Topic: Will You Stand in the Gap?
Ezekiel 22:30-31 was written during a time when the children of Israel had wandered far from God. He had chosen them to be a light to the nations, but they themselves had turned to darkness. The people were transgressors. They knew the will of God but didn’t do it. He's searching for someone who would stand in the gap for them. Sadly, He found no one! Jerusalem is on the verge of destruction. But no one would stand in the gap, so the city experienced the wrath and fury of God. One man or woman—willing to stand in the gap—could have saved a whole nation from judgment, but not even one was found!
In every situation where judgment is expected, God looks for an intercessor who can hold back His judgment. Yet every segment of Jerusalem had been defiled: princes, prophets, priests and the people. But even so, the situation was not completely hopeless. God declared that judgment might yet be avoided if He could find one person to stand in the gap. When King David had sinned, God found Nathan to stand in the gap. When idolatry filled the land in the days of Elijah, God found Elijah to bridge the gap. Samuel stood in the gap for the nation of Israel. Daniel stood in the gap for the deliverance of God's children from Babylonians captivity. When you stand in the gap, you pray for God’s help, mercy, forgiveness and intervention on behalf of individuals, groups of people or nations. So will you answer His call? Are you willing to stand in the gap? Revival always begins with one man or woman of faith! Intercession provokes genuine revival.
Romans 15:30, “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”
To stand in the gap means to “intercede” on behalf of another person. In scripture, intercession is approaching God and asking Him to intervene in the life of another person. It is pleading with God for the needs of others. Intercession is taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until it comes to pass, as in Daniel 10:12-14. Intercession is spiritual warfare. It is intense prayer for another. It is prayer that presses on until we come into God's will. Intercession is standing in the gap. It is a request to the Lord on behalf of a person or a nation. Intercession is talking to God about transgressors and praying that He'll save them from their sins. It is plowing the grounds of the hearts of sinners so that when the Gospel is preached the seed of the Word is planted in their hearts.
Is God asking you to intercede for a person, a family, a church, a city or a nation? You are His instrument to work out His divine plan in the lives of others. Is He asking you to be the one to stand in the gap for backsliders? Then, what are you waiting for? Get to it! Pray that sinners may know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Pray that intercessors and evangelists all around the world might respond quickly to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the field (Matthew 9:38). God promises reward to those who will intercede.
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem