Greetings Saints,
I am so happy and still shouting because of that special move of God during our Worship experience yesterday!!! God is good all the time and all the time God is Good. Yes, He is!
I really thank God for those whose heart was pricked by the Spirit of God to show your face in that special place (Saints’ Rest) the place God has entrusted to our care. Praise God for each of you. Gideon’s 300!
I pray the experience revealed through the Sermon “Non-Essential/Essential” Judges 7:21” blessed you as much as it blessed my soul! Don’t forget that when I minister to you, I minister to myself.
Pastors are human and also need encouraging. Can I be honest with you? Sometimes I often wonder if the sacrifices that I’ve made in ministry really matters. Yes! There have been many, many nights when I’ve tossed and turned wondering what the next day would bring. Lord, how long?
All the many hours, days and nights studying, researching, praying, meditating and listening for God to give me direction and clarity as I prepare to come weekly before you with an answer to that age-old question, is there any WORD from the LORD?
I’ve even wondered whether or not the congregation could understand the words coming out of my mouth. And God as He always has throughout my ministry would reveal through THE Holy Scriptures encouragement and plant my feet on “Higher Ground.”
On one occasion, God led me to the story of Noah. Well here I was having a pity party and I was tripping……..yes it is what it is………I tripping, and here was Noah preaching one sermon “It’s going to rain” for 120 years. So, I shut my mouth! Lord knows I don’t want God to take me through Noah’s experience! (Lol!)
Then lately, again here I was singing the spiritual “down home” blues. Why? I was gotten tired and my soul needed resting. Once again, God led to the Scriptures. The story of Gideon army. Gideon has been chosen to lead the Israelites army into battle against a 300,000 strong enemy army. Gideon’s army…………32,000. But wait a minute.
God informs Gideon that he has TOO MANY in his army for HIM to give him the victory. So, God instructs Gideon to go back and say, “whoever is fearful and afraid can go back home.” There was stampede of 22,000 men headed back home. Don’t laugh because haven’t we all had people do the same thing? Yes, I know it still probably hurts. We thought the people that we were in a relationship with love and cared for us the same as we did them. OUCH!!! I been there, done that got a tee shirt………….three……six…….anyway just say I been there a few times. (Lol!)
Gideon goes back to God and he’s told that he still has too many men. WOW!!! Now the scripture doesn’t say this but let’s be real. Gideon probably (in his mind lol) said “Are you serious, God?” God instructs Gideon to take the remaining 10,000 men left in his recently depleted army down to the water so that He could try (test) them.
Gideon obeys God. God said to him, “Everyone that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise everyone that boweth down upon his knees to drink.” (Judges 7:5 KJV) Gideon once again obeys God.
Then after God’s process we find, on one side 9700 and 300 on the other. Which will God choose? One is non-essential. One essential. “And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” ( Judges 7:7 KJV)
Now let me bless you with the significance of what just happened and if you can get it down in your spirit regardless of the obstacles you may be facing right now God will also give you victory.
The 9,700 that bowed down to drink, laid their weapon, bowed down on both knees, cupped both hands then scooped up water to drink. The 300 that lapped like a dog, kept their weapon in their hand, stayed on their feet then lapped like a dog to drink. (Somebody missed it.)
I know we’ve all at some point and time had to deal with a stray dog in your yard. You yelled from the window “you better get out my yard.” Right? But the dog just looked at you and didn’t move. You came outside to get closer and in your loudest voice “didn’t I tell you to get out of my yard?” The dog didn’t move just turned his head and looked at you.
My brothers and my sisters, when you’re engaged in a battle there’s no time to wait for folks to get ready. God’s army must stay ready. The 9700 men actions showed they were non-essential. They were ill prepared for battle. They had put their weapon down and on their knees and drinking water. Sometimes in battle we don’t have a lot of time.
The 300 ( Bless God) that lapped like a dog proved they were ready to fight. They didn’t have to get off their knees. They didn’t have to pick up their weapons and just like that stray dog in your yard didn’t move an inch but kept both eyes on you, the 300 proved through their actions that they didn’t have to get ready. The stayed ready!
I thank God for those chosen few that came ready to fight with your Gideon today!!!
Love you and stay ready!!!
Pastor