Standing In The Gap Part 2
Scripture: Ezekiel 22:30-31; Acts 3:3-7; Luke 22:31-34; Matthew 5:43-44
Introduction
This message is part 2 from my series “Standing in the Gap”. Last week I shared with you what it means to stand in the gap using the analogy of crossing a bridge to illustrate the point. I conveyed to you the fact that when we stand in the gap for others, we act as a bridge between them and whatever it is that they need. When we looked at the Word of God, we focused on the prophecy that Ezekiel received from God. God told Ezekiel that He would destroy Jerusalem because of its sin. He gave Ezekiel examples of a lot of sins that were being committed in Jerusalem. Even though there was a lot of sin in Jerusalem, the real reason God had to exact punishment on it was because He could find no one to stand in the gap for it. Remember what was recorded in Ezekiel 22:30-31? It states: “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads, declares the Lord God.” God did not want to destroy Jerusalem and His preference was that someone would stand in the gap for it. However, when He searched for someone righteous enough, someone not taking part in all of the sin, someone who would be willing to step up and intercede for the city, He found no one. Not one man, woman or child was in a position to stand in the gap. If you make the comparison to our world today, especially what we are witnessing in America, we are headed in the same direction. If God were to visit America’s sins, would He find someone who was able to stand in the gap for America? Would He find you? Would He find me? In part 2 of this series, I want to ensure that the answer to that question will be “Yes”. When God comes to America seeking someone to stand in the gap, He will find you and me ready. By the way, in case you have not noticed it, God is already here and He is seeking someone to take the stand.
I. Keys To Standing In The Gap
Last week I focused primarily on the need for standing in the gap and this morning I will explain the keys to being able to do this effectively. Please turn with me to the third chapter of the book of Acts. I was listening to a sermon this week that my older brother Barry preached and he spoke of this story in his sermon and I thought it was an excellent example for what I am dealing with in this message. (Thank you Barry!) In Acts chapter three, we find Peter and John entering the temple to pray. As they were going in, there was a man lying at the gate who had been lame since the day he was born. Everyday someone would bring the man to the gate so that he could beg for money from those who were going in. As Peter and John came upon him, the man, without looking up at them, began begging for money. This man had been there everyday for years begging for money and not feeling worthy enough to look at those from whom he was asking money. He was not looking anyone in the eye as he begged for money each day. Because of his position in society, he basically kept his head down as he stretched his hands forward to receive whatever anyone would give him. It was hard to consider yourself an equal when you were lame and forced to beg for money in order to live. So this man sat there every day with his hands out and his head bowed down begging for money.
Before I tell you the rest of the story, it is important that you understand the environment in which this man lived. Whenever someone was born lame, it was believed by the people that either they had sinned in their mother’s womb or their parents’ had sinned and the punishment was being doled out on the child. Because people believed this so forcefully, it allowed someone who was lame to accept their condition without expecting anything different. Not only would they never expect to be healed, they actually lived their lives believing that either they or their parents had sinned and caused them to be born in their condition. So he lived his life thinking that his or his parent’s sin had caused him to be lame. Remember the story from the ninth chapter of the book of John when Jesus came upon a blind man and His disciples asked Him who had sinned, the man or his parents, that he was born blind? This was the teaching and belief at the time, that if someone was born lame, it was because either they or their parents had sinned. This belief not only negatively impacted the person that was lame, but also everyone else that saw him. When people saw him begging, they too believed that either he or his parents had sinned and that is why he was in the condition he was in. Because they accepted this, that his condition was his fault, their compassion was not often evident. It is difficult to have compassion for someone who put themselves in that situation. Think about it, how much compassion would you have for someone who made a million dollars and lost it all gambling? Not much, especially when you are struggling to pay your own bills. This was most likely the attitude of the people as they believed the man’s sins or his parents’ sins caused his condition.
Understanding their history brings me to the first key in being effective in standing in the gap for someone, you must believe in your heart that someone deserves God’s grace and compassion even if they caused themselves to be in their condition. In order to stand in the gap for anyone, you cannot stand there judging and condemning them – you must stand believing and exercising grace and compassion. You must look beyond or even ignore how they got there and act on what you know God would have you to do. If Peter had judged that the man deserved to be where he was because of his or his parents’ sin, it would have been difficult for him to have stood in the gap for him, but Peter did not do that. Look at Acts 3:3-7. “And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, ‘Look at us!’ And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.”
