Good morning to each one of you. It's a privilege to be with you these two weeks and also to worship with you this morning. As we worship our Lord, let us turn in his word to Judges chapter 6. Judges chapter 6. We'll read from verse 1 through 18. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds. And so it was when Israel had sown that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. and they encamped against them and destroyed the increase of the earth. Tal thou come unto Gaza and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude. For both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth from the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out before you, and gave you their land. And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God. Fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not obeyed my voice. And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak, which was in Aphra, that pertained unto Joash, The Abiezrite and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. And Gideon said unto him, O my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, And said, go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, O my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite Midianite. The Midianite says one man. And he said unto him, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee and bring forth my present and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. So far God's word to us this morning. Let's bow our heads in prayer. Almighty eternal God, we come into thy presence this morning as we desire to worship thee. Thou art the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the covenant. And we come into thy presence this morning, bowing before thy majesty, thy grace and mercy, praying that thy presence may be with us, even as thou hast promised. We thank thee for this time of worship, where we can come together as a school body, students and staff, to humble ourselves in thy presence, to learn from thy word, bring our thanksgivings and our requests to Thee in prayer as well later, and to be taught by Thee, we pray. We pray that Thou wilt be present with us by Thy Spirit, showing us the things of Christ, teaching us from Thy Word, showing us how we ought to live. Lord, bless each one of these students to that end as they seek to prepare themselves, as Thou art preparing them, we trust, for future ministry. We pray that Thou wilt strengthen them, even now, for their studies. Give them the spiritual endurance, the spiritual closeness with Thee, the spiritual passion that is so vital for preparation in Thy service. And prepare them for mighty acts in Thy economy of salvation, we pray, in the future years as Thou wilt. Bless this institution as well, Father. We thank Thee for it and pray Thy blessing on each one of us as we either study or serve here, and that thou will continue to use it to raise up men of spiritual valor, to make a difference in a broken world, to witness of Christ our Savior. May our walk with Him never be compromised. May we be drawn closer, even this morning, be drawn closer to Him. May we see Christ as the one who is present with us, calling us, commissioning us, equipping us for the tasks to which we have been called. Bless us now as we study thy word together. May thy spirit apply it in our lives, we pray. And we ask this in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen. The theme this morning is leadership, actually spiritual leadership. There's a lot of literature that's been produced in the last decade or so on leadership, not just the last decade, for many years, no doubt. But I've read a number of books and you can read it in the business environment, you can read about business leadership from a secular point of view, you can read about leadership in the church or other situations or callings. I don't claim to be an expert here, and there's a lot of different views, a lot of different books, and good books as well, but that's not our focus today. I want to focus with you just on this passage, Judges chapter six, and draw from it some lessons, an application of spiritual leadership for us as leaders in the church. Because no doubt the Lord has called most of us, if not all of us, to leadership in the church, to spiritual leadership even, or we are there to support others who are busy with this calling. And so I think this passage speaks to us particularly on this theme and hopefully will be relevant for each one of us. Spiritual leadership. Who does God choose? How does God empower? And what does God achieve? That's our outline for the message this morning. Gideon. This is the story, the history of Gideon and Judges 6. That's interesting. The narrative and the judges gives more attention to Gideon, I think, than any other judge, any other deliverer that the Lord raised up during this time. And we see this history beginning after a bit of a narrative commentary, really, by the author of the book of Judges on the situation, the present situation in Israel. Not a good situation at the time. There were problems. The children of Israel, it says here, did evil. in the sight