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.
V. ARE WE WILLING TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR OUR FAMILIES?
A. God needs you to arise and lift His Name before your family.
You are a target --- the enemy desires to hinder!
God wants you to ARISE AND LOVE YOUR FAMILY TO THE CROSS.
B. JOB STOOD IN THE GAP FOR HIS FAMILY.
Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered
burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
C. DAVID STOOD IN THE GAP FOR HIS SON!
2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
D. God had a different plan than David’s plan.
DAVID HAD A LIFESTYLE --- PARADIGM SHIFT!
2 Samuel 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child
was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
E. GOOD INTERCESSION YIELDS TO THE FATHER’S WILL
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
VI. MOSES WAS A GREAT MAN OF GOD AND HE KNEW THE VALUE OF INTERCESSION FOR HIS PEOPLE AND HIS FAMILY!!
A. MIRIAM AND AARON WERE TALKING BAD ABOUT MOSES AND MOSES’ WIFE.
There must have been an element of truth to their criticism?
B. MOSES OWN FAMILY WAS QUESTIONING GOD’S MAN?
They had a lack of respect and had no shame in talking negative.
Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
C. Moses asked God to HEAL HER NOW!
GOD ALLOWED A SEVEN DAY LESSON FOR MIRIAM AND THE CAMP.
D. AARON AND GOD’S PEOPLE HAD MADE A GOLDEN CALF.
AARON DENIED AND SAID THEY THREW THE GOLD IN AND THE CALF CAME OUT. THERE WAS A LACK OF REPENTANCE.
Exodus 32:9 And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
11 And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
E. THEN BLOT ME OUT --- MOSES DID NOT KNOW THE OUT COME?
Exodus 32:31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
VII. GOD’S SWEET HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO INTERCEDE AND STAND IN THE GAP!
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
A. JESUS OFTEN PRAYED FOR THOSE THAT LOVED AND SERVED HIM.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children
together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
B. JESUS STILL INTERCEDES FOR YOU!
WILL YOU COME?
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.
C.WILL YOU ENLIST TODAY TO INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS.
I need a group of intercessors to lift up this ministry.
Where we live for the other and all lives for God!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Join the team? Pass this on to another?
