conviction so i sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before me on...

CONVICTIONSo 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.

(Ezekiel 22:30)

10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah:

11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.

12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts?

13 “Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

14 “Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

15 “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”

God Does Not Tolerate Sin -- Isaiah 1

1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

God Does Not Tolerate Sin -- Isaiah 59:1-2

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will

fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

God Does Not Tolerate Sin -- Revelation 2

20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you

allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to

teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality

and eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and

she did not repent.

22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit

adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of

their deeds.

23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall

know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I

will give to each one of you according to your works.


15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.


5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

God Does Not Tolerate Sin -- 1st John 1:5

Jesus Cleanses Temple -- John 2

13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.

15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.

16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

Paul Did Not Tolerate Error

1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them… (Acts 15:1-2)

Paul Did Not Tolerate Error

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,

because he was clearly in the wrong.

12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with

the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back

and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid

of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their

hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of

the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all… (Gal. 2:11-14).

Why Do Men Who Know Better Tolerate Error?

1. Please Worldly Christians (Isa. 30:8-11)

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a

scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever:

9 That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children

who will not hear the law of the LORD;

10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets,

“Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth

things, prophesy deceits.

11 Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the

Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.”

The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way… (Jer. 5:31).


1. Please Worldly Christians (2 Tim. 4:3-5)

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.


1. Please Worldly Christians (2 Tim. 4:3-5)

Why are there worldly Christians in congregations?

Ignorance (Jn. 4:22)

Lack of Discipline (1 Cor. 5:2, 7)

Weak Leadership (Acts 20:28-31)

Members’ love of sin (2 Thess. 2:10-12)


1. Please Worldly Christians (Isa. 30:8-11; 2 Tim. 4:2-5)

2. Pride and Prestige (Jn. 11:48; 12:42-43)

If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him,

and the Romans will come and take away both our place

and nation. (Jn. 11:48).

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him,

but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest

they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the

praise of men more than the praise of God. (Jn. 12:42-43).




3. Fear Men (Jn. 9:20-22; Gal. 2:11-14; 1:10)

20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.”22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.




3. Fear Men (Jn. 9:20-22; Gal. 2:11-14; 1:10)

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,

because he was clearly in the wrong.

12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the

Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and

separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of

those who belonged to the circumcision group. (Gal. 2:11-12).

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please

men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of

Christ. (Gal. 1:10).




3. Fear Men (Jn. 9:20-22; Gal. 2:11-14; 1:10)

4. Money (1 Tim. 6:10)

Judas - Mk. 14:10-11Samuel’s sons - 1 Sam. 8:1-3Balaam - Num. 22:7, 16-17




3. Fear Men (Jn. 9:20-22; Gal. 2:11-14; 1:10)

4. Money (1 Tim. 6:10)

5. Lack of Conviction - Lack of Faith

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2).

Conviction Requires Courage

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:6-9)

Self-Control Needed

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13)

Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. (Lk. 8:52-53)

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously (1 Pet. 2:23)

All Must GrowBe diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (1 Tim. 2:15)

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 3:17-18)

Act Like Men - 1 Cor. 16:13

…Contend earnestly for the faith… (Jude 3).

…I am set for the defense of the gospel…

(Phil. 1:16).

…we did not yield submission even for an

hour, that the truth of the gospel might

continue with you. (Gal. 2:5).

conviction so i sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before me on...

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