GETTING READY

Sermon Notes, August 16, 2015

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Rev. McGlinchy’s sermon was the third in his series “The Story of Gideon,” and was based on Judges 6:25-32.  He titled it “Getting Ready,” and talked about Beccy and Tate getting ready for school, as well as his personal experiences that were God’s preparations for him being called to pastor in Culpeper.  In his first Gideon sermon, Pastor Garry spoke about how the people of Israel had sinned and gotten away from God.  In his second sermon, he told how God spoke to Gideon, and called him “mighty warrior,” in spite of the fact that he was fearful and felt inadequate and unworthy.  After God assured him that He was really calling him, Gideon built an altar and worshipped Him.  This week, the third sermon is how Gideon got ready to do God’s work.

            One of the first things we do when we get ready for company is to clean house.  Gideon was told to clean house: get rid of the altar to Baal, and all the Asherah poles.  He did, and the neighbors were appalled.  In order for us to do what God has called us to, we must pray.  Psalm 132 says “Search me, O God.”  We are to take down what people are worshipping (money, success, financial security, addictions) and put God in their place, as Gideon put an altar to God on the place where Baal’s altar had been.

            In order to follow Christ, it takes risk.  The people of Gideon’s town had forgotten the commandments in Exodus 20.  They had taken in the foreign culture of Canaan, the path of least resistance.  When you risk for God, you can be sure the devil will come after you.  But, as daredevil Evel Knievel  said, “It’s better to fail than never to try at all.”  

People are looking for those who are living out Christ’s love.  Full sanctification involves repentance, submission, and living Christ’s love—love God, and love others.