April 17, 2016 Notes Not Edited
A Coward’s Guide to
Revival
Judges 6:20-7:25
SIS—Even the most unlikely person can experience
revival from God if he or she is fully devoted to God.
The word that first comes to my mind when reading the story of Gideon is, “coward.” Judges 6:11 introduces us to Gideon. It says, “11 The Angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine vat in order to hide it from the Midianites.”
The word that first comes to my mind when reading the story of Gideon is, “coward.” Judges 6:11 introduces us to Gideon. It says, “11 The Angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine vat in order to hide it from the Midianites.”
Israel had disobeyed
God and fell back into their idolatrous ways.
Judges 6 begins, “The Israelites did what was evil in the
sight of the Lord” (v1). The Book
of Judges demonstrates the awesome faithfulness of God in the face of the
horrible faithLESSness of His people.
The Book of Judges begins with Israel having great victory over the
Canaanites and were secure in the Promised Land. Then, Judges outlines a cycle of
faithlessness that goes like this:
Israel DISOBEYS God; God
allows them to experience DISASTER at
the hand of their enemies; Israel REPENTS
and cries out to God; God RESCUES Israel
by sending a judge, which was a military leader. After a period of time Israel falls back into
the old pattern of sin doing “what is evil in the sight of the Lord,” and the cycle begins all over
again. This happened 13 times in the
Book of Judge. Sadly, the book of Judges
ends on a low note in the DISOBEDIENCE stage
of the cycle.
This brings us to Gideon, one of those “rescuing judges.” Israel’s rebellion had brought them to their knees at the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:2 says that the Israelites were so oppressed by the Midianites that the Israelites, “made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.” Sinful rebellion and the neglect of God always saps our courage and sends us running scared.
So, our text introduces us to the “hero,” Gideon, hiding his grain in an underground winepress to keep if from those “pesky Midianites.” This is why the word, “coward,” comes to my mind when I think of Gideon. The beauty of this story is that God chooses a “coward” to be His “instrument” of great victory and renewal in the life of His people. With a good plan performed well, even a coward can be the instrument of revival, if that coward puts his trust in God. We are all cowards when it comes to evangelism, so we can all relate to Gideon. What we need is the proper motivation and encouragement to bring out the hero in us. I’m convinced that with the right motivation, we can—and will—do almost anything. Let me use an illustration from the days of the wild west to make my point.
In those days there was a quiet prospector from back East who moved west hoping to chip out a living looking for gold. He was a mild-mannered fellow, slight of stature. On one occasion he made his way into the local saloon to wet his parched palate after a hard day prospecting. A big old cowboy thought he’d make some sport of the little prospector. The cowboy sauntered over to the prospector and growled, “You ain’t from these parts, are ‘ya?” The prospector answered in a quiet, polite voice, “Well, no sir I am not. I’m from back East. I’m hoping to strike it rich digging for gold.” The big ole cowboy growled again with a snide grin strapped across his face, “Do ‘ya knows how to dance?” Again, the little prospector answered politely, barely above a whisper, “Well, Sir, no a don’t know how to dance.” “Well, I’m gonna’ teach ya’,” the cowboy said. “You’ll be surprised how quick ya’ can learn.” With that, the cowboy drew his six shooter from its holster and started shooting at the feet of the little prospector. The little guy naturally started jumping around like he was doing some kind of crazy new dance move. The little prospector hopped, skipped, and jumped his way out the saloon doors. He was shaking like a leaf. The whole saloon erupted in laughter at the expense of the little guy. About an hour later, the cowboy and his buddies had drunk their fill of liquor and were leaving the saloon. As they stepped out into the street they encountered the little prospector who had given them such a good time with his dance moves. The cowboys stopped dead in their tracks when the heard a loud, “click,” and were starring down the barrels of the largest double-barrel shotgun they had ever seen. The little prospector with the big gun asked in a quiet voice, “Sir, have you ever kissed a mule?” Now it was the cowboy who was shaking like a leaf. The cowboy quickly, and with a note of enthusiasm in his shaking voice, replied, “No, I’ve never kissed a mule, but I’ve always wanted to!”
The moral of this story is this: we can—and will—do almost anything if we have the right motivation. Even the most unlikely coward can be experience revival and be an instrument of revival . . . with the right motivation.
This brings us to Gideon, one of those “rescuing judges.” Israel’s rebellion had brought them to their knees at the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:2 says that the Israelites were so oppressed by the Midianites that the Israelites, “made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.” Sinful rebellion and the neglect of God always saps our courage and sends us running scared.
