WHAT EVERY CHURCH NEEDS... STAND IN THE GAP...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
INTERCEDE: to stand in the gap for another, to help settle, to defend, to intervene,
mediate, to pray for, to petition,
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care
of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
**WHO ARE YOU?
**WHAT SEEDS ARE YOU PLANTING?
**Your words will reveal your heart...
**Your thanks or lack of thanks will reveal your attitudes...
**Your actions will reveal your value system and your priorities...
**Your behavioral patterns and the habits you establish
**Will say much about your future...
**Your daily choices will determine who you become...
** WHAT KIND OF SEEDS ARE YOU SOWING?
**WHAT HARVEST WILL YOU GATHER?
I. EVER HEARD SAD WORDS?
OFTEN THERE GOES AN UNHEED, UNTAUGHT MINISTRY IN THE MODERN CHURCH---
STAND IN THE GAP FOR OTHERS...
A. The Holy Spirit has an OFFICE WORK to teach and lead and guide us...
Ezekiel 22:30 (KJV) 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.
B. The role of an INTERCESSOR is applauded and seldom recognized by any one
but God...
II. GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD HAVE ACCEPTED THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE
INTERCESSORARY PRAYER WARRIOR...
A. ABRAHAM KNEW ABOUT THE TOUCH OF GOD, HE HAD MBEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN
OF MORIAH...
Abraham earnestly interceded for others...
B. ABRAHAM SAVED LOT AND HIS FAMILY ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS...
HIS MEN FAOUGHT AND SAVED LOT. Lot seemed not to learn?
Genesis 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the
city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
C. 50 ---45 ---40 ---30 ---20 ---10
Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once:
Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
D. LOT'S FAMILY --- Lingering Lot... a wife salt?
E. MOSES WAS ONE OF THE BOLDEST INTERCESSOR IN HISTORY...
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy
book which thou hast written.
Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
III. WHAT IS BIBLICAL INTERCESSION?
DO I ACTIVELY INTERCEED FOR OTHERS?
Daniel 9:3 (KJV) And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,
with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Daniel 9:3 (MSG) I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer—praying earnestly, fasting
from meals, wearing rough penitential burlap, and kneeling in the ashes.
A. THERE IS A STORY TOLD ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN FROM THE WAR BETWEEN
THE STATES.
It was told a northern soldier was found asleep on duty. This was dangerous and could
endanger many soldiers. A group of people came before President Lincoln to make
an appeal for the young man's life.
B. The President felt this set an example and the morale of the troops rest on
the decision to execute this sleeping soldier.
The group left Lincoln's offices with their heads bowed low. The young man must die!
C. Tad, Lincoln's son had been in the room and went up to his Dad's side...
Tad spoke to his Father and said: "PLEASE, FATHER, FOR MY SAKE, DON'T LET THEM
SHOOT THIS POOR MAN!"
President Abraham Lincoln listened to TAD request and spared the soldier's life.
IV. DO WE KNOW THE PRIVILEDGE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER?
PERHAPS ONE OF THE GREATEST MINISTRIES THE CHURCH NEEDS
IS THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER...
A. PETER WAS HOPELESSLY IN JAIL...
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him.
Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of
John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
B. From the Christian Business Men's League Bulletin:
A young preacher left the USA to go to London, England to Pastor a church in decline.
On his very first Sunday there was a powerful move of God, beyond any thing the young
man had ever experienced. Several people came to the altar and were converted that
morning. The community was changed through the messages this man preached.
About a year later, this young preacher was amazed at how God was working through his
ministry.
C. After about a year the young preacher was called to an elder saint that was dying.
At the bed side the dying saint said: I KNOW I SHOULD NOT TELL YOU THIS, BUT
I AM DYING AND I DO NOT WANT MY WORK TO CEASE. FOR MANY YEARS I
REBELLED AGAINST GOD AND DID NOT DO THE WORK I WAS CALLED TO DO.
GOD REVEALED TO ME HE HAD GIVEN ME THE PRIVILEGE AND THE GIFT OF
INTERCESSION.
D. So I accepted this privilege and the Saturday night before your first Sunday, I spent
all night in prayer for you. I have done this every Saturday night since you have been
our pastor.
E. In the dying man's weak voice he made a powerful statement: MAY GOD GRANT
THIS WORK I WILL SOON BE LAYING DOWN NOT TO CEASE... and the man took his
last breath.
The Pastor realized that the secret to his success was not in his personality
nor in his sermons. He knew the secret to the church growth and his flaming
ministry was a CREDIT TO AN OLD MAN THAT REALIZED IT WAS A PRIVILEDGE
TO ACCEPT THE GIFT OF INTERCESSION.
V. WE NEED AN ATTITUDE CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO INTERCESSORY PRAYER.
MOST PRAYERS ARE ABOUT: GIVE ME!
REAL INTERCESSORY PRAYER PRAYS: LORD,
WOULD YOU MAKE ME AN INTERCESSOR?
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of
goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luke 15:12 (MSG) The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to
me.' "So the father divided the property between them.
Luke 15:19 (KJV) And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:19 (MSG) I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.'
A. There is a great man of God known in religious circles his name JOHN HYDE.
John Hyde was a missionary in India. In his day the work in India was very dangerous.
JOHN HYDE WAS GIVEN A NICK NAME. HE WAS KNOWN AS "PRAYING HYDE!"
John would spend many hours in INTERCESSORY PRAYER for India.
A preacher friend in AMERICA once asked Praying Hyde:
"HOW CAN WE ENLIST A BODY OF INTERCESSORS IN AMERICA?"
B. Praying Hyde said: " I HAVE TRIED TO ENLIST A BODY OF INTERCESSORS WITH
OUT ANY SUCCESS. I HAVE FOUND THE ONLY WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO PRAY
IS TO DO IT MYSELF."
Praying John Hyde is known for leading over 100,000 people to Jesus in the
PUNJAB DISTRICT OF INDIA... 100,000 in one district alone. This does not include
the rest of his work in INDIA.
PRAYING JOHN HYDE SAID:
C. MAKE ME AN INTERCESSOR, O LORD.
HIDDEN AN UNKNOWN, AND APART,
BUT SATISFYING THINE HEART.
CONCLUSION: if we intercede by Biblical standards we must INTERCEDE:
1. FAITHFULLY
2. STAND IN THE GAP CONTINUALLY, DAY AFTER DAY...
3. SEE OTHER PEOPLES NEEDS ---
4. SEEK GOD'S FACE AND DIRECTION...
5. CONFESS SINS
6. TRUST GOD HEARS...
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and
will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
