Bible Study

December 2005

Stand in the Gap
By Felicity Slemp

Based on Ezekiel 22:30
Interceding for the lost peoples of the world, including many completely unreached peoples like those in Indonesia or Saudi Arabia, is more familiar to college students today than every before. “Standing in the gap” is a phrase that has popularized prayer for the lost. Ironically, though, when God looked for someone to stand in the gap in Ezekiel 22, He was not searching for someone to intercede for the lost. Instead, God was seeking someone to intercede for the city of Jerusalem, that is, on behalf of God’s own people who had fallen away from Him.

In some ways, the American church is similar to the Israelites of Ezekiel’s day – we have ignored the ways and purposes of God. Specifically, we tend to ignore God’s global purpose for us to take the knowledge of Him to all people groups on the earth. God clearly states this plan five times in Genesis, beginning with Gen. 12:3. God says to Abram that He will bless Abram and all his descendents and, in turn, they would take the knowledge of God to all the nations on the earth. Many Christians today, however, have camped on the blessing that God gives, but ignore the responsibility to take those blessings to all people groups on the earth so they will know about the salvation from Jesus.

As you lift up the prayer requests from thE-TASK, stand in the gap also for the American church. Pray that American Christians will open their hearts to God’s leading to reach the nations – whether that leading takes them around the world or down the street. You see, because we wouldn’t go, God brought the nations to our country – and we still ignore them. Ask God how you can reach the nations around you and around the world. Pray that we will not be left behind as God accomplishes His global purpose, but that we can be an integral part. Stand in the gap on behalf of God’s people to rise to the great global task God has given to us.