Intercession II
We will get started on today’s blog by discussing “the man in the gap.”
Intercession II: This is an interesting time of the year because of the observance of the Passover (Pesach). While many followers of the Jewish Messiah (Jesus Christ) celebrated their “Easter” service last month, Passover is being celebrated this week by both Orthodox and Messianic Jewish people around the world. My wife and I, along with our church family will attend Passover to honor this day that the Lord has made for all mankind.
Passover always starts on the 15th of Nisan. According to the Jewish Calendar, this year Passover begins on Friday, April 22, 2016. Historically, the Jews have kept a continuous record of sacred days and their significance to God’s people. For example, events surrounding Passover were the first steps in God’s path toward providing the Great Advocate. God’s Lamb who was slain is now seated on His throne interceding on our behalf.
Since everything concerning the Lord’s death and His resurrection had been perfectly timed and with meticulous detail, no one could deny that all of Isaiah’s 54 prophesies about the Messiah had come true. The probability of this happening is something like 24,000,000,000,000 to 1. It has been said that 36 of those prophesies manifested during Christ’s last three hours on earth. Furthermore, those prophetic events were from the book of Isaiah alone. There are countless other miracles and prophesy references pointing to the Messiah that are seen throughout the Bible.
Satan only obeys spiritual legalities. God’s plan of salvation had to be flawless so that factual evidence concurred with His Name. The Bible tells us that His Name alone is excellent! Satan could not refute the reality that Jesus was lifted up. It was a prophetic, chronological, and scientific truth.
Note: Our Heavenly Father knows the importance of intercessors because God Himself used them to perform His Will.
For instance, when the God of Israel was totally “done” with His people, He sought Moses and said: “This is it, I am done with their disobedience!”
Wait just a minute! Why did Adonai go to Moses and confess to him what He was planning to do toward the people? The reason is because Moses was a meek and compassionate man. God’s anger was kindled against the people and He did not need to hear from an immature, self-focused individual. He needed to hear from a person with a tender spirit. Let us read what Moses told Adonai. You will be shocked to find out what happened after he finished reminding God of His promise.
Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou didst swear by thine own self, and didst say to them, `I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'”
14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people. (Exo 32:12-14 RSV)
Even God, Himself used a man who was standing in the gap!
Likewise, as believers we can understand the message that God is revealing to us from the Garden of Eden to Jesus’ death at Calvary. He is covering us through His grace and mercy. We were guilty of failure, disobedience, and high treason. But, just like the Lord covered Adam and Eve with the skin of an innocent animal, the Lord has covered us with the blood of His Innocent Son. For example, think about a CEO of the world’s largest company who had to leave for a business meeting and trusted his life’s earnings with his manager. Upon returning, the CEO discovers that his manager has given the entire empire away. This high treason included the loss of the empire’s secrets, patterns and all they had acquired over the years.
Yet, to the surprise of his other board members, the CEO covers the manager’s shameful act and offers him a better contract. The promise stated that one of his descendants would win it all back again. He will be my “man in the gap.”
Would Adonai ever use street talk such as, “man in the gap?” I don’t know, but the term is not meant for a cliché. On the contrary, the term is referencing the position of God’s intercessor.
Adonai needs a man or woman in place who has a pure heart and clean hands. An intercessor has to have a relationship with God because the enemy knows those who are talking, but are not walking the walk. He also knows those believers who God will listen to and answer. As it was with Saul, so it will be with religious people who think God will move for them, but He doesn’t because of their disobedience. We must remember that there is a demonic kingdom set up as an attempt to overthrow everything Godly and righteous. Satan’s purpose is to influence sinful behaviors in people, even with some Christians. The only resistance he worries about are the “men and women who are standing in the gap.”
שָׂטָן satan {saw-tawn’} Meaning: 1) adversary, one who withstands
The reason proper intercession is crucial for a believer is because warfare is not about what we see in the earthly manifestations, but what we discern in the spiritual realm. We are called to war against all influences from the congress of darkness.
