Bridging the Gap
ICS Daily Devotions
Ezekiel 22:30-31 (NKJV) So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.
We have all been on the receiving end of prayers and intercession, but there will be times when it is our turn to pray and stand in the gap to intercede for others when they are going through challenges. We need one another. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will move us to pray for our loved ones, relatives, colleagues and church members. We should learn to take time to intercede or stand in the gap for one another whenever the situation warrants it.
In the Old Testament, the hedge, which serves as a protection for God’s people, would be lifted or broken whenever the people of God sinned against Him intentionally or followed other gods. The devil could then make use of this gap to attack individuals. Because God is just, righteous, and holy, man’s sin or rebelliousness will cause a hole or a gap to appear in the wall of protection, thus allowing the devil to make inroads to steal, kill, and destroy. However, God, in His mercy, was looking for someone to stand in the gap so that He would not have to destroy the land. This tells us that there could have been a change of action by God and for Him to intervene in the situation if only someone had stood in the gap.
It is the same today. A gap in the fence is formed whenever we sin or depart from God. In the New Testament, the devil is described as a roaring lion who prowls around to see whom he can devour. Therefore, if we are aware of his schemes, we can enforce the victory of Jesus Christ to prevent or thwart his attacks on us or our family members through intercession. The devil’s use of the gap to attack individuals can be preempted if God has ring-fenced us or built a hedge around us.
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord”.
God is searching for people to intercede or stand in the gap, now as in the Old Testament. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to nudge us to intercede for others, especially when we are unaware of the situation because the Holy Spirit is omniscient and will mobilise prayer warriors. Of course, we can also stand in the gap and intercede when we know of the situation. That’s why the Apostle Paul tells us to watch, pray, and stand against the devil’s work after we have put on the full armour of God.
Sermon Series：Intercession