of the Lord. And I think if he would have put the word again there, it would have fit as well, right? We see that cycle, that continual cycle of doing evil on the side of the Lord. And here we find chapter six, no different. The children of Israel do evil. The Lord sends oppressors, this time Midian. and the Amalekites, and somehow it seems like that situation never changes in the Middle East. History continues to repeat itself in this area, it seems. But here we find it as well, chapter six of Judges, Midian oppressing Israel, all the way to the point, the region of Gaza, today's Gaza Strip. And then there's a prophet that comes, this prophet sent by the Lord, an unnamed prophet who comes and calls the people back to repentance. And then verse 11, we find the narrative of Gideon beginning. There an angel of the Lord came and sat under an oak, a tree that was in Aphra. An angel of the Lord. Who is this angel of the Lord? Let's start there because I think that's the central key to understanding this text. Who is this angel of the Lord? Many times we find angels in the Old Testament and the New Testament as well. But this appearance of an angel, I think, is of one of those special appearances which we call a theophany. This angel of the Lord is none other than the Lord himself, Jesus Christ, in the Old Testament, pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ, coming to speak with Gideon. Why do I say that? Well, for various reasons in the text, it indicates that, verse 14, If you look at verse 14, it refers not to an angel there, but to the LORD Himself. LORD in capital letters in this particular version. Yahweh looked at Gideon. And so I think that's a good argument already to suggest that this is not just an angel, but this is the Lord himself. And later on, Gideon worships this presence, and the angel does not forbid him. And we find other examples of angels in the Bible, and it was just the messengers from the Lord where they did not allow worship, because obviously we don't worship angels or other beings. We worship the Lord alone. So I believe this is a pre-incarnate form of Christ coming himself to speak with his servant Gideon. When did this happen? Or maybe I should say, where did this happen first? It happened in Afra, under an oak tree, a type of tree at least, in Palestine of that day. In Afra, in an area that pertained to Joash, the father of Gideon and Abiezrite. Afra was a city in Manasseh, a region of that tribe in the center of the country. And here Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press. He was threshing wheat in a wine press. What an unlikely situation. I think those of us who know Old Testament situations, agricultural plans, and the way they did work, you would say, a wine press? Why wheat in a wine press? It's like baking bread in the living room. It just doesn't fit. And it's because he was afraid. Gideon was afraid of the raiders, the Midianite raiders. And he was there hiding himself, trying to perhaps get a bit of wheat threshed out. Without any wind, no doubt. There's not much wind in a wine press, and so it was probably hard work. and he was there threshing out wheat, trying to remove the chaff. It happened because it was a time of political defeat. That's the tone really that sets the chapter, isn't it? The first couple verses, a time of political defeat and economic suffering. The people of God were suffering. Suffering because of the opposition they were facing, suffering because of the raiders, the Midianites, but even at a deeper level, suffering because of their own sinfulness. And the text makes this very clear. It's the Lord who allowed these many nights to come, and the Lord who was punishing his people for their sinfulness. In fact, Israel was brought very low because of their sinfulness. The people made for themselves dens, which are in the mountains, verse two, and caves and strongholds. A time of religious disobedience, idolatry, which caused this suffering. And the Lord had sent his prophet, verse 8, a prophet which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth out of the house of bondage. The Lord recounts his mighty works, his mighty deeds that he had done for his people. I delivered you, and I said to you, verse 10, I am the Lord your God. Fear not the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice. That's the frame that we're given for this history. The Lord is punishing his people for their disobedience, their idolatry. God allowed the enemy to come and defeat them, to plunder and destroy them. God sent a prophet to rebuke them, to call them back to repentance. And now God is coming, Jesus Christ himself in Old Testament form has come to commission his servant to raise up a mighty man, a leader to deliver them again from their sinfulness. As Spurgeon says, God does not permit his people to sin successfully. God always makes a plan to call them back from their sinfulness, and we are so grateful for this in our lives as well. That's the angel of the Lord. Who is Gideon? Who is this man named Gideon? Well, if we look at his family situation, he was no person of very much importance, really. He