The Need of the Power of God in Our Lives

Luke 24.36-53

The LORD had been crucified, buried and had risen. It was now 40 days later. He had been speaking to them before His death and after His death about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He told them He was going away and that He would not leave them as orphans, that He would come to them.

He had died on Passover, rose from the dead on the third day. He likened his death to a seed that goes into the ground.
John 12:24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

He had instructed them at the end if these 40 days not to leave Jerusalem but to wait in the city until they had been clothed with power from on High.

Now He led them up the Mount of Olives, a familiar place to them. At its base was the Garden of Gethsemene. They were above that now. There He ascended back into heaven. All they had was the experiences of walking with Him and the Word He left them. Yet their hearts were filled with joy as they wondered what was next, prayerfully wondered.

They waited. 10 days had elapsed. God's perfect timing was in place. His plan was about to be revealed. Sometimes, many times we just have to go with what we have been given by the LORD and then wait for Him to act.

And act He did! What he had spoken about in Acts 1.1-8 came to pass in Acts 2.

Peter explained it. Filled with the Spirit, these followers of Jesus came out of the Upper Room and went out onto the streets of Jerusalem with the Good News. Peter quoted from Joel in his first sermon in the new born church:
Joel 2:28-32 “And afterward,I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your old men will dream dreams,your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women,I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavensand on the earth,blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darknessand the moon to bloodbefore the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who callson the name of the Lord will be saved;for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance,as the Lord has said,even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. "

Then because it was the Day of Pentecost and there were visitors from all over the world in Jerusalem for the Feast, people from every nation heard and 3,000 believed and were baptized!

The LORD was accomplishing His purposed. In wrath remember mercy prophet Habakuk had prayed. Jesus told of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. That had not changed. It was going to happen within 40 years. But for this time of grace, everyone who called upon the Name of the LORD was saved.

I had planned to bring a message on our need of national repentance this morning. I will do that next week. I got the right message just the wrong week. The past few days there was a tug towards a message on the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Those early believers came out of the security of the upper room and went onto the streets of Jerusalem!

1. We Need to Stir Up the Gift of God that is within Us.
2 Timothy 1:6-8 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
to kindle up, inflame one's mind, strength, zeal
This could be referring to Timothy's particular gift, perhaps of prophecy.
It could be referring to the Holy Spirit Himself.

How can we fan into flame His Presence within us?
*By reading His Word, particularly passages like we are looking at this morning.
*Worship songs can help do this.
*Praying with other believers does this
*Reading accounts of when His Spirit was outpoured throughout
His Story.

2. We Need To See the Need of His Spirit Within the Church Today!
Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."

With all our technology and our resources we can depend our these things. We need Him! We need His power. We need to see ourselves like the disciples after Jesus went back into heaven during that 10 day period between he ascension and the Day of Pentecost when the had nothing. Jesus was back in heaven, He have them instructions about the evangelization of the world and then had them wait for the power.

They could do nothing without Him.

3. We Need to See the Ongoing Need of His Power. Acts 4
Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

When they were threatened they prayed for power. They didn't try and organize to stop the persecution. They prayed for power.
They didn't seek to get away from it. They had their instructions from Jesus and obeyed Him.

We are so afraid of persecution. Paul's prayerful concern for Timothy
about being ashamed. God help us!

God is not through with us. He desires to work in His church here in America the way He is around the world today. He desires for us to be filled with His Spirit. He has called us to be His witnesses.

A Sobering Truth

Judges 16.20

The Spirit of God leaving a man.

This a very sobering passage.

Paul speaks of these Last Days. He writes to Timothy, his son in the Gospel, 1 Timothy 4:1 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."
He speaks of Demas in his second letter to Timothy 2 Timothy 4:9-10 Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.
1 Timothy 1:18-19 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

It is always sad and sobering when we see people fall. If we know them it can effect us personally for years, sometimes for our whole life.

