Will You Build And Stand In The Gap?

-November 20, 2021-

“So I sought for a man among them who would build a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not to destroy it; but I found none no one.”

(Ezekiel 22:30).

The situation was dire, and because of Israel’s sins of disobedience and idolatry, God’s judgment was about to come down heavy on them. God was seeking for a man to build a wall and stand in the gap between Him and His people. Building walls and standing in the gap takes intercessory prayer for others. Prayer is a great defense against evil and for good.

When I think of intercessory prayer, I think of Abraham’s prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah where his nephew Lot and his family were living. He stood in the gap and pleaded with the Lord, “And Abraham came near and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous, should be as the wicked; far be from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right” (Genesis 18:23-25).

Abraham kept asking, starting with fifty righteous and went all the way down to ten. The Lord answered his prayer and spared Lot and his two daughters. As it turns out there were not even ten righteous in the city. Abraham stood in the gap. God is looking for prayer warriors to stand in the gap and pray. The average Christian prays but after a while ceases to pray on a particular issue for a particular person or persons. Sometimes we may have to wait years, but God answers prayer according to His will and in His timing.

It is also important to build spiritual walls of protection against the devil and his demons. We can do that through the the Word of God. We need to fortify the walls of the church. We should all be builders. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the spirit” Ephesians 2:20-22).

When the Israelites came back to their land after the seventy year captivity, they rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem in an amazing fifty-two days. They faced severe opposition, but with the help of God, they were victorious. Those who built had a hammer in one hand and a weapon in the other. They stood their ground and completed the task.

May the Lord help us to build up others and stand in the gap. Will you take up the challenge and build and stand in the gap? We have all God’s resources to accomplish God’s purposes!

Have a blessed day standing in the gap on behalf of others. What victories can be won. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

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