So, our text introduces us to the “hero,” Gideon, hiding his grain in an underground winepress to keep if from those “pesky Midianites.” This is why the word, “coward,” comes to my mind when I think of Gideon. The beauty of this story is that God chooses a “coward” to be His “instrument” of great victory and renewal in the life of His people. With a good plan performed well, even a coward can be the instrument of revival, if that coward puts his trust in God. We are all cowards when it comes to evangelism, so we can all relate to Gideon. What we need is the proper motivation and encouragement to bring out the hero in us. I’m convinced that with the right motivation, we can—and will—do almost anything. Let me use an illustration from the days of the wild west to make my point.
In those days there was a quiet prospector from back East who moved west hoping to chip out a living looking for gold. He was a mild-mannered fellow, slight of stature. On one occasion he made his way into the local saloon to wet his parched palate after a hard day prospecting. A big old cowboy thought he’d make some sport of the little prospector. The cowboy sauntered over to the prospector and growled, “You ain’t from these parts, are ‘ya?” The prospector answered in a quiet, polite voice, “Well, no sir I am not. I’m from back East. I’m hoping to strike it rich digging for gold.” The big ole cowboy growled again with a snide grin strapped across his face, “Do ‘ya knows how to dance?” Again, the little prospector answered politely, barely above a whisper, “Well, Sir, no a don’t know how to dance.” “Well, I’m gonna’ teach ya’,” the cowboy said. “You’ll be surprised how quick ya’ can learn.” With that, the cowboy drew his six shooter from its holster and started shooting at the feet of the little prospector. The little guy naturally started jumping around like he was doing some kind of crazy new dance move. The little prospector hopped, skipped, and jumped his way out the saloon doors. He was shaking like a leaf. The whole saloon erupted in laughter at the expense of the little guy. About an hour later, the cowboy and his buddies had drunk their fill of liquor and were leaving the saloon. As they stepped out into the street they encountered the little prospector who had given them such a good time with his dance moves. The cowboys stopped dead in their tracks when the heard a loud, “click,” and were starring down the barrels of the largest double-barrel shotgun they had ever seen. The little prospector with the big gun asked in a quiet voice, “Sir, have you ever kissed a mule?” Now it was the cowboy who was shaking like a leaf. The cowboy quickly, and with a note of enthusiasm in his shaking voice, replied, “No, I’ve never kissed a mule, but I’ve always wanted to!”
The moral of this story is this: we can—and will—do almost anything if we have the right motivation. Even the most unlikely coward can be experience revival and be an instrument of revival . . . with the right motivation.
One of the greatest
evangelists of all time, with ministries sparking revival in both Great Britain
and America, was a former shoe salesman (and a very successful one) from
Chicago named, “Dwight L. Moody.” He is
recorded as having a conversation in which he said, “The world has not yet seen what God can do with a man fully
consecrated to him. By God’s help I aim
to be that man!” Moody certainly did become a man “fully consecrated to
God. One writer summarizes the life of
D.L. Moody in this way: D. L. Moody may well have been the greatest
evangelist of all time. In a 40-year period he won a million souls, founded
three Christian schools, launched a great Christian publishing business,
established a world-renowned Christian conference center, and inspired
literally thousands of preachers to win souls and conduct revivals (Website).
Today we are going to survey the parts that go into a life that leads to revival, in our own lives as well as in the life of our church and our world. Let’s read about what happens when God’s people prepare personally, plan prayerfully, and perform properly. Jdgs 7:12-22.
Today we are going to survey the parts that go into a life that leads to revival, in our own lives as well as in the life of our church and our world. Let’s read about what happens when God’s people prepare personally, plan prayerfully, and perform properly. Jdgs 7:12-22.
12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and
all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and
their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. 13 When
Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said,
“Listen, I had a dream: a loaf of barley
bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The
loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”14 His
friend answered: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash,
the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”Gideon
Attacks the Midianites15 When Gideon heard the account of the
dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp
and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.” 16 Then
he divided the 300 men into three companies and gave each of the men a trumpet
in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other.
17 “Watch me,” he said, “and do the same. When I come to the outpost
of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I and everyone with me blow
our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you
will say, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’ ”
19 Gideon and the 100 men who were
with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch
after the sentries had been stationed. They blew their trumpets and broke the
pitchers that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew
their trumpets and shattered their pitchers. They held their torches in their
left hands, their trumpets in their
right hands, and shouted, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon!” 21 Each
Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army
fled, and cried out as they ran. 22 When Gideon’s men blew
their 300 trumpets, the Lord set the swords of each man in the army against
each other. They fled to Beth-shittah in
the direction of Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
Any
of your remember the T.V. show, “The A Team?”