I don't know exactly why but it is the extremely talented, gifted and capable people who seem to fall into the snares of the enemy. I am always concerned about talented young men who go into the ministry. They seem to be a mark for Satan. Those with great potential often stumble over the very gifts God gave them.

Few have had the potential Samson was given.
He squandered much of his life.
He played with temptation.
He didn't keep his vows to the LORD.
Psalm 15:1, 4 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;

What happened to Samson? What pitfalls does have life have which we need to avoid? Looking soberly and seriously at this passage what lessons can we learn?


1. Don't Be Blind to Your Own Spiritual State.
When tape recorders first came out..."That's not me!"

Pictures that do not look like you.

Buddy always trying to get out.

What are your weaknesses? What are your strengths?
The fuller the cup the more easily is it to spill the contents. The higher the spiritual privilege the more need for lowliness of walk before God. The stronger we are the greater the temptation to trust in our strength. The more frequently the Spirit of God moves us the more powerfully will the world and the flesh oppose us.

In falling in love with Delilah he deliberately steps into the fires of trial. This was clearly an unequal yoke; from the very first she sought his ruin as a Nazarite (vv. 5, 6)

Avoid people who want to you to compromise.

Beware of the temptation to step you off the good path. So much of this
is wrapped up in faulty reasoning. Thinking we are exceptions to something clearly stated in the Word of God.

Samson did this when he ate that honey out of the lion's carcass. He



2. Life Becomes A Grind Without God's Spirit. 16.21
From consequences of decisions made.
From the wickedness of people.
From disillusionment.

You've got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone.

A picture of sin.
A picture of America, today, in many ways. Stressed out


3. So Many are like Samson: Wasted Potential

It is as easy for God to work with one man as with three hundred (Judges 7:7)
Judges 7:7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”
Gideon found out it was as easy for God to give victory over the Midianites with 300 as with 32,000. Unfortunately Samson never shared victory. He was a one man show. He was a lone ranger leader. Not God's model.

The mighty enemy-shaking power of the presence of the Lord was gone. He is now but a withered branch, fit to be cast into the fire at the hands of men (John 15. 6). When the Spirit of God is grieved our defence as servants is gone (Num. 14. 9) . When the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, at that moment he began to fall (I Sam. 18. 12) . His strength lay not in his locks, but that head that had never felt the touch of a razor was a witness of his consecration to the will of God. In losing his hair he lost his testimony for God.

Broken and humiliated.

My heart breaks today over the lives that have been wasted. Souls with such great abilities, far beyond anything I ever dreamed of, who lay wasted today, broken down, deceived and fruitless.

Pray for those in danger, today.
Souls in danger.
Pray for Pastors.
Pray for young me and women who love Christ.

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure?By guarding it according to your word.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Pray this prayer for the young people today, the next generation.

His Name Is Wonderful

Judges 13.13-18

wonderful, incomprehensible, extraordinary

I went to Albany for my nephew's graduation yesterday. Ticket on my cell phone. Brought my iPad, skyped, watched a few TV shows,

Virgin Airlines has a spacecraft which will doing passenger flights to the moon and back within 18 months. The price is $200,000. Already 500 people have booked reservations.

Some might describe this as wonderful, incomprehensible, extraordinary. It is nothing in comparison to the Name of the LORD.

Psalm 102:27 But you remain the same,and your years will never end.
Jeremiah 10:7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
Psalm 99:1-3 The Lord reigns,let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name—He is holy.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.


Genesis 32:27-30 The man asked him, “What is your name?”“Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Manoah, Samson's father, desired to know his name (v. 17), and of what tribe he was, not as if he doubted the truth of his message, but that they might return his visit, and be better acquainted with him (it is good to increase and improve our acquaintance with good men and good ministers). I have benefited from my associations with men and women of God. All my life I have been close to my pastors, until I became one, then still I kept in touch with them, still do, in fact, although they are all retired now.

I have kept in touch with all the pastors of our church I knew as a young man. Many of them are with the LORD now. Several still serve.

