. Even as a church. Our church is taken a lot of hits with the coronavirus code. 19. It's been a difficult different kind of the day for us but usually things that happen are things that we've seen in history, even with code 19 in 1918. Something similar. The Spanish flu influenza get just after world world war world war one.

At the end of that time. This virus. This disease broke out across our nation.

Thousands were dying in churches were closed for weeks. You read some of the articles in some of the diaries of folks you see that it was a time when it seemed hopeless after was all over and done.

Francis Grimké, a pastor in Washington DC wrote an article of reflection, I want to share paragraph with you in his remarks. He said this. There's been considerable grumbling had no on the part of some, particularly in regard to the closing of the churches. It seems to me.

However, in a matter like this. It is always wise to submit to such restrictions. For the time being. If, as a matter of fact it was dangerous to meet in theaters and in schools. It certainly was no less dangerous to meet in churches the fact that the churches were places of religious gathering and others not, would not affect in the Leesburg help question involved. If avoiding crowds lessens the danger of being infected. It was wise to take the precaution and not needlessly run in danger and expect God to protect us. Sounds very similar to the day.net seasons come and go when they mark us. They show who we are and whose we are for the most part we've enjoyed great freedom in our nation great peace, even great prosperity. It's easy for us to take for granted.

These privileges that the Lord has blessed us with the current season, though, will pass on another note, I guess. What has taken the headlines of our news today is more of some of the racial divide that our nation faces what has taken center stage is the death of George Floyd along with other incidences in the racial tension and the riots that are happening in our own city and in cities across the nation and I guess in the midst of a pandemic.

Sometimes were asking is there hope and in the midst even of racial tension and unrest like were finding in our nation. Even this very day. We have to ask is there any hope.

Is there any hope out there today were looking at a time in the life of the Israelites, the nation of Israel when they felt like there was no hope. The word on the street was our hope is lost.

There had been three different times that Babylon had attacked Jerusalem in the first attack, the nobility had been transported deported over into Babylon, including some of the young men that we read about in Scripture.

Daniel meets Jack Shadrach in Bendigo about five years later, the Israelites had not learned their lesson.

They were still living in defiance and rebellion against God, God said battle and in a second time and this time others were deported and that second deportation easy. You'll was a part of that he was a part of a priestly family grew up in a priest home was being trained to be a priest and now at 25 being deported.

His life was changed.

It wasn't until about five years into his deportation that God actually called him to be a prophet, and now we have this book in the Bible you seek you along with Jeremiah began to talk about if Israel does not get on board with God's plan. They will suffer further destruction. And sure enough it came in that third deportation babel and came back in, wiped out Jerusalem. The temple walls everything that they knew what many were saying would never ever happen. And yet we see that kind of destruction taken place and so when we come to Ezekiel 37. Jerusalem is already been destroyed many hundreds of people have been deported into Babylon and again you can understand why the word on the street is our hope is lost. It didn't appear that they would ever survive and ever return in ever be the people that they once were. It's after this third attack and really enter the 70 years of captivity.

That Ezekiel receives this message now again for the kids sitting in the room this morning. I want you to pay close attention to the story. It's a great story is going to teach us a lot about God, but I think also your will enjoy just a storyline that comes from this. So let's read together.

Ezekiel 37 beginning in verse one the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out of the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the Valley. It was full of bones and he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the Valley and, behold, they were very dry and he said to me, Son of Man can these bones live and I answered all Lord God, you know. Then he said to me, prophesy over these bones and say to them all dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones. Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live, and I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flash to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded and as I prophesied, there was a sale and behold it rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone and I looked, and behold, there were singers on them and flashing come upon them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, prophesy to the breath, prophesy Son of Man say to the breath, thus says the Lord God come from the four winds over breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet and exceedingly great army.

Then he said to me, Son of Man. These bones are the whole house of Israel, behold, they say, our bones are dried up and our hope is lost.

We are indeed caught off therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves all my people. I will bring you into the land of Israel and you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and raise you from your graves all my people and I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land, then you shall know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.

