Standing in the Gap Series
Answer the Call
Study Guide
Message for Sunday June 2, 2019
This Week Reading: Ezekiel 22:23-31 Additional Reading: Isaiah 6:1-13
Introduction
God works when people respond to His call. God desires to heal broken people and our broken world. When God finds a person who is willing to say here I am God use me then God is able to work. As incredible as it sounds God rarely works if no one answers the call. God gives a positive obligation to those who follow Him to be instruments of His healing grace in a broken world. Saying an unconditional yes to God's call leads you on the adventure of a lifetime. It is an adventure like no other. A life lived in response to God's call is a life live to its fullest. To not answer God's call is to miss what God would have done through you. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. The key question to ask as you go through this study is, have you said an unqualified yes to God? Just think of some of the amazing things that have happen when people said yes to God's call. Abraham said yes and was used by God to build the God's people. Mary said yes and Jesus was born into the world. Hudson Taylor said yes and China was opened to the gospel. David Wilkerson said yes and the ministry Teen challenge was born. Chuck Colson said yes and the ministry Prison Fellowship was born. Countless people said yes and Sunday school classes were taught and neighbors reached and broken people made whole and sick people comforted. Nothing happens in God's world without people saying yes and answering the call.
Background Information
Ezekiel is a book that is fairly unknown to most followers of Jesus. Ezekiel receives visions from God while the people of Israel are in exile in Babylon. Thus God's punishment has already fallen upon Israel. Information about Ezekiel as a man is given in chapter 1 verse 2 and 3. He lived from approximately 640 BC - 587 BC. Ezekiel's message clearly sets forth the responsibility of followers to warn others and reach others (Chapter 3 verses 16-27).The scriptures we are studying can be divided into three basic parts. First is a description of the evil of the society at that time. All classes of society had become corrupt (Rulers, priests, prophets and people). Second God is seeking someone to step up to rebuild the broken world. Third and sadly God can not find anyone to answer His call and divine judgment falls on Israel as a consequence. In the additional verses above Isaiah in his day did answer God's call. Sadly in Ezekiel's time no one stood in the gap. Will anyone stand in the gap in our time?
A Simple Outline with Key Points
I. Universal Brokenness
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Genesis 6:5
The world we live in is broken. Men women and children are broken. People, families and society will only change if and when hearts are turned to God.
II.. God’s Desire and God’s Method of Working
When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. Ezekiel 3:18
A follower of Jesus has a positive obligation to God and others to let God use them as an instrument with broken people. Everyone has a part to play.
III. Two Basic Why Questions
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
The real question is not Why – the real question is Will you answer the call
Point of Light Groups:
Are a network of healthy groups caring for each other while expanding Jesus' Kingdom together as points of light.
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Info here: Point of Light Group Schedule
I. Universal Brokenness
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Genesis 6:5
The world we live in is broken. Men women and children are broken. People, families and society will only change if and when hearts are turned to God.
II.. God’s Desire and God’s Method of Working
When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. Ezekiel 3:18
A follower of Jesus has a positive obligation to God and others to let God use them as an instrument with broken people. Everyone has a part to play.
III. Two Basic Why Questions
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
The real question is not Why – the real question is Will you answer the call
Point of Light Groups:
Are a network of healthy groups caring for each other while expanding Jesus' Kingdom together as points of light.
Point of Light Group Questions
1. Have you ever sensed that God was calling you? Describe how that happened. How did you know it was God? How did you understand the call of God? How did you respond?
2. Read verses 23-29 together. Break it down verse by verse and discuss how this relates to us today i our current time in history.
3. What do we learn about God's character in verses 30 and 31? What do we learn about his justice? What do we learn about God's desire or heart for broken people?
4. What does it mean to stand in the gap? What does it mean to build up the wall? How can we apply these ideas and images in our lives today? What are some areas of need you see?
5. Discuss why you think no one answered God's call in Ezekiel's time? What was the result? Give some reasons why people do not answer God's call in our day.
6. What are some areas God is calling you to be involved in now in your life? What are any obstacles you have that prevent you from saying yes?
7. What call of God are you going to answer or continue answering in your life?
2. Read verses 23-29 together. Break it down verse by verse and discuss how this relates to us today i our current time in history.
3. What do we learn about God's character in verses 30 and 31? What do we learn about his justice? What do we learn about God's desire or heart for broken people?
4. What does it mean to stand in the gap? What does it mean to build up the wall? How can we apply these ideas and images in our lives today? What are some areas of need you see?
5. Discuss why you think no one answered God's call in Ezekiel's time? What was the result? Give some reasons why people do not answer God's call in our day.
6. What are some areas God is calling you to be involved in now in your life? What are any obstacles you have that prevent you from saying yes?
7. What call of God are you going to answer or continue answering in your life?
This Week's Challenge: Discuss as a group how you can hold each other accountable to fulfill God's call on your lives personally and as a point of light group.
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