STANDING IN THE GAP-Sermon by Rev Mary Kimani|K.A.G Naivasha Town Church Online|
God used Joseph to save Jacob's family from starvation by bringing them to Egypt (Gen 50:20).
Moses begged God not to destroy the Hebrews when they had worshipped the golden calf (Ps 106:23).
Gideon was sensitive to God and stood in the gap for His people against the Midianites. God was pleased with his faith and courage.
Esther stood in the gap with prayer and fasting for her people, saving them from Haman who wanted them destroyed (Es 8).
Daniel took responsibility for the sins of his people. He confessed the nation’s sins to God and asked for deliverance. Daniel stood in the gap (Dan 9:4-23).
There are other examples in the scriptures of people who stood in the gap. Thus, God uses people all the time to accomplish his purposes.
However, there are also examples in the Bible of people who failed to stand in the gap as God required of them. Prophet Eli failed to admonish his sinful sons or stand in the gap on their behalf. The sons desecrated the holy places and the offered sacrifices. During Eli's reign as Israeli's
judge, the Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant because he failed to stand in the gap!
After Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin created a gap between God and humanity. God himself stood in the gap for us by sending his Son, Jesus, so that we could be restored into a personal relationship with him.
Part of our responsibility as Christians to pray for God’s intervention in the lives of others. The idea of “standing in the gap” is explicit in Ezek 22:30:
“I looked for someone 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 no one.” Ezek 22:40
Clearly, God’s heart is moved to act when people cry out on behalf of others. In fact, this scriptures shows that God is searching and waiting for people to stand in the gap so he may respond mercifully! We read in Gal 6:2 that we are to “carry each other's burdens.” One way we do that is by lifting others’ concerns to God in prayer (standing in the gap).
We are also called to stand in the gap for the unsaved, for the nation, families, church, friends, neighbors, the afflicted, the poor and needy, for leaders and the decadent world! Apostle Paul implied that praying for all people and particularly the unsaved should be at the top of our list:
1 Tim 2: 1, 3-4
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people ... This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
God has given us the privilege of standing in the gap proactively on behalf of all people, and especially those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. The Enemy is very active in the world today; he knows his time is short. Let’s urgently and intentionally stand in the gap and pray for God’s will and protection so can we stand firm against Satan’s plans (Eph 6:10-18) and see the kingdom of God advance (Matthew 6:10) during these last days.
The Benefits of standing in the gap
1. You turn away the wrath of God or avert His judgment.
2. You provoke the mercy of God and divine intervention.
3. You prevent a bad dream or revelation from coming to pass.
4. You experience the personal joy of answered prayer for others. You feel glad that God could use you to bring about a positive change or avert evil.
5. You sow a seed, which you will reap later (Gal 6:7). When you stand in the gap for others, God will cause others to stand in the gap for you, too, when there’s need for it.
May the LORD find us faithful and stand in the gap when He comes!
Welcome as we watch and listen to Rev Mary Kimani as she shares on the topic "Standing in the Gap." Karibu sana!