One of the catch phrases in the show was delivered by the Team’s leader,
as the mission starts to go their way.
He’d say, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Well, so do I. I know that when God’s people prepare
personally, plan prayerfully, and perform properly great things start to
happen. Even cowards become heroes. Here’s how to put a plan for personal and
community revival.
Now, each of these parts could easily warrant a full sermon, but I’m going to give you a survey. The outline IS the message. This strategy will work in business as well as church, in the secular realm as well as the sacred. So, let’s outline a strategy that turns cowards into courageous heroes and brings great victory and revival.
1. We must PREPARE PERSONALLY. Before we strike out in a great work FOR the Lord, we need a great experience WITH the Lord.
19 So Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from a half bushel of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to Him under the oak. 20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat with the unleavened bread, put it on this stone, and pour the broth on it.” And he did so.21 The Angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in His hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.22 When Gideon realized that He was the Angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face!”23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it Yahweh Shalom.
Now, each of these parts could easily warrant a full sermon, but I’m going to give you a survey. The outline IS the message. This strategy will work in business as well as church, in the secular realm as well as the sacred. So, let’s outline a strategy that turns cowards into courageous heroes and brings great victory and revival.
1. We must PREPARE PERSONALLY. Before we strike out in a great work FOR the Lord, we need a great experience WITH the Lord.
19 So Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from a half bushel of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to Him under the oak. 20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat with the unleavened bread, put it on this stone, and pour the broth on it.” And he did so.21 The Angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in His hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.22 When Gideon realized that He was the Angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face!”23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it Yahweh Shalom.
There is a
theological term that describes an experience with the Lord such as this. That word is “Wow!” This was a “Wow! Moment.” To explain it is to diminish its beauty and
power. So, I’ll simply let this moment
stand as it is recorded.
We all need a moment when we meet the Lord, “face to face.” Maybe this moment for you did not come with an angel and fire from heaven, but it needs to be just as life-changing as that moment with Gideon. This is the moment Gideon, the coward, became Gideon, the hero. This is an Old Testament picture (preview) of what it means to be saved. Being saved does not simply mean we gather a bunch of facts about God. Being saved means we have met God “face to face” in the most personal and transforming way. This is the only way to be prepared for what tomorrow—and eternity—holds. Gideon built an altar which was typical of how Israelites marked the important moments in their lives. Salvation is an “event.” It may be part of a longer process of God’s grace working in our lives. Salvation certainly starts a process of sanctifying grace in our lives. But, salvation must be marked by a life-transforming moment of crisis that has a distinct “before” and “after.”
The only preparation for life that has any real meaning as measured against eternity is the moment we meet God “face to face.” Until this moment happens, we are not prepared for what faces us in this life, and much less what we will face in eternity. We all need to PREPARE PERSONALLY for what lies ahead by meeting God “face to face.” Education is a helpful component in our preparation to be sure. Experience is perhaps even more helpful. But, “Transformation” is absolutely essential.
2. We must PLAN PRAYERFULLY. Never attempt a great task without a plan, and never implement a great plan without a great deal of prayer. You combine a great plan with great prayer and you have an unstoppable combination. Someone has said, “People don’t plan to fail they just fail to plan.” I think that is correct. Here’s three components for any successful venture.
We all need a moment when we meet the Lord, “face to face.” Maybe this moment for you did not come with an angel and fire from heaven, but it needs to be just as life-changing as that moment with Gideon. This is the moment Gideon, the coward, became Gideon, the hero. This is an Old Testament picture (preview) of what it means to be saved. Being saved does not simply mean we gather a bunch of facts about God. Being saved means we have met God “face to face” in the most personal and transforming way. This is the only way to be prepared for what tomorrow—and eternity—holds. Gideon built an altar which was typical of how Israelites marked the important moments in their lives. Salvation is an “event.” It may be part of a longer process of God’s grace working in our lives. Salvation certainly starts a process of sanctifying grace in our lives. But, salvation must be marked by a life-transforming moment of crisis that has a distinct “before” and “after.”
The only preparation for life that has any real meaning as measured against eternity is the moment we meet God “face to face.” Until this moment happens, we are not prepared for what faces us in this life, and much less what we will face in eternity. We all need to PREPARE PERSONALLY for what lies ahead by meeting God “face to face.” Education is a helpful component in our preparation to be sure. Experience is perhaps even more helpful. But, “Transformation” is absolutely essential.
