Where is HE? T(he)y

WHERE ARE THEY?

(Ezekiel 22:30) Speech Opening – “The Call”

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” – Ezekiel 22:30

[Tone: Calm, reflective, personal]

Fellas… I didn’t come here to give a speech. I came here to deliver a call.

See, God isn’t looking for the loudest. He’s not looking for the richest. He’s not even looking for the most talented.

He’s looking for somebody who’s willing to stand in the gap. Somebody who’s willing to get uncomfortable. Somebody who’s not afraid to build a wall while the enemy’s tearing one down.

And in Ezekiel 22:30, God said He looked for a man — just one man — Not a squad. Not a team. Just. One. Man. But He found no one.

And the question that’s been burning in my soul is this: Where are they?

Where are the men who were called to stand up? Where are the fathers? The brothers? The leaders? The protectors? The ones who say, “Not on my watch.”

Where are the men who don’t run when it gets hard — they dig in? Where are the men who aren’t just male by birth, but men by conviction?

We got a generation in trouble. We got families in pieces. We got culture confused. And God is still asking the same question He asked back then:

“Where are they?”

Part 2: The Reality Check – “Missing Men, Broken Walls”

(Tone: Serious, confronting, weighty)

God said in Ezekiel 22, “The land is messed up. The prophets are lying. The priests are profaning. The people are violent. The officials are corrupt.” Translation? The whole system is jacked up. But before He brought judgment, before He brought the hammer down… God gave them a chance.

🔨 “Broken Walls” – What Does That Represent?

In Ezekiel, walls represented protection, separation from danger, and identity for a city.

So when the walls are broken:

The enemy walks in like he owns the place.

Boundaries disappear.

Values are compromised.

The people inside are uncovered, unsafe, and confused.

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The "Wall of Dallas" or "Great Wall of Dallas" refers to the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line from the 1990s, specifically from 1992 to 1995. This group of linemen, including Nate Newton, Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski, and Kevin Gogan,

You’ve got a quarterback — vision, leadership, future. You’ve got a running back — energy, purpose, direction. You’ve got a play called — strategy, intention.

But if the offensive line is weak or missing — The quarterback gets sacked. The play gets blown up. The whole game plan is worthless.

Why? Because the ones who were supposed to stand in the gap got beat, quit, or weren’t there.

“Fellas, you could have the best vision, best talent, best purpose — but if the wall is broken, the enemy gets through. Some of y’all been sacked by depression, anxiety, poverty, addiction — because the wall wasn’t there to protect you. And now God is saying, ‘Will you be the one to rebuild the wall for your family, for your kids, for your community?’”

“I looked for someone…” A man. A leader. A wall builder. Somebody who would stand in the gap — not scroll past it.

But when He looked… He didn’t find apathy. He didn’t find cowardice. He didn’t even find rebellion.

He found nobody.

Let that hit for a second: the silence of men was louder than the sins of the people. Nobody to say, “This is wrong.” Nobody to protect the next generation. Nobody to fight for the family. Nobody to speak truth when lies were trendy.

Where are they?

They were hiding. They were chasing their own thing. They were numbing their pain with distractions. They were locked in a prison of porn, pride, or passivity.

And I know some of y’all feel that. You’ve been ghosted by your own potential.

"Ghosted by your own potential" =

You were supposed to show up. You had the gift, the vision, the calling, the anointing. You had something inside you that could’ve changed the game — for your family, your community, your walk with God.

But somewhere along the way… You ghosted yourself. You bailed on the discipline. You quit before you even started. You kept scrolling when you should’ve been studying. You kept hustling when you should’ve been healing.

You’ve been present in the flesh but absent in the spirit. You’ve been hiding behind your past, your failures, your “I wasn’t raised right,” your “I didn’t have a dad.” And listen, I get it. I’ve been there too. But God’s not asking for a perfect man. He’s asking for a present man.

He’s not looking for you to have all the answers — He’s looking for someone who’s willing to stand up in the middle of the mess and say, “I’ll be the one.”

Part 3: The Rise – “Stand in the Gap”

(Tone: Fired-up, direct, transformational)

Listen to me, fellas: We’ve spent too long waiting for somebody else to fix it. Too long blaming the system, the streets, our childhood, our baby mama, our past. Too long ghosting our own calling.

God’s not asking for a perfect man. He’s asking for a willing man. A man who will say, “I may not have had a wall growing up — but I’ll build one now!” “I may not have been taught how to stand — but I’m learning now!”

Let’s bring it back to the football analogy:

You ever seen a team with a superstar QB and no O-line? That man’s on his back every play. Why? Because the guys who were supposed to protect the vision didn’t show up.

That’s what’s happening in real life, y’all. The family is the QB — but Dad wasn’t there. The community is the QB — but the leaders fell asleep. The church is the QB — but the men stopped praying.

And God is saying:

“Who’s gonna be My offensive line?” “Who’s gonna take the hits, fight in the trenches, and say ‘You ain’t coming through this gap today!’”

Ezekiel 22:30 says He looked for a man to stand in the gap — not chill in the pew. To build up the wall — not sit on the sidelines. To intercede, to protect, to defend what’s worth fighting for.

Let me say this to every man in here: If you’re still breathing, you’re not too broken. If you’re still standing, you’re not too far gone. If you woke up this morning, you’ve still got a wall to build.

This ain’t about being famous — it’s about being faithful. This ain’t about being the loudest — it’s about being present. This ain’t about being macho — it’s about being submitted to God.

You wanna lead? Start by kneeling. You wanna stand in the gap? Start by stepping up.

Part 4: The Challenge – “Be the One”

(Tone: Intense, emotional, urgent, hopeful)

So now the question ain’t just: “Where are they?”

The question is: “Will you be the one?”

You don’t need a mic. You don’t need a platform. You don’t need permission from your past.

You just need a made-up mind.

Because when God asked Ezekiel to find a man — He didn’t say, “Find the strongest.” He didn’t say, “Find the smartest.” He said, “Find someone willing to stand in the gap.”

That means you.

You — the one who thought he was too far gone. You — the one who messed up more times than he can count. You — the one who didn’t have a father, but refuses to leave his kids without one. You — the one who’s been showing up to church but hasn’t stepped up into the fight.

Be the one who breaks the cycle. Be the one who doesn’t run when it gets hard. Be the one who starts praying, starts serving, starts building that wall. Be the one who doesn’t wait for a better moment — because this is the moment.

The wall is still broken. The gap is still wide. The enemy is still creeping. But God is still looking.

He’s looking… and He’s looking… and He’s looking… And today, may Heaven look down and say:

“There he is. I found him.” “I found a man who won’t bow to the culture.” “I found a man who will pray when others play.” “I found a man who ain’t perfect — but he's present.”

So I need you to make a decision: Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.

Stand up — in your soul. Stand up — in your family. Stand up — in your purpose. Stand in the gap.

Because God’s still asking: “Where are they?”

And it’s time for you to answer: “Right here. I’m him. I’m that man.”