Are You Being Sought By God?
Scripture: Ezekiel 22:30; First Peter 5:8; Genesis 18:16-25
Ezekiel 22:30 says, “30) And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” I want you to focus on the words, “stand in the gap before Me…” The dictionary defines “stand in the gap” as “to expose oneself for the protection of something; to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter.” Most of us are familiar with the concept of standing in the gap as we have experienced it personally. For example, our daughter Clarissa is a therapist who works with children. There are times when she is required to “stand in the gap” for the children she works with when she has to testify in court on their behalf. Also, some of us and our children have stood in the gap while in school when defending someone who were being picked on. We have also stood in the gap for others when we have interceded in prayer for them. So we are familiar with the concept of standing in the gap as we have done it for people we know and love. However, this morning I want you to focus on it from God’s point of view. I want you to see that God is looking for people to stand in the gap before Him and He is not asking for us to like the people first.
No, in the ancient world of the Bible, cities had walls surrounding them to provide protection from enemies. When the wall was breached, the city was vulnerable to destruction. The only way to secure it was for people to risk their lives by literally standing in the gap in the wall and fighting the enemy. If you read Ezekiel chapter twenty-two, God outlined things that the people of Israel were doing that were against His laws and against His righteousness. He had also identified the things the priests and the leadership were doing that were against His righteousness and He was ready to bring His judgment. But before He brought His judgment, He actually did something that would seem strange to all of us. Ezekiel 22:30 said that He actually “….sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it…” God was ready to pronounce His judgment on the land but before He did so He sought someone to intercede for the land so He wouldn’t have to do it. He sought someone to stand in the gap before Him to plead with Him to not destroy the land. The title of my message this morning is “Are You Being Sought By God?”
Do you recall what Peter wrote in First Peter 5:8? He wrote, “8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” That word seeking is the present tense of the word sought. Peter said that the devil, our adversary, is going around seeking someone to devour. The fact that he has to seek someone means that he is selective in who he attacks and how he does it. The person that he attacks is one that he understands and believes that he can catch and bring down. This is how he operates. So the stronger a person is the better that person’s chances are of resisting the attack. None of us are immune from being attacked, but the difference is what happens when we are under attack. So here is my point, just as the devil is seeking someone to devour, God is seeking someone to stand in the gap before Him for those who are not saved or living outside of His will. He is seeking those who are willing to love first which include loving those we would deem unlovable. God want “gap standers!” Turn with me to Genesis chapter eighteen.
In Genesis 18 we find the story of Abraham talking with the Lord and standing in the gap for Sodom and Gomorrah. You are very familiar with this story and this morning I only want you to focus on the conversation between the Lord and Abraham. As the Lord and His two angels prepared to leave after visiting with Abraham and Sarah, the Lord turns to Abraham to talk about His plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. This interaction was very revealing as it reveals both the heart of God and that of Abraham. Let me explain. There are many things happening in the world today that I do not agree with based on my understanding of the Word of God. I believe that our enemy, the devil, is especially working overtime to get the United States of America to look more and more like Sodom and Gomorrah where sin reign uncontested. But here is the problem, whereas Sodom and Gomorrah at least had Abraham making an attempt to stand in the gap for them, many Christians today are actively condemning those they are supposed to love and be standing in the gap for.
There are many “so-called” Christians who literally hate those who believe differently from them to the point that if that person died tomorrow they would rejoice and say they got what they deserved. And the fact that they hate others proves that they really do not know Christ. First John 2:9 says, “9) The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10) The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11) But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” John says that those who hate are not in Christ – they do not know Him. These so-called Christian really do not know and understand Christ. This is why in the United States we do not value the life of those we dislike and disagree with and killing one another has become the norm. If Abraham believed as many so-called Christians do today the conversation we are about to read would never have happened. Abraham would have rejoiced that God was preparing to destroy two cities filled with sin. But that is not who Abraham was and God knew it. That’s why God knew He could have this conversation with Abraham. I believe God sought out Abraham to stand in the gap for the two cities because, “….the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:13) That word exceedingly describes the depth of their sinfulness.
Before we read the conversation between the Lord and Abraham, let’s pick the story up at Genesis 18:16. “16) And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17) And the LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18) seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?’ 19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:16-19) And the first four words of verse nineteen says, “For I know him….” God knew Abraham! There are at least two chapters in the New Testament devoted to Abraham – Romans 4 and Galatians 3 –and how it was his faith that made him righteous. God knew that Abraham was going to teach his children to be just and to make righteous judgments. But the thing that jumped out to me as I read verse 19 is “For I know him….” That is something that God should be able to say about each one of us as His sons and daughters. He should be able to say that I know Rodney. I know Willis. I know every member of New Light Christian Fellowship Church! In one of the messages Pastor Cynthia delivered while I was away she spoke about God knowing our names. He knows everything about us so He knows if our hearts are in tune with His heart. He knows if we are thinking the way we are supposed to think. He knows if we will respond to situations how we are supposed to base on how He would respond. He knows if we can and are willing to stand in the gap. If we are able and are willing, we are being sought by God.