The first point that I want to see from our text this morning but to make three separate taken note. You can follow along fairly easy, but the first point is the test of hope. Ezekiel is a man who was walking with God in this fate is going to be tested in this moment. It has been tested, but in this moment God has a question to put to him and as he was walking with God and listening to God. Remember, his life is taken a whole new direction for many of us in this they are lots of taken new directions than what we anticipated for Ezekiel's dreams had been taken away his dreams of being a priest in the temple of making his family and is God proud of him and what he was trying to accomplish. I think it's important for all of us to remember none of us get our drippings, our lives never turn out like we always dreamed, in part because as were growing up we don't have any idea of the plan of God and most of what were dreaming as well.

Very self centered. At that maybe that job. Even that you would've thought would've been a dream job and maybe you got it you turn it turns out one of their issues in that job. It's not all that it turned out to be. You thought I could just get married all my problems would be over but then you realize my marriage has issues. We live in a fallen world and were sinners, bad stuff still happens. You can't control everything and everyone around you.

But even though you can't control everyone around you. With God's help, you can control your response when the test come from where you place your hope be walking with God like Ezekiel was reading his word be praying be obeying his commands. I think in part that's that's what it means that the hand of God was only Ezekiel. He was a man that was set apart by God. He was a man who was living for God, even in a less than perfect world, don't get me wrong.

Ezekiel was a perfect man, but he was a man who knew God love God and obeyed God. Even though our circumstances can bolus over even when were walking with God. God will be with you and help you and direct you and is your praying in his urine.

His word, he will speak to you and guide you in I'm always thinking one of the better ways that we can pray with things ought pray when things are going our way is God, would you get glory out of this circumstance. Out of this situation. Out of this problem. God what you wrote me, would you let it be for my good that I might become more like Christ. The people around Ezekiel were say again in our text. Our hope is lost. What was God doing what did he have to say, God shows Ezekiel of vision in chapter 37 of more or less a graveyard where no one had been buried. It was a Valley of bones, dry bones, then, been there a while. There's no sugarcoating this set of circumstances that Ezekiel is looking at.

It was obvious, humanly speaking, that there was zero chance zero probability zero possibility that life was going to return any of those bones but that's really the first part of the tested you think about the test of hope.

God often times ask us questions we have to look to him. We have to evaluate and examine it and we are considering all that is around us and God will I think often times ask us this bait question. Do you trust me. Do you believe that I can get glory out of this. Do you believe that all things to work together for the good of them who love him, who are the called according to his purpose and I love the test, God gives Ezekiel in verse three. Did you see that will read over it. Son of Man can these bones live makes me think of the test that Jesus gave us early followers. The disciples when they were out among the crowd and over 5000 people were gathered in Jesus looked at them and he said, where do we where we buy bread, so that these people may eat that wasn't that Jesus was without an answer. God always knows he's omniscient, and John, as he writes about that story notes that in chapter 6, verse six he said this to test him. He said this to test them for he himself knew what he would do. I wonder what kind of test. You're facing in your own mind and heart. This this morning. How we respond to these questions are important is God asking you something today will we ever ever regather physically will we ever push past the racial divides intention in our nation will my marriage ever improve will my child ever come to the Lord, will I ever find a job for me.

We can go down through a list of questions that can come to us in Ezekiel answer. Did you did you see the answer in verse three, old Lord God, you know, that's great in it's not presumptuous is not doubtful it's just trusting the disciples when they were asked their question. They scored much lower.

Andrew mentioned a boys lunch five loads to fish but then he said, what are these among so many I'd say Ezekiel scored much higher.

That's a that's a great example for us to follow when we face similar questions, O Lord God, you know, I trust you in this. I think it's an answer from a man Ezekiel, who was walking with God faithfully over period of time is quite different than those who are less mature in their faith and who really have an experience and observed the power of God.