himself admits that. He's the son of Joas, the Eberez, Ezraite, the tribe of Manasseh. One of Joseph's sons. My clan, what does he say about it? His clan is the weakest or the smallest in Manasseh. I am the least in my father's house. A man of no real pedigree to speak of. A man of no significance in the bigger picture of Israel. Least in his father's house. Notice his mood as well. Gideon's mood or his attitude. Not a man of courage, you would say. Not a man of optimism. More of a pessimistic, melancholy tone perhaps. You don't wanna read too much into it, but you get that feeling as you read the chapter. A melancholy tone in his answers. God is forsaking us. Where is the Lord who promises to help us? He's discouraged. Why has all this happened to us? When he sees the situation and the political climate and the religious climate, he's discouraged, melancholy. And yet there's a contrast to that, a clear contrast. Verse 12, and the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. Now where does that come from? There's a clear contrast between his mood, melancholy and discouraged and dejected, and the words of this angel of the Lord, Christ himself. A mighty man of valor. What does valor mean? It's an older English word, power, strength, courage. Valor. Was Gideon a mighty man of valor? No, he was hiding from the enemy in a wine press. He was discouraged, he was dejected. Where is the valor of which this angel speaks? And yet Christ sees in Gideon what he will make him become. That's a key, I think, a very important key as we try to interpret this passage in light of spiritual leadership. Christ sees in this man, Gideon, what Christ is making him become by his grace. God gave Gideon a title that he would make him live up to by grace. God chose Gideon and called him to empower him, to make him this man of spiritual valor. Gideon was in survival mode, lacking courage, really, but Gideon found favor. He found grace, verse 17, in the sight of the Lord. And so Christ here chose Gideon to become a mighty man of valor. Which begs the question, I think, especially if we're applying this to ourselves, it begs the question, why? Why did God choose Gideon? Not for pedigree, not for power, not for prestige, certainly not his own prestige, not even for his personality, the power of his personality. Why did God choose this man to make him a spiritual leader? Certainly not for performance either. Because when we read the history, the whole narrative of Gideon and the judges, he wasn't chosen for his performance now or later, right? Later, he's calling on, looking for a fleece to help him make his decision. He still demonstrates a lack of courage. Later, his family is full of idolatry itself, and he himself isn't exactly a very exemplary person to follow. It wasn't performance. That wasn't the reason God chose this man. God chooses for reasons in himself. God chooses out of sovereign grace. It's a truth we believe and a truth we find comfort in, isn't it? Especially when we consider our own lives. God had plans to make this coward into a courageous warrior. God had plans to use Gideon to deliver his sinful people. God chose because God had gracious plans, his own plan in his own time. Has God chosen you to be a spiritual leader in his church? Most of us are here for that reason, I think. Some of us fourth years or longer, perhaps, fifth years. I don't know if there's a category of that. Some of us are first years. And I can think back when I sat in seminary, my first year in seminary, in the garage over there. Why has God chosen you? Or have you put yourself forward? It's a good question to ask yourself if you're in first year or fourth year, I suppose, or if you're in the 10th year of ministry. not to put ourselves forward, not for status or prestige or power, but God chooses because he has a purpose and a plan for his people, for his leaders. And he chooses sovereignly, doesn't he? I'm thinking of the words in 1 Corinthians, maybe you're thinking of them as well. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 26, for you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring to naught the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. This is the way God works in leadership, spiritual leadership. Or later, Paul says, 2 Corinthians chapter 12, when he's being challenged, challenged by opponents, opposition. For the sake of Christ, and I'm content with weaknesses, insults, hardness, persecutions, and calamities. And then that glorious statement, for when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul says, I am nothing. You ever take comfort in those words? Paul, the great apostle, the missionary spokesperson, says, I am nothing. For when I am weak, then I am strong. This is the secret of spiritual success, isn't it? This is the secret of spiritual success. Not our pedigree, not our power, not our prestige, not even our personality. Sometimes we think we're called to the ministry because we're a good talker. Oh, far from it. But it's because God has plans for the ones he calls. Plans to achieve through us and even in spite of us. Spiritual valor cannot be