LIFTED, SIFTED, GIFTED
Judges 6:11-16,25-34; 7:2,7,19-21
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: GIVING IN THE OFFERING
1. Timmy didn’t want to put his money in the offering plate on Sunday morning. The plate passed down the pew and at last came to Timmy. He held his $5 bill over the plate but couldn’t let go.
2. So his mother got creative. She put on a horrified face and, pointing at the money, said with a subdued scream, “Quick! Drop it in the plate. It’s tainted!” Horrified, the little boy obeyed.
3. After the plate had disappeared and a minute or two elapsed, the boy whispered, “But, mom, why was the money tainted? Did it have some horrible germ or virus on it?”
4. “Oh, no dear,” she replied. “It wasn’t dirty; it just ‘taint yours,’ and it ‘taint mine,” she replied. “It’s God’s!”
B. “THE MORE THE BETTER”
1. Most of the time we think that “more is better.” Like if you ladies can get two pairs of shoes for the price of one, that’s good; or if we guys can buy two Texan’s jerseys for the price of one, that’s good.
2. But sometimes more isn’t better; like sacrificing quality for quantity. Having more people in church is good, unless it’s because the gospel’s watered down, or sin isn’t mentioned, or personal accountability is omitted -- then more isn’t good.
3. We’ll see in today’s Scripture, that the Bible teaches that in God’s work, less may be better!
C. TEXT Judges 6:11-16,25-34; 7:2,7,19-21
11 The angel of the Lord came…where…Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about?” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” 15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 25 That same night the Lord said to him… “Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God….30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.” 31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?...If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So…they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.” 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the [Israelites] to follow him.
7: 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would [say]…‘My own strength has saved me.’” 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.” 19 Gideon and the 3 hundred men with him…20 blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
D. THESIS
1. This morning we’re looking at a man who’d lost sight of God and what he could do but rediscovered that God can do great things through the least people.
2. Gideon had to go through three stages of preparation before he was ready to storm the enemies’ camp: He had to be a. LIFTED, b. SIFTED, c. then GIFTED! First, we need to be…
I. LIFTED – TO SEE OUR POTENTIAL
The first task the Lord had to accomplish was to LIFT up Gideon’s faith, which had cratered.
A. GIDEON’S POOR PERCEPTION OF GOD
1. It had been a bunch of bad years for the Israelites. They’d been invaded, defeated, and oppressed by their enemies because of their sins.
2. Gideon's first response to God was, “But Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (13). When we have trials, the enemy always tries to make us question God’s goodness, or make us think that God’s abandoned us.
3. Gideon’s next question was to point out the lack of God’s intervening; "Where are all His miracles?" DO YOU THINK IT WAS GOD’S WILL FOR THERE TO BE NO MIRACLES? NO! God hadn't changed! Then what was the problem? Their sins had separated them from their God and hindered His working!
4. Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe!” Mk. 9:23. It was necessary that Gideon’s vision of God be restored to one of faith.
5. God’s calling us to be agents to restore the Church to its former power and knowledge of the Lord!
B. GIDEON’S PERCEPTION OF HIMSELF
1. Next (vs. 15), Gideon declared himself unfit to be God’s servant to deliver God’s people.
2. He pointed out that he was of the poorest family; of a divided tribe; of which no one was famous; he was unknown, unheard of; his occupation -- thresh corn stealthily.
3. BUT GOD HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION OF HIM:
a. Accompanied by God (the Lord is with you!)
b. Mighty Man of Valor (your great potential)
c. Deliverer of Israel…
d. Sent by God… (your mission from God)
4. God saw, not what he was at present, but his future. That’s the way God looks at you too!
C. GOD’S PERCEPTION OF US?
1. When you get up and look in the mirror each morning what do you see? Do you see a person who wants to change his or her appearance for the world or do you see what God sees?
2. God sees greatness waiting to happen. He knows what a difference He could make in your life if given the chance.
3. God’s just like a sculptor who sees -- not just a large rock -- but the magnificent statue hidden inside. When God looks at you, He sees something wonderful that you can be shaped into!
