Jesus mission on earth will not be complete until His name is exalted and His father glorified. As He rode triumphantly to Jerusalem; people praised and accorded Him honour-part of His due as the King of kings and Lord of lords. When they saw Him, they wondered and said "Who is this?" (Matthew 21:10). Good enough their confusion was soon removed as His personality was revealed. Then, He embarked on purging of the temple-a task which consummate His earthly assignment. His father's house must not be defiled and be turned into a den of thieves and robbers, so, He drove out those selling doves and changing money (Matthew 21:13). And when barriers-uncleanness, defilement, pollutions etc. were removed; feeble folks-the blind and the lame had access to Jesus and were healed (Matthew 21:14). But the scribes, chief priests and other leaders were indignant, mad, and murmured against Him. He did not give a damn because He knew that they exalt tradition but despise and disregard the commandment of God. God is set to purge the church and do a quick work in the nations of the earth (Ezekiel 11:24). God instructed Ezekiel to turn again the second time (Ezekiel 9:11) in order to see greater abominations committed by the elders of Israel after the first sight (Ezekiel 9:9, 8:12), and it was indeed grievous, he needed to see the extent of wickedness perpetrated by these elders. Similarly, a lot is happening today and that's why God is determined to act as He issued judgment on Judah when she stray away from God's commandment (Amos 2:4, 3:14).
After God gave the children of Israel a riddle and the parable of the eagle and the vine, Then He asked: "Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?" (Ezekiel 17:15b). Can the church, the leaders, priests, laity break covenant between them and the Holy God and still be delivered? Paul, the apostle also asked the Roman believers a similar question too in Romans 3:5b: "Is God unjust to inflict wrath" And since there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11), therefore, everyone who does evil will receive just and commensurate recompense. Because if the guilty is considered blameless, there'll be confusion and greater atrocities (Malachi 2:17). At the moment, abomination in the land and most especially in the church angers God; and He would not spare nor be pacified (Ezekiel 8:18). These defilement and pollutions have made God to move away from His sanctuary (Ezekiel 8:5-10). God's eyes will not pity because this evil has reached climax, so, He will strike (Ezekiel 7:9 &13b) and henceforth will no one strengthen himself in iniquity. We need to sincerely acknowledge the shortcomings of the church, her deficiencies and failure and stop patching things up. Let's call a spade a spade! The analogy in Ezekiel 19:4, 8-9 & 12-14) rightly depicts the current state of the church. In fact, it has now become a crucial matter as this is a lamentation that has become a lamentation for those who can decode the time and season in which we live. The church is gradually losing her power, no strong branch-a scepter for ruling (Ezekiel 19:14b).
But only those who sigh and cry over the abomination will be spared (Ezekiel 9:3-5) for there is no way anyone can hide (Ezekiel 13:6-10a), even the female folks (Ezekiel 13:17-23). Jesus couldn't keep silent when He saw the perplexing state and the degenerating condition of the people in His days. He decried the evil done by their spiritual leaders and pronounced woe on them for they were devourers, blind guides, hypocrites to mention a few (Matthew 23:14-16, 24, 27-28 &33). God also pronounced judgment on false prophets and priest who cared not for His glory; He did not spare them because they treated the law of God with levity (Malachi 2:2, 8-9). Besides, through His servant, the prophet, God repeatedly rebuked the bloody city (Ezekiel 24:6a &9), and twice He pronounced woe on it for innocent blood shed many of which were not covered but crying for vengeance (Ezekiel 24:7b-8). But when David lamented the death of Saul, he wept and said: "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon-Less the daughters of Philistine rejoice, Less the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." However, the people of Gath and Ashkelon certainly know about it because the Philistine stripped Saul of his armour and cut off his head (1Samuel 31:8-10). Is it not the same with the church today? Even if we fail to talk about our plight and woes; are sinners and unbelievers around not watching and seeing everything and making mockery of the church today? What is the church turning to in our days? When evil, destructions and desolations become so rampart because of sins in the church, and because of our persistent unfaithfulness to God (Ezekiel 15:8, Psalm 74:3-4, 79:1-7, 80:12). There are signs everywhere and biblical predictions are getting fulfilled so fast in our very eyes. In these days of heresies, fake gospel, adulterated messages, false prophets and teachers parading themselves and polluting the land, looseness, extreme carnality, and worldliness and so on and so forth. These are the days when many are obtaining wages of iniquity like Judas-a betrayer and guide who stood with those who arrested Jesus (Matthew 24:10-12, John 18:5b, Acts 1:16-18), so, can we claim and pretend that the church is truly clean and free.
