Stand in the Gap - part 2

After the Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt and after they had spent forty years wandering in the desert, they finally came into the land that the Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit. The promised land. The land flowing with milk and honey. But when they came into the land life wasn't instantly perfect for them. In fact, there were people already living in this land! The nation of Israel had many battles they needed to win before they could fully come into the promises of God--in fact, they went to battle with thirty-one nations.

The first nation they did battle with was Jericho. Now Jericho had a huge wall around it, this wall was actually pretty advanced for it's time. This wall was a double wall, meaning that there were actually people living in this wall. What was the Lord's strategy for destroying this wall? He instructed Joshua to march the Israelite nation around the city of Jericho once a day for six days, then on the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and at the end the priests were to blow the trumpets and the people were to shout. After they had done this the Lord would knock down the walls and the people were to take the city. As they prepared for this, it was actually Joshua who instructed the people to be silent as they walked around the city. Why? Because the Lord had given Joshua wisdom, he knew that if the people were to grumble over these instructions they did not understand, their words could come against the mighty work that the Lord was going to do.

First lesson: tame our tongue. When the Lord tells us to do something, we should do it instead of complaining and counting it as impossible. With God nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:37)

Now the nation of Israel followed through on the Lord's instructions. On the seventh day after they had walked around the city seven times Joshua said "Shout for the Lord has given you the city". The people all shouted, the priests sounded the trumpets, the walls came crashing down, and the Israelites took the city. The nation of Israel didn't take the city because of their own power or might, they took the city because they were obedient to God and they believed He would do what He said He would do. The Lord's power is shown through this situation, which caused the other nations in the promised land to become afraid because they knew that Israel was the only nation with the One True God on their side.

One part of this story that I find very interesting actually occurs directly before Jericho after the Israelites had crossed over the Jordan river.

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:13-15

Many scholars believe that it was Jesus Christ who appeared to Joshua. Even if it is not Jesus, we know that it is an angel of the Lord. When Joshua asked him "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" his answer is priceless: "No". Meaning, I am not for either of you, but you can choose whether or not you wish to be on my side.

God is not looking down upon our nation and taking sides with various opinions or political parties. We are the ones who need to decide to stand on His side instead of quarreling amongst ourselves. I will say it again: we need to stand with God! Stand with Him "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". (Ephesians 6:12) We need to stop thinking that other people are the enemy. Jesus Christ came and died for everyone. The will of God is for all to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says that He does not wish that any should perish, but that all people would change their mind and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let's stand in unity as the body of Christ! Imagine how that unity would rock this world that we live in! It would show people just how worthy our Lord is!

Joshua was told to "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy". Taking of his sandals was a sign of humility and submission. We are called to submit to the Lord's leading and in humility to follow His guidance.

One thing that I have learned recently is that what is represented in the Old Testament with physical properties has a spiritual comparison in the New Testament. Let me explain. In the book of Joshua, Jericho has a wall built up around it that came crashing down when the nation of Israel shouted out in praise and resounded the trumpets. Now we don't have walls to physically knock down, but spiritual walls built up in peoples hearts. We come against the walls of brokenness and apathy and as we praise and exalt the Lord, He comes and tears down the walls that have been built up in people's hearts. Psalm 147:3 says that the Lord "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds".

Let us join together in unity, ignite our prayers, and lift up extravagant worship to stand in the gap with God against the spiritual forces of darkness and see people delivered, set free, healed, and restored to our Lord. It is only by His power and His goodness that change will come. Let's silence the enemy with our resounding praise and claim souls for the Kingdom of God!

Stand in the Gap

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our nation needs healing. As we approach our next presidential election, my heart has continually been grieved by the wickedness that continues to engulf our nation. We live in a country that prides itself in providing religious freedom, yet Christians are being persecuted more & more. If you stand up for what you believe then you are called a bigot or intolerant. In California, Christians are being fined for having Bible studies in their homes. Marriage is being attacked nationwide with prevalent divorce & a strong push for gay marriage. Natural disasters destroy homes, families, & cities. Mass shootings claim many lives. Who is going to join with the Lord & stand in the gap for our nation?

"I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one." Ezekiel 22:30

We need to stand in the gap! We are called to build up the wall of righteousness! How do we stand in the gap? Prayer. God is looking for people to stand with Him & intercede for the people of our country. Do not let complacency set in. Do not think that your prayers will not make a difference! Don't be discouraged!

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Daniel (10:12-14) prayed for twenty-one days for his answer & when the angel came, he said that he left the first day that Daniel prayed, but he was held up in battle. Our persistent prayers break answers through to earth from heaven. In Ephesians 3:20 is says, "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us". God's power is at work where? Within us! Jesus said that whatever we ask for in Jesus Name will be given to us! When we seek God & align our wills to His & stand in the gap with Him, He uses us as vessels to declare His power to the world!

In Moses's tabernacle, the altar of incense represents the prayers of the saints. They burned incense morning & evening, to represent continual prayer. Where does the fire come from to lift our prayers? It comes from God! God supplies His fire to our prayers & they affect the earth!

Will you join with me in prayer for all of the lost, hurting, hungry, & desolate people of our nation?

Let's stand in the gap!