IT IS ENOUGH

More is always better – right?             Wrong!             Sometimes less is better.

That is really difficult for pastors. Pastors are always working to grow their churches and are alarmed when members begin leaving. In fact it doesn’t take many losses before the pastor begins to pray, “Should I be the one leaving?”

The last few months, I have prayed this prayer several times. A little more than a week ago I learned that another family was leaving. This was a family that had accepted me as their pastor and I had been deeply involved in their lives for seven years. I began to pray again to ask the Lord if I should be the one leaving. During intercessory prayer last Sunday morning, March 18^th, the Lord spoke to me.

First, He reminded me that He had been deserted by many of His followers.

John 6:66-69  From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹Also we have come to believe and know that You are the ^£Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It does comfort a pastor’s heart to know that the greatest pastor who ever lived was unable to keep people from leaving his congregation.

Second, He reminded me a few people won some of the greatest victories in the Bible.

Immediately I thought of the story of Gideon.  The story is found in Judges 6 and 7 in the Old Testament. Briefly, the nation of Israel had been under siege by the Midianites, Amalekites, and others. These armies took most of the crops for themselves. God called Gideon to deliver His people.

Gideon had no faith in himself and God had a difficult time persuading him to take the job. Finally, Gideon called for the men of Israel to join him for war. Thirty-two thousand showed up. This was a paltry number of troops to defeat the armies they faced. But, we read that God considered the number too many.

²And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ³Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

⁴But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

⁵So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” ⁶Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

⁷The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place”

When I read this story again, several things jumped out at me.

First, of course is the fact that God was handicapped in what He wanted to do by the larger number of troops. He had determined He would win this battle with a few troops so the people of God could claim no credit for the victory.

God has made many promises to us at HOJC. He has shown us the church being full of people. He has commissioned us to become missionaries of joy to others. Many other promises have been prophesied that indicate this will become a glorious church. Could it be that God is reducing our number so that we can take no glory for ourselves?

Second, the first to leave Gideon were the fearful. A question arises, “of what were they afraid.” The first answer might be that they were afraid of the armies against them. But another answer might be that they were afraid their leader, Gideon, was not up to the task. He had never led an army before. His only credentials were “he claimed” that God told him to lead the army. When given a chance to leave they hurried away.

Many who have left HOJC did so out of fear. Most of them were fearful of where the pastor was leading. They did not have faith that the pastor was really hearing from God or that success would eventually come.

When I think about this, I cannot blame those who left. I have never built a great church or ministry. If I had to follow myself, I might be fearful as well. In fact, if I did not have God’s constant assurance that what is happening here at HOJC is His work I would have never been able to lead as I have. I would have long ago either left or caved in to leading the church in the direction the “majority” or influential members wanted it to go.

Third, notice that the army was still too large. God told Gideon that He would “sift” those who remained and choose the ones who should make up Gideon’s army. I have heard many suppositions as to why some lapped the water and others drank on their knees. The truth is that God picked out every one of the 300. He put it in their hearts to lap the water.

God has been sifting us too. He is choosing whom He wants to be in this church when His glory comes. He is putting it in the hearts of some to leave. If we could realize this is God’s doing, we would not be upset at those who are leaving. We would bless them and let them go in peace.

Notice that God told Gideon to “Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” God has a place for every Christian. Some that are here should be under another pastor. Some that are under another pastor should be here. If all Christians could find the place God has for them, there would be peace in the church and productive ministry.

Well, Gideon’s army was down to three hundred but it was enough. They accomplished a great victory and God got all the glory.

God got all the glory in Jesus’ victory as well. The followers Jesus had left were enough. By Pentecost the eleven that were left after Judas’ betrayal had grown to 120. These were in one accord and the Holy Spirit fell upon them and that day the 120 became 3,120. The church was launched into a time of great glory and power.

Folks, our day is coming. Jesus is preparing us for a great outpouring of His presence that will result in mass healings and great prosperity. The day is coming soon when the building will be full and the offerings will overflow our big buckets. God is preparing our hearts so this great outpouring will not destroy us with pride in what we have done. On that day we will give God all the glory for what He has done!

In the mean time, pray that God will help you find your place. If it is here, praise the Lord with us and help us prepare for God’s glory. If it is somewhere else, we will bless you and pray that God will help you find the place you need to be.