Standing in the Gap

It is remarkable how few people there are that demonstrate tenacity in using their God given talents for the Kingdom of God.  Billy Graham, Moses and a few other patriarchs of the faith touched multitudes of hungry souls with the ‘God News’ message.

God uses people to bring about His purpose; so, in today’s society, where are the workers that are needed to accomplish the task?  It remains to be seen what one individual, sold out to God, can do; Billy Graham being the exception.

Where is the now generation that is willing to receive the passing of the torch of righteousness, while taking up the mantle of faith to wear with dignity and pride?  Where is conviction and integrity?  Are they hanging in the closet of ‘do-nothing’?

Down through history, individuals heard the call to service and acted upon Godly principles as they stepped out in faith to fill the gap where they were needed.  Whether it was one or two individuals that were willing to be used of God, He used them mightily.

I am reminded of the three hundred dedicated warriors in Gideon’s army that God used to win a battle, rather than the army of thousands.  They achieved victory, because God was with them.  (Judges 7:1-25)

The twelve disciples of Jesus made such an impact in the early church that God’s truth is being preached throughout the world today.  This small band of believers was common, everyday men that loved God and wanted to make a difference in their region.  They were the first to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, which gave them power to witness for the Lord.

Jesus had commanded His followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Ghost.  He told them they would witness of Him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  After Jesus had spoken these things He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  (The Acts 1:8, 9)  All this took place after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.     

They did as Jesus had instructed them to do.  They went into an upper room and united in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.  The number of names was about an hundred and twenty. 

The empowerment from on high, as documented in (The Acts, Chapter 2), changed them from weak, shrinking violets to power houses for God.  People were moved and received the salvation message that Peter shared with them that day.  They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  There were added unto them about three thousand souls.

If we took the time to look around us we would see that the fields are ready for harvest, but where are the reapers?  Have Godly workers become complacent and uninvolved?  Have the cares of this life blinded them to the needs of others?  Have programs lost their fervency in churches that were once alive and on fire for God?  Has the Gospel been watered down to appease liberal minded big shots and money people that sit in the pews?

Jesus is coming back to receive His bride unto Himself; the ‘Church’.  How many souls will we take with us, because of our testimony and personal witness for Christ?

A sold out Christian has the same common objective as God.  They desire that no person die without having Jesus in their heart.  If this generation of laid back Christians could see just a brief glimpse of hell for what it truly is, I believe it would revolutionize individual witnessing for Christ.

I share the plan of salvation whenever possible, but if I could grasp the magnitude of hell’s fury, and the hopelessness of lost souls as they are tormented amidst unquenchable flames, it would compel me to do more for the Lord.

Our prayer should be, “Open my eyes, Lord, that I might see and understand that time is growing short for the unsaved!  Ignite a flame of compassion in my heart to witness like they did on the Day of Pentecost!”

What would happen if you and I determined to spend more time in prayer and reading the Bible?  I believe our spirit would become alive and challenged to witness like the first time we met Jesus.  Remember what that was like?  We wanted everyone to experience and know the blessing of sins forgiven.

What happened to that first love?  Has the enthusiasm diminished, because someone in church hurt our feelings or rejected us?  Did we become focused more on the hypocrites than God’s commission?  Did ‘so called’ spiritual leaders take advantage of our kindness?

Perhaps they were walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit when they offended or hurt us.  Are we, too, going to walk in the flesh and reject the call of God upon our life, because of the ridicule we may have received from non-caring Christians?  The general coldness that creeps into many church bodies stifles growth and vision.  (Proverbs 29:18) “Where there is no vision, the people perish:  but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

A person can continue to wallow in self-pity, while people are going to hell, or they can be filled with the power of God’s Spirit once again and become God’s ambassador of peace, thus, making a difference in someone’s life.  The choice is an individual one.

Yes, it takes commitment and dedication to God’s program to accomplish something for the Kingdom of God, whereas, programs that lack spiritual enlightenment and power soon dry up and wither.

There is no greater feeling than leading someone to the Lord and seeing the change that comes over them when they meet Jesus.

The natural instinct of people is to give as little as possible and hope for the best.  For the most part, people with this attitude are takers, not givers.  God’s army doesn’t work this way.  Saints of God that are doing something tangible for God will give beyond what is expected and reasonable.  They go the extra mile, because of love and compassion.  They seek God’s approval and not the accolades of man.

We need to adjust our thinking.  Who do we want to please most, God or man?  If it is God, we are laying up treasures in heaven.  (St. Matthew 6:19-21) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  v.20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  v.21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Rewards on earth are temporal and fleeting, but the rewards in heaven are eternal. “Lord, challenge me to do more for you!”  This should be the prayer of all that know Jesus as their personal Savior.

We need to get out of the box that we’ve made for ourselves and start exercising our privileges as children of God.  The more we do for Jesus, the stronger we become.  It’s like working out with weights.  Our spiritual person becomes fit and strong.  The puny and weak become enriched giants in the faith.

God is pleased with our efforts and loves a compassionate heart.  He uses individuals for His glory if they are willing to stand in the gap where they are needed.

Written by,

Papa Boyd