Open Bible College - Onward Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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KLQSSES 4 9 41 UNTIL ....

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- I Zvi Nflame 404 Qacl fJ -I And he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps for torchesj within the pitchers . . . and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands ,... and held the torches in their left hands ,... and they stood every man in his place . . . and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. ludges 7:16-21. ln reading over these scriptures we discover that Gideon's little band of three hun- dred was an' army of torchbearers. Theirs was a strange preparation and equipment-but those who have faith in God can afford to use weak things. When God makes his choice of weapons for His children, they are often weak and base in the sight of the wisdom of this world, it is not the instrument but the power of the Arm that wields it that decides the victory. Gideon's army was provided with strange weapons of warfare indeed, but they had all that was needed. David had only a sling and five little stones, Moses but a rod, Shamgar only an oxgoad-strange equipment to fight battles for the Great God-but l-le supplied them with all that was necessary to triumph! Torch Bearers, as we go forth to battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, let us remember that we wage peculiar warfare with strange equipment also, the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the S,pirit-but in them God has given us all that is necessary to be a triumphant, victorious army of torchbearers! Certainly the secret of the success of Gideon's band lay not in the instruments they used-what then were the characteristics that led to their triumph? They were united. Each soldier sounded his trumpet as an individual testimony, the pitchers were broken-then came the united cry, and the great battle was quickly won. Secondly, Gideon's army was obedient. The scripture tells us they followed Gideon's example. The wise man is not he that saith the will of God but he that doeth it. We must be doers of the Word, followers of Christ's example, if we are to be triumphant in our battles. Lastly, the little band of three hundred were faithful- They stood every man in his place. No envying, no striving for the other fellow's position, no murmuring over the hum- bleness of the place filled by them-they simply stood faithfully each man in his place. Oh, Torch Bearers, don't ever forget that God has a place for each of you, and tho' it may sometimes seem a dark corner of obscurity-remember Torches are needed in dark places to speed the Light! Stand faithfully to pass on the Flame! Chrirtemlom har home 4 torrh For all fmznhind lo fee, And lo om' heart: the challenge romer That we Torah Bearer: he. Hold high the hlood :tained hamzer O Ch:-iff, the Lamh of Godj Ar on we mafrh, the promire flaim All thine where lhozz :halt nod. ll