He has a further purpose: "That when your sayings come to pass, we may do honor, celebrate you as a true prophet, and recommend others to you for divine instructions,—that we may call the child that shall be born after thy name, and so do you honor,—or that we may send you a present, honouring one whom God has honoured.’’ But the angel denies his request with something of a check to his curiosity (v. 18): Why askest thou thus after my name? Jacob himself could not prevail for this favour, Gen. 32:29. Note, We have not what we ask when we ask we know not what.
Manoah’s request was honestly meant and yet was denied. God told Moses his name (Ex. 3:13, 14), because there was a particular occasion for his knowing it, but here there was no occasion. What Manoah asked for instruction in his duty he was readily told (v. 12, 13), but what he asked to gratify his curiosity was denied. God has in his word given us full directions concerning our duty, but never designed to answer all the enquiries of a speculative head. He gives him a reason for his refusal: It is secret. The names of angels were not as yet revealed, to prevent the idolizing of them. After the captivity, when the church was cured of idolatry, angels made themselves known to Daniel by their names, Michael and Gabriel; and to Zacharias the angel told his name unasked (Lu. 1:19): I am Gabriel. But here it is secret, or it is wonderful, too wonderful for us. One of Christ’s names is Wonderful, Isa. 9:6. His name was long a secret, but by the gospel it is brought to light: Jesus a Saviour. Manoah must not ask because he must not know. Note, (1.) There are secret things which belong not to us, and which we must content ourselves to be in the dark about while we are here in this world. (2.) We must therefore never indulge a vain curiosity in our enquiries concerning these things, Col. 2:18. To be willingly ignorant of those things which our great Master refuses to teach us is to be at once ignorant and wise.


1. Asking to Satisfy Curiosity Is Denied.

Acts 1:6-7 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

God has not told anyone when Christ will return! Many have asked and said they have received an answer. They have one thing in common: They have all been wrong!

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
There are some things we will simply not receive an answer for. Prayer with pastors this week. Several young men dying, leaving wives and children. Sometimes there are no answers given.

Curiosity if sanctified can be a powerful force:
1 Samuel 14:6-12 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”

This was for God's glory.


2. Asking That Hinders A Faithful Walk Is Not Wise.

We are not to know everything.

I like the way the LORD grows us. Little by little.
Exodus 23:29-30 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

If He gave us the insight before our time pride would come in. We learn through walking and struggling. Fast growing plants do not produce fruit. The seeds I planted a few weeks ago will take time to grow, some much of the spring and into the early summer.

We must learn to live with unanswered questions, particularly the question, "Why?" This is walking by faith.
Right now we know in part. This is walking by faith.

Faith that overcomes is described in the lives of the three Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Even if He does not...


3. The LORD Does Not Withhold Any Good Thing To The Ones Who Walk With Him.

He doesn't withhold answers if they were for our good.
Mark 9:28-29 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting."

His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. He taught them the LORD's Prayer.

We know His Name Is Wonderful.
We know He is good, loves us and is in control.
We do not know a lot of things. We wait for Him to come and reveal all things to us. One day...
For now the prayer of Jesus is being answered, John 17:11
" I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are One."

A Snare To The Soul

Judges 8.22-35

Gideon was not perfect, none of us are.

Like all of us he had times of victory and times where his faith lapsed.

He obeyed the LORD.
He won a great mighty victory by following the LORD's instructions.
He refused to become king. This was a great temptation.
He made a sort of monument/memorial to himself. True it could have been out of a desire to honor God but there were enough lessons from the history of his people to warn him about this.

Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city: This was obviously wrong and it is not immediately apparent why Gideon did this. It is possible he did this to work against the prestige and influence of the tribe of Ephraim. At this time the tabernacle - the center of worship for Israel - was at Shiloh, in the territory of Ephraim. Gideon perhaps set up this rival place of worship to compete against the tribe that troubled him in the battle against Midian. But he seemed to be at peace with them.

