Bridging the Gap
Ezekiel 22:30
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BridgingTheGap.html
EZEK.22:30 "I sought for a man that should stand in the gap"
THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN: [examples]
A. Teens and Adults.
B. Communists and Capitalist.
C. Black and White.
D. Heaven and hell.
LUKE 16:30 "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed"
Spiritually there is a gap between man and God, but…
1. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY THE SAVIOR. (JH.14:6 - ACTS 4:12)
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
a. He is our mediator. (I TIM.2:5)
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
b. He is our Advocate. (I JN.2:2)
1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
c. He is our Intercessor. (Heb.7:25)
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
d. He is our High Priest. (Heb.4:14)
Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
2. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY SALVATION. (I PET. 2:5)
1 Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
a. We are branches grafted into vine. (Jn.15:2)
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
b. We are members adopted into the body. (I Cor.12:13)
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
c. We are children born into the family. (Jn 1:12)
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
d. We are sheep in God’s flock. (Jn.10:27)
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
3. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY SUBMISSION. (EPH. 4:13)
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
a. Younger to submit to the elder. (I Pet.5:5)
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
b. Wives to submit to husbands.
(I Pet. 3:1, Eph. 5 says ‘to one another’)
1 Peter 3:1
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
c. Servants to submit to Masters. (Titus 2:9)
Titus 2:9
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
d. Children to submit to parents. (Eph. 6:1)
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
e. Believers to submit to one another (Eph.5:21)
Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
4. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY SUFFERING.
A. The suffering of Christ. (I Pet. 3:18)
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
B. The suffering of Christians. (I Pet. 4:12)
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
God is bringing things together and filling in gaps in our lives!
5. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY THE SCRIPTURES (EPH. 4:11,12)
Ephesians 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
All ministers are to be perfecting the saints, and filling in holes in lives!
6. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY SUPPLICATION. (ACTS 2:1)
Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
What were they doing? Praying!
7. THE GAP IS BRIDGED BY SOULWINNING. (James 5:20)
James 5:20
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
8. THE GAP WILL BE BRIDGED BY THE SECOND COMING.
(I Th.4:16-17; I Jn.3:2)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Ill.—a father and his grown son were at odds. They hadn’t spoken in years, and both remembered the last time they did, and the harsh words that had been shared. The wife and mother of the 2 tried and tried to get them together, attempting to be a mediator and to bridge the gap, but to no avail. They were proud and stubborn, and each wanted the other to be the one to apologize. It took the hospital deathbed on which she eventually would lie to even get them into the same room together, but still they took turns spending time with her while ignoring one another.
In her final moments as it was clear she was taking her last breaths, the nurses insisted both men come to her bedside for her dying wish. There they were on either side of that bed. She asked each of them to take one of her hands. When they did she mustered all the strength she could and raised both of them up and said, “Lord, I’m ready to go home now.” Her eyes closed and her hands fell together across her stomach.
Father and son stood there weeping, realizing she was gone…then they realized their hands were also touching each other. Right there they swallowed their pride and made things right…the gap was finally taken up!
Let’s draw closer to one another, and to the Lord and His cross which has bridged the gap between us and God…
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BridgingTheGap.html
