The speaker on this day was Rev. Bill Layle, a pastor from Kentwood Community Church, Michigan who had come to Bangalore for the Emerging Youth Leader Conference. There is one thing about guys whose mother tongue is English. The thing is that they will be fast in their speaking and I struggled throughout to keep pace with the sermon. Somehow, I think I have managed to note down a some part of it, and reproducing it here in first person. His sermon was peculiar in one other way that it comprised of sections containing questions and thereafter 5-10 minute answer to the question. A different and effective style at least for the people like us who were listening to him for the first time.The reading for this day was taken from Judges:6:11-16
Life in spirit. Alternative is to lead a life not in spirit. Life of Gideon is what is being concentrated upon. In old testament it is said that the spirit of the Lord will come upon some. Due to Christ we have the opportunity to lead such a life. This body is the temple of the spirit...
6:12: Israelites were living in a valley.....Israel was impoverished. It is an opportunity to call to the Lord. One can be impoverished in many ways - financial, spiritual etc. There are various important question this passage raises. We have all these questions which waiver in our mind. God chose Gideon to sit on the chair of making difference. Question: What is life all about? In the same way we need to move to the chair of difference. Some may think that you are not mighty warriors. People tend to label. Soon we also start believing in the words they say. We cant do that
Ques: Who is God? The God who the forefathers talked about. The God who is almighty and powerful.
Personal Anecdote: A business was I, making good money, but was missing something i.e. a relationship with God. One need not be in full time ministry to be with God. Part of growing as a Christian is to shrink the gap of misunderstanding and difficulty.
God replied to Gideon Am I not sending You.
Ques: Who am I? (6:15). Self Doubt. He belonged to the lowest of families. Do you ever feel that God is using other people but will and can't use me. But God relabels people. "I the mighty warrior". God did not say you can do it. But he says (6:16) I will be with you. God can use anyone as it doesn't have to be an individual who knows as God expresses though us. We don't have to walk this life all alone.
Ques:(6:25): Will you put me first? We have things we are working for. We put our career, finance, family first. But do we have the courage to put God above all. Can we put him first in our life and allow Him to flow freely through us....
What do we want. What is our life all about. Do we have the courage to make a difference as we are the mighty warriors for God. Can we say/ask that 'God I am ready to be used by you and for you'. Do believe in the words 'I am the mighty warrior'. God will use us if we surrender our life to Him
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