*It could be he just wanted the people to remember the victory God gave them. Memorials are tricky things. They can have jagged edges.
*It could be he wanted the people to remember him and how he was used by the LORD. This is a bit more dangerous. He may have been feeling good about turning down becoming king and felt he had this coming. Beware of the thought that we are owed something by people or God. We are servants of the LORD doing our duty. Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

And all Israel played the harlot with it there: The people of Israel enjoyed this idolatrous worship. The beautiful and expensive ephod became a snare to Gideon, his family, and all Israel.

*Artistic beauty has a way of impressing us and giving a sense of awe but it is not necessarily a godly impression or awe. Many times it can distract our focus from the Lord. In contrast to this ephod, God commanded that His altars be made of unfinished stone (Exodus 20:25), so that no one's attention was focused on the beauty of the stone carver's work. Interesting how churches are adorned. Building should point people to Christ not pull them away from Him. Simplicity is the best. Elaborate buildings or even worship can cause the worshiper to worship incorrectly.

Aaron called for the ear-rings to make the golden calf of, Ex. 32:2. These Gideon asked for v. 24. And he had reason enough to think that those who offered him a crown, when he declined it, would not deny him their ear-rings, when he made the request for them, and they did not v. 25.
He himself added the spoil he took from the kings of Midian, which, it should seem, had fallen to his share, v. 26.
The generals had that part of the prey which was most splendid, the prey of different colors, ch. 5:30. 3. Of this he made an ephod, v. 27. It was plausible enough, and might be well intended to preserve a memorial of so divine a victory in the judge’s own city.
But it was a very unadvised thing to make that memorial to be an ephod, a sacred garment. Gideon was a good man. But he erred. (Hos. 3:4)

Can we learn from his sin.
Think of the admonition in Galatians 6.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Watch yourselves!

Let's give Gideon the benefit of a doubt. We know he was a good man.
Let's say his intention was pure. At best it was unwise. He did not consider the consequences. This is a an who shortly before tore down the altar of Baal and the ashteroths.

Note, Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. The beginning of sin, particularly of idolatry and will-worship, is as the letting forth of water, so it has been found in the fatal corruptions of the church of Rome; therefore leave it off before it be meddled with. It became a snare to Gideon himself, abating his zeal for the house of God in his old age, and much more to his house, who were drawn by it into sin, and it proved the ruin of the family.

24-26. Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you--This was the contribution of an earring (singular). As the ancient Arabians (Ishmaelites and Midianites being synonymous terms, Gen 37:25, 28) were gorgeously adorned with barbaric pearl and gold, an immense amount of such valuable booty had fallen into the hands of the Israelite soldiers. The contribution was liberally made, and the quantity of gold given to him is estimated at
26. ornaments--crescent-like plates of gold suspended from the necks, or placed on the breasts of the camels.
collars--rather, "earrings," or drops of gold or pearl.
purple--a royal color. The ancient, as well as modern Arabs, adorned the necks, breasts, and legs, of their riding animals with sumptuous housing.
27. Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, . . . Ophrah--That no idolatrous use was in view, nor any divisive course from Shiloh contemplated, is seen from Jdg 8:33. Gideon proposed, with the gold he received, to make an ephod for his use only as a civil magistrate or ruler, as David did ( 1Ch 15:27), and a magnificent breastplate also. It would seem, from the history, that he was not blamable in making this ephod, as a civil robe or ornament merely, but that it afterward became an object to which religious ideas were attached; whereby it proved a snare, and consequently an evil, by perversion, to Gideon and his house. Knowing the ephod was part of the priestly garments should have stopped him from making it in this form but it did not.

What does this scripture tell us about avoiding a snare to the soul in our lives and of those we love?

There are the obvious snares:
*Nursing a grudge.
Mark 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,
Genesis 27:41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
*Jealousy and Envy ruin relationships. Competing.
*Greed
Proverbs 15:27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,but the one who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 28:25 The greedy stir up conflict,but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.
There are other things too, but look at the specifics in this account about Gideon.



