MIND THE GAP: RECOVERING THE SYNERGY OF STRATEGIC INTERCESSION
APRIL 23, 2023 | STEVE PIXLER

Ezekiel 22:30 (NRSV): And I sought for anyone among them who would repair the wall and stand in the breach (GAP) before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

Isaiah 59:16 (NRSV): 16 He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene (INTERCEDE); so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him.

Romans 8:26–28 (NRSV): 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our WEAKNESS; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit INTERCEDES with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the MIND of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

The BIG IDEA is simply that effective intercession is often sabotaged by a MIND GAP.

We are beset by a WEAKNESS — the weakness of the flesh. But the Spirit helps us! The only effective intercession that can bridge the gap is SYNERGISTIC INTERCESSION, intercession that aligns with heaven.

God is searching for intercessors who know how to allow Holy Spirit to “MIND THE GAP,” to bridge the “mind gap” between heaven and earth. Holy Spirit teaches us how to enter the SILENCE and empty our minds of the chatter of earth and hear the intercession of heaven.

1 Corinthians 2:9–16 (NRSV)

In Romans 8, the Spirit searches the human heart. In 1 Corinthians 2, the Spirit searches the heart of God. The goal is to bring the heart of God and the hearts of humans into alignment!

When we are brought into alignment through the Spirit, then — and ONLY THEN! — are we able to stand in the gap and make up the hedge.

GET THIS: THE HEART OF EFFECTIVE INTERCESSION IS THE MINISTRY AND MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION! 2 Corinthians 5:10–21 (NRSV)

Spirit-taught intercessors must be RECONCILIATION INTERCESSORS. They must be intercessors who are well-schooled in the word of reconciliation and know how to mediate the prayer of Jesus, "Father, forgive them! They know not what they do!" And the cry of Stephen, "Lay not this sin to their charge!"

Intercession must be grace-based intercession and not “legalistic intercession.” Will it be law or grace? How much intercession is vendetta/vengeance driven? How much intercession is a call for condemnation rather than mercy? Do we know what spirit we’re of?

The key is FORGIVENESS. Do we know how to intercede as the forgiven crying out for forgiveness? Do we know how to wield the wrath of God as Jesus did? Or shall we imitate Peter, who pulled out the sword and was warned by Jesus, “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword!” Only the forgiven who cry for forgiveness are qualified to intercede!

Forgiveness-driven-intercession is much different than the "tolerance" promoted by the world. In fact, "tolerance," as the world defines it, is pseudo-forgiveness. Tolerances encourages sinful, destructive behavior, but forgiveness does not. Forgiveness confronts the deadly power of sin and breaks that power with mercy. Forgiveness does not water down how wrong sin is and how dehumanizing sin is, but it does extend full pardon to the sinner.

Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us. In fact, he EVER LIVES to make intercession for us! So, what’s he saying? What’s he praying? What is he praying for America? For our families?

Intercessors often live with cognitive dissonance and even depression is that they are praying out of their own spirit, out of their fears. So many intercessors fall through the gap, rather than bridging it. We must mind the g