Pastor Ron E. Thompson: The Power of a Consecrated Minority

This week I watched on television the moving address to our Congress by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, a tiny nation about the size of Texas. This democratic republic without any provocation has become the victim of a horrendous invasion led by Vladimir Putin, president of nearby Russia. This dictator is targeting civilians, bombing apartments, hospitals, schools, children, and even homeless people waiting in line for bread. The death toll has reached thousands while millions of refugees have fled for their lives to Poland and other nearby countries. A startled world waits and watches this nightmare unfolding. Some have likened it to the conflict between David and Goliath in the Bible. But to date these citizens of Ukraine have not conceded defeat. With the aid of weapons and humane efforts from other nations they have doggedly refused to surrender. These true patriots have a boundless love for their homeland. Putin thought be had an easy takeover in 3 days, but this travesty has escalated into weeks. Please pray for these true patriots!

This reminds me of a cardinal principle located in the Bible, so I use it as a title for this article. The word consecrate for the Christian means to be dedicated and totally committed to the Lord. Everyone knows what the word minority means.  We Christians are a minority in our society. But if we trust God and think globally, beyond our own circle of influence, we can make an impact for God’s glory. I list 3 examples and give you additional references.

Joshua 3:5 CSB: “Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you His people tomorrow.” God had brought Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, to the edge of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. The people were not told to get their weapons ready for battle but to prepare their hearts spiritually. God can do great things through us if we totally trust Him.

I Samuel 14:6 NLT: “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” Jonathan and his armor bearer faced a Philistine outpost and he trusted God to give them the victory.  God isn’t limited to work in large or small situations. All He needs is a consecrated minority through whom He can work.

John 6:8-13 MSG: “One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, ‘There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.’  Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.  When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.’ They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.”

How do you feed 5,000 people with one boy’s lunch? Most of the disciples suggested sending the people away which would solve the problem. They looked at what they did not have, but Jesus looked at what they did have. Beloved, thank God for what you have, give what you have to Jesus, and He will make it go farther!

REFERENCES:

I Thess. 1:8: “Your faith in God has become known everywhere”
Daniel 3:29: “Three men who caused the laws of their country to change”
I Kings 18:20-40: “One man, Elijah, vs. 450 prophets of Baal”
II Kings 5:1-14 “The heroine of the story is not Elijah or Naaman, but a nameless girl who set in motion a great act of God”

Study the references above and you will see how a concentrated minority can make an impact on an entire nation. That is what brave Volodymyr Zelenskyy is doing militarily for his country. What will you do for God?