1. Doing Things "For God" Without Any Clear Direction From Him.
David and the temple
They can seem good.

He possibly made this gold ephod due to the spiritual failure of the people. This was something the priest wore.

They can be a snare to the soul. What Milo Arnold said to us in Bible College.
"If you are here for any other reason than the LORD called you it would you should go home. Parents want you to be a minister, think it would make a good career choice..."

Clear calls produce ongoing fruit.

Plans made without prayer and the LORD in the middle. Are doomed to come crashing down.
Be careful not to go against the Word of God. Gideon was acting a little like Aaron here. He should have recognized that.


2. Idolatry Is A Sin Today.
Possessions can become idols.
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Positions can be too.
Luke 20:46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets."

People become idols... American Idol... Those who proclaim the Word of God should never be idolized. They are servants, instruments.

Idols are such a snare to the soul.
They are subtle.
They may start out with pure motives.
They may be among us.
They are not always easily detected.

3. Keep Your Eyes On God's Glory.
Particularly after a great victory!
Noah got drunk after the flood, after coming off the ark.
Genesis 9:20-21 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. This caused problems in his famiy.

Elijah fell into depression after defeating the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 19:3-4 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Peter tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross after he had made the great confession.
Matthew 16:13-18 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Matthew 16:21-23 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.

We can be serving the LORD, following Jesus, and fall into our humanity and suggest things and do things that will not turn out for His glory.

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This ephod was constructed after the defeat of the Midians by Gideon.
It was a time for celebration.
It was a time when emotions were running high. Take warning.
It was a time of appreciation and aggravation. Keep those emotions in check.

1 Chronicles 12:32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

We have to be careful even when doing the work of the LORD of these snares to the soul. They can effect generations to come. This was true with Gideon. His sin ended up wiping out 70 of his sons. Just one escaped.

A safeguard against these snares is to keep the Glory of God for Him alone. Particularly after the pressure is off and a victory has been given, are we especially vulnerable. Don't let that happen to you!

Guard your heart. Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus.

Next To Nothing

Judges 7.1-8

God delights in using the small things, the insignificant to accomplish His will.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

So often when we are called to do something for the LORD, we inventory our assets. We count up our resources. We see what we have to work with.

Now Jesus did talk to us about counting. However it was about the cost of following Him. He used two examples.

One was a tower. The other a king going to war. Both have to do with following Jesus. Both have to do with being part of the church. Christ is building His church. We are in a battle, a continual battle.

Luke 14.28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

We need to be truthful with people as we seek to lead them to Christ. There is a cost.

This account of Gideon fighting the Midianites gives us lessons in faith in regard to resources.

1. God Reduces Resources So No One Will Boast. v.2-3
The LORD calls us to do something. We respond. Then suddenly our resources are reduced. We wonder what is going on.

Many times the LORD has something spoke over us or into our lives and then things look like it could never happen. We look for it to happen naturally or through our efforts. God wants it to happen supernaturally so He will get the glory.

Our endeavors meet with almost certain failure until we call on the LORD.

Habakkuk 1.5

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
Joseph, Gideon, David


2. Many Times The LORD Sifts Our Numbers Down. v. 4
We don't know what He is doing.
He is making us strong.
He is building us up.
He is getting us ready.
An athlete goes into training. He is in pain before he truly begins to reach his potential. Developing a champion is painful work.

Pruning or sifting is a painful process. It feels a little like death. Is second sifting was very difficult. The first dealt with those whose hearts were in fear. The second with those whose hearts were right but were not natural warriors. They would have been a deterrent to victory.

I think this second sifting was harder than the first. It brought the numbers down to next to nothing. From 32,000 to 300!

This was part of Gideon learning that
3. The Battle and The Victory Belongs to the LORD. v.7-8
The LORD got the troops so thinned out that Gideon had no other choice but to look to heaven for help.

We go through financial challenges.
We face physical illness.
We find ourselves in pressure spots. Where do we look? If we are loaded down with resources our natural tendency is to look to them. Whether we are or whether we're not, our real need is to look to the LORD and realize the Battle belongs to Him and He will give us the victory.

