From Steve Shultz, Publisher, THE ELIJAH LIST

"I LOOKED FOR A MAN... TO STAND BEFORE ME IN THE GAP"

This morning as I watched the news and saw the protests in China over the accidental bombing of their embassy in Yugoslavia--I was struck with how this world is like a dry powder keg waiting to be set off in one huge explosion where not just thousands, but millions could die.

Then this scripture came to mind:

Ezek 22:29-31 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice. 30 "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. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

Because of our own sins, we could be judged severely, as a nation, and as the church (worldwide) .

But what stood out to me was that God is looking for:

A MAN!

or

A WOMAN!

...who will stand in the gap.

OUR PERSONAL PRAYERS

We often look for a corporate group to pray with, thinking that power is there! (And there IS power there) Yet if there is no group--- we often don't pray for larger issues, or international issues, because we believe our individual prayers to be ineffective. Or we look at our shortcomings and determine that the Lord would probably not care what we prayed anyway.

However----God was not looking for a sinless man to stand in the gap. Just a man--- to stand in the gap.

As the world dangles on the precipice of a greater conflict among nations---YOU MUST TAKE YOUR INDIVIDUAL ROLE MORE SERIOUSLY.

The Lord indicates that one person alone can turn the tide. We must not wait for the group--we must individually storm the gates of heaven with repentance and intercessions on behalf of our nation, and ALL NATIONS of the world.

Jesus said that his HOUSE, his TEMPLE was to be a HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS.

YOU ARE THAT HOUSE!!

Please believe, as scripture teaches, that your individual prayers make a difference TODAY!!