Let’s continue with the story at verse 20. “20) And the LORD said, ‘Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave; 21) I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry, which has come unto Me; and if not, I will know. 22) And the men turned their faces from there, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” (Genesis 18:20-22) So the Lord tells Abraham that He’s going to visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see if what He has been hearing is actually true. Now there are many in the Church, if they were Abraham, they would jump in and tell the Lord that the things He has heard are true. They would tell Him you don’t have to go look. They would readily jump in and confirm all the nastiness. “Lord it is absolutely true. You’re wasting your time. I mean listen, Lord, Lot and I have lunch at least once a month. He tells me all the stuff that’s going on in that place and how this is happening and that is happening. Lot tells me that every time we meet and I just leave those lunches more depressed than I was when I got there!” Doesn’t that sound like many Christians? Doesn’t that sound like some of our conversations? It should not be this way and I will confess before all of you that I am guilty of initiating some of these conversations! But in Abraham’s case we’re going to see how he responded when the Lord tells him what He is about to do. Verse twenty-two said Abraham stood in the Lord’s way because he wanted to talk to Him about His plans for Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 18:23-25 says, “23) And Abraham drew near, and said, ‘Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24) Suppose there be fifty righteous within the city: will You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are there? 25) That be far from You to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from You: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” When Abraham stands before the Lord and appeals for Sodom and Gomorrah, he first appeals to God righteousness. He appeals to God as being just and one who renders righteous judgment – not condemning the righteous and treating them as if they too were wicked. Abraham stood before God and said ‘You are the judge and as the judge of all the earth would You not do right; will You not give those who are righteous within the cities an opportunity?’ And we know the story. Abraham continues to subtract five people until the Lord agrees to spare the city if ten righteous people are found within it. Abraham was trying to find a way to save Sodom and Gomorrah and I believe that he thought surely ten righteous people could be found between the two cities.
Now, I want you to understand something. God told Abraham that He was going to destroy those cities because of how wicked they were. The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah’s wickedness had reached heaven. He was going to destroy those cities! But Abraham says to the Lord, “There are people in those cities who may be righteous. There may be people who are living in sin who may want to get out of it if they had a chance and knew how. So God, are You going to destroy the whole city when there is a possibility You may have ten people who could be righteous?” I said that to say this: sometimes it’s easy for us, when we think know where we’re going to not care too much about people who don’t believe and live as we do. While we might believe someone needs to repent it is much easier to take the attitude “live and let live” and not bother wasting my time interceding for them with God. People that is not God’s heart!!! God is seeking “gap standers.” He is seeking those who are willing to stand in the gap – through love – for someone else. Remember, part of the definition of standing in the gap means to, “to take the place of a fallen defender or supporter.” When we stand for others and we say to God “whatever little piece of nugget of life that You can find in their lives that could possibly give an opportunity for them to turn towards you, Father find it! Find it! That’s my heart’s desire. Find that little piece of nugget. Turn that person’s heart around. That is my heart’s desire Lord.” God will use that. He will use every advantage that He possibly can. He is seeking those willing and able to stand in the gap. Abraham interceded and gave Sodom and Gomorrah a chance. Ladies and gentlemen, each one of us when we stand before God on behalf of another person we are fulfilling His desire for us to stand in that gap! He is waiting to act on our request to at least go after that person as much as He possibility can. That’s what we see here with Abraham. He gave God the opportunity to go after people. Unfortunately, there were not ten righteous in the city.
Now turn with me and we’re going to look at one more example and this is an example that helps us understand why there are some in the body of Christ who are not ready to take on the task of standing in the gap for others. In this story you will see some similarities in attitude of Christians today. In Luke 9, we’re going to begin with verse 51. “51) And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. 52) And sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. 53) And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51-53) The Samaritans knew Jesus was a teacher. They knew Jesus was a rabbi. The Jews believed that the temple in Jerusalem was the true temple and the place to worship God. The Samaritans believed that the temple at Mt. Gerizim was the true temple. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem; He was not stopping at Mt. Gerizim to worship and they didn’t like that. And it’s important to note that the only way to get to Jerusalem was to go through Samaria. Most of the travelers who went to Jerusalem didn’t have any problem because most were going for the purpose of conducting business or to visit family. Because Jesus was a “religious man” they took offense and denied Him a place to lodge on His way to Jerusalem. Let’s continue.