Now what about the second part of the test. This test of hope we we find it in verse four of chapter 37 he tells Ezekiel prophesied over these bones and say to them old dry bones here the word of the Lord, are you willing to accept, believe, and speak the word of God in your circumstances. A lot of voices around you telling you all kinds of things but are you willing to turn to the word of God what's been inspired by God written down under inspiration from God tonight, our senior pastor Dr. Monroe's gonna preach a message called the finger of God and as he deals with Exodus 19 through 20. We see an example of the finger of God moving and causing his word to be written down writing it down so what we have in the Scripture is better is from the mind of God is from the heart of God is from the finger of God and so I'm sure Ezekiel could feel pretty foolish in this moment speaking to things dry bones again zero possibility that they're going to have life, humanly speaking, the world may think a lot of what God commands us is foolish right God says forgive that person who is hurt you with… Makes it, he or she needs to pay. God said no that's not my way. Tell someone about God's incredible but only plan to rescue them from eternal punishment that makes sense in a world that is very tolerant, very pluralistic, maybe not. It's what God told us to do for a husband to love his wife even on some unlovable days for a wife to show respect to her husband and some very disrespectful moments doesn't make sense but we come back to the word of God. Our job is to be obedient to what God told us. Maybe worst to stand up for someone who is being mistreated or bullied. Maybe we are to seek to restore a fallen brother or sister. I would tell you unless were in the word were not ready to do any of those things but are most natural fault won't be to do what God tells us to do. It's huge that where in the word and that were walking with God and that were listening to God and we never go wrong.

We follow the word of God. God doesn't always do what we wanted to do but in this case a promises made any Ezekiel obeyed with happy said of you. The promise was made and he or she obeying on this day, I would say Ezekiel gets an A+. Both parts of the test he passed. And if we obey more, we would see the glory and the greatness of God more. Isn't that what verse six tells us he says and you shall know that I am the Lord.

We should pray, God forgive us for our failures, our lack of belief and let us have more A+ days of trusting and obeying because we want to see your glory spread throughout this world so you seen the test of hope now is with me. Secondly, the time of hope is really the verses seven through 10 that I'm I'm talking about, but what Ezekiel is seeing in this vision is a microcosm of a larger reality is like a lots of light entering in to these these bones and what comes on these bones is a time lapse of a video that God is at work doing among his people. Even though right now there's no site there's no sound but even would indicate such work for them. It's an incredible picture of hearing a sound movement taken place that the movement of the rattling of bones. I will sometimes say that when people repent of their sin and they turn to God they begin growing in their relationship with God. The bones are rattling humans.

Would you agree that were prone to inpatients. I would say so. But I would tell you, God's much more concerned about our character who were becoming than what we could ever do for him and especially for just our comfort, remember God is always more concerned about your character than he is your comfort. He can do anything he wants to do the sovereign is powerful, he can do whatever he wants, even through you in a millisecond, but he chooses typically to work through the process.

He has a time line of growing's so I think were the most important questions we can ask is, is there anything gobbles to change about me in this process. Is there anything God wants to change about me in this process.

Another helpful question is what is God teaching me through this. What's God showing me about himself was a song about commitment about me. What is what is he teaching me instead of the word on the street. Our hope is lost.

What are you what you teaching me what you want to change about me.

I think James chapter 1 helps us an understanding that turnover with me. James chapter 1 and be with me versus two through four. This is what James says, count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If unity lacks wisdom, let him ask God to give generously to all without reproach, and it will be given here.

I get at times as a holy discontentment in there. I love the fact that Calvary wants to regather. What a blessing to know that our folks miss each other and we miss corporate worship we missed joining together and it's not what God intended that we would all just me and our own homes. He meant for us to gather together as his people, but in the season. In this time.

Can we be people of faith and continue to walk with him be in his word and gathered even all over our city all over the world so that we can worship in a setting like this wait on God are our quarantine if were not careful can become very self-centered and selfish unconcerned about the glory of God and ready to bail on the growth that he wants to give because what I just need I just Walton.

I maybe we should pray God, please don't let us grow more selfishly or go back to normal.

Let us move forward with more Christ likeness more godly men more godly women more godly boys more godly girls more obedient church.

