Mighty warrior

At the launch of the NECF 40 days prayer and fasting our Senior Pastor Dr Chew spoke on Chapter 6 from Judges which read, "One day the angel of GOD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of GOD appeared to him and said, "GOD is with you, O mighty warrior!"

This scene was about Gideon who was hiding in a winepress trashing wheat normally done in the open space. This depicts the state of our churches which are currently inward looking instead of community focus. Now an angel proclaims that he is a mighty warrior, which he is not but hearing is the start of believing.

The other important aspect which I caught was the ending based on Judges 7

Midian and Amalek, all the easterners, were spread out on the plain like a swarm of locusts. And their camels! Past counting, like grains of sand on the seashore! Gideon arrived just in time to hear a man tell his friend a dream. He said, "I had this dream: A loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp. It came to the tent and hit it so hard it collapsed. The tent fell!" His friend said, "This has to be the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite! God has turned Midian--the whole camp!--over to him." When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he went to his knees before God in prayer. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and said, "Get up and get going! GOD has just given us the Midianite army!" He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He gave each man a trumpet and an empty jar, with a torch in the jar.

The Midian and Amalek are liken to our brethren in Malaysia and they are numerous yet Gideon was only allowed 300 men to battle them. Introduced earlier was the LORD OF PEACE who gives Gideon the victory. Another revelation was highlighted at our morning prayer meeting where the weapons were discussed. All that Gideon's army had was a jar, a torch and a trumpet. The instructions given to the army was to smash the jay so that the torch will be seen and the trumpet was blown.

We are the jar of clay carrying the Holy Spirit - God's presence within us. In brokenness the presence of God will be reflected into the dark world and the trumpet call is to usher the "Midian and Amalek" people group into His Kingdom. We must believe that the angels of the LORD OF PEACE is well able to defeat the principalities over our nation. Believing this in our heart sincerely, will ensure our mouth can proclaim HIM victoriously with a trumpet blast. The 300 men of Gideon didn't have to do any fighting, only position themselves and do as instructed.

The enemy camp killed themselves off as the trumpet was blasted because the battle belongs to the LORD OF PEACE and HE will triumph. Not a single men of Gideon's army died in battle!

Lets believe in the same LORD OF PEACE as we embark on this 40 days of prayer and fasting and see the victory in the end. Be bold and courageous for the battle is the LORD'S!