Peter did not have money on him as he was entering the temple to pray so he did not need it. Some have interpreted this to mean that Peter was broke, but that is not the case. But look at how Peter interacted with the man. The first thing he did was stop and commanded that the man look up at him and John. That one act placed the man on an equal position with them. Peter was letting the man know that he no longer needed to be ashamed – he could look them in the eye. The next thing Peter did was tell the man that although he did not have money, he would give him what he had. What did he have? He had Jesus Christ. He told the man in the name of Jesus to rise up and walk. Now here comes the good part and what I want you to visualize it. Peter did not wait for the man to convince himself that he could do it; or to talk himself out of it; or to rationalize why Peter must have been out of his mind to expect him to get up and walk. When he told the man to rise up and walk in the name of Jesus, Peter immediately reached down and picked the man up. Peter, stood in the gap for this man, sharing Christ with him and getting him to act before he could talk himself out of it. If Peter had waited for the man to get up on his own the man could possibly have talked himself out of his healing. He could have said something like “I can’t” and he would not have been able to. Peter, standing in the gap, did not give him time to do it. He told the man to stand up and walk then he stood in the gap and helped the man accomplish it. When Peter spoke to the man, he had no doubt that the man would be healed. He did not judge the man, but stood in the gap for the man. The second key to effectively standing in the gap is to believe and expect the results for which you are standing. You must believe that God is going to honor your standing in the gap for someone else. We cannot effectively stand in the gap for someone when we believe they are getting their just due and “God is punishing them.” Likewise, we cannot effectively stand in the gap when we ourselves do not believe God will honor our request or our actions. Remember, it starts with what is within each of us!
Let me share another example. Again, this example points to the first two keys of being effective when we stand in the gap for someone else. Turn to Luke 22:31-34. In this story Peter was having a conversation with Jesus. Peter was the one who was always willing to step out front. He believed himself to be one of Christ’s greatest supporters. Because of the role he played among the disciples, Peter was considered to be a leader. Now look at verses 31-34. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ And He said, ‘I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
When you read this story, it would be easy to judge Peter and wish to bring him down a notch or two. Think about it. He was always the one to step out front. He was always the one with the temper and ready to take action. He was the one always speaking as to what he would be willing to do. With all of his talk, Satan called his bluff and demanded permission to sift him like wheat. You may be wondering why God did not refuse his request. The answer is simple: Satan at the time was the god of this world and had authority. (He is still the god of this world, but his authority has been stripped from him – so do not be fooled when he comes around.) God did not have to turn his request down because Jesus stood in the gap for Peter. Look at what Jesus said to Peter. He told Peter of Satan’s request, but he added that He had already prayed for Peter. Now look closely at this point. He told Peter that he would fail the test; that Satan would sift him like wheat and truly rock his world. But here is where grace is evident, Jesus tells Peter that when he comes through it, when he is turned around, to strengthen his brothers. Peter was sitting there bragging to Jesus that he would die for Him and Jesus already knew that Peter was going to deny that he knew Him three times that very night. It could have made Jesus angry that Peter would deny Him, but instead, Jesus chose to stand in the gap for Peter and prayed for him. Peter did fail the test and he did deny Christ, not once but three times, yet because Christ stood in the gap for Peter, Peter came through. He strengthened his brothers and was able to stand before that man at the gate of the temple and bring healing to his body. If Jesus had not stood in the gap for Peter, it is possible that Peter would not have been in a position to stand in the gap for that man. Are you starting to understand the ripple effect of our standing in the gap for someone else? Just as Jesus stood in the gap for Peter, He continues to stand in the gap for you and I. Jesus did not judge Peter, but stood in the gap for him expecting Peter to come through it stronger. Because Jesus stood in the gap, even though Peter failed, he came through it and was able to strengthen the other disciples. Understand that Satan is not going to stop trying to trip us up, and sometimes we will fall down. However, during those times when we fall, we can and will get back up because we always will have Christ’s hand reaching down to us. Just as Peter lifted the man up as he stood in the gap for him, so does Christ for every one of us. If you ever want your spirit lifted, read the prayer Jesus prayed on behalf of His followers (and I believe on our behalf too) in John the 17th chapter. When you read it, place your name in it. You will then understand what has been placed within you and what is available for you.
I had a conversation with someone recently that was going through a very difficult time in her life. At one point her life was perfect and she had everything she desired. Her job was great and her family was great. What was so remarkable was that she was also on fire for the Lord. She would reach out and witness to strangers. One day as she reflected on her life, she asked God this questions: “Lord you will never give Satan permission to test me as You did Job will You?” Shortly after asking that question to God, her life started going out of control. She started losing everything that was important and in the process, she lost the “fire” for Christ that was within her. I looked at this young woman and told her the following: “Your question to God has nothing to do with what you are dealing with; God did not make this happen to you. Satan does not need God’s permission to attack us, but what he does is attack us and have us blame God so that our walk with Him is not as strong as it was and we lose the fire to tell others how great God is.” When I told her this, she looked at me and said that this is exactly what had happened to her. I then proceeded to remind her that Satan has no authority over a Christian’s life and that we have a helper that is right here available for us. Satan wants us to blame God because when we do, it becomes very difficult for us to share with others how good God is.
