Good morning friends
May we gain encouragement from this message today. It may seem impossible to come into all God says because of:
The challenges we face
The assignments God has given us
To live the set-apart life in these perilous times where we are bombarded quite often with distractions. The battles of daily life can seem to leave us feeling inundated and especially for those of us in ministry the cries for help has indeed intensified.
So the account of Gideon came to as I would listen to God
Gideon when he had his God encounter (detailing his assignment)was threshing wheat in the winepress. Hiding from the Midianite rule as whenever the wheat was threshed it was taken away by the Midianites.
Now when God gave him his assignment (and he proved it was God through the system of fleeces). The first thing he did was build an altar there and he called the altar - Jehovah Shalom. God our peace. It is the first place in the bible these words are used.
Imagine it is in relation to an impossible looking assignment fighting against an army much larger than his own....because the Midianite army measured 32,000 while the army Gideon gathered was only 10,000 men.
I can tell you whenever God sends you it is an absolute faith step that one must take in response to what God said. We will have peace as we abide in him.
The opposition can seem much larger, greater even in strength, power, wealth and connections and yet God says - GO.
God told Gideon:
Judges 6:14
And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee.
And Gideon had questioned God but yet received his empowerment from God and never looked back.
Now God does something unusual and I think this may summarize what God is doing with us now.
He tells Gideon to reduce his army of 10,000 by a simple test lapping at the riverside. The one who lap like dogs were selected. Here is why:
i. As a dog laps: The ancient Hebrew word for laps is yalok, used to imitate the sound a dog makes when lapping water.
ii. “The test was peculiarly military. Men in such a position were not on guard against sudden surprise.
These men were the only few then without fear.
Amen
Only 300 were chosen and the rest is history
God gave his people the victory.
We have submitted ourselves to God’s renewal, refining and pruning.
May God purify us of every fear at this time so we can be effective in completing our assignment. Now we may have conquered the fear in certain areas of our life, but in some areas we need great strengthening.
May God strengthen those areas this very moment in Jesus name
We give you permission to do that deep work in us Lord as we truly lift our hands and say we surrender all. We abide in you, depend on you and choose to remain in your peace.
You are with us, you are for us, you will never leave us nor forsake us and that is enough to cause us not to fear
Amen
Walk good in Christ
Till we meet again
Pastor J
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