If you have next to nothing this morning in facing a battle or challenge in your life, it very well could be that the LORD has you right where He wants you!
It just may be that the answer has already arrived, that need is already provided for. God is speaking today to your heart.

He will take care of you!

vs. 9-25

My good friend, Pastor Kevin Henesy shared this devotional thought earlier this morning:
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord" v.31
This same principle is found in Psalm 127. People will make their plans, people will seek to protect themselves, preparing for battle, guarding what they own. We would look at that and probably agree that it is wise to do so and yet I believe the danger is that we trust in what we have done. We trust in human strength, we trust in natural ability, we trust in training and we trust in natural devices. In doing so we depart from putting out trust in the Lord and we become proud, trusting in ourselves and what we have done. This is a dangerous place, the place of pride.
In contrast to pride which is self dependance, is humility which is God dependance. Moses depended upon the Lord, while Pharaoh trusted in himself, his army and his military might! God dependance won the day, even though the odds appeared impossible! Faith in the One who says, is there anything too hard for Me? God is a delivering God, He fights the battle we can never fight and He wins against impossible odds. When God is for us who can be against us? Look at Joseph, Esther, Ruth, David, Daniel, the list goes on and on! God is the God of the impossible and He delights in true faith and responds and works on behalf of the person who loves Him, trusts in Him and lives for His Glory not their own. Deliverance is of the Lord!!!

As with those in Hebrews 11 so with us!
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Go in the power and might of the LORD today!

Another Generation

Judges 2.6-15

I grew up in the late 1950's to 1960's. almost all my friends went to Sunday School, the ones who didn't we invited to come with us!

Today

With the proliferation of activities available to children today - soccer, baseball, swimming, education programs, school functions -- it is easy to see how they can be so spread thin as to forgo Sunday school.  This practice is “extremely detrimental” to children in their development as Christians.

We have a generation now who neither knows the LORD nor what He has done for His people.

The nearer we are to personal experience the more we are impressed with the reality of events.

When they had people who had seen the Exodus among them, they were kept in touch with the LORD. When they died they lost that connection. 

We need face to face encounters, demonstrations of the Spirit's power today!

When a good person dies the stories often die with them.

The story of this church.

How we need a movement of God's Spirit in our day!

I partly understand but please do not say, "i'm glad I'm on my way out!" That is so unbiblical! The Word of God is against escapism.

1.Carry the Burden for Young People.

Frodo: "I wish none of this had happened." Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

We wish things haven't changed.

We wish things were the same.

We wish we could change them.

We have to decide what we are going to do with the time we have been given.

This is our time.

Heart tests after Dad died. Could alter them. The truth is: Our hearts are affected by life's events. Let your heart break! Let the things that mess up your mind get into your heart.

These are heart breaking times!

We have this time.

Pray for the LORD to move mightily.

Pray for our eyes to be opened to the fields ripe for harvest.

Pray for a revival of evangelism.

2. Share the Gospel With the Lost.

Guy in Peter Pan on Monday. Filthy mouth. Left him one of our tracts.

At the least we could spread the seed... Hand out tracts to hungry souls.

Tim at Produce Warehouse trying to quit smoking. Tract yesterday.

Go to the hungry ones and fill them with His bread

They'll leave their darkness as you shine the light He shed

Point to His promises, believe in all He said

And His joy will be manifest in you

And the lost will be found as He works through you

Out on the highways, there's so many passing by

Step out in boldness and watch the family multiply

Pray up some miracles, let's open up the sky

And His joy will be manifest to you

And the lost will be found by the things you do

Oh don't you know that Jesus loves you

So let's go and spread His word

Redeem the time while there's still time

Let's share the call we've heard

Let's share the call we've heard

Is your house open to let strangers enter there

Give to the least of them, show them someone cares

And you may be entertaining angels unaware

And His joy will be manifest to you

And the lost may be found as He works through you

And His joy will be manifest in you

And the lost, they'll be found by the things you do

As He works through you by the things you do

3. Tell the Story. Give Testimony.

4. Pray Pray Pray

Judges 2:7 The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. 

Judges 2:10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 

They had an easy life, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Luxury became common place. They didn't say, "There is no God." They followed other gods.

Amos 3:2 “You only have I chosenof all the families of the earth;therefore I will punish youfor all your sins.” 

Lord Of The Rings

“Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

What brings rejoicing in heaven? One sinner who repents!

The things that heaven rejoices over/ the things we rejoice over

Rudy, Ray, me at Victorio's this Thursday.

Bible given, God's  Word shared.

Divine Appointments, be alert and ready for them!

Prayer for open yes and open hearts.

One Week Later John 20.19-31

I can't leave the resurrection accounts just yet. The LORD keeps calling me and us to them.

The Empty Tomb in Jerusalem

Been to Mao's tomb in Tiennmen Square in Beijing, to Paul  Revere's grave in Boston, to Grant's Tomb in the city. Been to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Washington, DC.  Men of God like Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China, are buried where they served.

One grave is unique. It has no remains! It is empty. Joseph of Arimithea's which Jesus was laid to rest in.

1. His Greeting was so Encouraging!

Not "I told you so." (Don't you hate that kind of greeting?)

Not "What is the matter with you guys for not believing?!"

Not "Look at you hiding out because you are afraid."

Not "Is this any way for the followers of the King to behave?"

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...

We condemn ourselves, others condemn us

What a Greeting! 

A greeting of grace and mercy, forgiveness and love.

How do you greet those who have failed you? God give us grace.

How do react towards those who let you down, broke promises?

How do you respond to those who struggle with their faith?

Jesus came from the Father full of grace and truth! As the Father sent Him, so may we go! So may we greet!

It takes time to arrive at that place of grace but oh how freeing it is!!!

Peace:

a state of national tranquillity

Israel then, like America today, was in a state of political upheaval. There was great dissatisfaction, a sort of longing for the old days.

 exemption from the rage and havoc of war

 peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord

security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)

the Messiah's peace

the way that leads to peace (salvation)

of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is

the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

These were the things Jesus was bestowing on His followers, His disciples when He first saw them after He rose from the dead.

2. His Grace is So Empowering.

He blessed them with the Holy Spirit by breathing on them.

A blessing for the moment.

It was instantaneous. If Jesus breathes on you and says these words it is going to happen!

A blessing for the days ahead.

They would be led by the Spirit, empowered by Him. The early church was not concerned about money, programs, size, etc. the overwhelming preoccupation of the church in Acts was whether you had received the Holy Spirit. It did not care what the government thought.

A blessing for all of the days of their/our lives.

It is for today.

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

A blessing for eternity.

Sealed with the Spirit.

The guarantee

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

3. His Love is So Amazing.

Jesus comes to those who are struggling with their faith. vs.24-29

Thomas struggled for a whole week because of doubts.

It can be for a lifetime but many times it does not need to be!

Some are weak in their faith. Not shipwrecked. 

1 Timothy 1:18-19 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 

Bear with the weak.

Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 

Help those who doubt.

Jude 1:22 Be merciful to those who doubt.

to help one afflicted or seeking aid

to bring help to the wretched

Help those who have withdrawn emotionally or physically from the fellowship of believers. They need it!

Jesus let them thrust a spear in His side. He also let Thomas put his hand there. There may be a little bit of Thomas in all of us.

*Be satisfied with the Word of God.

*Look at Christ.

Rich wounds, yet visible above!

-Seals of His death

-Wonders of His Grace

-Proof of His Suffering

-Memorials of His Love for us

-Signs of His Finished Work

Read about His Passion.

Contemplate His Sufferings.

Jesus was revealing more of Himself to His disciples after the Resurrection. More of His Grace, Mercy and Love.

More About Jesus! 

Confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion, on the Day of Christ Jesus.