Learning Our Limits – Part 5: Seek God’s Will (continued…)
When Joan eventually had an audience with young Charles VII he decided to test her spiritual powers of perception. So he had one of his noblemen sit on his throne while he lost himself among the others of his court. George Bernard Shaw captures this historic moment in his play Saint Joan.
Young Joan is brought into the room. She’s dressed like a soldier. Her hair is bobbed, which causes the perfumed ladies in waiting to explode in almost uncontrollable laughter. But Joan explains, “I wear it like this because I am a soldier. Where be Dauphin?” (The word Dauphin refers to the prince or oldest son of the king. Charles is yet uncrowned.)
Young Bluebeard is pretending to be Charles. He’s twenty-five and is sporting the extravagance of a little curled beard dyed blue in this otherwise clean-shaven court. He responds somewhat condescendingly, “You are in the presence of the Dauphin.”
Joan looks him over quite carefully while everyone present watches in absolute silence. Then comprehending what’s going on, a smile lights up her face. “Coom, Bluebeard:” she chides. “Thou canst not fool me. Where be Dauphin?” And as laughter again breaks out, she looks over the group, makes a dive, grabs Charles by the arm, and drags him forward.
“Gentle little Dauphin,” she says, “I am sent to you to drive the English away from Orleans and from France, and to crown you king in the cathedral at Rheims, where all true kings of France are crowned”
Eventually, after more testing Joan was placed in charge of the king’ s troops. History records that she liberated the besieged city of Orleans in 1429. Before the battle, all the French soldiers were served Communion.
The World Book Encyclopedia says that Joan “defeated the English in four other battles. Twice she was wounded, but each time she recovered and went on fighting. Her orders were those of a military genius. She marched into the city of Rheims, where Charles was crowned King of France, with the Maid of Orleans standing at his side with sword and banner.”
Now Joan’s work was done and her visions ceased. Her desire was to return to her home. But Charles wouldn’t have it. There were many needs in his troubled world. Joan had performed incredibly well. Now further expectations were placed on her. The king convinced her to lead an attack on Paris, which was still under English control. The effort failed and she was wounded again.
Later, after being captured by French allies of the English, Joan was sold to the enemy for 16,000 francs. She was placed in prison and eventually put on trial as a witch and a heretic. Not yet out of her teens, she was burned at the stake, insisting to the very end that her visions and voices had come from heaven.
The story of Joan of Arc is a powerful reminder that we must know our limits and stick by them unless God makes it clear that He has other plans. I was in my fifties before I discovered I needed to set personal boundaries, so I’m not one to be critical of a teenager. But the illustration does prove helpful, especially in a discussion of survival skills.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
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For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
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