From His Heart - Week of May 11

But I'm Only One Person, Lord

And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.   Ezekiel 22:30

Do you remember the long-running commercial from the U.S. Forest Service?  The tag line was, "Only you can prevent forest fires."  When I first heard that, I remember saying to myself, "What a joke.  What can I possibly do to prevent forest fires?"  Well, the truth of the matter is this: I can do a lot ... and so can you.

What is true in the natural realm concerning forest fires is also true in the spiritual realm concerning revival fires.  You and I may be weak, frail, and anonymous, but we can make a difference, a big difference in our nation for Christ and His Kingdom.  We can be the difference makers in our land with regard to God's mercy or God's wrath.    

GOD IS LOOKING FOR YOU

In Ezekiel 22, the Lord recounts the great sins of his people.  They were guilty of murder, idolatry, robbery, greed, gross and rampant sexual immorality, lies, extortion, oppression, selfishness to the nth degree, and abuse of the poor and needy.  To make matters worse, the priests and prophets were corrupt, preaching and teaching lies for personal gain.  God was filled with wrath over the blatant, arrogant, presumptuous sins of His people.  Judgment was coming ... and it wasn't going to be pretty. 
 
Yet in the midst of all the sin, our merciful and compassionate God said, "And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30).  Did you catch that?  He searched for A MAN.  He didn't require a group of men or a congregation of people.  He searched for ONE PERSON who would stand in the gap and pray.  One single person standing in repentance, humility, and honest intercession could have stemmed the tide of judgment for the nation of Judah.  But sadly, God found NO ONE ... and severe judgment fell.       
 
Only you can prevent forest fires ... and only you can prevent judgment from falling on this nation of ours.  Our national sins are just as bad if not worse than Judah's.  And God is looking today for one single person who will really get serious before Him and stand in the gap for the land.  Will you be that one? 
 
DWIGHT L. MOODY
 
There is a very famous quote concerning 19th century evangelist Dwight L. Moody.  Moody was a poorly-educated young shoe clerk when he was led to Christ.  Soon after his conversion, he was at a prayer meeting where Evangelist Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man fully consecrated to Him."  And Moody bowed his head and said in response, "By the grace of God, I WILL BE THAT MAN!" 

And God used D. L. Moody to shake the world for Christ.  He was the Billy Graham of his day.

God wants to use you, my friend.  He wants you to stand in the gap for Him.  He wants to empower you to be a force for the Kingdom of heaven.  "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9). 

God is looking.  Will you stand up today and say to God, "Lord, here I am.  I am only one and seem very insignificant ... but by Your grace, I choose to be completely Yours and let You use me to make a BIG difference for the Kingdom and stand in the gap for the land."

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Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

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