Principalities and dominions are sophisticated, organized, and task-oriented agents of wickedness. They only obey direct and legal proclamations through the authority of Jesus, the Son of God.
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see– such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. (Col 1:13-16 NLT)
Yeshua (Jesus) did not come to fight in this earthly kingdom. The Son of God proclaimed that His Kingdom was not of this world, although His disciples thought He was going to overthrow Rome. They may have said to themselves, “We were convinced that the Messiah, with His Godly powers would restore the glory back to Jerusalem”.
36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” (Joh 18:36-37 NLT)
God has always used a picture language when teaching His people. So, I am asking you to look at this picture and see with your spiritual eyes. Imagine, Adonai offering up His Son on the Cross.
Jesus Christ was nailed to a pole and He was lifted up in the air. Do you get the picture? It was as though the Lord God Almighty was placing His Holy Scepter between Heaven and Earth. God’s servant-king was placed in the middle of the gap!
6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
7 Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”
8 But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. (Heb 1:6-8 NLT)
4464 ῥάβδος rhabdos {hrab’-dos}
Meaning: 1) a staff, 3b) when applied to kings 3b1) with a rod of iron, indicates the severest, most rigorous rule 3b2) a royal scepter
Now, the glory of His authority has come to dedicated believers who understand the power of intercessory prayer. They will trust their tried and true God. They believe He is really listening to their prayers. Not only is He listening, but He is able and willing to answer those righteous and effective prayers. These intercessors have been granted the authority to judge and engage spiritual forces in the Name of Jesus. Can you believe that you are summoned to have an audience with the Holy One?
28 Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”
29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.
32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die. (Joh 12:28-33 NLT)
How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. (Joh 12:34-35 NLT)
It is important to know that intercessors are not a group of gossiping, unruly or fault-finding church members. Just as the demeanor of our Lord, Jesus was – a meek and quiet spirit – God is requiring the same characteristics of intercessors. They do not disturb His delicate framework of building and strengthening relationships. True intercessors submit to leadership, keep confidences, and avoid the appearances of evil as much as possible. In doing so, they walk in the glorious light of the Gospel.
Can a woman serve as an intercessor?
Well, let’s go back to see if we can find a story in the Bible about a “woman in the gap”. Listen to the following story:
In the book of Judges, we read that Israel’s armies were on their last military operation and that they were losing the battle. The armies only had a few troops left. No matter what strategic tactics they used, it seemed that nothing was working.
By this time, General Barak may have felt that the angels were sitting still and that the Almighty seemed unconcerned about his situation. And, based on Israel’s involvement with idol worship, Barak’s thinking could have been justifiable. Israel had gotten themselves new gods and they were worshiping those graven images. It was if they were telling the Lord to get out of their lives. Suddenly, the commander remembered Deborah. Deborah was a judge, a prophetess, and an intercessor. She governed natural affairs in Israel and she governed spiritual affairs in Heaven. Barak knew that when that girl sang, everybody felt the anointing. So, he decided that the only hope for Israel’s armies was to have somebody go and wake up Deborah. God’s little intercessor would come and sing a worship song to Adonai.
The General may have concluded that God was not going to move for Israel because of their backslidden condition, but that God was going to move for Deborah because she maintained her Godly relationship with Him and a consistent prayer life. As a result, God would show favor to His intercessor and Israel would be spared.
We do not know what song Deborah sang unto her Lord. Perhaps, she said unto Him: “There is none like You.” Maybe she told God that He was “high and lifted up.” What we do know is that Deborah became God’s “woman in the gap.”
There were few people left in the villages of Israel– until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel. (Jdg 5:7-9 NLT)
This mighty move of God was so powerful that the Israelis made a song in commemoration. The song is called the song of Deborah and it is found in Judges 5:12.
12 “Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13 “Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors. (Jdg 5:12-13 NLT)
Finally, the Lord ended His silence. He spoke to Deborah and told her His plan for the battle. The rest is history.
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. (Jdg 4:14 NLT)