Ezekial 22:30-31 (NKJV) 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.Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.
We have all been on the receiving end of prayers and intercession, but there will be times when it is our turn to pray and stand in the gap to intercede for others when they are going through challenges. We need one another. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will move us to pray for our loved ones, relatives, colleagues and church members. We should learn to take time to intercede or stand in the gap for one another whenever the situation warrants it.
In the Old Testament, the hedge, which serves as a protection for God’s people, would be lifted or broken whenever the people of God sinned against Him intentionally or followed other gods. The devil could then make use of this gap to attack individuals. Because God is just, righteous, and holy, man’s sin or rebelliousness will cause a hole or a gap to appear in the wall of protection, thus allowing the devil to make inroads to steal, kill, and destroy. However, God, in His mercy, was looking for someone to stand in the gap so that He would not have to destroy the land. This tells us that there could have been a change of action by God and for Him to intervene in the situation if only someone had stood in the gap.
It is the same today. A gap in the fence is formed whenever we sin or depart from God. In the New Testament, the devil is described as a roaring lion who prowls around to see whom he can devour. Therefore, if we are aware of his schemes, we can enforce the victory of Jesus Christ to prevent or thwart his attacks on us or our family members through intercession. The devil’s use of the gap to attack individuals can be preempted if God has ring-fenced us or built a hedge around us.
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord”.
God is searching for people to intercede or stand in the gap, now as in the Old Testament. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to nudge us to intercede for others, especially when we are unaware of the situation because the Holy Spirit is omniscient and will mobilise prayer warriors. Of course, we can also stand in the gap and intercede when we know of the situation. That’s why the Apostle Paul tells us to watch, pray, and stand against the devil’s work after we have put on the full armour of God.
Sermon Series：Intercession
弥合破口
以西结书22:30-31 我在他们中间寻找一人重修墙垣，在我面前为这国站在破口防堵，使我不灭绝这国，却找不着一个。所以我将恼恨倒在他们身上，用烈怒的火灭了他们，照他们所行的报应在他们头上。这是主耶和华说的。
我们每个人都曾接受过他人的代祷和守望，但总会有一些时刻，需要我们回应，为他人祈求，在他们遭遇试炼之际站在破口之中。我们是彼此肢体，因此，圣灵会感动我们为所爱之人、亲友、同事和教会中的弟兄姐妹代求。让我们学习在有需要之时甘心抽出时间，为彼此守望代祷。
在旧约中，“篱笆”象征着神对祂子民的保护。然而，每当神的子民有意地得罪祂或追随其他神时，这道保护的篱笆就会被挪开或破裂。于是，魔鬼便会利用这个裂口来攻击个人。因神是公义、圣洁的，人的罪或悖逆会在这道保护墙中造成裂口，使魔鬼有机可乘，来偷窃、杀害和毁坏。然而，神在怜悯中寻找愿意“站在破口”的人，这样祂就不至于毁灭那片土地。这告诉我们，只要有人站在破口，神的行动就可能有所改变，祂便会在情况中介入，施行怜悯与拯救。
今天同样如此。每当我们犯罪或远离神，就会在篱笆中形成一个破口。在新约中，魔鬼被比作咆哮的狮子，四处游荡，寻找可吞吃的人。因此，如果我们留意到牠的诡计，就可以通过代祷，靠着耶稣基督的得胜来组织或挫败牠对我们或家人的攻击。如果神将我们圈护在祂的保护之下，或为我们建起围篱，那么魔鬼就无法利用这些破口来攻击个人。
以赛亚书54:17 凡为攻击你造成的器械必不利用，凡在审判时兴起用舌攻击你的，你必定他为有罪。这是耶和华仆人的产业，是他们从我所得的义。这是耶和华说的。
如今，正如在旧约时代一样，神仍在寻找愿意代祷、站在破口中的人。这是圣灵的工作，祂会推动我们为他人代求，尤其是在我们不知情的情况下，因为圣灵是全知的，会召聚祷告的勇士。当然，当我们得知某种情况时，也可以主动站在破口中代祷。因此，使徒保罗告诉我们要警醒、祷告，并在穿戴神全副军装后抵挡魔鬼的作为。
讲章系列： 代祷
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