"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

By Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam

 

The Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel saying, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."

                                                                                                                                                                    Ezekiel 22:30

 

God is still looking for a man or a woman who He can use. As long as there are human beings upon the face of the earth and as long as there are people needing to be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God is still looking for a man. A "man" here means a human being, a person; either male or female. God is looking for a man or woman who would stand in the gap before God; a "gap" here is a break or a hole in the wall.

 

God had put a wall of protection around Israel, His people. But sin had caused a gap in the wall of protection. God was speaking of Israel's sin. God must judge sin. If there is anything that hinders God's work of blessing, it is sin in one's life. There is no grace available when one persistently and stubbornly sin against God. However, grace is available when one comes to God in repentance.

 

God is looking for someone who would intercede for the sins of the people and stand in the gap between Him and them. Ezekiel 22:18 tells us what God said about Israel's sin: "Son of man, the house of Israel has come dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver." "Dross" simply means "filth", "dirt" or "rubbish". Israel was very valuable, but she has become dross due to her sinful ways and her turning away from God. God said that there was no way He could hold back His wrath upon Israel; He had to bring judgement. As a righteous God, He had to punish sin. If He did that, there would be no hope for sinners because they would be destroyed. Thus, God looked for a man who would intercede for Israel.

 

Do you know that God is still looking for a man or woman today? This is because there are still people in "the land"; people who are backslidden and people who are unbelievers. They could be living in your home or your friends who do not know Jesus. They do not know that Jesus died for their sins and there is forgiveness. Somebody needs to take the time to seek for them, pray for them and ask God to hold back His judgement. This is standing in the gap for them. God is looking to see who is willing to stand on behalf of the lost and the backslidden so that His grace can save them. Will you respond to God? Will you stand in the gap for the backslidden of this world and for those who need to believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah 58:12 says, "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In." God is looking for somebody to be a repairer or a restorer; that is, someone who would warn those who are lost to stop sinning and turn to God. Go and tell them that Jesus loves them. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death." Revelation 21:8 also tells us that "the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." In Revelation 20:11-15, we are also warned about the coming of the Great White Throne Judgement in which sinners will be judged. This is why God is still looking for someone who would go and tell the sinners about Jesus, so that they could escape the coming judgement of God.

 

History records for us incidents in which God looked for a man. When the earth was about to be destroyed by a flood, God looked for a man and He found a Noah to stand in the gap so that the human race was preserved. When Sodom and Gomorrah was about to be destroyed by fire and brimstone, God found an Abraham to be the intercessor and rescued Lot's family. When Israel was ill-treated by the Egyptians, God looked for a man to deliver them and He found a Moses.

 

When someone threatened to wipe out the whole Jewish race, God found a woman called Esther and used her to save the Jewish nation. There was a man seeking God, whose name was Cornelius. God looked for a man to tell him about Jesus, and He found a Peter. When God was looking for someone to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, He found a Paul.

 

Today, God is still looking for someone to reach out to those who are lost. Will you respond? Will you be willing to stand in the gap and be that man or that woman whom God could use? Jesus said: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of man." (Matthew 4:19) Will you be willing to be His witness? He promised to empower you! (Acts 1:8)

 

The Bible says "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)

 

CALVARY NEWS

Missions report, January 1997