Presently, there is dilemma. The world is looking up to the church for solution to prevailing problems nations are facing; but the church is busy gathering momentum to get fully entrenched in the world's system. Unfortunately, there seems not so much difference now that exist between the two. The world is getting churchy while the church too is getting worldly, consequently, the church cannot proffer needed solution to help relieve the world of her trauma and pains. The church too, on the other hand, is in desperate need of the assistance from the world, and things are getting worse by the day. We need not try to cover our mess for it is not concealed at all but evidently seen. We need to come to God first of all on behalf of the church before we can intercede for the world. And Jesus is standing outside waiting seeking fresh repentance from us (Revelation 3:20). And unlike the children of Israel whom God gave Ezekiel to as a sign, He also spoke kindly to them through Prophet Hosea, He, God wanting to be lenient with them, sympathetic, tempering justice with mercy, yet, they will not give in, repent nor amend their ways (Hosea 11:8-9, Ezekiel 12:6b, 11a). His divine plea for His people was to sow in righteousness so they could reap in mercy. Rather for them to yield, they were proud and so they stumble in their iniquity (Hosea 5:4b,11-12). And despite concerted effort to gain them back to Himself, they would not stop their deceitfulness and lies (Hosea 12:1 &13:12). God's intention has always been to help (Hosea 13:9) for there's no help outside God but His people need to return to Him (Hosea 14:1).
Why is it a must and quite indispensable for the church this hour to repent? It is necessary now than ever before because the church must be rightly positioned before she can bear the burden of the nations. The church needs to be in tune with God so that glory can dwell in the land because she is an extension of God to the nations. And until the church is thoroughly purged, we cannot expect much success in our world. The church is the hope of the nations! The desire of God is that glory should dwell in our land (Psalm85:9), but it has a precondition-there must be genuine seekers for God detests vain and hypocritical worshippers (Malachi 1:10). Many sheep are dispersed because there are no good shepherd (Ezekiel 34:6). But on such evil shepherds and even sheep who are vain, hypocritical, and are not mindful about God's glory, He has issued judgment (Ezekiel 34:8-10,17). When Jesus foresees the future deplorable condition of the church-the godless seeking God with ulterior motive, He asked "when the son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Would there be people like the widow woman who will hold unto God tenaciously till their request is granted and not be seeking short cuts. But these days, so many are not patient enough to wait on God rather they are treading evil fast-lane, thus defiling the land and polluting the church. Though some feel God is not favourably disposed to them, so, they need to help themselves and get "quick breakthroughs" while others feel waiting for Him may take long time, so they join themselves to the gods of this world because they wanted what God is not willing or ready to give. Yet, God's standpoint is clear, the church must come back to Him.
Why is it a must and quite indispensable for the church this hour to repent? It is necessary now than ever before because the church must be rightly positioned before she can bear the burden of the nations. The church needs to be in tune with God so that glory can dwell in the land because she is an extension of God to the nations. And until the church is thoroughly purged, we cannot expect much success in our world. The church is the hope of the nations! The desire of God is that glory should dwell in our land (Psalm85:9), but it has a precondition-there must be genuine seekers for God detests vain and hypocritical worshippers (Malachi 1:10). Many sheep are dispersed because there are no good shepherd (Ezekiel 34:6). But on such evil shepherds and even sheep who are vain, hypocritical, and are not mindful about God's glory, He has issued judgment (Ezekiel 34:8-10,17). When Jesus foresees the future deplorable condition of the church-the godless seeking God with ulterior motive, He asked "when the son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Would there be people like the widow woman who will hold unto God tenaciously till their request is granted and not be seeking short cuts. But these days, so many are not patient enough to wait on God rather they are treading evil fast-lane, thus defiling the land and polluting the church. Though some feel God is not favourably disposed to them, so, they need to help themselves and get "quick breakthroughs" while others feel waiting for Him may take long time, so they join themselves to the gods of this world because they wanted what God is not willing or ready to give. Yet, God's standpoint is clear, the church must come back to Him.
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