Offer in order for God to stay in your life
The Bible talks about a man named Gideon, who was an ordinary man. His father’s tribe was the weakest in Israel and also worshipped false gods. They worshipped Baal. Just like you and me before we met God, our forefathers worshipped ancestors. This was the same case with Gideon, whose family generation worshipped false gods.
However, the Bible says that out of all that misery faced by the Abiezer generation, God chose Gideon. It was at this time when the Israelites were captured by the Midianites and they sought the Lord’s help. God heard their prayers and He chose Gideon. God chose him among his people who were worshipping false gods, and he set to rescue the Israelites from the commands of the Midianites.
The Bible in Judges 6:12 tells us that the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said to him: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!” Despite God appearing to him through His Angel, Gideon was sceptical and could not believe what God is declaring to him. He could not believe that God wanted to use him, and as a result he asked God for a sign.
It is the same with us as Christians. We do believe in God and we have faith in Him, but we should ask God for a sign regarding His promises that are in His Word. We should make follow up on God and ask for a sign, just like Gideon did. Even when you receive your prophecy, follow it up and ensure that it does come to pass. Follow it up with God, and ask Him to fulfil it.
In Judges 6: 11-13 the Bible says: “One day an angel from the Lord went to town of Ophrah and sat down under the big tree that belonged to Joash, a member of the Abiezer clan. Joash’s son Gideon was nearby, threshing grain in a shallow pit, where he could not be seen by the Midianites”.
The Bible shows us that the Israelites were blessed but because they were under the oppression of the Midianites, they could not enjoy their blessing. It is also the same with many of us Christians. After God has blessed us we become silent and do not even want your blessing to be known.
Gideon asked for a sign from God. He did not believe that it was actually God speaking to Him. In verse 17, Gideon said: “It’s hard to believe that I’m actually talking to the Lord. Please do something so I’ll know that you really are the Lord. And wait here until I bring you an offering”.
Gideon indeed killed a young goat and made an offering. He boiled its meat, and also baked bread with a big sack of flour. The Bible says when the meat was cooked and the bread was ready, the Angel of the Lord instructed him to place the food on a rock under the big tree. The angel of the Lord touched the food with His walking stick and flames jumped from the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. After that offering, Gideon built an altar for worshipping the Lord and it still stands there in Ophrah, a town in the territory of the Abiezer clan.
Gideon sought for the Lord and connected with Him. It is important that you seek God with all of your heart. The offering that Gideon gave to God, made God to bestow favour upon Gideon. Gideon indeed the task given to him by God, and he defeated the Midianites with the Lord’s help. This was as a result of the offering which he gave to God wholeheartedly.
Give your offering unto God with all of your heart. God wants us to give our longstanding offering. Even when you are blessing me as the Prophet of God, you are going to reap the blessing from God. This would be as a result of the prayers I bring to God on your behalf. I appeal to you to make your offering and let the anointing of this house work for you.
After destroying the altar of Baal, Verse 34 says that “the Spirit of the Lord took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet as a signal for the men in the Abiezer clan to follow him. He also sent out messengers to the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, telling the men of these tribes to come and join his army. Then they set out toward the enemy camp”.
Gideon made an offering to God and after that the Bible also says that Gideon prayed to God and said: “I know that you promised to help me rescue Israel but I need proof”. Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised. Look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
We should also be like Gideon. We should ask God for a proof, and he will reveal it to you. Ask God for a proof of the blessings he has promised you. If God says that He will bless you or He will heal you, ask Him for a proof. We are serving the God who listens and who answers.
Let me again remind you that when you give your offering unto God – with your whole heart, God will stay forever in your life. He will be with you in your situation. He will fight for your battles, just like He did with Gideon. God will never leave you nor forsake you.