I. GIDEON’S 300: QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
II. GOD’S QUALIFYING EXAM
III. JUDGES 7
A. Introduction:
∞ How would God choose a person to be a member of His army?
∞ Background of Gideon: Judges 6
ü 6th Judge of Israel, preceded by Deborah and Barak
ü Son of Joash – verse 11
ü The least from the tribe of Manasseh: verse 15 – Gideon’s concept of himself
ü Unbeliever – verse 13
ü Doubter – verse 15
ü Finicky – verse 18, 37 – 40
ü Coward – verse 25 – 27
B. The Task – Deliverance of God through Gideon from the Midianites
Conflicts:
∞ The Israelites were being oppressed by the Midian as a result of their idolatry. Chapter 6 verse 1 – 7
∞ The allies of Midian joined forces together to destroy the Israelites – verse 33
∞ The Israelites gathered together with Gideon and he did not limit the people.
C. God’s Method of Elimination: Qualifying Exam to Join the Army of the Most High God.
I. Test of Character – Measure of Faith: Chapter 7 verse 3 – “Whoever is fearful and afraid…”
a. God uses people who first are related to Him – if you are walking with God and is closely related to Him there is no reason to be afraid.
b. And possesses the faith amidst the impossibilities – in chapter 7:12 it says there that the enemy is numerous and countless as the sand on the seashore, the 32,000 men gathered by Gideon is not enough to defeat the enemy, Gideon’s men was numbered while the enemy’s quantity was uncertain. Yet God ordered that the number be narrowed down, leaving those who have the faith and the vision that God has already placed the victory in their hands.
II. Test of Integrity – Measure of Commitment: Chapter 7 verse 3 – “And 22,000 of people returned, and 10,000 remained.”
a. Those who remained with Gideon hold on to their faith and to their integrity [WALANG IWANAN PRINCIPLE] when integrity is tested your commitment is measured.
b. This is not an expression of pride but of their commitment to walk and face the challenge side by side. It is the same with not leaving your post, sometimes when we experience difficulties and life’s pressure we seem to give up and leave, God desires committed people who will carry out their tasks whether the job is impossible to accomplish.
III. Test of Personality – Measure of Improvement: Chapter 7 verse 5, “And the number of those who lapped putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men…”
a. God has no qualifications for those who want to be saved, this is a free gift to all, but God wants a change, and improvement must be liken to Him once accepted into His team. If there is no improvement at all then how can we be identified with Him?
b. For those who drink like dogs, this is a marked of uncivilized behavior, this should not be so, because when a person accepted the work of Christ, this has become evident in him, Ephesians 5:8-10
c. God desires that we bear fruit of righteousness, in Luke 3:8 “bear fruit worthy of repentance…” if we are saved then our lifestyle is the living proof of our relationship with Christ, but if we are the type of Christian who still goes back to our former lives, we are like dogs who return to their own vomit.
INSIGHT: the 9,700 returned and only 300 remained. What kind of strategy God has prepared for Gideon? What would God do with them?
D. GOD’S PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE: God laid out His plan, 300 men is enough to trample the thousands of enemy. God assures us that:
§ With little God can increase – remember the 5 loaves of bread and two fish
§ With little God can overthrow a huge army – remember David, Samson, Elisha and other heroes of faith
§ With little God can do mighty things –
® This proves that nothing and no one can out plan, outwit God and survive! He’s the Almighty God and He knows the capacity of a person and He works amazing things in our limitation so that God’s name is glorified.
E. GOD’S CONFIRMATION OF DELIVERANCE: God is overly patient with us in our fear and unbelief so He uses things that seem impossible to believe; in this case God uses an enemy to confirm Gideon’s victory!
Verse 13 – 14 The Dream and the interpretation – revelation comes from God and it’s a wonder that the channel God used was from the enemy! This proves that when we follow God’s plan and strategy He will cause our enemy to submit and fall down because we serve the mighty God.
We represent Him in every battle; the enemy knew that he is no match to our God that’s why he himself will follow and obey the orders from the servants of the Lord’s army! They will conform to what God wants!
F. GOD’S STRATEGY OF DELIVERANCE – verse 16
♥ Surround the enemy camp: Division of workers, Dispersion and Saturation!
∞ Power in dispersion but united in purpose – surrounding the enemy camp is a way of building human walls in order to ensure saturation in the camp, you hold the entrance and exit of the camp.
∞ Christians must learn how to claim the enemy territory and redeem it for Christ and this will be done if we know the ways of the enemy, their going and their coming in, we need to scatter around, saturate every area and be united with God in His purpose to ensure His victory.
G. GOD’S WEAPON OF DELIVERANCE –
I. Trumpet in every man’s hands: In Israel, trumpet was used for different purpose with different tones:
Long blowing of both trumpets for the gathering of people
One long blowing called the princes
Short sharp tones – mobilizing the camp of Israel by order
Alarm – sound of war – Numbers 10:9
For offering, burnt and peace offering
SIGNIFICANCE: A promise was given to Israelites that deliverance will be given through blowing of trumpets, take note that God determined the kind of weapon to use, He did not give swords, shields and spears but a heavenly tool which signifies:
* Victory to His children
* Defeat to His enemies
♥ It is an instrument calling and inviting the presence of God. Showing full dependency on God – a call or cry for help!
♥ It is an instrument declaring praise for the sure mercies and deliverance of God, remember God dwells in the praises of His people and He will show Himself strong amidst His enemies in the presence of His people.
II. Torches inside the empty pitchers – verse 19
a. When Gideon broke the pitchers, the torches inside ablaze like a wild flame, when the enemy saw this they were frightened; God created a vision of huge army attacking them and so they fled and others attacked one another with a sword.
b. Pitchers or jars or vessels in the Bible has different content:
♥ Oil – Elisha and the Shunamite widow 2nd Kings 4 – for service – God empowered us to serve
♥ Water – Jesus and the Samaritan woman - for refreshment knowing and encountering God resulted to a refreshed soul and spirit
♥ Torch – Gideon – fire – war: God knew perfectly what suits in every occasion.
c. The empty pitcher is a Christian decreased by the increased presence of the Holy Spirit in his life, we will ablaze if we allow the Holy Spirit to work freely in our lives, we must be empty first of ourselves [doubt, fear, pride etc.] so that the Holy Spirit can fill us and when the Holy Spirit is at work in us, see the amazing results, the enemy tremble and flee in fear!
III. And they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” verse 20
A. Proclamation of the Commander and His follower. Once the enemy heard who they were up at against with, they will flee in fear. This shows that the enemy will automatically flee because they knew: they are no match against the Commander of the army: GOD!
B. Proclamation of Partnership. If we walk and follow God’s pattern and strategy for battle, the enemy knew that we too are untouchable, Psalms 91 declares that a thousand may fall at your right hand and the left but they will never come near you, you shall behold them only with your eyes.
C. Relationship established and strengthened, we will never walk alone in battle because God promised togetherness and He will share His glory with us! Why we are the product of His training and partnership.
As a result, Gideon and the 300 overthrow and defeated the enemy, he was honored by the Israelites, he reigned as judge for 40 years in Israel and there was peace throughout the land. Imagine what reward awaits those who submit to God, we too will enjoy the fruit of our labor.
H. CONCLUSION:
♥ Quantity is not as important compared to quality.
♥ God can do wonders in small things
♥ God is a miracle-worker for those who trust Him
♥ The deliverance and might of the Lord depend on our faith and obedience to Him.
♥ No weapon formed against us shall prosper; we have a weapon that can pull down strongholds.
To God be the Highest Glory!
♥hsy,5/15/11
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