Last wednesday, we drove to the Gethsemane House of Prayer in Montalban because I was the guest speaker for the Students For Christ annual conference. About 80 students from different universities converged in the mountains of Montalban for their 3-day retreat which revolved around the theme: Stand In The Gap.
It was a very hot drive to Montalban and I was thankful that Jocer accompanied me and drove for me as I reviewed my materials on the way.
Stand in the Gap was lifted from Ezekiel 22: 30 “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” New International Version
There are so many things going wrong for Jerusalem during the time of Ezekiel. Read the whole chapter and it is as if Ezekiel is describing all the things that are happening currently in the country. Corruption, idolatry, killings, difficulties for all and other things similar to what the world is going through right now.
And yet God’s solution was really beyond what one could ask nor imagine. God was looking for one man. God was not looking for an army, not looking for trained and equipped men, men of honor, men of destiny. God was simply looking for a man willing to stand in the gap before the Lord.
This man need not be rich.
This man need not be educated.
This man need not be brave nor courageous or charismatic.
This man need not possess all the qualities that we would normally look for such a leader especially in times of greatest difficulties.
He just had to be willing to STAND IN THE GAP. But upon careful reading.. this man is not going to stand on his own. He
will be standing in the gap before our God.
How about you? Where is God calling you to stand in the gap? Where is the breach on the wall that needs to be filled right now so that no harm could come to others?
The breach in the gap could mean a lot of things and as varied as the challenges we face: marital discord, teenagers rebelling, teen pregnancy, needs of the orphans, sick, poor in our midst, broken-hearted, those who are grieving, those who are in sin, discouraged, despondent… and the list goes on and on.
Where is the Lord asking you to stand in the gap before Him? Maybe God is telling you to be the answer to an orphan’s prayer for food and comfort? Maybe you are the encouragement that a pastor is praying for everyday on his knees. Maybe you are the one being sent to comfort a young mother who lost a child. Maybe you are the one being asked to help a family financially. Maybe it is your wisdom that could help a youth find his way back to his family. Maybe it is your hands that an elderly couple need so they can have access to their medicines. Maybe you are the one God is asking to take care of an orphaned infant… maybe you are… ad infinitum…..
What is amazing is that it is God who is at work. It says God is looking. He is continuously looking for a man, for someone who would be willing. This is not about God being limited by what He cannot do. But this is about a God who desires that we participate in what He is in the business of doing (healing, repairing the breach, mending the wounds of the brokenhearted)….
The sad part of the scripture was that it said that God found NONE.
Maybe in some respect, this could explain why some of the prayers seemingly go un-answered. When an infant cries in hunger and continues to do so because God found none.
When a widow and her children continue to be oppressed because God found NONE to defend and protect them.
When the evil abounds because God found NONE to do what is righteous and honorable before God.
When young people go their rebellious ways because God found NONE who would encourage them and mentor them through their turbulent years.
How about you? Where is God asking you to stand in the gap?
Would you be willing to join God’s army of the willing? Will you tell the Lord, “here am I, where is the breach or the gap that you want me to stand in?
May we be sensitive and obedient to hear and obey where God is asking us to do.
May we allow our lives to be used by God so that the breach in the wall ( breach in another person’s life) may be alleviated.
Join the army of the willing and stand in the gap for someone else.
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