Gap, From Mom

Gap - a break, gap or breach.

In this verse - standing in the "gap" is a metaphor for committed "intercession" (From the Word Worth notes in Mom's Bible).

God continually is searching for an intercessor to "stand before Me on behalf of..."

If I choose to do this, my responsibility continues when the person accepts Jesus as his or her Savior. So sincerely pray and let the Holy Spirit guide, lead and encourage me to follow through in Jesus' Name.

Today more that ever God is searching for intercessors who will "stand in the gap," linking God's mercy with man's need, and by prayer to help repair the breaks.  In this day the protective hedge about families, churches, and nations is in a state of terrible disrepair.

Gap

Ezekiel 22:30  I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one.  

Isaiah 59:16  He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed.  So he himself stepped in to save them with His strong arm, and His justice sustained. Him. 

Isaiah 63:5  I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed.  So I myself stepped in to save them with My strong arm, and My wrath sustained Me.  

Gaps

Ezekiel 13:5  They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation.  They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord.  

Intercession

Romans 8:26-28  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

From me.

Intercession, standing in the gap for others is an important part of our ministry as Christians.  As I read the surrounding verses in Isaiah 59*, I thought to myself, "my gosh we are living this!"  And yet the Lord calls His people to intercede on behalf of their nations, their churches, families, and those around them.  This is such a timely topic for our world today.  Sometimes it seems to me our churches are asleep, and it's so sad.  I've been guilty of this myself.  Wake up!  Start praying!  Prayer moves the hand of the Lord.  And boy do we need that.

2 Chronicles 7:14  Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.  

While this speaks of nations, I believe we can apply the principle to all areas of our lives.  Humble repentance, seeking God....He hears, He heals.

Ezekiel 37:1-10  The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones.  He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor.  They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.  Then He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?  "O Sovereign Lord," I replied, "You alone know the answer to that."  Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lords says:  Look!  I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!  I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin.  I will put breath into you, and you will come to life.  Then you will know I am the Lord.' "  So I spoke this message, just as He told me.  Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley.  The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.  Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones.  Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had not breath in them.  Then He said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man.  Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds!  Breath into these dead bodies so they may live again. ' "  So I spoke the message as He commanded me, and breath came into their bodies.  They all came to life and stood up on their feet--a great army.  

Hopefully, this entry has sounded in our hearts the call to intercession today...desperation abounds around us. Our families, our churches, our nations, friends and coworkers around us:  Lord, we need You!!

*Isaiah 59:14-15  Our courts oppose the righteous and justice is nowhere to be found.  Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed.  Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.  The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was not justice.  

Lord, lead each of us in the ministry of intercession.  As your church, Your people, we need to stand in the gap for families, our communities and our nations.  The world, people we know, are lost.  Jesus came to stand in the gap for us, to sacrifice Himself and intercede for us....help us to carry His ministry out in our prayer closets, and in our hearts.  Lord remind us to pray!!  For myself Lord, I know I make excuses....schedule conflicts, time restraints, not knowing what to pray....Lord, let the excuses stop!  There are no time limits on prayer, no special words or places to pray....it's just our heart to Yours, wherever, whenever, however.  Set us on fire for this ministry Lord.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Start praying today!  There is a cell phone app called 714 Prayer that you can download to your phone....it sets an alarm on your phone to remind you to pray!