Hello All.
I have been sounding a Yemenite shofar for about 6 months now. I am in a group that sounds at conferences, bible studies, in homes, at courthouses, in hospitals, in parks, at malls and other places. I often times bring the kudu horn (48 inches) into grocery stores, coffee shops, my bank, restaurants or where ever. Often times people ask about it and then I talk about Jesus as well as tell them about it's use in the bible.
I am attending a Bible college and a classmate sounded a couple of times before class and the sound stirred me up greatly. Then one day he looked at me and asked me to join the watchmen. He actually said "you're a watchman" after having looked at me for a moment.
I love sounding the shofar. I practice daily.
The shofar is mentioned over 70 times in the bible. The power of the shofar is for today. This is a unique ministry that is a powerful tool for evangelism and a way to have people repent and return to God with a sincere heart.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. -Psalms 89:15-17 esv
The festal shout is the Hebrew word "teruah". H8643 teruah: a shout or blast of war, alarm, or joy. Teruah is used 36 times in the bible. With the majority of the occurances referencing the trumpet or shofar, such as at Jericho.
The kjv and nasb have the festal shout translated as "joyful noise" the niv uses the word "acclaim". (acclaim?) In sounding the trumpet it is interesting to see the vast range of responses. Many people do not react strongly-some amazingly do not seem to even hear it, a few people become angry or very upset and a small amount of people love the sound, some even getting goosebumps all over their body.
The anger is quite pointed at times, I have heard a few "shut ups" some words I can't say here and a week ago was told from an apartment balcony that if we kept it up he was going to get his .38 out. In these situations I simply say 'no weapon that forms against me will prosper' and continue sounding. God's word is powerful and people stop directing anger towards me each time I speak His word.
At some point - perhaps an appointed time, or a season - everyone that loves and serves Jesus should hear the trumpet / rams horn and know that sound, know it intimately, uniquely, it should reach into your inner being and cause a stirring.
I sound the trumpet only to glorify Jesus, to magnify my Lord and to pronounce Him as King of kings. I speak first of repentance to some people and God's grace towards others. When people who I have just met ask to hold the shofar or touch it - when I sound it they are stirred up. When I tell them about Jesus they listen intently. It is as though my Father has made it so simple for me that I can't mess up. When they ask to hold the shofar they are open to receiving the Gospel every time.
I only use the shofar as an instrument to magnify Jesus. There are so many ways to witness. I am amazed that I have been given this way to point people to The Way.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Bryan