STANDING IN THE GAP
“The Lord says: Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in; then you will find rest for your souls.”
(Jeremiah 6:16)
Book of Esther, tells of a plot by Haman to annihilate the Jews through out the kingdom. Mordecai, the Uncle of Queen Esther encourages her to reveal the plot to the king. Fearing for her life Queen Esther is reluctant to approach the king. And Mordecai says; “… who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for just such a time as this?” Mordecai forces Esther to deal with her mission and purpose in life, and to consider, God may have placed you in this exact position as Queen, at this exact time, and in this exact place to accomplish something extremely important for Him! Esther responds to the challenge, she does not remain silent, even though it might mean death she reveals the plot to the king. The king accepts her, the plot is turned, and Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had constructed for the hanging of Mordecai !!!
Queen Esther was brave and made a difference when and where she could, you might say she “stood in the gap between good and evil!”
In Psalm 94:16, God asks two questions: (1) Who will rise up for me against the evil doers? (2) Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Will you take these questions personally this evening? Will you answer?
Will you like Esther respond to the challenge of allowing God to use you and your talents for His glory, right now, at this exact time and in this exact place?
Will you answer God’s two questions as if you were standing before Him in person? Will you rise up for Him, will you stand up for Him against evil and the workers of evil?
There are opportunities available! This evening we will explore some of those opportunities!
Ezekiel 22:30
“I sought for a man among them who would build a wall, and stand in the gap for me…” Today, God is still seeking those who will stand in the gap!
1. Stand in the gap between Right and Wrong:
Right and wrong are being blurred together these days, Murdering innocent children is called “Pro-choice”. Sexual perversion is called “an alternate lifestyle”. And cheating is called “little white lies”.
We must choose the old paths, hold fast to God’s word, call sin, sin.
Isaiah 5:20, says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; Who put darkness for light and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
We are told in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good!”
2. The gap between “Thus says the Lord” and “Thus says man”:
We’ve said “speak where the bible speaks, and be silent where the bible is silent” for years. We must not teach people as if these truths are our opinions! If a teaching is in the word of God, it’s God’s word! We should speak it with authority! No opinions, just scripture! Give me Holy scripture for doctrinal practices! What men may say is of no concern to your or my salvation!
Matthew 15:7-9, “Hypocrites, Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men!”
Contemporary worship services, addition of the instrument, praise teams to sing for us, women leading the church because the men won’t, salvation by faith alone – prior to baptism, the idea that elders have no authority but as good examples for us to follow, etc.
BY WHOSE AUTHORITY DO WE CHANGE, OR ADD OR DELETE WHEN GOD HAS SPOKEN?
Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to every one according to his work.” But be careful He says, “Do not add to my words or I will add to you the plagues written about in this book. Do not take away from my words, or God will take away your part from the book of life.” Revelation 22:12, & 18-19
3. Stand in the gap between Compromise and Commitment:
I have never read of a Sunday morning Christian in the bible! This is not just a nod to God!! Worship and fellowship is part of a commitment every Christian made to God when He made the commitment to save your soul from Hell! You were raised from that watery grave to walk in newness of life! So do it! Don’t be lukewarm, and don’t be cold, be on fire for God. Committed to His cause of saving the world!
Hebrews 10:23-25, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching!”
STAND IN THE GAP, BE COMMITTED!
4. Stand in the gap between the lost and the found:
In Luke 19:10, Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost, that’s our mission as well! It is “Him we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:28
Our great commission is to, “Go into all the world and teach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he that does not believe shall be condemned!” Mark 16:15-16
James reminds us that a Christian can so sin as to be lost, when we read, James 5:20, “Brethren, if any among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
5. Stand in the gap between Fear and Courage:
Esther was afraid to approach the king, but she overcame her fear, by her faith in God! We must live a life without fear, (Know if you are going to heaven?) God has promised a rest for the weary! Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us! Have fear and confidence in our Lord ! Do not be fearful!
Matthew 10:28-31, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs on your head are numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows!”
1 John 4:4, “You are of God little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!
1 John 5:11-14, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God, does not have life! These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God! Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us!”
Stand in this gap between fear and courage, be strong and courageous and do not be afraid, the Lord your God goes with you!
6. Stand in the gap, because Jesus stood in the gap for you:
Job 9:2, asks, “How can a man be righteous before God?”
The answer for us is in Romans 5:1-10
(Read)
God is seeking you to stand in a gap! Will you rise up for Him? Realize that God has a plan for you, He may have placed you in this exact position, at this exact time, in this exact place to accomplish something extremely important for Him!
