Even when God’s children mess up, God still has their backs.
This was the messge from Pastor Susan Graham as she addressed a packed sanctuary during the Healing For The Soul Ministries’ recent youth rally at the Church of the Nazarene, Collymore Rock.
Florida-based Graham was one of several overseas and local ministers who teamed up with the United States-headquartered Healing For the Soul Ministries led by Brooklyn-based, Barbadian-born minister Judy P. Linton.
The youth rally was part of the ministry’s week of preaching, praise, worship, fellowship and community outreach programmes.
During her passionate sermon, Graham shared the story of Gideon and his army’s victory over their enemies, recorded in Judges 6.
Titling her message Position Yourself For Victory, she spoke of how God delivered the children of Israel into the hands of their enemies because of their disobedience, and how He later miraculously delivered them after they had cried out to Him.
Graham explained that Gideon was chosen to lead them into battle with a mere 300 soldiers, after God had given him instructions to remove more than 31 000 soldiers from entering into battle.
Graham said this move from God was His way of ensuring He alone received the glory for Israel’s victory.
“God cut Gideon’s army because sometimes you have to drop some friends [deadweights] who may mean well but cannot help you during your time of war, because they themselves are fearful. God cannot take the praise if you have too many friends around you. He is never impressed with numbers.
“Israel’s sea of enemies came in great numbers but whenever the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise up a standard against the enemy for His children’s sake,” she declared.
Graham said God also wanted to prove to Gideon that as long as He (God) was on the side of His children, no enemy could defeat them.
She said that by following God’s instructions, Gideon and his army witnessed how their enemies became confused, and attacked and killed each other.
Scores of mainly young people lined the altar to receive special prayers at the end of the sermon.
The youth rally also witnessed young people ministering in dance, worship, praise and song, to the delight of those in attendance.
Hearts Of Praise dancers, comprising children 11 years and under, were decked in red and white outfits as they did a wonderful piece to Kirk Franklin’s Our God Is Awesome.
They were followed by New Hope Dancers, and gospel singer John Yarde, who thrilled listeners with his self-penned songs.
Giveaways formed part of the night’s activities and these were graciously given by Healing For The Soul’s member Sister Lisa, on behalf of the ministry.
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