I love what one friend said be the church, even when you can't go to church God make us more obedient church focused on making disciples loving God and loving each other wait on God. I mean who likes the way but is in the waiting that oftentimes God does such supernatural work in our lives. Do what you noted to read the Bible yourself before God. Love your neighbor live your family pray but way, all God inpatients gets people into trouble Moses lost his patience and paid a huge price for the people were impatient with Moses abated even greater price, lack of patience Robbie Zacharias were the great heroes of the faith. Recently died. You've seen that in the headlines he was known for his intellect and his ability to talk about faith and explain some of the difficult questions that we face. Theologically, I saw a clip where he was answering. I guess one of the most troubling questions that people have.

How can God be good and loving and all-powerful and allow evil in our world and how that question goes, there are ways to combat that question, no doubt in an in this particular clip I was watching Robbie pointed to the fact that the problem is not said all there is to say about God. Yes he is good he is loving he is all powerful, but is also all wise. He's a mission.

He knows everything should we not trust him and not our own human understanding of a particular situation. This is a quote from Robbie Zacharias. If God is as great as Christians claim he is been sometimes not fully grasp in the fullness of his reasons is exactly what we should expect expected expect not to understand it all. Expect things to not be what you think they should be expected, but what else should we expect will be enemies working 24 seven to sidetrack people doubt here difficult circumstance. There is injustice here. A person deciding a good to go against God's design, but seems to be doing well. I would tell you the enemy wants to steal your faith if you heard of John Stein guard. It grieves me when I hear of people who profess to know Christ, then say that they no longer hold to the faith. He's the lead singer for Hawk Nelson, a Christian band this last week. He professed a loss of faith. It appears that he began to ask some of these tough questions. I don't know who was around him.

I don't know where he saw the answers, but he began to ask these kinds of questions about why does evil happen. How could a good God sent people to hell one as it seemed God is harsh in the Old Testament and the kind in the New Testament. How does it seem that the Bible can have some things it in one time it says this but it seems like it's saying something in another place and you know when we have those kind of doubts and doubts to come. We live in a world that's constantly sending the wrong messages the people you put around your pretty important to speaking into your life. Who are you going to and sharing your doubts with when you keep all of those in isolation then you end up most likely in some bad places God means for us to be in community and fellowship have brothers and sisters in our lives. It was sharing with and talking with. Here's a man who lost patience and he says that he no longer believes this is nothing new is the same old tricks of the enemy is been using for thousands of years. Don't fall for it.

Maybe you're watching today and you have some of the same kinds of questions. I hope that you will go up, especially if you live stream and can click the connect button asked that question. We have pastors and leaders here are church would love to speak with you and help you talk through those things that you're going through in your life.

Don't stay isolated weathers due to depression weathers due to confusion and doubt those questions out with people you know that love God, and that love you and will have some honest conversations with you in a fallen world, things won't makes its cry out with me for God to make all things right. While world are we will see many injustices.

Malpractice's abuses sometimes will even know how to talk about how to feel about May God help us to pray for justice against any mistreatment the doctor, a lawyer politician and a pastor or a police officer misuses his position or discriminates against someone because of race or ethnicity. We should do all we can to make sure the justice system addresses it. I'm grateful. At Calvary we see differences in people, we appreciate them. We enjoy them. I think that's one thing we miss about gathering is that we get together with so many different people and love in and see beyond our differences to see hearts of people who follow Christ. What a beautiful thing. God is has done in our church family. I know agrees all of us with the loss of George Floyd's family, his friends they've lost someone in the death didn't have to happen. He died unnecessarily. We we grieve with our our brothers of darker skin because of situations like this have fear and may not feel as comfortable engaging at different times and in different ways. Because of that fear that they have of being singled out or being suspected or treated guilty just because of the skin color.

We agreed to for public servants so many police officers, firefighters and others who often times because of one bad actor all categorized or pay such a huge price for the sins of others. We grieve for the losses of those who are experiencing right now on our city's business owners, community residents who were losing places of business and the protection even that they need in way it seems hopeless.net just like the Valley of the humble homes just like these dry bones that zero possibility. They would come back to live but I would say church we have a chance to make a difference in our culture.

