The Space In Between

Joel 2:17 “Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Friends, we have been in revival over the last few nights, and I thank Him for what He has already done in this place. On the first night, we discussed the fire of prayer and how prayer, when offered with fervor, has the power to bring heaven into your situation. It's not just a routine; it's a beacon of hope. Not a lazy prayer. Not a cute prayer. But a fire prayer that ignites our spirits and fills us with hope.

Then we moved to the next step: being useful and valuable. God doesn't need perfect people. He needs available, clean, surrendered people. Each one of you is valuable in His eyes and has been entrusted with a treasure; don't bury it.

But tonight, God has given me one final word to close this revival. This message is intended for those who are willing to go deeper. Those who understand that revival is not just about you getting blessed, it's about you becoming a blessing.

Tonight, I want to preach from this thought: "The Space In Between."

Because God is looking for somebody to stand in the space. Someone who will be the daysmen, a mediator, the umpire as Job calls it.

Job 9:33 –KJV: "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." some editions): "There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand on us both." NIV: "If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together."

Job is saying “God is not a man like me that I can argue my case. There’s no one to bridge the gap. No one to touch both God and me.”

The space between what is and what could be. The space between the porch and the altar. Between judgment and mercy. Between death and deliverance. Between silence and salvation.

Joel was a prophet during a time of devastation. A plague of locusts had destroyed the land. The crops were gone. The economy has collapsed. Worship has been disrupted. Sound familiar? People didn't know what to do, and some were asking, "Where is God in all of this?"

Joel doesn't respond with a plan to fix the economy. He doesn't say raise taxes or gather politicians. He doesn't say start a war or make new alliances.

He says, "Call a fast. Blow the trumpet in Zion. Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly." And then we come to verse 17, where Joel says, "Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar." [Pause]

God says, "If there's going to be a turnaround, it won't come through government. It won't come through money. It won't come through status. It's going to come through intercession. Through somebody willing to get in the middle."

The priests were not just temple staff—they were symbolic intermediaries, signs of the relationship between God and His people. The Church is now the priesthood—we are the ministers called to weep, intercede, and rebuild the altar of worship.

POINT ONE: THE POSITION OF THE PRIEST

Joel says, "Let the priests weep between the porch and the altar." That's a real location in the Temple. The porch served as the entrance to the sanctuary. It was the place of preparation.

The altar was where sacrifices were burned. Between the porch and the altar was the laver, where the priests washed. It was a place for cleansing and decision, where people called on heaven and sought mercy.

God says, "That's where I want My priests—not hiding in the back. Not standing in the crowd. But between the porch and the altar."

Let me tell you something. Every revival needs people willing to stand in between. Not just attend church, but stand in the gap. Not just shout in service, but weep for souls.

If you're a preacher, leader, or believer—your calling isn't to perform, but to stand in that space. That's where real ministry happens and your usefulness is proven—not in applause, but in agony; not on stage, but at the altar.

The porch is where the presence begins. The altar is where the fire falls. But the space in between? That's where the burden is carried.

The Church must return to the space of costly intercession, standing in the tension between a holy God and a broken people.

POINT TWO: THE POWER OF WEEPING

Joel says, "Let them weep." This is not a call for mere tears, but for a deep, heartfelt expression of our spiritual burden. It's about being so moved by the needs of others that our prayers are accompanied by sobs. Because some things don't move with words alone, some things only shift when the heart is broken before God.

The Church today has powerful preaching but weak weeping. We've got lights, sound systems, and digital ministry. But what we need again are tears at the altar, not just sermons that excite but prayers that break.

We need mamas who weep for their sons. Fathers who cry for their daughters. Pastors who cry out for the city. Not tears for show, but tears that travail.

Jesus wept. Jeremiah wept. Paul said, "I warned you night and day with tears." (Acts 20:31)

Paul wasn’t just a preacher—he was an intercessor. He stood in the gap between what the Church was and what God was calling it to be.

Like the priests in Joel 2:17, Paul’s tears were part of his testimony.

