Pastor’s Corner: “Standing in the Gap”
Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) – 30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
I remember the day when I received a call from my sister to let me know that dad had passed away. It wasn’t a shock, but it was still heart wrenching. Two months prior our whole family was blessed to take a trip to visit dad while he was in the hospital. He had been diagnosed with chronic leukemia the year prior, but was told that it could be managed with medication. At this point things had changed and his leukemia was now acute which meant he had only months to live. My dad was able to see Rachel for the first and only time (she was six months) and we all were able to love on him and take care of him. I was very grateful to the Lord for this blessing.
But now I was sitting in my office buried in despair. The grief was heavy and I could not focus or think straight. The sadness and loss was so overwhelming, I just felt like giving up. At that same time and in the same building my good friend pastor Armando who was unaware of my situation was interrupted by God and told to come pray for me. His first response to the Lord was that he didn’t want to bother me. But the Lord was persistent. It was true, I did not want to be bothered, but even in my grief, I was hearing the Lord tell me to go talk to Pastor Armando. I tried to leave my office and avoid bumping into anyone, but thankfully my friend was obedient to the Lord and He placed Armando in the right place and at the right time to pray and intercede for me in my grief. His presence, love and prayer helped me break through the fog of my despair to begin the healing of my heart.
God wanted me to know I was not going into battle alone. He prompted Armando to stand in the gap for me — to struggle in prayer for me and strive together with me. In that one moment, Armando and I locked our shields of faith through words and marched into battle together.
The prophet Ezekiel recorded these words from God: “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30). God went looking for someone to pray or stand in the gap for sinful Jerusalem, but I believe we can apply these words to our lives as well. Did you notice God said, “I looked for someone”? It could be that you are that someone who could stand in the gap for another person.
Paul understood the power of standing in the gap. He implored his friends in Rome to pray for him: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30, NIV). And when he wrote to the church in Ephesus, he said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20, NIV).
The Greek word Paul uses for “struggle” in Romans 15:30 is sunagonizomai, which means to struggle in company of, to be a partner (assistant), strive together with. The root word means “to endeavor to accomplish something: fight, labor fervently, strive.”
Agreeing to pray for someone isn’t simply a nice platitude letting them know we’re thinking of them or a pat on the back to cheer them on. When we tell someone we’ll pray for them, we agree to put on God’s armor and head to the front lines of battle on their behalf.
Many ancient shields had brackets attached to the sides. These brackets were a type of latch that soldiers used to lock their shields together during battle. When locked together, the soldiers moved as one, forming a barricade against the enemy. Alone, the shield was a small defense. Hooked together, they were a human wall. When we lock arms in prayer with our friends, we lock our shields together and form a strong wall of defense. That’s what my friend Pastor Armando did for me, and that’s what we can do for each other. Heavenly Father, show us who You want us to stand in the gap for this week. When we tell someone we’re going to pray for them, help us to know what and when to pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton