stand in the gap

 

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)

Have you ever heard the phrase: “to stand in the gap?” Of course you have, if you are a child of God. As part of our 31 day prayer covenant for our local church body, our Pastors, Elders and community members we have been placed in the position of standing in the gap…in prayer before God.

Today we asked God to build a wall of protection around our church, our church family; our leaders, their homes and their families. As we all “stand in the gap” for each other, it is imperative that we keep in mind…

…the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (Amplified Bible)

Today, we are asking our Father God for wisdom and discernment in all of our relationships, as well as in the way we choose to allocate our time. We are asking God to overthrow and destroy the strongholds formed against Him in our lives. We are asking Him to guide and direct us toward the things that will be most pleasing and useful for His Kingdom, in our daily lives and in our church community.

Also, today we will be praying specifically for our Pastor and his wife,  that God will put a strong hedge around their marriage. In the eyes of God, “they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder (separate).” Matthew 19:6 (Amplified Bible) For this reason we are asking God to keep both of them wide awake to the potential for any improper relationships. We also pray that their family time will be protected and enriched.

We are going to include all of our leaders and their families in our request for God’s protection over their homes, their personal relationships, and their commitment to Him. We are asking that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, they will lead by the Biblical standards Paul described in 1 Timothy 3.

“If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be over fond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (The Message)