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God's anger against Israel was mounting and judgment against her sins was about to fall. Israel had enjoyed many blessings from God, was provided for by His very hand, and had seen great light through miracles and mercies. They had heard their fathers talk of the cloudy pillar by day and pillar of fire by night that led them through the wilderness, the parting of the Red Sea, their eating manna from Heaven, their garments which did not grow old, and the water which they had drunk from the rock. This is not to mention their great deliverance from the death angel by the blood of the lamb, a type of Christ's Blood. And if that was not enough, they had in the temple services many objects and sacrifices that pointed to Christ and the atonement He provides. Yet they were not satisfied with these spiritual blessings. They were hungry for the things of the world. They wanted to worship the gods of the world and to be sensual like them.

And so it is with the lost young people in our church. They have received, quite undeservingly, great spiritual blessings that are so uncommon in our day. They have been given a strong and vibrant church in Los Angeles that has been built by the sweat and tears of sweet, faithful, and sacrificial Christians, whose only desire is that they be converted. They have Christians here who have the spirit of prayer praying that they might be saved. They have a church that stands firmly behind our pastor, walking in the "old paths" of Puritan awakening and conversion. They have a faithful preacher that loves their soul and tirelessly preaches clear, anointed gospel messages of Jesus and His Blood. They receive wise counsel on the way of salvation through Christ, and any potential testimony that they might have of saving faith in Christ is reviewed with utmost care and consideration. But, alas, our lost young people have "a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof" (II Timothy 3:5) and like the people of Israel they are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:4). As such they, like Israel once was, are under the wrath of Almighty God.

I. First, think of God's terrible wrath against people that have received great light.

Although wicked Sodom is frequently referred to when speaking of the wrath of God against sin, His wrath and judgment has been far greater for lost sinners who received greater light and mercy from Him than Sodom did.

"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matthew 11:23-24).

Jesus ministered and did many "mighty works" in Capernaum, a city near the Sea of Galilee, yet most of the people did not become true Christians. Sodom, which saw no "mighty works" at the hand of God, and so received less light, will receive less severe judgment from God than Capernaum at the Last Judgment. In the same way, young people in our church are under greater judgment than those outside because of the light of the gospel that they have received.

Lost young people in our church will also receive greater judgment than the children of Israel did, because the New Covenant through Christ's Blood is greater and better and clearer than the Old Covenant under Moses' Law. The Bible says,

"He that despised Moses' law died [by stoning] without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" 
    (Hebrews 10:28-29).

II. Second, think of how God's mercy for sinners is obtained
by a man burdened with prayer.

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).

God's justice demanded judgment and destruction on Israel for their wickedness in forsaking Him and turning to idols. God's justice remains the same today. The Bible says of God, "All his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4). He will always be righteous in all of His judgments. But praise God, that God also is a God of mercy. Here His mercy is also wonderfully illustrated in this text. God was searching for a man that would intercede for Israel, to pray that He would defer judgment upon them, to stand in the gap for them, that He might be merciful to them. Matthew Henry said,

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.

Sadly, Israel received the full judgment for their sins and received no mercy from God. That's because God searched far and wide for someone to intercede in prayer for Israel and "found none." There was no intercessor to pray and stand in the gap for them, no one who cared enough for their souls to simply pray for them. And so judgment fell upon them without mercy.

The situation of lost young people in our church is similar to that which Israel experienced shortly before their destruction. And in the same way that God sought for a man to make up the hedge and stand in the gap of prayer during Israel's day, He is looking for people today who will pray for mercy and conversion to Christ for our lost young people.

Which one of you will be bold with the Lord like Abraham was when he pleaded for Sodom that He would spare it?

Which one of you will plead passionately like Moses who prayed that God would spare His people from judgment?

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).

God is looking for a man. O may God not say to our church, "And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee" (Isaiah 64:7). One person can make the difference with God. You say, "Don't we need a lot of people to pray and to pray hard and long before God answers and sends a revival?" Not necessarily. I believe in the importance of united and continued prayer, but let us not think that our prayers are what causes revival. In the Bible, as well as in the history of revivals, the opposite is generally true - "less is better than more." And in this case, God is looking for only one man. Above all, God's way is "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Corinthians 2:5).

What man among you will have secret prayer for God to send revival to our local church? And what about you, my Christian brother - will you be the man that stands in the gap and prays for mercy and not judgment to fall on lost young people in our church? When the Lord says, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" will you say, "Here am I, send me"? Will you say in your heart, "Let me be that man who stands in the gap in prayer for sinners"? The apostle John said, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (I John 3:17). How much more compelling should it be for you who has "Heaven's good" and sees a friend in need of eternal salvation? Will your bowels of compassion be shut up so that you will not offer up prayers of intercession for him? If so, how dwelleth the love of God in you? O my brother, be moved by the love of God for sinners to pray for them. O my sister, be constrained by the love of Christ to pray for sinners. O pray that God would "in wrath remember mercy." Young man or young woman, be in secret prayer for sinners to be converted and "thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" - reward thee and us openly with a special season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord - that 4 or 5 lost young people would be soundly converted in our church at this time. Amen and Amen.