The warnings of Scripture

One of the blessings of the Internet has been the network of ministry support among folks who are geographically separated. Anglicans for Life, headquartered in Pennsylvania, is compiling a collection of pro-life scriptures, prayer, and liturgies. They are using some of the prayers posted here at Lent & Beyond, prayers that were written in Mississippi. Yesterday, after editing the collection, I read here a word received in New York: “Pray for my people to heed the warnings I give them in Scripture.” The warnings of Scripture had been much on my mind that day, and my spirit was stirred.

Ezekiel 34:1-16

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (Ezekiel 34:1)
      Help us to hearken to your word, LORD.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (Ezekiel 34:2)
      Holy Spirit, move the hearts of the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church to feed their flocks.

You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. (Ezekiel 34:3)
      Have mercy on your flock, Jesus, and feed us all with your word each day.

The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4)
      Father, please bring the shepherds of the Episcopal Church to repentance.

So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. (Ezekiel 34:5)
      Lord, your flock is being scattered, have mercy on us: a thousand leave the Episcopal Church each week. Turn us around.

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, my flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” (Ezekiel 34:6)
      Holy Spirit, please bring the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church to repentance and give them true shepherds’ hearts.

‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: (Ezekiel 34:7)
      Holy Spirit, give the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church ears to hear what you are saying to them.

“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my flock”– (Ezekiel 34:8 )
      Have mercy on us, Lord, and raise up true shepherds to feed and care for your flock.

therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD! (Ezekiel 34:9)
      Father, help the shepherds of the Episcopal Church hearken to your word.

Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” (Ezekiel 34:10)
      Deliver your people out of the hands of the leaders and teachers of the Episcopal Church. Thank you for your faithful shepherds, Bishop Bill and Bishop Dave.

‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11)
      Thank you, Jesus.

As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out my sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. (Ezekiel 34:12-13)
      Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness.

I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:14)
      Come soon, Lord Jesus; come soon!

I will feed my flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” (Ezekiel 34:15-16)
      Holy Spirit, please raise up true shepherds in every parish of this diocese. Thank you.

A word received: My people are walking apart from me. My people need to heed my word to them in Scripture.

Wednesday: 128, 129, 130; Ezekiel 34:1-16; 1 John 2:12-17; Matthew 10:5-15
Thursday: 134, 135; Ezekiel 37:21b-28; 1 John 2:18-29; Matthew 10:16-23

Albany Intercessor