Standing In The Gap (Part One) You Shall Live And Not Die Series

You Shall Live and Not Die

Sermon or lesson one of two

We are not only going to be talking about interceding in prayer for our loved ones, but how we as Christians can break the chains that bind by calling the things that are not as though they were.

(Positive speaking)

Psalms 118:17 (KJV) (Put your love ones name in the place of I in this verse)

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

There are difference types of intercession but we are going to be talking about Intercessory prayer.

Intercessory prayer

Intercessory prayer is not the same as prayers for yourself, or for clarification of any kind, for spiritual gifts, for guidance, for personal matters, or any desire for self-gratification. Intercession is not just praying for someone else’s needs. It is praying with the real hope and objective that God will move in the situation. It is putting someone else before yourself. When you really get into a God, lead intercessory prayer you may even feel what they are feeling.

From the beginning, there were always intercessors. (prophets were also intercessors)

After the law was set up the priest were intercessors for the people. The people brought their blood sacrifices to the priest, they interceded to God for them, and the blood sacrifices had to be every year.

After Jesus came there were no more sacrifice needed, Heb 9:24-28 (KJV) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; Heb 9:6-7 (KJV) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Jesus became the only sacrifice needed and our High Priest (our intercessor). He is our lawyer always going to God for our needs.

Ex 32:29-35 (KJV)

For Moses had said, consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

In our intercessory prayers for others we can only stand in the gap between Satan and their destruction. We cannot atone for their sin as God told Moses, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Just as God let Moses know back then he could not be the sacrifice for them, but every one has to make their own atonement. This today is by being washed in the blood of Jesus.

To stand in the gap means we build a bridge for them to cross by creating a wall of prayer around them. The bible tell us that the effectual (forceful) fervent (burning) prayer of a righteous man availeth (accomplishes) much. There are many words that could be substituted for the words effectual, fervent, availeth, but I chose to use the words I did because they pretty well describe my interpretation of this scripture. I would also use continuous for effectual and persistent for fervent. It takes being persistent and continuous in prayer for our prayers to be greatly effective in intercession.

There are many examples I could give, but these are two good ones.

Psalms 106:23 (KJV)

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, (stood before him in the gap,) to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

Acts 12:5 (KJV) when Peter was in prison (read 5-17)

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.