“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV
God is looking for a man, a woman, a young man, a child.
God has chosen children. Prophet Samuel was still a child when God spoke to him and began using him.
The Bible says that: “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord.” I Samuel 3:1 NKJV
God has called women too. In the history of Israel there was a woman who heard the voice of God, her name was Esther, and she saved an entire nation. She decided to die for her nation, so God protected her and used her greatly.
This is what she said: “And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
Esther 4:16 NKJV
Let’s read another text that also inspires me.
“And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.” Joshua 10:14 NKJV
God is looking for a man who puts himself in the gap in the wall before Him and His people. May he fight for God’s cause, cooperate with God, defend his people and stand for the cause of the weak and needy.
God will do extraordinary things if He finds people who are available!
Billy Graham is considered the greatest evangelist of all time. Billy Graham is the man who preached to the largest number of people to date. About 210 million people, in more than 185 countries, 6 continents, participated in many evangelistic trips. Millions have given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ thanks to one mam. Billy Graham was worldly known as the “spokesperson” of evangelical Christians.
He preached in the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz, preached to troops in Vietnam under rain and in the middle of the war. He prayed over kings, queens, presidents, intellectuals, artists, religious figures. He has been a friend and pastor of all U.S. presidents since the 1950s.
God is looking for a man who puts himself in the gap in favour of this land.
A man, a woman, a child who fears and obeys his word, who hungers and thirsts for justice, who does not corrupt themselves with life, who does not surrender to the pleasure of sin.
I believe there are two interpretations for Ezekiel 22:30 text. A version about the land of Israel, and the other for spiritual Israel, which we are all part of. God looked at the earth, at humanity, and he found no one to fulfil his plan.
So what did God the Father do? He sent his son to save humanity. His son was the only one who said yes to the Father.
This land is full of filth, wickedness and violence and soon God will bring judgement on all the works of darkness. But God has been merciful, waiting for the salvation of many who are lost.
God found Jesus, because He is before God day and night, He lives to intercede for us.( Hebrews 7:25)
God keeps calling out, who will hear His call?
1 – God does not choose the empowered ones, He empowers those who are called.
Even with all His power, God will only act on this earth through men and women, simple and ordinary people, who will be filled with the Holy Spirit to expand His kingdom, preaching the gospel for salvation.
That’s why the Lord Jesus said.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
John 15:16 NKJV
Now look at what the Lord Jesus says to Ananias about Paul.
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15 NKJV
The Lord said, “a chosen vessel” to bring his name before humanity, with a purpose.
Let’s see what God said when he called the apostle Paul:
“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”
Acts 26:18 NKJV
God is looking for someone.
Smith Wigglesworth, an apostle of faith, is known as the man of a single book because His wife Polly taught him to read after they got married. And he has never read any other book than the Bible.
Despite his best efforts and the efforts of others to help him, he remained unsuccessful speaker because of his stuttering. Later, due to his frustration, he declared that he would never speak in public again.
However, when he was baptised by the Holy Spirit, his life changed. Fourteen people were documented as resurrected, returning to life from the dead, through the Wigglesworth ministry. There is nothing too great for your faith. Unfortunately, not all people believe that they can be used by God or that God can heal them.
Some people think that God cannot use them, others feel incapable because of sin, others think they have no gift, so they are useless.
We should not worry about our abilities or accomplishments, because God empowers us to fulfil His purpose.
2 – When God calls, He empowers and when He empowers, He sends.
God chooses those who feel incapable.
Let’s see what the Lord said to Gideon.
“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon said to Him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”” Judges 6:12-14 NKJV
The angel said: The Lord is with you, mighty warrior! Gideon without believing, replied, “Oh my Lord”
This “My Lord” shows his unbelief, guilt and doubt. Gideon was blaming God for the situations they were living, forgetting that everything was a consequence of the disobedience of the people.
A man wounded and hurt towards God. Many are in the church in the same way, Oh but this church, Oh, the pastor, Oh the brothers, Oh but my job, Oh the cell group…
Gideon doubted the word of God and murmured against God saying, “If the Lord is with us, why did all this happen?
That is very common, even inside the church people begin to question, if the Lord is with me why did I lose my parents, why did I lose my husband, my family, why is my life so miserable, why did my marriage fail, why did i lose my health, my work? We question God for our miseries and guilt, above all forgetting the consequences of our sins which is the cause of many ruins, losses, evil, etc
And Gideon asks “where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about?” Gideon was doubting the power of God and what He is capable of.
Again he asks, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and delivered us into the hands of Midianites.
Gideon begins to complain about God like many do today, God abandoned me, God has forgotten me, God doesn’t love me, doesn’t care about me.
God does not answer Gideon’s questions. The Lord turns to him and says: “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.
The Lord answers with another question Have I not sent you?
He Calls, empowers and sends. God has already empowered you, go and make disciples, go and pray for the sick, help in your cell group and invest in the Kingdom of God.
““So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”” Judges 6:15 NKJV
Gideon begins to apologise because of his mediocrity. I’m the least important! Many of us have this same reasoning: I have no value, I am the smallest, I am not capable, I did not study, I came from a poor family. Etc
But it is not appearance that pleases God, God looks for broken hearts. Remember that King Saul had a beautiful appearance, but God rejected him for his rebellious heart.
Look at what God said to the prophet Samuel.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” I Samuel 16:7 NKJV
Your appearance will never impress God, but only your broken and humble heart.
3 – Being used by God does not mean being approved by God.
Just as many are called, few chosen. (Matthew 22:14)
There are also many that are used but few are approved. Being used by God is no more important than obeying God.
“And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.” I Samuel 13:13 NKJV
Be careful because you can be used by God and still allow your heart to be full of rebellion. Remember that obeying is more important than being used.
Saul waited seven days, which was the deadline set by Samuel for the sacrifice before the battle, and Samuel did not come. Saul did not have a humble and broken heart to wait for his leader, and went to do what he should never do, offer sacrifices!
There are things that God has not assigned us to do. Being used by God is not more important than pleasing God.
Saul lost the right to the throne because of his disobedient heart and David won the throne of Israel because of his humble and obedient heart to God.
David was not perfect, he sinned many times, but he pleased God for his justice, integrity and broken heart. What makes us approved by God is our desire to have the character of Christ.
Saul had the opportunity to change his character and to be a man according to the heart of God when the Holy Spirit came upon him. Unfortunately, even after being anointed, Saul disobeyed God several times and ended his days in total displeasure of the LORD.
The Bible says that: The Spirit of God came upon Saul, he prophesied in the midst of the prophets, Saul was anointed by God as leader and king of Israel, but his end was tragic.
So beware, even if you have already received a lot from God and have already been used by Him. If you have a rebellious heart, God will not approve and you can end up in a bad way.
Because of fame, money, a better life and other vanities, many have “lost focus” and lost their ways along the “narrow path”
Conclusion: God uses whoever he wants.
Allowing God to use your life, it is not just about saying “here I am”, but obeying and pleasing him just like young Samuel did, when he was called by the Lord: “Speak for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10)
But remember this: Saul was called, but he was not chosen by God. Saul was used, but not approved by God. What about you?
God is the Potter, and His Spirit is the Oil that fills the vessel. We are just clay pots in the hands of the potter. Without the oil, the vessel is nothing.
God does not choose the empowered but he empowers the chosen ones.