I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
– 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Do you notice here that God wants us to give ourselves to supplication, to pray, to intercede, and to giving of thanks be made for how many men? All men. That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Do you see a lot of godliness going on in society today? Do you see a lot of honesty going on in society today as a whole? In fact you see a lot of dishonesty going on in society today. You see a lot of ungodliness going on in society today. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, you will read something in the newspaper, or you will see something new on TV, and you wonder could we even go this far? Could people do this? Could people who actually know better go this far? Yes they are doing it because somebody is not standing in the gap.
But in the name of Jesus Christ we are. The church is taking its place and standing in the gap for this nation, for this world. Standing in the gap is not a New Testament thing or an Old Testament thing. It is a God thing. Throughout scripture you can find intercessors standing in the gap for others, including entire nations. We see it in Exodus, Daniel, Ezekiel, just to name a few. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself stood in the gap for us for salvation and He is at the Father’s right hand ever making intercession for us now. So this idea of standing in the gap for others is a God thing.
You’ll notice that 1 Timothy is written to Christians. It isn’t written to the world. God isn’t asking the world to pray for leaders and all men. Why would He? They wouldn’t even do it if He asked. But He’s asking the church to do it. He’s asking believers to stand in the gap for all men, for leaders of the nations of the world. Why is He asking us? First, because He believes that we will do it. God has faith is us that we will stand and pray for those who need it.
Secondly, we’re the ones with the power. Jesus Christ gave power – His authority – to believers. He didn’t give it to the world. He gave us the task, the joy, and the power to stand in the gap for those who need it. When the church arises and does it, we’re gong to see our finest hour. God is with us.