In Joel, the revival didn’t come from singing. It didn’t come from celebration, production, or performance. It came from weeping.

God didn’t say, “Blow the trumpet and start the praise break.” He said, “Call a fast. Gather the elders. Sanctify the people. Let the priests weep between the porch and the altar.” (See Joel 2:15–17)

Because before revival comes to the house, it must come to the heart.

Before the outpouring, there must be an outcry. Before the Spirit is poured out in Joel 2:28, tears are poured out in Joel 2:17.

So yes—ask yourself:

Are you still moved?

When you look around at the state of the world… When you see the brokenness in your own family… When you see people chasing everything but God… Does it still break your heart?

Are you still broken?

Not just inspired. Not just stirred. But undone—like Isaiah in the temple who said, “Woe is me…” Or like Jesus, who looked over Jerusalem and wept.

Do you still care that people are lost?

That some have never heard the gospel in love? That some come to church every week but have never come to Christ? That some are dying in silence while we worship in comfort?

Because if it doesn’t move you, it can’t move God through you. If we want revival, we must be willing to carry the burden of the Lord.

The weeping comes before the rain. The brokenness comes before the breakthrough.

So tonight, in this space in between—between what’s been and what’s possible— Let the tears fall. Let the walls break. Let your heart return.

Because when the Church weeps, heaven opens. And when we cry for mercy, God responds with power.

Or have you become so numb that you can quote scripture without living it?

If the altar has no tears, don't expect the fire.

POINT THREE: THE PLEA FOR GOD'S NAME

The priests are told what to pray. "Spare Your people, O Lord. Don't let your inheritance become a reproach. Don't let the nations say, 'Where is their God?'"

This is the heart of intercession. It's not just, "Lord, bless me." It's, "Lord, spare Your people. For Your name's sake." It's praying for the salvation of our loved ones, for the healing of our communities, for the peace of our nations. It's about standing in the gap for others, just as Moses did in Exodus 32.

When the people worshiped a golden calf, God was ready to wipe them out. But Moses stood in the gap. He said, "Lord, don't do it. The Egyptians will say You brought them out just to kill them."

Daniel prayed the same way in Daniel 9. "Not because we're righteous, but because of Your great mercy. For Your name's sake, forgive."

And now here in Joel, the priests pray, "Don't let the world say, 'Where is their God?'"

Church, the world is asking that same question today.

They see churches divided.

They see scandals.

They see compromise.

And they're asking, "Where is their God?"

And the answer is supposed to be us. We, the church, are the signs. We are the living witnesses. We are the proof that God is here, that He is alive, and that He is at work in the world.

We are the signs. We are the living witnesses. We are the proof.

But if the Church is silent… if the altar is cold… if the porch is empty… then where will the world see Him?

CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE PRIEST IN THE MIDDLE

There was a man named Job who said in Job 9:33, "There is no umpire between us, no one to lay his hand on both God and man." Job was crying for someone who could stand in the gap. Someone who could touch heaven and touch humanity at the same time.

But I want you to know that we have an Umpire. We have a Mediator.

Jesus Christ is His name.

He didn't just stand between the porch and the altar. He stood between heaven and earth. One hand stretched toward God, and the other stretched toward us.

He is our High Priest, and He still lives to make intercession for you.

He stood in the space. He died in the space. And now, He calls you to do the same.

So tonight, as we close this revival, I'm not asking you to run. I'm not asking you to shout. I'm asking you to stand in the space.

Stand between the broken and the Healer.

Stand between the hurting and the Hope.

Stand between sin and salvation.

God is looking for someone who will say, "Lord, spare Your people."

Someone who will say, "Use me."

Someone who will say, "Send revival—and let it start in me."

If you are willing to stand in the space tonight—willing to intercede, to weep, and to be used by God—come to this altar. Let this step be your commitment to stand between the broken and the Healer, between sin and salvation. Let your tears be the offering tonight.

Don't leave this revival unchanged. Let God anoint you right here to stand in the space in between—for your family, for our community, and for His glory.

Because if you will—weeping may endure for a night—but joy is coming in the morning.

Amen.