We love each other we love our neighbor. We don't make distinctions but we love because God created us all in the image of God church. We have a chance to reach this next-generation to teach our children, parents don't miss this opportunity to teach her children were all created in the image of God. When an opportunity that we have. You see it's it's it's the time of hope, and this time lapse of sound rattling of bones bones come together muscles attached to bone.

As you look at the text scan covers the muscles and cocktails.

These EQ to prophesy breath into the newly formed bodies.

The same miracle.

He performed in the garden of Eden with Adam when he breathed life into him. The spirit enters their bodies and they begin to breathe and they stand up like a mighty army. Pretty impressive in this imaginable.

This miraculous remembers the road possibility will we see the test of hope. Be ready for the tough questions in your life.

We see the time of hope, be ready for the top process that we go through here on earth but is one more point I want you to see this morning and that's the terms of hope, be ready for the tough answers you might not always like the answers I'm thinking we can probably negotiate the terms right we think with how we sometimes humanly think I mean God, you might say this, but… You really mean this or God won't really do that.

I'm thinking we probably can negotiate the terms maybe bargain with God. Maybe demand from God.

No, that's the answer to that.

You have no rights.

Even if you are here is your me his what does that mean he owns. You how don't you you were bought at the price you are not your own. God owes you nothing you owe him everything. I know there's attention that we are adopted in Christ. Heirs with Christ seated with him in the heavenly even in your redeemed state, and Christ. It would be ugly if you were in charge. Can you let God be God, can you quit trying to put yourself on the throne of God.

Let God be God.

So what I'm saying is, God sets the terms. Verse 11. It's interesting, it set up this contrast.

Behold, they say, you maybe want to circle your Bible, behold, they say, our bones are dried up and our hope is lost, but look at verse 12 therefore prophesy and say to the us says the Lord God, they might say this but God says this the one who is good, loving and all-powerful and all wives. He has the final say you don't your circumstances.

Don't your past does your experiences don't the people around you don't know one sets the terms of your hope. Give this all-powerful God room to work in your life God works through our prayers. Even through our faith.

I don't want to diminish fate.

Jesus said this, the two blind men, according to your faith be it done to you. He said if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you will send this mountain move from here to there. That will move and nothing will be impossible for you.

He said to her father about his daughter. Do not fear only believe what Jesus do many mighty works in his own hometown of Nazareth because of their unbelief. And he asked when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth stop closing the doors that God is not closed. God has the power to deliver. Don't give up hope. This normally even say our hope is lost specially in the middle of the storm. It's hard to be judgmental when I think of the captivity of the Israelites.

The destruction of their economy, their city, their nation, although they knew of life turned upside down. How could they ever return to Jerusalem where is it that you feel hopeless this morning. Is it because of the injustice in our world today is because the quarantine is because of some kind of an addiction. Maybe it's an addiction to anger, minister, pornography maybe is the food biggest gambling is your job situation to feel hopeless maybe your family. You feel hopeless. I always think about when someone gets married. You have two sinners who are married to each other and how impossible that is that they could ever have a good relationship, but yet God is a God who works and sanctifies us in that I think about the parent who sees a child who is wayward and straying and living outside of God's design. It's easy to give up hope. Now you have two sinners who raised the center again, God works in those circumstances need his glory through them. I would say to you this morning if you hopeless feeling hopeless isn't all bad, especially when you learn how to rely on God. The apostle Paul had this huge problem. He called it a foreign the flesh, he prayed repeatedly, God taken away.

Second Corinthians chapter 12 verses nine and 10, God told Paul, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Then, of course, Paul responded, therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ. And I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. When I am weak, then I am strong is the greater good. The wisdom of God. What he teaches us by what we go through learning how to depend on him grow closer to him, enjoying him and be able to come to the place to say. All I need is a relationship with God. If I have that I have all that need because we serve a big powerful God, there's always hope change relief. Don't make him soon, but most likely it will come later. It also may not come in your lifetime. The hope in the change that you want to see may not come in your lifetime. Are you okay with you will is a God, please grant this request, but if nothing ever changes. I will serve you some of the Israelites died during the captivity, they did not return to Jerusalem. Daniel was not among those who return this is really great men of God, Ezekiel, another great men of God.

