[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphny 5C: "Gideon" or "Just Do It!"

[Joe Parrish]

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 9, 2019 10:32 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphny 5C: "Gideon" or "Just Do It!"

Dear Friends, This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Gideon” and is basedon an alternate Old Testament lesson (Judges 6: 11-24a).  Here it is:   Did you hear the about the little boy who wasreading the story when God used the prophet Moses to lead the children of Israel from Egypt throughthe Red Sea to the Promised Land?  There he was, sitting on a park bench (it wasspringtime) reading his Bible, when a man sat down beside him.  “What are you reading?” the man asked.  “Oh,” answered the child, “I’m reading in myBible how God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle to save them from the Egyptians.”  “You don’t still believe that stuff in theBible, do you?” asked the man.  “Whyscience shows that the Red Sea in the areayour talking about was only 10-inches deep at that time of year. You can seethat it was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.  That was no miracle!”  The boy thought for a moment and thenexclaimed, “Wow!  God is greater eventhan I thought!  Not only did he save theIsraelites, but he drowned the entire Egyptian army in ten inches of water!”(Religious Joke of the Day) Actually, we all remember how God let theIsraelites from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land. As you recall, they conquered the land under Joshua.  You’ve seen the book of “Judges” in theBible?  Right after the people settled inthe Promised Land, when a problem arose, God appointed one specific person tolead the people in solving the problem. This person was called a judge. Today we heard the story of one of the greatest judges (i.e. leaders) inthe Old Testament- Gideon.  You heard thesituation.  The Midianites were creatinga huge problem for the Israelites, because they were on the warpath.  The Midianites ate their crops (and destroyedwhat they couldn’t eat), stole their livestock, terrorized their wives andchildren, and destroyed their land.  TheIsraelites prayed; God heard; and God called Gideon to be the leader. Gideon’s response when Godcalled him was something else again!  Asyou know, an angel from God told Gideon he had been chosen to lead theIsraelites in conquering the Midianites. Gideon’s response: “I can’t do a job like that!  I am the least important member of thesmallest clan, and besides- I’m too young.” Now Gideon knew the angel of the Lord needed to be treated with greathospitality, so he brought him some meat and bread, but when the angel’s stafftouched the food, that bread and meat were consumed by fire.  I’m here to tell you that would be enough forme!  I’d do anything that angelsaid!  Maybe it would be enough for me,but was it enough for Gideon?  Oh no!   He put the Lord to two more tests: Gideon told the angel thathe would believe God was really calling him to lead the Israelites if asheepskin left on the ground overnight was soaking wet with dew in the morningbut the ground around it was dry.  Not onlywas the ground dry and the sheepskin wet- there was enough water wrung out ofthat sheepskin to fill a bowl with dew- i.e. water!  Was that enough to convince Gideon?  Nope! He asked the angel for one more test. This time Gideon wanted the sheepskin to be dry but the ground to be wetwith dew.  Again, it happened.  Finally that was enough for Gideon.  He issued a call for volunteers to form anarmy to defeat the Midianites.  30,000soldiers responded.  God said there weretoo many soldiers- God wanted it clearly understood by everyone that it wasn’tby might that the Midianites were defeated, but that God had done it.  God told Gideon to send home anyone who wasafraid.  20,000 soldiers left and 10,000remained.  (I would make a guess thatGideon was not too happy- losing all those soldiers!)  Next, God told Gideon that 10,000 soldierswere still too many (for the above reason). God told Gideon to take the 10,000 soldiers down to a stream todrink.  As they drank, Gideon was towatch and see if they got their water by drinking it directly from the streamor by forming a cup with their hands and drinking from their hands.  Then, God told Gideon to keep only thosesoldiers who drank from their hands. This put him down to only 300 soldiers for the army to fight against theMidianites.  You KNOW Gideon wasn’t happythen, but at least he obeyed the Lord. We all know the end of the story. God instructed Gideon to have the Israelite army surround the Midianitesin the dead of night.  They hid theirtorches in clay pots so they couldn’t be seen; then on Gideon’s signal- theybroke their clay pots flooding the area with light, shouted, and blew theirtrumpets.  The Midianites panicked andkilled each other; thus freeing the Israelites to once again live in peace. What can we learn from thisancient story?  First: never say whatcan’t be done, because your attitude will destroy the possibilities forsuccess.  If God wants something done andhe wants you to do it, you will be able to overcome all adversity unless youallow a negative attitude to get in the way. Second: don’t worry aboutwho’s against you.  Gideon faced theentire army of the Midianites with only 300 soldiers.  It doesn’t make any difference who’s againstyou as long as God is for you.  If you areon God’s side, the battle is already won; victory is just a matter of timing-waiting on God.  This second life lessonmight help those friends of yours who worry about someone doing voodoo on themor casting a spell on them.  Assure themthat there is no evil that can penetrate God’s protection through our entirebodies when we have eaten the blessed Body and Blood of our Lord. Finally, stop puttingyourself down!  This “I’m not importantenough, strong enough, smart enough, young enough, old enough, experiencedenough, educated enough, etc.” doesn’t cut it with God.  God doesn’t call the qualified; God qualifiesthe called.  You’re not qualified to dowhat God wants you to do?  That’s easy-get qualified.  Remember Gideon.  God chooses the weak, so they have to rely onhim and it’s clear that the victory is the Lord’s.  Examples: David, Peter, Paul, Mary, evenJesus (Nathaniel’s statement- “Can anything good come out of Nazareth ?!) So don’t depend on your own power or strength.” If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Therefore: Don’t say “I can’t.”  Instead,say- “By God’s grace, I will!”  So...what is it you are putting off, afraid to do, avoiding?  Join the crowd of David, Peter, Paul, Mary,Gideon, and be a winner for God.  Lookaround and see what God needs done, and then do it.  Listen to the advice of Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr., on this second Sunday of Black History Month, quoted from his “DrumMajor for Justice” sermon:If I can help somebody as I pass along;If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;If I can show somebody that they’re traveling wrong;            Thenmy living will not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought;If I can spread the message as the Master taught;            Thenmy living will not be in vain.Amen. For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org . Blessed preaching,Judy BoliSt. Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw, Michigan-- 
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