Do people lay their fleece out these days to get an answer from God?..
I will share with you a time in my life that we (I speak of when I was married) layed out our fleece.....we see there are times that people laid out their fleece when they were seeking a word from God...take note this is not always the way to get an answer from God, but one of many ways.. Judges Ch 6 :36-40 where Gideon layed out his fleece..God was sending Gideon a prophet to Israel by the inroads of the Medianites.. He was being sent by God to convince them of their sins and the need for deliverance....When my ex husband was struggling with a calling on his life to go into the ministry....we started to pray and ask God was this truely God calling him to preach....we had a son who at the time was 5...I was very sick when he was 2 months and almost died...so six Dr's told me I would never have anymore children....so at the time God was dealing with him about going to bible college...we layed our fleece out ...because we needed to know for certain this was God's calling....I had gone back to the Dr on Feb 17 ,1986 and had heard for the sixth time...you cannot have children..so we prayed and laid our fleece out ...we ask God if this is truely you calling us into the ministry bless us with a child....that was our fleece...folks nine months later on Nov.16.1986.. God blessed us with another son ..we named him Noah (peace) Samuel (God Heard)....You know I could relate to Hannah in the book of Samuel...God heard her cries...and He heard mine and He will hear your's... what an awesome God we serve...Not only did God hear our prayer and answered in His time...but he healed me!..Give Him All The Praise...Angel
laying your fleece out.... Your story was awesome and a true testamony to the grace and love that our Lord Jesus Christ has for us... however, I would encourage you to recognise the charector of Gideon- he was a coward. he laid the fleece out because he doubted God's word as it was sent by the Angel of the LORD. please do not make this a common practice in your life to constantly question God at what His written word says... Romans 12, gives us an excelent example of how we are to find out the will of God. through self sacrifice... no, not by harm or pain, but by denying what we selfishly want for our selves when we see others in need, or when we can use the very things that we take for granted to minister to another. If your husband feels called to the minsitry as a pastor, why would God say no to that? Also it is by the excercising of our gifts that we truly find out what we are gifted in. Everyone that believes in Jesus Christ and has turned away from their sins, and has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, should have every gift that the Spirit gives. granted not all the gifts are very strong or that specific persons calling.
let me explain- we are all given the gift of faith- it is was is needed to please God (Heb11) however, many of us doubt (Thomas). That does not mean that we do not have that gift of faith. Also we are all called to be ministers (servants), Jesus Himself taught this over and over again throughout all of the gospels, and even taught by example (washing the feet of the disciples). However, this does not mean we are pastors, this could include being an administrator (someone behind the scenes so the pastor can preach). One last example although there could be many more- teaching, we are all called to be followers of Jesus Christ and to create disciples, however, this does not mean that we can teach a whole classroom of teenagers, toddlers, or even adults. But it does require that we be diligent in learning the biblical priniciples and understand scripture in the context that it is given.
A couple notes of warning- if you are still reading :zzzz:
This type of faith in God is very frail... you are asking to see God at every step of the way, instead of trusting that He will be there for you. As you encourage this type of faith in your own life you will constantly need to see Him more and more. Trust me, I know from first hand, and it creates a lot of pain and stress. The second part of this and a common mistake made by many good Christians today- just because it is in the Bible doesnt mean that it is something we should do:glow: The Bible was written for us not to us, please everyone reading this, if all you get from this is that, this world will be so much better. The stories found in the scriptures are examples and historic facts about how these people lived, and in many cases they are examples of how we should not live... ex: samson, strong man of faith, but he has a weakness for women, it robbed him of his faith. David, a man after God's own heart, commited adultery and spent a good portion of his life running in fear (with justifiable reasons) instead of trusting in God to deliver him. Also, later in life he commited murder and adultery. Gideon was a coward, doubting the word of God straight from an angels mouth (often referred to as Jesus, by many theologians), and creeping around at night in fear to destroy the alters that israel had built to foreign gods. The old testament is riddled with good and bad charectors, read about them:) the stories are actually very entertaining and insightful with a good commentary. God bless you and keep you always!
I started getting a little confused at your message but deffinately seen the spirit by which you we're writing to us,, God bless you brother.
I hope you see my spirit also because there is a couple things I wanted to say. Ikes, ikes,,, I shouldnt do it, shouldnt but I will because this is a forum.
Rock 4 Christ, you said,"If your husband feels called to the minsitry as a pastor, why would God say no to that?
My friend,,, just because a person feels called to be a pastor or any type of minister does not mean he is. I personally have seen many people who thought they were called that wasnt. Wheter it was pride or etc etc,, Gods favoure and blessing was never there. I seen one man that left his good job at the post office and had his wife and family go with him in fultime evangelistic work only to himself never have more than a copuple meetings in his life. In the meantime he ended up losing his wife to divorce because she tried of having to work all the time to provide for them,,, I remember seeing this man 10 years after his move of faith in the kinistry,,, he was a broken man. He realized he made a big mistake and if you heard him you would have realized it also. I heard him preach on time and could bearely stay in the service to finish hearing him. No anointing what soever. Oh well,, just because you think you feel something doesnt mean it is so. Dont get me wrong,,I have seen this many times in my life.
Rock 4 chirst,, you also said this,"let me explain- we are all given the gift of faith-
there is a difference in the gift of faith,,,, and a measure of faith,,, not all have the gift of faith
you also said this, " The Bible was written for us not to us, please everyone reading this, if all you get from this is that, this world will be so much better.
This is a very good and sound way to aproach the bible but is not totally accurate.
Some of it is written to us as the scripture plainly puts me in the middle of many of it's scriptures. I will not began to elaborate as ift would take way to much time and space. quote," as in all the who soever will's of scripture, "Out of your belly shall flow", Seek and ye shall find," knock and it shall be opened"
The word transends being just written to us. For his words are spirit and they are life. it becomes to and for us in many ocassions. His word is hidden in our hearts that we might not sin against thee,,, that is deffinately to and for me.
you said , " ex: samson, strong man of faith, but he has a weakness for women, it robbed him of his faith.
Samson never lost his faith,,, he revealed the secret of his strength but his faith never left him. In his hour of need he knew not his hair had grown back yet he called on God as a great act of his faith to avenge him. killing more in his death than in life,,,
I dont think Gideon was a coward, but on the contrary was listed by God in his Divinely inspired word as a mighty man and also listed in the book and chapter of faith,,, hebrrews 11.
last but not least,,and most important,,,,,,
I am saddened that you would be so bold as to say Gideon is a coward. I sit here today and have no doubt that you have sat under someone who you looked up to that said he was a coward. Quite bold to call a man who god says is mighty and you refer to him as cowardly.
I dont blame you as much as the one who has been your example seeing you are only 26 years old,,, but it is a foolish mistake to be saying that.