He did not return what I'm saying is you have to take your hope to the grave.

Are you okay with that.

You know, if you are what I would call you not crazy. I'll call you heroic. I'll call you someone who is pleased God was in Hebrews 11 is the hall of faith and so many great and wonderful things God doesn't.

He delivers in so many miracles and when you come the first 32 years, see if a compilation of wonderful acts of God, and what more shall I say for time would fail me to tell of Gideon Sampson, Jeff of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith. Conquered kingdoms enforce justice, obtain promises, stopped the mouths of lions quench the power of fire escape the edge of the sword were made strong out of weakness became mighty in war foreign armies to flight women received back their dad by resurrection some tortured, refusing to accept release and that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even change imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sewn into their were killed with the sword.

They went about in skins of sheep and goats destitute, afflicted, mistreated over the world was. Not worthy wondering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. All these though commended through their faith not received what was promised.

Since God had provided something better for us that apart from us. They should not be made perfect. Soon I read the first part of God is able.

Don't skip over the second part of that God is still able and God will help us to be faithful unto death, no matter the circumstances. When you think that all hope is lost five back with no it's not. I still have hope in God, even if I die, do not receive what I ask.

I'll be ready to stand before God. I will take my fate with me and I will stand before God faithfully. I wish I could tell people that if they turn to Christ all their problems would go away but I know that often times their problems just get harder. See Christianity is not just about moral ethical teachings.

I think it has that, but it's about a Savior who saves us from our sin.

The greatest injustice was that my sin was placed upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ, the perfect one and he died in my place. He saves us so that we can know him, enjoy him and glorify him in life and death, and I would say to you following Christ isn't easy. Just because you start following Christ. It doesn't mean everyone around you will start patting you on the back. You most likely will have some baggage from the past you have critics around you who may not want to let your past, goes like God does.

I love stories of conversion.

I hope that you read some of those I would love to be able to communicate a few of those with you but I will say to you Ezekiel 36 we get this picture of what conversion looks like when God gives us a new heart notice in verse 25.

If you look back with me in chapter 36 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness and from your idols I will cleanse you see when you turn from your sin and repentance.

The cleansing power of God to wipe all your sins away.

What a wonderful, wonderful picture notice when you repent from those idols and self-centeredness. Verse 26 I will give you a new heart and I and a new spirit I will put within you.

I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land I gave your father's and you shall be my people and I will be your God. This is a great picture of conversion of becoming a part of the family of God being adopted when God moves in our lives and shows us our sin and we turn from it. We repent of it you give us a new heart and puts his spirit within us.

He will help us no matter what we go through what I can tell you is that he gives you a new life, not a four steps to a better life, but he gives you one the death and resurrection of his son, which brings about our death itself. The repentance God is in the business of bringing life and hope to lifeless and hopeless situations he raises from the deadness of sins. And once you're in his family.

All that you experience will be used to make you more like Christ. Are you on board with letting God make you more like Christ in all our unrest or you will board with letting God make you more like Christ in our quarantine are you all warm and led letting God make you more like Christ in all your relationships and life. This passage points to the Israelites and their hope, but ultimately points to Christ who raises the dead and one day will gather all these people together. This is what Jesus does, he raises the dead.

What you go through may kill you if it doesn't kill you, it should make you stronger. Difficulty points us to Christ is our only hope and prepares us for the day you will stand before him. We have no hope. Apart from Christ. My hope the songwriter said is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. I wish you were here to sing with me this morning on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. When darkness fails, his lovely face. I rest on his unchanging grace in every high and stormy. Gail my anchor holds within the veil is owed his cabinet, his blood, support me in the whelming flood when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay when he shall come with trumpet sound who may then and him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne on Christ the solid rock I stand, would you pray with me. Father, you know that hurts the confusion, the hopelessness that rest in our world today. You know all the family situations that are listening right now to this message, who have heard this vision that you gave Ezekiel.

I pray that you give them hope again. Lord I pray that they would never ever give up hope that they would keep walking with you obeying you. Praying in seeking you being in your word Lord, may they never have give up. In Jesus name we pray. Amen