Stand in the Gap
When Pete was called of God to put the love of God into action, he wrote this paraphrased prayer:
“O sovreign Lord of all men and of all times. We come to you with praise in our hearts for only you O Lord are worthy of praise. Despite our sins you have saved us by your grace. Though we are sinners deserving of judgement, you sent your son our Lord Jesus Christ to pay the debt of sin on our behalf. You have called us as your messengers, your witnesses of your saving grace. Break our hearts to see those whom you have called us to minister your love and grace… To bring them from darkness into the glorious light of your gospel of truth. May we seek for the lost with your heart. May we turn our hearts toward you so that our heartbeat is your heartbeat for your precious souls. We desire to be your church, serving at your pleasure, in your way and in your power…to spur others to be sensitive of their need for your grace and mercy. Work a miracle in our hearts and in your church to bring about a revival and a harvest… That we might be burdened to accomplish that which Jesus came to accomplish, the redemption of the world. May we lavish your blessings on a world of darkness that they may come to know our Lord Jesus Christ and at the end of our journey here on earth hear our master say, “well done my good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of your Lord.”
God gave Ezekiel a picture of how corrupt Israel had become. Ezekiel prophesied about God’s judgement upon Israel. The tribes of Israel had forsaken their Lord God Jehovah. Reading Ezekiel 22 is like reading about current events in America. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “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.” Billy Graham said that if God doesn’t judge America, then he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s righteous judgement has been held back by the remnant of God’s people who stand in the gap as watchmen on the wall.
In John 2 when Jesus went into Jerusalem, the multitudes said, “we believe in you.” However, Jesus knew what was in the heart of man. Their’s was not true believing, but merely mental assent. Ezekiel looked for a man who would build up the wall and stand in the gap against the powers of spiritual wickedness from on high. Likewise, we’re exhorted in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you (acquit yourselves) like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with the love of God.” We have been called as God’s love letters, His epistles known and read of all men. God has called us to be witness of his truth and of His glory.
Our exhortation in Ephesians 6 is to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. Only two things of this world will last forever: God’s people and God’s word. Therefore let your conversation and your manner of living be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…for the word of God liveth and abideth forever.
Every moment is a divine appointment with our Lord Jesus Christ. Dis-appointment is the result of missing and “dissing” God’s appointment. Our calling is to “choke in the dust of men of God who chase after Christ.” Life on this earth will soon be passed, only that which is done for Christ will last. We are called to be witnesses of our sovreign Lord…to “give ’em heaven.” He has made us living epistles of the love of God, known and read of all men. May He find us faithful to His calling as watchmen on the wall, standing in the gap with the shield of believing faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and that when we finish our course we will hear our Master say, “well done my good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of thy Lord.”
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael