Standing in the Gap
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Our Authority to Stand in the Gap for Other People
Forgiving sins is often an important component of healing.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV:
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Intercession means to move in between. Let’s talk about three aspects of intercession. The first is standing in the gap. The second is to rebuild the wall. You have to speak the Word and teach the truth so that the person can believe. The third is to watch.
1. Stand in the Gap; Look to God
Psalm 106:23 KJV:
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
When Moses is doing this, who is he facing? God! If Moses had been looking at the people and listening to them, he would not have been able to be an intercessor at this point. He would have been too influenced by what was coming at him.
Ezekiel 22:30 KJV:
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge [restore the wall], and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Jeremiah 6:16 KJV:
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
2. Rebuild the Wall; Make up the Hedge
Most people stop after praying.
Ezekiel 13:5 KJV:
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Sometimes, building up the hedge or the wall means getting more people praying. We fill in the wall.
Ezekiel 13:10–12 KJV:
10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: 11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
If you don’t speak the truth of the Word that the person needs right there, then the wall will fall down again.
Isaiah 58:5–8 KJV:
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Isaiah 58:12 KJV:
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Galatians 6:1 KJV:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore [mend] such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
When you are rebuilding the wall, that’s when most attacks will come.
Mark 9:17–20 KJV:
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
The disciples and father were looking at the problem, at the boy, at the attack. The spirit tries the same method with Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t give attention to the problem.
Mark 9:21–23 KJV:
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst [if you are able] do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst [if you are able to] believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Jesus Christ had no trouble believing, and if the boy’s father could believe that, then all things are possible to him who believes. Jesus was telling him, “I believe! Just trust that.”
Mark 9:24 KJV:
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
If the father could have believed then his son would have already been healed. The father knew that.
Jesus demanded faith in his authority to heal. Because the man responded to that, grace was poured out and the boy was healed.
People come running and say the boy is dead. The attacks continue. That’s why it’s important to stay our minds on God and focus on Him, not the problem.
Mark 9:25–29 KJV:
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
That’s why we looked at the verse about fasting (Isaiah 58:6). What’s the true fast? Building up the wall, letting the oppressed go free. Doing whatever is needed to help a person believe. \
When you, as an individual believer, don’t have the problem or health challenge, then you can believe.
2. To Watch
The Old Testament prophets were the watchmen.
When people get healed, for a period of time they have to be watched over because it’s easy to get sucked back into the problem again.
1 Peter 5:8–9 KJV:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Mark 13:34–37 KJV:
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
There’s never a question of whether you should; you already have the authority to move in between with prayer, standing in the gap, looking to and depending on God. We have the authority to stand in the gap and use the name of Jesus Christ.
This teaching is also available on the Acts Now Fellowship website.
See Also:
Meet With God—Intercession from the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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