To our God be every praise, honour and thanksgiving for bringing us all into the second month of the year 2020. It is a great joy to know that there is no loss in our camp. This can only be God’s grace.
This month, we are to be intentional about “Standing in the Gap”. So what we shall look to understand will be, who can stand in the gap. What does that entail. How does God view such or is God architect of it all.
A case in point today is Elijah the Tishbite. His introduction left so much to be desired. No mention of whose son he was because probably they were not known. Again his appearance was sudden and not stylish. Looking at the history of Israel for several years, Israelites had lived un-der the reign of three kings: Saul, David, and finally Solomon.
These three rulers of the Jews were great and famous men in many ways, although not one of them was without sin and failure.
At the end of King Solomon’s life, a civil war broke out in the kingdom, and the nation was divided into a northern kingdom, most often called Israel, and a southern kingdom, usually referred to as Judah.
This division remained until both kingdoms were led away into captivity by foreign invaders. The Northern kingdom had several Monarchs who we are told were all evil men who worshipped idols in preference for the True God of their father’s.
That environment of evil prevailed in Israel until the Assyrians invaded in 722 B.C.
For that reason it is important for us to understand the difficult times during which Elijah came on the scene.
Though God sent his prophets to warn the Kings, they took such warn-ings lightly and mis treated those servants of God.
The greatest of the wicked Kings was Ahab whose mistress added to his level of idolatry that God sent Elijah to appear at the scene with a judgemental statement recorded in 1 Kings 17.” “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
Elijah became God’s instrument of confrontation. We can observe this through the style of his language before the King ,without apparent fear or reluctance, Elijah stood before Ahab the king and got right to the point with him.
Again we can also say that Elijah was a stand-in-the gap messenger who
was uniquely anointed and used by God. He traveled solo for many years.
He sounded the alarm unceremoniously and never stopped until he ac-complished the task successfully.
What this tells us is to introspectively reflect on what is expected of us this season to do for our Nation and families.
Standing in the gap may involve exposing one's self for the protection of something, or taking the place of a target knowing who is behind you.
It could also mean to see something that needs to be done and to step forward and do something about it.
To see someone who is in need and to serve them.
It may involve intercessory prayer, or cooking a meal for someone, or teaching a Bible class, or giving someone a ride to church to ensure transportation does not pose a problem to fellowshipping as and when necessary.
It may involve seeing a great injustice or evil and standing against it.
So hear the words of Ezekiel: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” 22:30.
Our Lord is still searching for people who will make a difference. God hopes to find people with the courage to stand alone for God. My hope and prayer is that we won’t let His search come up empty.
My beloved, It is when the days become the blackest that God looks for someone who can shine the brightest. This year He is sending us to be-come deliberate in shinning the Light of the gospel of Love to our world.
Elijah was the bright light in his nation’s dark days.
Am sure that you will agree with me that we find ourselves in one of our nation’s spiritually darkest days.
Therefore In times like this, God looks for special people who will pro-mote the things of God, who will stand tall, stand firm, and if necessary, stand alone.
If you will join the army of end time, please come and enlist in the secret squad that will pray until some-thing happens. Remain in God’s will till the end. Amen.
PJ