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June 16, 1999, Wednesday
When a Believer is unproductive or unfruitful to the cause
of Christ, is there one who will intercede to God for him,
to ask God for more mercy on his behalf? What example is
there of a person in the Scripture that pleaded the cause
on behalf of another? Is a preacher in the Church today
expected to do that job before God?
Jesus told a parable that explained the mercy of God and
His longsuffering attitude with man. The wrath of God is
fierce and He would not always bear our sins, but there
is One who intercedes for us and pleads on our behalf.
Jesus explained how He averts the wrath of God towards
a man when He sees the hope that lies in a man to make a
change and be productive--But he responded well to him,
"Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it
and fertilize it" (Luke 13:8). Christ would not see any
man cut down, but search for methods to enrich the man
and his potential to grow spiritually. He pleads long
before God on our behalf, and many times will bear even
longer, but there is a limit before God that He knows.
The Scripture tells us that Moses interceded many times on
behalf of his people. The sins of Israel rose high as heaven
to be a provocation to God, and God determined to punish sin-
"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses
His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, To turn away
His wrath from destroying them" (Psa 106:23). The breach was
a perilous place to be for anyone. But God respected the wish
of Moses because he made his people aware of their terrible
sins and motivated them to repent before God of their sins.
Moses knew how to converse with God and make peace against
the wrath of God for his people.
Ezekiel preached to the preachers of his day and reminded
them of their responsibility to teach the people the Laws
of God that would be a wall of protection to them from the
wrath of the Lord; Leading them in prayer and repentance-
"You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build
the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle
on the day of the Lord" (Eze 13:5). The spiritual leaders
that advise and motivate the others to repentance, fasting,
and prayer are called the restorers of the breach. Those
that understand that wall of protection are comprehending
the value of instruction from all of God's laws.
Let us remember Who is the God that is our peace. God's
Name is Jehová Shalom. He is the God that puts His peace
all around His people. He is the God that is helping us
learn His ways. He is meek and humble and makes us aware
that the fear of the Lord gives protection. He will soon
crush Satan under our feet and instructs us from all of
His teaching. Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him today
for the fact that He keeps us with in His peace!
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