“54) And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, will You that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?’ 55) But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, ‘You know not what manner of spirit you are of. 56) For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:54-56) The first thing that jumped out at me is that they ask that particular question, “…will You that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them…?” They believed that they could do that otherwise they would not have asked Jesus if He wanted them to do that. If you read the first six verses of this chapter you see where Jesus gave them that authority. Not only did the disciples have the power to represent Jesus, they also had the authority to exercise that power. They knew based on Jesus’ prior instructions, that when someone didn’t accept them they were to shake off the dust as a testimony against them. But James and John wanted to take it a step further.
They wanted to rain down fire because the Samaritans not respect Jesus? How dare they not give Him lodging? How dare they do that? The thing that made me smile was they were getting offended for Jesus. Jesus wasn’t offended but they were getting offended for Him. How many of you have gotten offended for Jesus lately? I wanted to read this passage because this is how so many in the Church often respond when someone does not agree with what they want to do. James and John wanted to respond to the Samaritans the way the Samaritans responded to Jesus. So, they were doing the same thing, except they were doing it for Jesus. When they asked Jesus if He wanted them to rain down fire and destroy the city, not only did Jesus tell them “No” but He also said, “You know not what manner of spirit you are of.” Many in the body of Christ today do not know of what manner of spirit they are! James and John wanted to rain down fire and wipe out a whole city because they rejected Jesus and Jesus rebuked them! Now we know that they were not born again at this point. We know that they were in training because Jesus had called them. They were in training. In verse fifty-six the training, the instruction, the lesson was taught. Jesus told them, “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them…”
Please here me closely on this point because there are many Christians who are choosing not to do this. New Light, there is nothing that we should ever do or say that will destroy a person’s life and not give them an opportunity to have a chance to know Jesus. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that we should ever do to hinder someone from seeing Christ in us and finding Him for themselves. Nothing! And Jesus says that the Spirit that we are now of saves lives, not destroys them!
In the eighteenth chapter of Ezekiel, the following is recorded that truly shows us God’s heart as it relates to those who are not saved. Verses 21-23 says, “21) But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22) All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23) Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should turn from his ways, and live?” (Ezekiel 18:21-23) This is God’s heart. He has no desire for the wicked to die and spend eternity in the lake of fire. No desire. God’s heart is always to preserve life. He did not have an opportunity to do it with Sodom and Gomorrah. He did not have an opportunity to do in in Ezekiel chapter twenty-two when He says He sought for a man and didn’t find one. Today God is seeking a man, He is seeking a woman, He is seeking a young adult, He is seeking a teenager, He is seeking someone who knows Him and is willing to stand in the gap, make up the hedge, for what’s going on in this world.
Remember at the opening I referenced what Peter said about the devil seeking someone to devour? Remember I said the word “seeking” is the present tense of the word “sought”? If we are living for God He is seeking us to stand in the gap for this world. If in the past He “sought” us and we were not ready or willing, we still have time. Today can be the first day. We can start by doing what Paul said to Timothy in First Timothy 2:1-4. It says, “1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. 2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” We might have everything together, but this is where we can start. We can start praying for all in authority over us – not complaining about them or wishing ill upon them, praying for their salvation. God wants them saved! New Light, each of us in this room is being sought by God. Each of us in this room is being sought by God to make up the hedge, to stand in the gap, for what we see going on in the world today. And the sole purpose for our standing in the gap is so that those who want an opportunity to come into the Kingdom can have it. He has sought us out.
So my question to you today is this, “Are you being sought by God?” We know God’s desire is that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Is that your desire? God doesn’t want any of the wicked to die? Is that your desire? If God came looking for you to stand in the gap, would He find you? There are a lot of children who are part of His family who are not “gap ready”. They are not spiritually mature enough to understand God’s heart when they see all of the things that are going on in this world. It is my prayer that each of you have been sought and found ready by God – you are one that is standing in the gap! My God bless and keep you!
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
(We are once again conducting live services on Sunday morning beginning at 9:15 a.m. We will continue to broadcast live on Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m.. Please tune in to "New Light Christian Fellowship Church" and like our page if you wish to watch our broadcast and be notified when we go live. If you are ever in the Kansas City, KS area, please come and worship with us at New Light Christian Fellowship, 15 N. 14th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102. We also have Thursday night Bible study at 7 p.m. via Zoom that you are also welcome to attend – please email me for the link. Also, for use of our social media, you can find us at newlightchristianfellowship on FB. To get our live stream services, please make sure you “like” and turn on notifications for our page so you can be notified when we are live streaming. We also have a church website and New Light Christian Fellowship YouTube channel for more of our content. If you would like to donate to our ministry you may do so through our website: newlightchristianfellowship.org by clicking on the PayPal or Cash App buttons. May God bless and keep you.)