Now let me tell you why her story is so important. When we are struggling with our own spiritual walk with Christ because of our circumstances, it becomes difficult for us to stand in the gap for someone else. When we focus on our own needs and disappointments, we do not have time for what others are going through. It takes everything that we have just to get through our own situation. Let me tell you, this is what Satan wants yet when you are really going through yourself that is the best time to stand in the gap for someone else. Now you may be saying, “Rodney, how can I stand in the gap for someone else when I am going through difficult times myself?” My answer to you is this – “Because someone else is standing in the gap for you.” Sometimes we cannot see beyond our situation and therefore we find it difficult to pray through it. That is when we really need someone else standing in the gap for us. We must stop allowing Satan to shut us down. The third key to effectively standing in the gap for someone else is look beyond your personal circumstance and needs and focus on the need of the individual you are standing in the gap for knowing that God has someone else standing in the gap for you. We are here for each other and we do not walk alone.
There is one additional scripture I want to cover before I close out this message. I have already shared with you that to stand in the gap for someone else it requires that you not judge their situation but believe God on their behalf for deliverance. I also shared with you that we must not get so caught up in our own situations that we shut down God’s ability to use us. In my other examples I focused on those people whom we would be willing to stand in the gap for but now I want to briefly discuss those that we would not want to stand for. Turn to Matthew 5:43-44. In this sermon Jesus preached about our personal relationships. Look at what He says in verses 43-44. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” When Jesus gave this message, the common teaching of the day was that it was okay to hate those who persecuted you. However, when Jesus taught this message, He taught the opposite of what was being taught. He taught that we should love our enemy and “stand in the gap” (pray) for those who would persecute us. In order for this to happen, we must see beyond the person to that grace that belies us all. It does not matter how terrible someone is we must look beyond them to Christ.
Imagine standing before God and having God tell you that He had placed a person in your path for you to stand in the gap for. Imagine how immediately your mind would go to all of those people that you have prayed for and helped during your spiritual walk thinking that these must be the ones God is referring to. Then imagine God showing you the face of your worst enemy, who died without ever accepting Christ because you refused to stand in the gap for them. Imagine God telling you that this life could have been saved had you only stood in the gap for the person. Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. What He was instructing us to do was stand in the gap, even for those who cannot stand to be in our presence. This is a spiritual battle that will not be won with our natural reflexes – we must start responding to all situations spiritually. So the fourth key to effectively standing in the gap for someone else is to look beyond the person and see Christ. You do not have to wait for God to lead you to stand in the gap for them because Jesus has already commanded us to do so. But in order to pray for those who hate us, or even worse, those we hate, we must look beyond the individual and their actions and see Christ moving on their behalf.
Conclusion
There are five points of knowledge that I want you to walk away with from this message. First, God is calling for us to stand in the gap. We are to stand in the gap for our family, friends, enemies, city, state, nation and world. Second, in order to stand in the gap, we must look beyond the person’s situation towards their deliverance. What I mean by this is that we cannot judge the person as we stand for them. If we ever start believing that they deserve to be where they are then our effectiveness is lost. We must accept our role as a bridge from the person to their deliverance and focus on that deliverance. By focusing on the end results, our minds will not be swayed by the distractions of how the person got into that situation. The third point is we must believe God will and expect Him to honor our standing in the gap for the individual. The fourth key is to continue to stand even when we ourselves are going through difficult times. Satan will use our own times of distress to keep us from standing in the gap for someone else. As we are going through, remember Christ is always standing in the gap for us and He has others that He will lead to stand for us just as He leads us to stand for others. The fifth point is we must look beyond the individual and see Christ. We cannot pick and choose who we stand for. We cannot choose to stand just for those we love and no one else. Christ called us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us and this reaches far beyond our anger and hurt feelings. This goes far beyond our praying for justice and revenge to our praying for someone’s true deliverance and salvation. This is not something that we can take lightly, we must be ready and able. I remind you of the story that we read from Ezekiel chapter 22. In order for us to stand in the gap, we cannot be participating in everything that this world has to offer. God was searching for someone to stand in the gap for Jerusalem and He found no one. He needs to be able to find that someone in us. In order to stand in the gap, you must be spiritually equipped and that will not come from spending all of your time doing things other than spending time with God. God is searching for those who will commit to standing, not only today or this week, but for their entire lives. Are you willing? Are you ready? Are you committed?
Please pray about where you are spiritually. Consider the impact you are having in the spiritual world and in the lives of those around you. If you have been asleep, it is time to wake up. Remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Please do not waste another moment of it. May God’s blessings be yours.