2. We must PLAN PRAYERFULLY. Never attempt a great task without a plan, and never implement a great plan without a great deal of prayer. You combine a great plan with great prayer and you have an unstoppable combination. Someone has said, “People don’t plan to fail they just fail to plan.” I think that is correct. Here’s three components for any successful venture.
(1) It requires PERSISTENCE (6:36-40). Gideon did not give up easily.
Gideon made a deal with God so that he could be absolutely sure and then made another deal so he could be absolutely sure he was sure. At this point in Gideon’s plan, he was still struggling to trust God. “Throwing out a fleece” is an indication of doubt, not faith. But, God is very patient, and He rewarded Gideon’s persistence.
Gideon made a deal with God so that he could be absolutely sure and then made another deal so he could be absolutely sure he was sure. At this point in Gideon’s plan, he was still struggling to trust God. “Throwing out a fleece” is an indication of doubt, not faith. But, God is very patient, and He rewarded Gideon’s persistence.
(2)
A Good Plan requires PATIENCE
(7:1-7). The foundation of patience is
the belief God knows what He is doing, when we don’t.
Jerubbaal
(that is, Gideon) and everyone who was with him, got up early and camped beside
the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of
Moreh, in the valley. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too
many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself.’ 3 Now
announce in the presence of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may
turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ”
So 22,000 of the people turned back, but 10,000 remained. 4 Then
the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to
the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can
go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with
you,’ he cannot go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the
water, and the Lord said to Gideon, “Separate everyone who laps water with his
tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink.” 6 The
number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was 300 men, and
all the rest of the people knelt to drink water. 7 The Lord
said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with
the 300 men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else
is to go home.”
Much of how God
operates is counter-intuitive to how we think.
We think that thousands in our army is better than a few hundred. In the world’s way of thinking, that is certainly
true. But God reminds us in Isaiah, “For
as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts (55:9).
This does not mean
that faith is “irrational.” It means
that faith has a component that meets reason and raises it a level. The great mathematician and philosopher,
Blaise Paschal (a 17th century child prodigy who built some of the
first mechanical calculators as a teen), said, “Faith has it’s reasons that reason knows not of.” A successful plan requires patience
founded upon trusting that God knows what He is doing.
(3)
A Good Plan must be PRACTICAL. I believe the old hymn is true, “Heaven came down//And glory filled my
soul.” However, I believe it is
equally true that God wants us to use the skills, resources, and opportunities
that are present in our life. Look
verses 15-17:
15 When Gideon heard the account of
the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s
camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to
you.” 16 Then he divided the 300 men into three companies and
gave each of the men a trumpet in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch
inside it in the other.
Why did God send Gideon to battle with trumpets, pots, and candles? Well, there may be many reason but one reason is it was a matter of practicality—the people already possessed these items. Too many people miss out on the opportunity to be greatly and mightily used by God because they are waiting on “better circumstances,” or they are waiting on some “heavenly visitation” in the night to speak to them in an audible voice. Yet, if you read the Bible closely you will see a consistent practicality in the way God moves upon, in, and through His people. Ministry is as practical as baking cookies and taking them to a neighbor. Start where you are with what you have. A Chinese proverb says, “The man who would move mountains begins by moving the small stones.”
Beyond preparing personally by meeting God “face to face,” we need to develop a good plan and pray God’s favor upon it. It can be a plan for our personal life. It can be a plan for our family. It can be a plan for our business. It can be a plan for our church. It can be a plan for our world. One thing we should note clearly is what D.L. Moody once said about plans. He said, “if God be your partner, make your plans big.” Oh, that we would be so bold in our devotion to God!
Why did God send Gideon to battle with trumpets, pots, and candles? Well, there may be many reason but one reason is it was a matter of practicality—the people already possessed these items. Too many people miss out on the opportunity to be greatly and mightily used by God because they are waiting on “better circumstances,” or they are waiting on some “heavenly visitation” in the night to speak to them in an audible voice. Yet, if you read the Bible closely you will see a consistent practicality in the way God moves upon, in, and through His people. Ministry is as practical as baking cookies and taking them to a neighbor. Start where you are with what you have. A Chinese proverb says, “The man who would move mountains begins by moving the small stones.”
