<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>
<div>Forwarded:</div>
<br>
<br>
<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Feb 9, 2019 10:32 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphny 5C: "Gideon" or "Just Do It!"<br>
<br>
<div id="yiv5739919628">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Gideon” and is based
on an alternate Old Testament lesson (Judges 6: 11-24a).<span> </span>Here it is: <span> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Did you hear the about the little boy who was
reading the story when God used the prophet Moses to lead the children of Israel from Egypt through
the Red Sea to the Promised Land?<span> </span>There he was, sitting on a park bench (it was
springtime) reading his Bible, when a man sat down beside him.<span> </span>“What are you reading?” the man asked.<span> </span>“Oh,” answered the child, “I’m reading in my
Bible 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.”<span> </span>“You don’t still believe that stuff in the
Bible, do you?” asked the man.<span> </span>“Why
science shows that the Red Sea in the area
your talking about was only 10-inches deep at that time of year. You can see
that it was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.<span> </span>That was no miracle!”<span> </span>The boy thought for a moment and then
exclaimed, “Wow!<span> </span>God is greater even
than I thought!<span> </span>Not only did he save the
Israelites, but he drowned the entire Egyptian army in ten inches of water!”
(Religious Joke of the Day)</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Actually, we all remember how God let the
Israelites from Egypt
through the desert to the Promised Land.<span>
</span>As you recall, they conquered the land under Joshua.<span> </span>You’ve seen the book of “Judges” in the
Bible?<span> </span>Right after the people settled in
the Promised Land, when a problem arose, God appointed one specific person to
lead the people in solving the problem.<span>
</span>This person was called a judge.<span>
</span>Today we heard the story of one of the greatest judges (i.e. leaders) in
the Old Testament- Gideon.<span> </span>You heard the
situation.<span> </span>The Midianites were creating
a huge problem for the Israelites, because they were on the warpath.<span> </span>The Midianites ate their crops (and destroyed
what they couldn’t eat), stole their livestock, terrorized their wives and
children, and destroyed their land.<span> </span>The
Israelites prayed; God heard; and God called Gideon to be the leader.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Gideon’s response when God
called him was something else again!<span> </span>As
you know, an angel from God told Gideon he had been chosen to lead the
Israelites in conquering the Midianites.<span>
</span>Gideon’s response: “I can’t do a job like that!<span> </span>I am the least important member of the
smallest clan, and besides- I’m too young.”<span>
</span>Now Gideon knew the angel of the Lord needed to be treated with great
hospitality, so he brought him some meat and bread, but when the angel’s staff
touched the food, that bread and meat were consumed by fire.<span> </span>I’m here to tell you that would be enough for
me!<span> </span>I’d do anything that angel
said!<span> </span>Maybe it would be enough for me,
but was it enough for Gideon?<span> </span>Oh no!<span> </span>He put the Lord to two more tests:</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Gideon told the angel that
he would believe God was really calling him to lead the Israelites if a
sheepskin left on the ground overnight was soaking wet with dew in the morning
but the ground around it was dry.<span> </span>Not only
was the ground dry and the sheepskin wet- there was enough water wrung out of
that sheepskin to fill a bowl with dew- i.e. water!<span> </span>Was that enough to convince Gideon?<span> </span>Nope!<span>
</span>He asked the angel for one more test.<span>
</span>This time Gideon wanted the sheepskin to be dry but the ground to be wet
with dew.<span> </span>Again, it happened.<span> </span>Finally that was enough for Gideon.<span> </span>He issued a call for volunteers to form an
army to defeat the Midianites.<span> </span>30,000
soldiers responded.<span> </span>God said there were
too many soldiers- God wanted it clearly understood by everyone that it wasn’t
by might that the Midianites were defeated, but that God had done it.<span> </span>God told Gideon to send home anyone who was
afraid.<span> </span>20,000 soldiers left and 10,000
remained.<span> </span>(I would make a guess that
Gideon was not too happy- losing all those soldiers!)<span> </span>Next, God told Gideon that 10,000 soldiers
were still too many (for the above reason).<span>
</span>God told Gideon to take the 10,000 soldiers down to a stream to
drink.<span> </span>As they drank, Gideon was to
watch and see if they got their water by drinking it directly from the stream
or by forming a cup with their hands and drinking from their hands.<span> </span>Then, God told Gideon to keep only those
soldiers who drank from their hands.<span>
</span>This put him down to only 300 soldiers for the army to fight against the
Midianites.<span> </span>You KNOW Gideon wasn’t happy
then, but at least he obeyed the Lord.<span>
</span>We all know the end of the story.<span>
</span>God instructed Gideon to have the Israelite army surround the Midianites
in the dead of night.<span> </span>They hid their
torches in clay pots so they couldn’t be seen; then on Gideon’s signal- they
broke their clay pots flooding the area with light, shouted, and blew their
trumpets.<span> </span>The Midianites panicked and
killed each other; thus freeing the Israelites to once again live in peace.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">What can we learn from this
ancient story?<span> </span>First: never say what
can’t be done, because your attitude will destroy the possibilities for
success.<span> </span>If God wants something done and
he wants you to do it, you will be able to overcome all adversity unless you
allow a negative attitude to get in the way.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Second: don’t worry about
who’s against you.<span> </span>Gideon faced the
entire army of the Midianites with only 300 soldiers.<span> </span>It doesn’t make any difference who’s against
you as long as God is for you.<span> </span>If you are
on God’s side, the battle is already won; victory is just a matter of timing-
waiting on God.<span> </span>This second life lesson
might help those friends of yours who worry about someone doing voodoo on them
or casting a spell on them.<span> </span>Assure them
that there is no evil that can penetrate God’s protection through our entire
bodies when we have eaten the blessed Body and Blood of our Lord.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Finally, stop putting
yourself down!<span> </span>This “I’m not important
enough, strong enough, smart enough, young enough, old enough, experienced
enough, educated enough, etc.” doesn’t cut it with God.<span> </span>God doesn’t call the qualified; God qualifies
the called.<span> </span>You’re not qualified to do
what God wants you to do?<span> </span>That’s easy-
get qualified.<span> </span>Remember Gideon.<span> </span>God chooses the weak, so they have to rely on
him and it’s clear that the victory is the Lord’s.<span> </span>Examples: David, Peter, Paul, Mary, even
Jesus (Nathaniel’s statement- “Can anything good come out of Nazareth ?!)<span>
</span>So don’t depend on your own power or strength.” If not you, who?<span> </span>If not now, when?<span> </span>Therefore:<span>
</span>Don’t say “I can’t.”<span> </span>Instead,
say- “By God’s grace, I will!”<span> </span>So...
what is it you are putting off, afraid to do, avoiding?<span> </span>Join the crowd of David, Peter, Paul, Mary,
Gideon, and be a winner for God.<span> </span>Look
around and see what God needs done, and then do it.<span> </span>Listen to the advice of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., on this second Sunday of Black History Month, quoted from his “Drum
Major for Justice” sermon:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can help somebody as I pass along;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can show somebody that they’re traveling wrong;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span> </span>Then
my living will not be in vain.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If I can spread the message as the Master taught;</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span> </span>Then
my living will not be in vain.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Amen.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">For anyone who is
interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are
posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a> .</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Blessed preaching,</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Judy Boli</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Saginaw, Michigan</span></div>
</div>
<div></div>
-- <br>
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Propertalk" group.<br>
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" ymailto="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org" target="_blank" href="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org</a>.<br>
</div>
</div>
</font>