understood by the world. This spiritual leadership quality that is so crucial and at the core is never understood by the world. The world speaks of natural leadership abilities. Charisma, you know, carnal charisma or personality or speaking abilities or courage or, you know, there's many different qualities. You can, the books list them all. But there's a sharp contrast between natural leaders and spiritual leaders. Certainly the Lord gives natural ability, but natural ability only amplifies the spiritual gifts that he gives. It never can be a substitute. In fact, it often is a distraction. Natural leadership is not a criteria for leadership in God's church. It's spiritual leadership that God's looking for and that God is actually producing as he looks upon us and transforms us into his likeness. In politics, we talk about powerful people, but the Lord is looking for mighty men of spiritual valor to raise up a new generation of those who serve him, who repent and fear his name. There are many sources of power in this world. Some trust in brute force. Some trust in the power of personal ability. Some in carnal charisma. Charisma goes a long way. Some trust in manipulation or magic or mutti or some other form, whether it's Western or Eastern or African. But these are all distractions. It's spiritual leadership that God is looking for, and that God is producing in his people, and that's what God will use to call back his sinful people from idolatry again, and to raise up a church of people that fear his name. Are you, each one of you, individually, are you spiritual leaders, spiritual warriors? When Christ looks at you, does he see mighty men of spiritual valor? There are many spiritual enemies in our time, and the state of the church, well, there are good signs and there are bad signs, some places worse than others. Has God chosen you to make a difference? Don't expect a visit from an angel. We don't need an angel's visit, do we? We would never want something so inferior as that. We have something so much better than an angel's visit. Christ himself is with us. Is He not? He has come. He has come in the world incarnate, and He has sent His Spirit to be at no time absent from us. This is His promise. We don't want an angel visit. We have something better. We have His Word, and we have His Spirit. And by these means, He calls us to act courageously in the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit speaks to us and calls us to Christian duty. He commissions us for this service. in these ways. Who does God choose? How does God empower? How does God make Gideon courageous, spiritually courageous? That's our next thought as we reflect on this passage. The Lord spoke to Gideon and called him to action, and the Lord empowered him for this action. As the Lord calls, he also empowers. Likewise, the Holy Spirit speaks to us and calls us to action. Each one of us in different ways, no doubt, but he calls us to action. The Spirit empowers us for the task to which he is in calling us. God often works with us. He usually works with us in the same way he worked with Gideon. Consider how the Lord empowered Gideon. First, the Lord prepared him to be instrumental in revival. The Lord prepared him for revival of his people, verse 6. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. The Lord was first preparing the ground, was he not? He revealed the present problem, idolatry, He evokes a confession, perhaps not a true confession yet, but it's a confession on the part of the people. We have sinned, we are oppressed. He gives desire for deliverance. And Gideon must have heard these prophets' words. He was reflected on these words of the prophet, because in verse 13 we see an echo of them. Gideon says in verse 13, oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, then why? Why is all this befalling us? And where be his miracles, which our fathers told of us, saying, did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? He recounts the words of the prophet back to the Lord. He says, if this is true, then why? Where is the evidence that the Lord is with us? So the Lord creates this need in the people, certainly, and also in Gideon's heart, this questioning, this unrest. this repeating back to the Lord his promises, reminding the Lord that things aren't really as well he had promised, and that even though the people were disobedient, yet the Lord had delivered them in the past, and perhaps he could in the future, even in Gideon's discouragement, there's an echo here of this truth. So the Lord first prepares him. And secondly, the Lord is with him. The Lord is with him. Verse 12, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of Vader. That's what makes him most mighty. The Lord is with thee. And again, Gideon says, surely, the Lord says to Gideon, verse 16, surely I will be with thee. How is the Lord with his people? God is with us today through Christ, is he not? Emmanuel, God with us, our mediator who reconciles us to God, the Holy Spirit who unites us in mystical union with the Triune God. The Lord is with us, and the Lord is with Gideon as well, as he is with all his people. God's indwelling presence who empowers us for the task to which he calls us, with spiritual abilities, spiritual gifts, This is the source of all spiritual valor, the presence of Christ in our lives, our walk with Him in the Spirit. And the Lord commissions Gideon for duty, verse 14. The Lord looked upon him and said, go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian. Do not I send thee? Have not I sent thee? Jesus Christ commissions Gideon to go. Go in this spiritual valor of yours. Go. There's an echo here, I think, in the New Testament. The go passages of the New Testament, we call them the Great Commission, do we not? The Lord commissions his church to to speak of Christ, to be witnesses of Christ. Go in this might of yours, says the angel of the Lord to Gideon. What does the Lord mean? Is this some type of sarcasm? I don't think so. This might of yours, this might's not in yourself, but this might that you're given. Gideon in himself was, well, he wasn't trusting in himself, certainly was he? He was hardly trusting in the Lord at this point. There was a sense of humility even. and a sense of defeat in himself, but repeating the promises to the Lord was his strength. And the Lord is encouraging this. This might is a distrust in self and a growing trust in the Lord. This is what the Lord is looking for. In fact, it says, the Lord looked upon him. I think that's significance. Significant here, the Lord looked upon him. He ignores the objections. He ignores the pedigree and the other situations that are against Gideon. He looks on him with love and even perhaps pity. And with authority, he commissions him, behold, I'm sending you, go now. Go in this weakness, go in this faith. And God promises him success. New promises are given here to Gideon. Promises of success in the Lord's service. You shall strike the Midianites, verse 16, you will smite them as one man. And then 17 and following, there's a dialogue of course, but Gideon finds favor. Gideon says, if I have found favor in thy sight, and then the Lord actually shows him that favor by graciously allowing him to make offering to him. the Lord will perfect the work that he sends his servants to do. Those whom he calls, he empowers, and those whom he empowers, he will perfect their work by his grace. And maybe the Lord is empowering you as well, empowering you to be a spiritual warrior in your own area, a spiritual leader. Do you, like Gideon, see the problems? Perhaps you're overwhelmed by the problems. Often the problems overwhelm us when we consider and reflect on the people of God in the midst of a broken generation, a crooked generation, and the people of God themselves are, well, less than exemplary, certainly, and often quite the opposite of what they should be. Have you confessed these things to the Lord like Gideon has, confessing the need for deliverance? Is the Lord with you as he was with Gideon? Are we walking with him, by his Spirit, walking with Christ? And if the Lord has commissioned us for this duty, then he will also empower us and we will enjoy the favor and the grace that he gives us for the task to which he calls us. God still works today, raising up spiritual leaders as he did back in the time of Gideon. So don't object. I think we can learn that from Gideon as well. Do not make objections to God's plan. Gideon makes several objections, very similar actually to Moses, isn't it? A mighty man of God here. I just read that in my devotions this morning. Moses, Exodus 3 and 4. Moses also makes objections. And it seems like those who make the most objections are the Jews the most by the Lord, maybe. I don't know. But here Gideon is making objections. Does the Lord really care about his people? Verse 13. Does God know what's going on or what he is doing? Verse 15. Signs of weak faith, really. Again, signs that God chooses not because of the strength of our faith or any other reason than us, but God chooses out of sovereign grace. And yet, these objections were not good. Gideon should rather have learned to hold on to the promises of God by faith. But in this process, God is teaching him, as he teaches all of us, to walk by faith and not by sight. Later on, Gideon demonstrates this faith when, with 300 men, he strikes down a mighty army. Faith cooperates with God's calling and empowerment. Unbelief makes objections and stirs up more doubt. Faith cooperates with the Lord's calling and empowerment. Are you cooperating with God's calling and empowerment in your lives, whatever it may be? Don't trust in yourself. Don't find reasons of hope in yourself, if you're first-year students here or if you're fourth-year students. The danger really exists for both, I think. And complaining about the problems isn't the solution either, is it? Bringing these problems to the Lord is the solution. And trusting what the Lord will do through you and through others, hopefully, as he raises up people. God can turn these most difficult situations into trophies of grace into examples of how his grace empowers and is successful in our lives. And so briefly then I want to consider the third thought. What does God