Last evening we listened to a sermon by Pastor Jose Rojas who, in addition, holds an office in church headquarters. Before the reader forms a too-hasty mental picture, let me add that Jose is nobodie's typical church officer; the far side of middle age, a little portly, and graying...assuming there is hair to gray.No, Rojas is more like a spiritual Pancho Villa.
Not that Rojas is a bandito, but he is a warrior for the Lord and fearless in preaching the message of our soon coming Savior. He was invited to attend a meeting in Philadelphia (Independence Hall) along with leaders of the nation that included past U.S. presidents, governors, and mayors, that he heard General Colin Powell sum up his determination as to how each person present should deal with the local/national issue of our troubled youth: "Lead, follow, or get out of the way!"
Rojas spoke of Gideon [Judges chapters 6 and 7] and how the Lord used this young man...probably in his late teens...and 300 men to defeat 250,000 Midianites.
Gideon's first army was a collection of 32,000 men. And God said, "Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead;'" and 22,000 went home. [Judges 7:3]. But God was not finished with these men, and He said to Gideon "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there." [Judges 7:4]. How God tested them shows His method of testing their determination. (It really is worth it to read the whole story.)
What seems impossible to us is opportunity for God. The reason God trimmed the number of men from 32,000 to 300 was so that no man would be able to say that "we" defeated the 250,000 Midianites. God was getting ready to do a mighty and holy work in Israel.
Perhaps you know the rest of the story, but if not here is what happened: These 300 men took a jar, a candle, and a Shofar (ram's horn trumpet), divided into groups of 100, and at the signal, each man blew his Shofar, cried out "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon," and broke the jar with the lighted candle inside. The enemy was so surprised and frightened that in their terror they slew each other.
In God's church today, of the men and women in His army, who is afraid and wants to go home? Who would rather rest at the water's edge than keep watch while they drink? Who has a Shofar to proclaim the coming of the Lord? The challenge to you and me from Pastor Jose Rojas is to prepare our hearts and minds with the sword of His Word, the power of His Holy Spirit, and watch Him do a mighty work in the world so that we can go Home. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" [Revelation 22:20].e.c.
Note: This timely and inspiring message is available* from:
A & J Enterprises
Al/Glenys Ahlers
42717 188th Avenue SE
Enumclaw, WA 98022-8524
360-802-2033
re:Jose Rojas Washington Camp-Meeting\June 15, 2010 7:30 p.m.
What seems impossible to us is opportunity for God. The reason God trimmed the number of men from 32,000 to 300 was so that no man would be able to say that "we" defeated the 250,000 Midianites. God was getting ready to do a mighty and holy work in Israel.
Perhaps you know the rest of the story, but if not here is what happened: These 300 men took a jar, a candle, and a Shofar (ram's horn trumpet), divided into groups of 100, and at the signal, each man blew his Shofar, cried out "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon," and broke the jar with the lighted candle inside. The enemy was so surprised and frightened that in their terror they slew each other.
In God's church today, of the men and women in His army, who is afraid and wants to go home? Who would rather rest at the water's edge than keep watch while they drink? Who has a Shofar to proclaim the coming of the Lord? The challenge to you and me from Pastor Jose Rojas is to prepare our hearts and minds with the sword of His Word, the power of His Holy Spirit, and watch Him do a mighty work in the world so that we can go Home. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" [Revelation 22:20].e.c.
Note: This timely and inspiring message is available* from:
A & J Enterprises
Al/Glenys Ahlers
42717 188th Avenue SE
Enumclaw, WA 98022-8524
360-802-2033
re:Jose Rojas Washington Camp-Meeting\June 15, 2010 7:30 p.m.
*$12.00 includes preparation and postage.
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