Beyond preparing personally by meeting God “face to face,” we need to develop a good plan and pray God’s favor upon it. It can be a plan for our personal life. It can be a plan for our family. It can be a plan for our business. It can be a plan for our church. It can be a plan for our world. One thing we should note clearly is what D.L. Moody once said about plans. He said, “if God be your partner, make your plans big.” Oh, that we would be so bold in our devotion to God!
When you have met God
and received a plan from God, never let anyone tell you, “You can’t do
it.” You can . . . and you must! In Novermber of 1837 a distinguished
mathematician and physicist in Britain presented a scholarly paper. With graphs, formulas, and statistics
Dyonysius Lardner gave irrefutable, scientific proof that it was impossible to
build a steam ship that could cross the Atlantic non-stop. On April 24, 1838 (one year later), the
scientific community in Manhattan received Lardner’s research paper. It arrived on the steam ship, Sirius, which
had crossed the Atlantic non-stop. Prepare
personally. Plan prayerfully, and let no
one stand in your way as you move forward “by
God’s help” to be the man or woman that sparks a revival of God’s blessing
and mercy.
3. For any
plan—however good—to work we must PERFORM PROPERLY.
Nothing ever happens simply by thinking great thoughts. One has to do great things. Our text shows three important ways in which
the Israelites performed properly and saw awesome results.
(1) They were in the RIGHT PLACE-“the edge of the camp” (19)
19Gideon and the 100 men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed.
19Gideon and the 100 men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed.
Too many Christians
live their lives without taking great care to be where God directs them to be
at the time that God directs them to be their.
I have met so many people who are waiting
for their ship to come in but are sitting on the wrong dock!
This is one of the most neglected principles in Christian living and one of the most significant reasons for why Christianity is being pushed to the margins of society in America today. People think that “attending church is an option.” In a sense they are correct. Attending church is as optional as eating. Nobody is forcing you to eat. You won’t die if you miss a meal. You won’t suffer much if you miss many meals, but sooner or later if you neglect eating long enough you will waste away and die.
I’m going to be as bold as possible and say: YOUR LIFE WILL NOT ACCOUNT FOR A HILL OF BEANS IN ETERNITY IF YOU ARE NOT PASSIONATELY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY ATTENDING AND SERVING IN CHURCH. I will tell you that I prepare every sermon as if it is the “most important message I will ever preach.” I would hope you would feel the same way. For too many church people, church is a take it or leave it proposition, with more leaving that taking. That is poor performance that will never lead to victory.
This is one of the most neglected principles in Christian living and one of the most significant reasons for why Christianity is being pushed to the margins of society in America today. People think that “attending church is an option.” In a sense they are correct. Attending church is as optional as eating. Nobody is forcing you to eat. You won’t die if you miss a meal. You won’t suffer much if you miss many meals, but sooner or later if you neglect eating long enough you will waste away and die.
I’m going to be as bold as possible and say: YOUR LIFE WILL NOT ACCOUNT FOR A HILL OF BEANS IN ETERNITY IF YOU ARE NOT PASSIONATELY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY ATTENDING AND SERVING IN CHURCH. I will tell you that I prepare every sermon as if it is the “most important message I will ever preach.” I would hope you would feel the same way. For too many church people, church is a take it or leave it proposition, with more leaving that taking. That is poor performance that will never lead to victory.
(2) We must have the RIGHT EQUIPMENT.
It doesn’t do any good to show up for the battle if you don’t have your
gun and ammunition.
Verses 19-21 tells us that they showed up with their “trumpets, pitchers, and candles” ready for action. If we are going to do battle with the Devil—that’s where revival comes from—then we need to show up, prayed up, and dressed up in the full armor of God ready to do battle. Our most basic piece of equipment is the Bible. It is the Sword of the Spirit. We are told (Heb. 4:12):
Verses 19-21 tells us that they showed up with their “trumpets, pitchers, and candles” ready for action. If we are going to do battle with the Devil—that’s where revival comes from—then we need to show up, prayed up, and dressed up in the full armor of God ready to do battle. Our most basic piece of equipment is the Bible. It is the Sword of the Spirit. We are told (Heb. 4:12):
12 For the word of God is living and
effective and sharper than any
double-edged sword, penetrating as far
as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge
the ideas and thoughts of the heart.
When we are in the
right place with the right equipment we need to
(3) understand the plan.
(3) understand the plan.
