Gideon and God's Call

There was a news story of a pastor asking other pastors in todays world to preach on sin. Why are we at this point in America? Are we too worried about numbers in our church membership? Are we too "feel good" so we don't offend? Or are we just as lazy as the people in the pews and don't want a call to arms because then we might have to actually do something to earn the money pastor's and clergy are paid?
Or is it that there is more money, more renown in preaching to the people a watered down, mealy-mouthed, feel good, do your own thing God will love you anyways message?
My God the God of Abraham, David and Daniel is a jealous God.
He has saved us to serve not to sit. He wants us to preach the Gospel, the Good News of Christ. Christ loves. Christ wants all to come to Him, but as I have said repeatedly He never promised us a Mercedes, or a mansion on this earth. Quite to the contrary.

John 15:16-21 KJV
¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.
¹⁸ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
²¹ But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

This is the promise of God. We will be persecuted, we will suffer if we are doing the job right. He has promised comfort, guidance, and rewards in Heaven

When I read stories in the news that say we have to cater to the weak-kneed people it gets my blood going. We all sin, we are all human, but we must preach the Word of God as it is put before us.

I of course added my opinion to this story in the comments. My point was simple: Offend them. Get the dead weight out. Look to Gideon for the example and what he did with only 300 dedicated men, Those prepared to fight.

Judges 7

King James Version (KJV)

7 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

² And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
³ Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
⁴ And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
⁵ So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
⁶ And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
⁷ And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

Why did God tell him to keep only those that drank by lapping? Those men kept their eyes forward to look for danger. Those men were prepared to fight. The others took their eyes off the field, they were not dedicated.
Gideon faced an overwhelming force, with only 300 men. We can see that God was on his side and worked miracles for them, But he did what he was supposed to do and followed the Word of God. That gave him the victory over an unassailable force.
Is our God not the God of Gideon? Can we not find 300 to stand with us, ready to fight, dedicated to the cause of God?
We can assail a larger force, the forces of satan here on this earth. We can win the battle.
We need dedication. We need people prepared to wage a war with the powers of darkness. People who will listen to the Word of God and follow His instructions.

This all starts with preaching the Word of God. Preach against sin, preach the truth. Get the dead weight out and get the dedicated folks moving, drinking of the Spirit. Do not worry about offending any!
Worry more for their eternal souls rather than their earthly conscience or convenience.

We can turn the tide in this world but only with the Word and Spirit of God. We ,as men, can do nothing without HIM.