“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30)

The Lord uses people to do His work, but so few are willing to stand in the gap. It would be easy for God to just do things Himself, but He chooses to involve humans to help accomplish His plan. Very few are found who are willing to step out on faith to accomplish God’s will.

Where are righteous men and women who seek God diligently, listen for His direction, and give their all to accomplish God’s will? He could be calling you to do something you think is impossible. Take your fingers out of your ears and listen to Him.

We aren’t born righteous. Because of Adam’s sin we’re more apt to follow the evil temptations from Satan than to seek God and follow His ways. In spite of our human failings, God is able to use men to accomplish His plan. Nobody lived in more evil days than Noah, yet he kept himself apart from the corruption of all creation. Because of his obedience to God, humanity was given a new start.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

Jesus said the end days would be like those of Noah’s day, and we see that happening. Will you, like Noah, separate yourself from the corruption around you? God needs righteous men and women to be examples to a lost and dying world. He needs you to stand in the gap.

It didn’t take long until sin and corruption took hold again. Satan stays busy corrupting mankind. When the time was right, God called Abram from a heathen culture. Abraham wasn’t righteous, but God saw past the idolatry and knew his potential.  He called Abraham to be the father of a great nation. Because of Abraham’s willingness to obey God, the nation of Israel was born.

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)

Through the nation of Israel God gave His greatest gift to mankind, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If Abraham had refused to leave the idol worshiping culture he lived in, God would have found somebody else.

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23)

Because of obedience, Abraham is remembered as a great man in spite of his failures. God can use you too if you’re willing to obey Him. He can help you to step away from the sin around you and lead you along His path of righteousness.

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God demonstrates that He chooses men to lead, but women are also given the opportunity to stand in the gap. Deborah is a woman who comes to mind when we think of people who obeyed God.

“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (Judges 4:4-5)

God revealed to Deborah that Israel was to fight against King Jabin of Hazor. She enlisted Barak to lead an army of men to fight against Sisera, the captain of ‘army. Barak only agreed to go fight if Deborah went with him. Deborah must have loved the Lord and served Him well because she agreed to go. Barak would face a fierce battle and he  Deborah was close to the Lord and could give godly advice. Every leader needs godly advisors in order to make right decisions.

“And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.” (Judges 4:9)

Deborah heard God’s voice and wasn’t afraid to speak His truth. God used her to righteously judge Israel and to inspire Barak to fight in battle on behalf of God. We all fight battles with the enemy. Satan wants to come between you and God. Fight the battle by studying God’s Word and applying it to your life. Surround yourself with godly men and women who hear God’s truth who will give you godly advice.

Today we seem more apt to look to Facebook friends for advice, but unless they are like Deborah and speak on behalf of God you are looking for help in the wrong place. The battle belongs to the Lord, but you need to arm yourself with His tools of battle…with His righteousness.

Another woman who stood in the gap was a young Jewish woman named Hadassah, better known as Esther. She lived in the very pagan Babylonian culture found in Shushan. Through             a series of circumstances she married King Ahasuerus and became his queen. She had been advised by her cousin Mordecai to not tell anyone that she was Jewish. As it turned out, that           was good advice.

Eventually a man named Haman brought charges against all of the Jews and convinced the king that they should be killed on the thirteenth day of Adar. That’s when Queen Esther chose to stand in the gap. Mordecai made her aware of the planned murder of her people and told her this:

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

God had allowed her to be the queen for such a time as that. Esther understood that she needed to bring Haman’s evilness to the king’s attention, but she hadn’t been called to him for many days. If she approached him without being called he could have had her killed. Esther chose to stand in the gap.

She was able to invite King Ahasuerus and Haman to banquets which she prepared in order to get Haman to show his true nature to the king. Haman did just as Esther had hoped and King Ahasuerus had him hanged. She also revealed that she was, in fact, Jewish and would be killed by the king’s decree. King Ahasuerus repealed the decree.

What if Esther had chosen to keep silent? Esther was in a unique position to speak up for the Jews, even though her life could have been in danger. Today we need to follow her example. Israel is in a war against satanic people who want to destroy them.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6)

The battle is vicious, but stand in the gap by praying for Jerusalem.

The people I’ve described stood in the gap and obeyed God. Were they righteous people who were a bit more perfect than others? No, they were just people who chose to obey God. Many others are named in the Bible who God sees as righteous in spite of their failures. We might look at Lot as being lost and beyond salvation. He chose to live in Sodom, a city filled with the filth of sin so great that God needed to destroy it. Yet, Peter says that Lot was a righteous man.

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” (2 Peter 2:6-9)

Lot doesn’t seem to have accomplished any special mission like Abraham or Esther, but if the Lord can see him as worthy of salvation, then you and I can take heart. He was in Sodom, but wasn’t a part of the abominable sin there. The sin of this world grows darker each day. Even though we live here we don’t have to partake in it. Only faith in Jesus Christ will make your righteous and save you from eternal death.

The men and women mentioned above were regular people living their daily lives…people just like you and me. Each and every day we are faced with a challenge to do what God asks of us or to fail. When God asks you to step out and witness to a neighbor or a co-worker, do you cower in fear of what they might think, or do you share the gospel with them? Esther could have lost her life for speaking out on behalf of the Jewish people, but you probably just run the risk of being scoffed at.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:13)

God will give you courage when you need it, but you need to be willing to step out in faith. You may not be asked to build an Ark or be a war advisor, but winning souls for Christ is the most important task God has set before every Christian.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Study Scripture in order to have answers and pray. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. God is always looking for righteous man and woman to stand in the gap and accomplish great things for Him.

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.” (Romans 3:22)

It isn’t your own righteousness that qualifies you for service to God, but righteousness that only comes through faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you confess Him as your Savior, then move away from unrighteous ties to unbelievers and stand firm upon His word.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Witness to the unrighteous, but don’t yoke yourself with them. Everyone who saw the Ark being built saw Noah’s faith in action. If Noah had joined with the unrighteous people of his day he would have failed in the task God called him to do and he would have died in the flood.

We can never be righteous enough by our own merit to stand before God…it’s only the righteousness of Jesus that makes us worthy.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:7-9)

We need to make God’s ways our ways and think like Him. While we live on this side of heaven we will never completely understand His ways, but we can draw closer to Him. Study Scripture, pray, and find ways to stand in the gap for Him.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:3)

He’s looking for sinners to repent and to be righteous through Him. He’s looking for you to stand in the gap.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original Scripture is “theopneustos” (God breathed).

 

God’s love is perfect. Our human understanding of love is limited, but the standard of perfection is set by God.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.” (Luke 6:27-29)

Though Jesus said to love our enemies, too often we seek revenge on someone who offends us and we have a hard time forgiving others. Jesus didn’t ask us to do anything He didn’t do Himself. His love is perfect and His forgiveness is available to everyone who asks.

Sin is a problem for all humanity. Everyone sins. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,”  (Romans 3:23)

This verse can be discouraging but God is always willing to forgive us. Nobody can possibly measure up to God’s expectations, but even though we fail He still loves us. The problem of sin began in the Garden of Eden when Satan lied to Eve and Adam followed her in eating the forbidden fruit. This rebellion continues to this day. It’s in our human nature to fight against  God, and that rebellion is a death sentence.

‘For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)

Sin pays deadly wages but God takes no pleasure in people facing eternal death.

Pride was what caused Satan to defy God and that was his downfall.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Satan exemplifies this verse and he still thinks he can win against God. There is a battle raging between Satan and God and the prize is human souls. Satan has wrapped sin in a package with pretty paper and ribbons to tempt us, but that only disguises just how ugly sin is. God knew before He created the world that sin would have a strong hold upon us, but because His love is perfect He gives us a choice. He could have programmed us to love and serve Him, but that wouldn’t be real love. Unless there’s a choice it’s just control.

God doesn’t keep secrets. He has given us the Holy Scriptures to guide us away from sin. That means we’re without excuse when we rebel against God and commit sin. Keeping God’s Law is impossible, although some people claim to be able to not sin. That in itself is the sin of pride. Our idea of sin and God’s idea are different. God alone sets the standards, not humans. Sin involves more than just actions, but we tend to think that if we don’t act on an ungodly thought we’re okay. The Ten Commandments is a very short list summarizing the Law. It’s impossible to even keep ten sins out of our life let alone the entire Law.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

“Other gods” might include money, television, cars, sports, and anything else that you put ahead of God Almighty. No matter how hard we try not to, we all have something we put ahead of God. Remember, it’s God’s standards we need to live up to, not human standards. It’s easy to point fingers, but the truth is that most of us have many things in our life that we put ahead of God. That’s sin.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about man’s standards as opposed to God’s. He talked about the Ten Commandments.

“Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)

In pride we justify our own perfection by saying that the Hebrew word translated “kill” means murder and most of us have never set out to murder another person. That seems simple enough, but Jesus said that even calling someone a fool is worthy of hell.

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22)

What names do you call someone who cuts you off in traffic? Do you call them a fool, or worse? It’s easy to see that nobody lives up to God’s standards of perfection. Can He love us anyway? Yes, His love is perfect.

Shall we talk about adultery? “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)

That’s right to the point and usually we think of this as a man lusting after another man’s wife.

[Jesus said,] “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

Do you have a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue? Oh right, you just read the articles. Television promotes lust and so do movies. In fact, much of the “entertainment” we partake of promotes sin. This verse doesn’t only apply to married men lusting after married women, but also applies to those who aren’t married and also to women. The apostle Paul said to take control over thoughts.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

If your relationship with another person isn’t biblically based, you need to take your thoughts before the Lord. He knows them anyway and loves you in spite of it. His love is perfect, but you need to seek His forgiveness.

It could be easy to get discouraged when we look at our life and compare our thoughts and actions to God’s standards. God created us and Satan corrupts us. Is there any way to live up to God’s ideals? No, not by our own efforts. We can try, but even the kindest person falls far short of God’s standards. In order to restore the fellowship that Adam and Eve enjoyed with God prior to the Fall, God sent his Son to be the atonement for our sin.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Most of us have heard this verse quoted many times. There’s no love greater or more perfect than God’s love for you. He knows you sin, but His love is far greater than the sins in your life. He doesn’t look for ways to condemn you, but He offers salvation.

‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through                  him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17-18)

Love is a choice and God chooses to love you. It’s time for you to choose to love Him. If you don’t, then you have condemned yourself to eternal death. You can’t blame God for a choice you have made.

Don’t wait until you’ve become “good enough” to ask God to come into your life. If you’re waiting for your own perfection it will never come. God’s love is perfect and is offered to everyone right now while we are still lost sinners.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Jesus loves us and it’s only His righteousness that allows us to come before the most Holy God. You will never be good enough to stand before the throne of God by any effort of your own. Jesus chose to enter His creation to bring salvation to everyone who asks. When Christ died on the cross, you weren’t yet born. Every sin you commit was in the future when He went to the cross, but He died for you anyway. Now, you need to accept the forgiveness He offers.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:13-14)

Jesus did lay down His life for you. Accept His love and follow His commands. There is great peace in living your life for God. His perfect love far outshines the filthy lusts of this world.

There is no pleasure in sin. You might think you’re having a wonderful time sowing your wild oats, but hangovers aren’t fun. That’s just one of the problems of sin. What about the risk of sexually transmitted diseases? When you choose to live opposed to God you choose to be diseased. Alcoholism leads to liver problems, smoking leads to lung disease, drugs open doors for demons to enter. Still, God has perfect love for you and is willing to forgive every sin.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

You have to ask Him for His forgiveness. Then allow Him to change you. He will help you to overcome alcoholism, drug addiction, and every sin that has taken hold of your life. You may have to live your life dealing with the results of your sin, such as AIDS, but God’s perfect love will see you through.

Prior to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the Law required animal blood sacrifices to cover sin. There was no permanent solution so those sacrifices had to be made continually. After Christ’s sacrifice on the cross there is a permanent solution. Jesus didn’t abolish the Law, but through Him we are made perfect.

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

By His perfect love He took our sin and nailed it to His cross. He did this willingly and He won’t force this gift of salvation upon you. Accept it and apply it to your life. There is no other way to obtain eternal life than through faith in Christ’s sacrifice.

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:9-10)

Only faith in His death, burial, and resurrection brings eternal life.

“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:11)

Turn to Him today and receive the forgiveness for sin that He offers. God’s love is perfect.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham