Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-11-13
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
ersyer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. II. 1907.
BY REV. s. Il. DOYLE.

By REV. s. Il. DOYLE
Observation-Disclosures for Gideon'e band
--Judg. vii. I'll
II we look over the advertising col
umns Of our daily newspapers we win
Zee some Ike this, '.wanted-M Mem
men for various occupations in life
Our topic is such an appeal. Wanted
-Men'-men for Gideon's band. And
IN this appeal for men we may see the
call of God The men of Gideon 5
band were Gods men, chosen by Sim
TO do special work for Him. Nor dc
employers who advertise fer men al
ways find the kind Of men they
want There are large numbers OF
men and many of them seeking for po-
sitions. but too many of them are un-
qualified to do any special kind OF
work and therefore are practically use
less. God has the same difficulty
There are many men associated with
His chu.ch and vet so few really quail
ned to Go the important work which
He has for them to do. An old phi
losopher cnee went through the streets
Of Athe,as with lantern seeking for &
man. but we are not told that he was
eminent successful In his search
God ono commanded jeremiah to run
to and FRO through the streets OF
Jerusalem to see IL he could find a
nance who was honest AMI upright
ND g. 7, Id
Nor z.se re told how successful tbs
profit xas IN his mission 1t is there
fore no. sch an easy thing to find the
men Cd wants for His service.
The = .c.ation of the topic is that
God WAITS Gideon band men. This
leads to the inquiry, What kind Of men
were members of Gideon's band? The
story of Gideon's band is NEST In
teresting and inspiring one. Gideon
was the fifth of the judges of Israel
He was called upon to deliver Israel
from the oppression OF the Midiacises
He sounded his trumpet, and 32.oac
men rallied to his standard This was
larger army than God wanted. les.
the people might think they delivered
themselves out of the hand Of the
enemy. The tfmid were allowed to
withdraw, and 2o,000 stepped oct OF
the line. At the well of testing
0,700 more we're eliminated. and only
800 Of the $1,000 remained. but with
this small band the Midianites were
defeated and glorious victory won.
Gideon was their leader, and their bat
tlecry was, The sword Of the LORD
and Gideon.'
What kind Of men. therefore. were
the Gideon band men whom God wants
today to do His work? a. They We're
men who placed their dependence up
on God rather than upon man. They
were not afraid because 81, 100 of their
original number were left behind. for
their dependence for victory was IN
God, as us shown by their cry, The
sword of the Lord and Gideonr' The
Lord was placed before Gideon. First
Of all, their trust was In Him. The,-
struck ''for God and their native land
Such men God wants today in His
service-spiritual men who depend up
on spiritual agencies rather than upo,,
temporal ones. Though numbers are
never to be despised. yet they realized
that with God all things are posi-
ble.' The tendency today is to trust
too much In numbers and external &c
clesiastical machinery. We need tc
get closer to God and to realize more
fully and practically that '.it is no, IL
might nor by power. but by Ny spirit
saith the Lord" A few spirit flied
men can accomplish for God far more
than thousands who depend upon hu.
man strength and plans. Spiritual la
Dor requires spiritual laborers. C2)
They were tested men. God had test.
ed their courage, and 1t was not fognl
wanting. A coward cannot do Gods
work. He wants courageous men, nl~
Of convictions, who are not afraid t.
stand by their convictions even in the
face of ridicule and opposition. God
also put these men to second tes.
which involved their earnestness ano
conservation They we're required Il
drink at wei. and only those who
drank without kneeling were accept
able. The tapping of the water stand
ing showed earnestness. They were
to engage in battle and had no time
waste while drinking. 1t also prove
that they were not accustomed to bow.
ing to Baal, and THIS their separation
to God was made manifest. God to
day wants earnest, whole hearted and
consecrated men. a lazy man can &c
nothing for Him. A man who is living
a worldly life cannot fight His battles
Which are we? If we do not possess
the qualifications for serving God lei
us seek them through en earnest con
eecration of ourselves r. Hin in Jesus
Christ.
BIBLE READINGS.
Neh IS. 10; Hos. !. Z: Xech. III. lie
Ps. -. 70; xxxiii, 1920; Ma. xviii
10, 20; John * IA; Cor. x. 50: Gal
VI, 8; Rev. Ii. lC.
Many Sidedrcss OF Christian Erdeavc-
marvel sometimes at the many 81