Scripture
Gideon said to God, “Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece.
~Judges 6:39, NET
Quote
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.
~ Augustine
Gideon is a good example in many ways but it is not a good idea to repeatedly put out the fleece. Some people seek a sign for every decision and I am not sure this is wise. God spoke clearly to Gideon, “I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.” Gideon had his doubts so he put a fleece outside on the thrashing floor. He told the LORD, if the fleece is wet with dew and the floor is dry, I will know you are really speaking to me. You know the story, Gideon squeezed a full cup of water out of the fleece and the floor was dry. But Gideon had a leaky cup and his faith slowly leaked out so he puts out the fleece again. I have known preacher who put out the fleece, “LORD, if you want me to stay where I am, let someone be saved this Sunday.” Personally, I do not recommend that you operate in this manner. God has given us His word and that is enough. We don’t need signs! What we need is to grow in our faith until we can live without them.
Someone said, there are three stages of faith: [1] To believe when emotions are favorable {the fleece is wet}. [2] To believe when there are no emotions and [3] To believe when everything in and around us seems to indicate the very opposite of what we are asking. Our emotions are filled with doubt, the circumstances are not favorable, people are not encouraging us and even human reason tells us that it cannot and will not be. In other words…
When the waves are high and the storm clouds fill the sky; when we stand alone and all our props are gone; even when our joy has fled and all our dreams seem dead; we bow the head and we put our trust in Christ.
I pray daily for President Trump to be restored. I see no indication that this will happen. No one, not one soul, has encouraged me to pray for his restoration. When I tell people what I am doing, they look at me like a calf looking at a new gate. I don’t have anything on my side, not even a promise from God and yet I keep asking; I keep praying against all odds, against unfavorable circumstance and without human encouragement. I have already made this petition for today. I will probably do it again tomorrow. You may be thinking: “It’s not going to happen…it is not even possible.” As Gabriel said to Mary, Nothing is impossible with God.” Jesus told His disciples concerning the salvation of those who are wealthy, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Why do you pray about things that are possible? Where is the faith is such prayers? I don’t asks God to give me a drink of water, I get up and get it. I asks Him to do those things that are impossible for me to do and I constantly remind myself that nothing is impossible to Him.
EXTRA
Sorry about being so late in posting today but I am afraid it will be this way until I get my power restored. I do have a generator but I only run it when I’m in the building so I have to reboot the computer every time I come to the building. I hope to get the power restored this week. I hope you have a great week and a good day.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REVIVE NOW YOUTH RALLY
Sunday August 8
6:00 PM at the Brewer Gym
Featuring: Scott Dawson and the STRENGTH TO STAND BAND