THE LORD IS CALLING FOR INTERCESSORS TO RISE UP AND STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEIR PEOPLE TO BE SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION.
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1.THE LORD WANTS US TO CRY OUT TO HIM IN TIMES OF DANGER AND DESTRUCTION . HE WOULD SAVE US FROM ALL THE EVIL PLANS OF THE ENEMY. DAVID FACED DANGER TO HIS LIFE EVEN BEFORE HE COULD FULFILL HIS DESTINY OF BECOMING KING . BUT HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD AND THE LORD SAVED FROM ALL DANGER. THE LORD JESUS FACED MANY FACED DANGERS TO HIS LIFE EVEN BEFORE HE COULD FULFILL HIS MISSION. BUT HE CRIED OUT TO GOD TO PROTECT HIM SO THAT HE COULD FULFILL HIS PURPOSE ON EARTH.
Psalm Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.
"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. " Psalm 34:4-6
"David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?
Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?" I Samuel 21: 12-15
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. " Hebrews 5:7
"After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. " John 7:1
"At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come." John 7:30
"So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. " John 11:53-54
2. THE LORD WARNS US THAT IN THE LAST DAYS THERE WILL BE GREAT NATURAL CALAMITIES . WE MUST INTERCEDE FERVENTLY FOR DIVINE PROTECTION FROM THESE NATURAL DISASTERS. ELIJAH PRAYED FERVENTLY AND HIS PRAYERS AFFECTED THE BEHAVIOUR OF NATURE ITSELF.
"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ’I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains. " Matthew 24:3-8
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. " James 5:16-18
"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,
if my people, who are called by my name, will 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." II Chronicles 7:13-14
3. THE LORD IS LOOKING FOR INTERCESSORS WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEIR PEOPLE , WHEN THEIR LAND IS FILLED WITH SIN AND INIQUITY AND WICKEDNESS. ABRAHAM INTERCEDED FOR SODOM AND GOMMORAH AND THE LORD PROMISED THAT EVEN IF TEN RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WERE FOUND THERE HE WOULD SPARE THE CITY. THE INTERCESSIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD CAN SAVE THEIR LAND FROM DESTRUCTION AND DIVINE JUDGEMENT.
"Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,
what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."
Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."
Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."
Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. " Genesis 18:20-33
" Again the word of the LORD came to me:
"Son of man, say to the land, ’You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath.’
There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain.
Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ’This is what the Sovereign LORD says’-when the LORD has not spoken.
The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD." Ezekiel 22:23-31
"For our offenses are many in your sight,and our sins testify against us.Our offenses are ever with us,and we acknowledge our iniquities:
rebellion and treachery against the LORD,turning our backs on our God,fomenting oppression and revolt,uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
So justice is driven back,and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets,honesty cannot enter.
Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no one,he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
He put on righteousness as his breastplate,and the helmet of salvation on his head;he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
According to what they have done,so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. " Isaiah 59:12-18
4. THE LORD WANTS US TO REALISE THAT WE CANNOT ESCAPE FROM DESTRUCTION IF WE FAIL TO RISE UP AND STAND IN THE GAP FOR OUR PEOPLE . MORDECAI WARNED ESTHER SHE WOULD NOT ESCAPE JUST BECAUSE SHE IS IN THE PALACE. IF SHE FAILED TO RISE UP TO SAVE HER PEOPLE SHE WOULD BE DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE OTHERS . HE TOLD ESTHER THAT SHE HAS BEEN MADE QUEEN PRECISELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAVING HER PEOPLE FROM THIS DESTRUCTION. THE LORD HAS PLACED US ON EARTH IN THESE LAST DAYS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RISING UP AND STANDING IN THE GAP AND INTERCEDING FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR LAND , THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION.
"When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai,
he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:12-14
5. THE LORD WANTS US TO PRAY FOR PROTECTION FROM THE PLANS AND ACTIVITIES OF EVIL AND VIOLENT PEOPLE. IN THE LAST DAYS THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE OF EVIL AND WICKED AND VIOLENT PEOPLE , WHO ARE FILLED WITH MALICE AND HATRED , WHOSE ACTIONS CAN CAUSE GREAT DESTRUCTION AND SUFFERING TO INNOCENT PEOPLE. WE SHOULD INTERCEDE EARNESTLY FOR THE LORD TO INTERVENE AND SHATTER THE EVIL PLANS OF THE WICKED AND VIOLENT CRIMINALS .
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. " II Timothy 3:1-5
6. THE LORD WANTS US TO INTERCEDE FOR THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES THAT THEY MAY RULE WITH JUSTICE AND WISDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS . WE MUST PRAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY WHICH OFTEN CAUSES MEN TO PERVERT JUSTICE AND ALLOW WICKEDNESS TO PREVAIL.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, " I Timothy 2:1-5
" When a king sits on his throne to judge,he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
A wise king winnows out the wicked;he drives the threshing wheel over them. " Proverbs 20:8,26
" When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. " Proverbs 29:2,4,14
"But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. " I Timothy 6:6-10
7. THE LORD WARNS US TO BE ALERT ABOUT DECEPTIONS AND FALSE DOCTRINES WHICH WILL BE WIDESPREAD IN THE LAST DAYS . WE MUST INTERCEDE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO BE PROTECTED FROM DECEIVING SPIRITS AND FALSE PROPHETS AND FALSE TEACHINGS.
"because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
At that time if anyone says to you, ’Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ’Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.
So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. " Mark 13;19-23
" The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. " I Timothy 4:1-5
"I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. " I John 2:26-27
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. " II Timothy 4:3-4
" Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. " II Thessalonians 2:1-12
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." II Corinthians 11: 13-15
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