achieve? What does God achieve in this situation? And I can be brief here. Two words really. Gideon responds to the Lord's calling in two ways. First, worship. First, he learns to worship the Lord, verses 18 through 24. He worships the angel, and the angel doesn't forbid him. Another good example of how this is probably Christ here in the Old Testament. He worships the angel, and the angel of the Lord, the Lord himself, accepts this worship. Gideon wasn't fully understanding all the details, perhaps, and he certainly didn't know God's plan for him and what would still be coming in his life, and how the Lord would use him and test him and strengthen his faith. Gideon didn't know all those things. It wasn't his to see at that time, and he didn't need to see it. God was, one step at a time, teaching this man to live by faith and to be a mighty man of valor. But the Lord allows him to make a food offering place it on the rock, and it's consumed in the fire, and the Lord departs, and Gideon then calls this altar, verse 24, Jehovah Shalom. Jehovah Shalom. So he worships. And that's our proper response to the Lord too, isn't it? To worship. The Lord has called us, the Lord is equipping us, the Lord is even using us. our response is to worship. But it doesn't stop there in the life of Gideon, nor no doubt in the lives of us if God is calling us to spiritual leadership. The second response is there is work to be done. Verse 25, and it came to pass the same night God's timing is always perfect, isn't it? And it came to pass the same night that the Lord said unto him, take thy father's youngest bullock, and it goes on how he's supposed to break down the altar of Baal, cut down the Ashareth and the grove and to burn it with fire and desecrate that unholy place, that place where Baal was worshiped. Go desecrate this place of false worship. There's work to be done. And that was his first duty. Now, just imagine this man of spiritual valor, this man of courage and strength, this man of might who is busy threshing wheat in a wine press. That same night, the Lord comes to him. And what does Gideon do? Well, he goes. And he cuts it down. The men of the place want to kill him. We know the narrative, I think. But what has happened? What has changed? The Lord is with him. The Lord has empowered him. The Lord has given him spiritual courage, wisdom even. Even the response of his father really denotes wisdom. The Lord is busy using this, what we would call weak coward, at least in his father's house, the Lord is busy using this man as a spiritual leader, a mighty warrior for the Lord. The Lord's achievements with Gideon display the Lord's grace, turning despondency into courage, developing, slowly, a mighty spiritual leader, saving the Lord's people from their sinful situations, from their enemies and the trouble they've brought upon themselves, and at least for a time, reviving genuine worship of the Lord in Israel. That's what the Lord is doing. The Lord is busy accomplishing His purposes through the weak things of this world so that no flesh will glory in His presence. The Lord will achieve His purposes. He will accomplish His mission of salvation. He will raise up mighty men today, and if not us, then others, to serve Him and to display spiritual courage Not natural ability, but spiritual courage and leadership to destroy all idolatry and to restore true worship. Will he use you? Are you willing? Are you humble? Are you like Gideon, learning to live by faith and not by sight? Let's pray together. Almighty God, we pray that Thou wilt work within us this spiritual courage and spiritual consistency and ultimately the faith that underlies it all in Thee and Thy promise and what Thou hast done and what Thou art doing through sinners in this world. We pray that Thou wilt continue to work in the lives of each one of us. And Lord, Though we see objections and challenges and problems, and we see even the sin in our own hearts and the hindrances there in our lives, both in the past histories and in the present, yet we pray, Father, that Thou wilt work with Thy Spirit in us, making us more like Thy Son, molding us and shaping us in His character to be spiritual leaders, leaders in Thy Church and for the sake of Thy Kingdom. to make a difference, that Thou wilt use us and many others as well to push back the rising flood of evil and to raise up a standard of righteousness, namely Jesus Christ and the witness of Him in this world. And that Thou wilt use us to establish Thy church and to lead Thy people back again and again and again into genuine worship of Thee, the true and living God. We pray that Thou wilt empower us by Thy Spirit for the tasks to which Thou hast called us, and give us the humility and the boldness to serve Thee in this way. And bless this institution to that end, we pray, Father, and all those institutions where Thy spiritual warriors are being prepared for further service, that Thou wilt continue to use these weak means to raise up a mighty army, a spiritual army of love and courage and faithfulness to the truth. This we ask, Father, in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen.