Standing in the Gap for our Nation

THE NEED OF THE HOUR FOR OUR NATION

(Ezekiel 22:23-31)

The Lord says,

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.
Ezekiel 22:30

Why are there gaps in the hedge, and why is God considering destroying the land? Regarding righteous Job, Satan had the following accusation

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Job 1:10

There are four reasons given => Ezekiel 22:23-29

1) HER PRIESTS (Leaders in the Church)

Example of a righteous priest Ezra: STUDY - APPLY - TEACH

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Ezra 7:10

BUT .........Hearts are elsewhere and they violate his commandments

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:26

Humanistic philosophies, traditions of man, corruption, violence, institutional church, etc.

They lost their focus on their calling and commission.

2) HER PRINCES/RULERS (Governmental Authority)

For he is the minister of God to thee for good......(Romans 13:4)

BUT..........

Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. Ezekiel 22:27

They neglect the weak

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Isaiah 1:23

Our neglect and Satan is in control.

3) HER PROPHETS

Spokesman for God. Operating in the context of a church they warned, exposed sin, gave direction to God's people. They were spiritual watchmen. The Word of the Lord through a prophet is like

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jeremiah 23:29

The rock represents the hardness of men's hearts that are shattered by God's Word. Remember David and Nathan.

BUT..........

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken. Ezekiel 22:28

For the sake of money

There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Ezekiel 22:25

This was tremendous problem in Jeremiah's day (Jeremiah 23:17)

They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

It is very dangerous when we seek man, we seek God who may move a prophet to give you a message (see Jeremiah 23).

4) THE PEOPLE

And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Zechariah 7:8-10

BUT..........

The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. Ezekiel 22:29

How do these 4 reasons fit us today? (See 2 Chronicles 7:13; Amos 4:7-11; PUCL Report, Casteism in our society Today, America, the Great Whore in Revelation). We stand at the very edge of the wrath of God.

The Need of the Hour is for men and women who will rise up to stand in the Gap. BUT, there are distinct and definite qualities required of one who can stand in the gap. We can draw these from the life of Daniel.

a) A holy living sacrifice

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8)

b) Researched and understood the reasons for the present state

In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Daniel 9:2

c) Prayed and confessed the sins of his forefathers

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. (Daniel 9)

d) Sought and received God's plan of redemption

The vision of 70 weeks (Daniel 9:20-27).

The Bible says that in the last days

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits]. (Daniel 11:32)

God is looking for men and women of faith and perseverance

9 And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away (retreated): 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. (2 Samuel 23)

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

1 Kings 18:17

though not by carnal means for we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Iniquity will increase and are we going to sit back like King David when kings should be concerned about our nation (2 Samuel 11) and let the LORD destroy the land

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel. 22:31

OR, are we going to arise and stand in the gap?

The question is not will the church be built? A glimpse into the future

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)

Christ will build his Church, but will you and I be used?

Let us not be complacent, but heed the words of Mordecai.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, [then] shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this? (Esther 4)

Christians, God will hold us responsible if we do not stand in the Gap for our nation (Ezekiel 22:23-31)

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