Gapstanders: The Role Of Intercession

GAP STANDERS --- THE OFFICE OF INTERCESSION IN THE CHURCH

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

The other day I heard a TV preacher say the roll of intercession in the church is dead.

I strongly disagree and have submitted this lesson to those that will receive ---

GOD IS STILL CALLING PEOPLE TO INTERCESSION FOR THE LOST AND FOR OTHERS!

I. INTRODUCTION: WE NEED MANY TO HEAR THE CALL TO INTERCESSORY PRAYER!

1 Tim. 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

A. Years ago I was traveling as a preacher.

I stayed in a home of some church members.

The family allowed me to stay in one of the children’s room.

During the night, something fell off the wall and hit me right in the face.

I turned on the light and looked and a pretty plaque fell off the nail and hit me.

I read the plaque and will never forget it:

HOME --- WHERE EACH LIVES FOR THE OTHER

AND ALL LIVE FOR THE LORD!

B. INTERCESSION:

To plead with God on the behalf of another.

To mediate or occupy the middle position

Prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another.

To intervene between two parties with a view to reconcile differences.

C. MEDIATE:

To effect action as an intermediary.

To stand in the gap and bring accord.

II. THERE ARE SEVERAL VERY SAD STORIES IN THE BIBLE AND WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM.

A. My Mom taught me a sad Bible story when I was a child. She taught me they had NO ROOM IN THE INN FOR THE BABY JESUS.

I told Mom, if I had been alive I would have given Jesus my bedroom. This broke my heart that God’s Son left heaven and the people of His day never MADE ROOM FOR THE SON OF GOD!

B. THERE IS ANOTHER VERY SAD STORY I FOUND IN SEVERAL PLACES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

III. CAN YOU IDENTIFY MOTIVE IN MAN’S WORDS AND ACTIONS? WE CAN SEEM TO WANT TO DO OUR OWN THING.

SEEMS PEOPLE CAN BECOME LIKE A THORN.

A. A THORN IS AN INVOLUTED LEAF.

INVOLUTED MEANS ONE THAT IS TURNED IN ON ITSELF AND DEVELOPS A SHARP POINT.

B. A thorn a sharp impeding process.

A thorn can cause distress or irritation to others.

The thorn does not help in the process of photosynthesis.

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

C. MOTIVE:

Something that causes

Stimulus to action

Emotion and desire

The tendency to move to action

IV. THERE IS GREAT VICTORY WHEN MEN STAND WHERE GOD WANTS THEM.

Judges 7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

A. GOD CAN USE LITTLE BOYS TO BRING VICTORY.

1 Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

David stood in the gap when his older brother ELIAB MOCKED HIS LITTLENESS!

1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

B. ELIAB ACCUSED HIS LITTLE BROTHER OF COMING TO SEE A BATTLE?

Eliab and King Saul were crying in their tents.

C. David knew the God that delivered the BEAR, LION ---

DAVID COULD INTERCEDE FOR HIS KING!

D. DAVID’S MOTIVE WAS DIFFERENT THAN BIG BOY GOLIATH ---

E. LET GOD ARISE --- HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED...

Psalm 68:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

F. IF GOD CAN USE DAVID --- CAN GOD USE US?

1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.