17 “Watch me,” he said, “and do the same. When I come to the outpost
of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I and everyone with me blow
our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you
will say, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’ ”
This is a “military
illustration” from the spiritual journey of Israel. It is a lesson for us today as well. Sadly, most “millenials” (twenty to 35 years
old or so) know nothing about the military or military strategies. Isn’t it both sad and ironic that
Millennials” are supporting a socialist like Bernie Sanders? It is ironic because the grandparents of
these “Millennials” died in great numbers fight socialism and it’s like in
WWII! It is sad, because our country has
made a one hundred and eighty degree turn headed in the wrong direction!
How can it be helpful
to have leaders who have been forged in battle and formed by military
training. Because veterans know that in
order for any unity to perform properly everybody has to understand the plan
and know their specific part in that plan.
I am convinced that most Christians in the United States have no clue as
to what to do or what to say when confronted with the cacophony of religious
voices in our society. We are a nation
where every religious (and non-religious) idea under the sun is
represented. How many of you can even
spell Bhagavad Gita, let alone understand what it means for a Hare Krishna
devotee. Or, how many people actually
have studied the Koran used by millions of Muslims around the world.
In order to perform properly we must understand the plan, and to understand the plan we must understand the Bible and how it addresses every religion and philosophy known to man. If you know God’s plan, you are not likely to be fooled by the Devil’s plan.
In order to perform properly we must understand the plan, and to understand the plan we must understand the Bible and how it addresses every religion and philosophy known to man. If you know God’s plan, you are not likely to be fooled by the Devil’s plan.
(4) If we are going to perform properly, it means
we perform ENTHUSIASTICALLY. When it comes to fighting against
the Devil to see revival come to our world nothing substitutes for
enthusiasm.
The word, enthusiasm, comes from two Greek words, “en” which means “in,” and “theos,” which means God. Enthusiasm is the stating of being “in God.” Enthusiasm is indispensable in God’s work. If we live like God doesn’t matter much in our lives, how likely is it that others will want Him in their lives? Not very likely I expect.
The word, enthusiasm, comes from two Greek words, “en” which means “in,” and “theos,” which means God. Enthusiasm is the stating of being “in God.” Enthusiasm is indispensable in God’s work. If we live like God doesn’t matter much in our lives, how likely is it that others will want Him in their lives? Not very likely I expect.
One of the most
enthusiastic preachers in history was John Wesley. His legacy includes Methodism, as well as
Pentecostalism, and other charismatic movements. Wesley lived a long life—88 years. He never slowed down. One source points out that during his
ministry he traveled over 4,000 miles annually (mostly by horseback), preaching
some 40,000 sermons in his lifetime.
You’ve no doubt heard about the “Great Awakening” which was an enormous
movement of God’s spirit in revival in the 18th century. John Wesley, along with his brother, Charles,
and the preacher, George Whitefield, were major voices and courageous
evangelists. John Wesley once displayed
the depth of his enthusiasm for God’s work by saying, “Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God
and I will shake the world.” Wesley
did just that.
Look at verse 21-22 to see what happens when God’s people perform with enthusiasm the task set before them:
Look at verse 21-22 to see what happens when God’s people perform with enthusiasm the task set before them:
21 Each Israelite took his position
around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, and cried out as they ran.
22 When Gideon’s men blew their 300 trumpets, the Lord set the
swords of each man in the army against each other. They fled to Beth-shittah in the direction of
Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah
near Tabbath.
Well, that’s it. That is “A Coward’s Guide to Revival.” Gideon started out as a coward hiding in a
winepress and ended up as a hero on the battlefield. Even
the most unlikely person can be an instrument of God to bring revival to our
nation. Victory requires preparing
personally, planning prayerfully, and performing properly. When these elements all come together—God’s
awesome power breaks out in a sin-busting, soul saving, world-changing revival.
I’ve rushed through this quickly so that you can get hold of the big picture and not get lost in the details. Your sermon notes will help you with the details.
I’ve rushed through this quickly so that you can get hold of the big picture and not get lost in the details. Your sermon notes will help you with the details.
If ever there was a
time our world needed some cowards to become heroes, it is now. Tomorrow may be too late. Today we must commit ourselves to the
“plan.” Our church has a plan. It is a plan born in prayer. It deserves our enthusiastic
performance. Resolve now to get with the
plan in your giving, your praying, and your serving.
The
CLOCK OF LIFE is wound but once,
And no man knows the hour;
And no man knows the hour;
To
say just when the hands will stop;
At
late, or early hour.
Now
is the only time we own
To
do his precious will;
Do
not wait until tomorrow,
For the clock may then be still.
For the clock may then be still.
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