ORN October Newsletter 1996

October 1996

Precious brothers and sisters,

"He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, "you are my servant Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." (Isa 49:2-3)

If you have been weeping through the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates (joint appearances) with us you are probably wondering how we were ever saddled with candidates like these. I believe it is part and parcel of the judgment of God upon our nation. Since we have become a people that feel differences don't really matter and that every truth claim, belief system, and god should have equal voice; we have been turned over to the candidates we deserve. God is speaking through this and we had better pay attention!

"Where are the men of God with the courage and character to fight the good fight? Where are the statesman who understand the times and know what we should do? Where are the men who, in the face of the tolerance mantra, would dare to call what is evil, evil and what is good, good. Where are the men who are unashamed of that dangerous five letter word J-E-S-U-S?" They are hidden!

Thats right! They are here but they are hidden in the shadow of His hand and concealed in His quiver. God is sharpening them, testing them and polishing them in quiet places. They are learning faithfulness in the small things so that when it is time to be launched from His bow they will plunge deep into the heart of His enemy. Could this be you?

David was the youngest of eight brothers in the house of Jesse and was left tending his father's sheep while the older brothers did more important things. He was the runt of the litter, yet he was God's arrow being polished, tested, and sharpened in the solitude of the open fields. In those quiet places with those few lambs, he fought the lion and the bear. He learned faithfulness in the small things and was being prepared by God to shepherd a nation.

No one recognized this polishing process at the time, not even David himself. But when a giant came into the land and terrified king Saul and all of Israel, the time had come for God's polished arrow to be revealed and launched. For forty days the giant spewed out his lie and mocked God's people. They were so afraid of losing, they dared not fight! Does this sound amazingly like our politics and debates of today?

The Philistine giant continued his reign of terror until, the Bible tells us, David heard his barking taunts (1 Sam 17:23). It is amazing that the Israelites had heard these taunts for forty days but no one heard them like David did. David heard a direct challenge to the person of Almighty God. The giant was defying God and this little shepherd boy was going to take care of that problem. He slew the strongman and cut off his head. Just as he had done to the lion and the bear in the hidden places where God was preparing him, so he did on the battlefield for the soul of his nation.

The wonderful news is that when David slew the giant, the people of Israel rose up and fought the battle they should have been fighting all along. They pursued and plundered the Philistine army. The lie of the giant was exposed and defeated! People will follow when they have a shepherd who will lead them with courage and integrity of heart. It is amazing how many will follow when the battle has been fought, the roads have been paved and the work is almost done.

So do not be dismayed little flock. God is raising up true shepherds in hidden places who are being tested, polished and sharpened to fight the good fight. He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much. Be faithful!

In Christian love,

Rev. Flip Benham Director

Enclosed you will find a brochure concerning one of our Lord's "not so hidden" arrows, Howard Phillips. He is running for President of the United States and His name is on the ballot in forty states.

Some have said to cast your vote for someone other than Bob Dole is to vote for Bill Clinton. While this may be a fact, it is not the truth. To vote for the lesser of two evils is to vote for evil still. We must support the man who stands principally upon God's Word and "pleads the case of the fatherless to win it."

Question: Would you rather have a wolf or a wolf in sheep's clothing watching over the lambs? I would rather have the Good Shepherd watching over the flock and Howard Phillips knows Him well.