4. Secondly, Gideon was…
II. SIFTED – A TEST OF PERSONAL OBEDIENCE
A. GIDEON’S TESTS
1. 1ST TEST: CLEAN HIS OWN HOUSE
a. God called Gideon to start at his own house; to tear down and burn the city’s idols, which were on his father’s property. We can’t fight the enemy outside us unless we’ve conquered the enemy inside us!
b. God’s request committed Gideon; it tested him. It's one thing to say you'll step out, but another to do it.
c. Imagine the scene -- Smoke on the New Altar! Think how much it represented! Fire, repentance, revival, a return to God, that God is alive! Next notice the results:
1). He won his father over.
2). Gideon’s clan at first wanted to kill him for destroying their idol, but later followed him!
3). They nicknamed him Jerub-Baal, "Contender with Baal;" he became famous! “DEITY-FIGHTER!” People are looking for someone who will take the lead spiritually.
4). One Pastor told a man, “You need to join the Lord’s Army!” “I’m part of it!” “But I don’t ever see you in church.” “That’s because I’m part of the Secret Service!”
2. 2ND TEST: WILLING TO FIGHT THE MIDIANITES
a. At this point is when the land was invaded by a massive army of Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples (6:33).
b. First God moved him to blow a trumpet and summon his tribe and send notices to surrounding tribes. 32,000 men rallied to him. But he was still frightened to go into battle.
c. God gave him assurance of victory by means of a fleece, a segment of wool shorn from a sheep, making it wet or dry each morning.
3. TAKING A STAND FOR JESUS – An Illustration
a. Recently, one high school cheerleader took a stand, spoke out loud, and stood her ground for her faith. The High School in Oneida, Tennessee has been opening their Friday night football games with prayer over the PA system since 1930.
b. But all that changed when two atheistic groups threatened to sue. So the school board made the decision to replace the official opening prayer with a moment of silence.
c. That decision created a silent gap. But one of the cheerleaders, Asia Canada, grabbed the other’s hands and began leading them in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.”
d. Both football teams joined in; “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”
e. And soon the fans in the stands, not wanting to be left out, joined in too! Not one lone voice came through the PA system, but instead, a whole stadium of people finished out the prayer; “For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever!” And ended with a cheer!
f. One teenage girl made the difference. Who might you inspire, by stepping into the gap and taking your stand for Christ? [Kathy Howard, 9/22/14]
B. THEN GIDEON’S MEN WERE SIFTED
1. “Sift” – means to “examine and sort carefully; to separate out the useful from the unusable particles.” There are different reasons God did this with Gideon’s army. The main reason God gave was that IF He gave victory to the Israelites with 32,000 men, they would take the glory for themselves.
2. So God removed all those who were afraid – 22,000 men. Now 10,000 were left, against 135,000 enemies (8:10). That’s odds of 13.5 to one. God said that still was too many, so God removed all but 300. That’s odds of 450 to one!
3. Malachi 3:2-3 tells us, that part of Jesus’ ministry is to refine us. “For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…”
4. God sifts us a lot of ways; He sifts us with trials, He sifts us with temptations, He sifts us with prosperity, by the praise we receive, and with tests of obedience.
5. God will not entrust His riskiest assignments to common soldiers, but to those who’ve proven their metal in lesser combats. Faith is not about how much you can trust God, but how much God can trust you. God will have a tried and tested people. Expect to be refined!
6. MEN OF GIDEON? Tough, fearless, had faith to follow Gideon. Not afraid. Vigilant – didn’t put mouth to water; took enemy seriously.
7. This was practically a suicide mission. Why Go? Because they’d probably all had family members hurt by the enemy. Haven’t you suffered at the hands of satan? Make him pay! How can you hurt the devil? Be part of the “300” who tithe, support missions, become active workers, invite people to church.
III. GIFTED – WITH SUPERNATURAL, FOR VICTORY
A. GIFTS OF OTHER BELIEVERS
1. In chapter 7:9, when Gideon was still afraid to fight, even after the fleeces, God gave him a “friend” (7:14) named Purah, who encouraged his faith. Thank God for Purah’s. Many great leaders in history would never have accomplished their exploits had it not been for a friend or spouse that encouraged them to keep striving.
2. Moses had Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms. Joshua had Caleb. David had Jonathon. Paul had Silas or Barnabas. And Gideon had Purah.
3. Purah believed in Gideon’s call. He supported him no matter what. “Gideon, I’ll go with you.”
4. They heard the prophetic dream of an enemy soldier (vs. 14); “God has given the Midianites and this whole camp into Gideon’s hands.” So their faith rose.
B. GIFT OF SUPERNATURAL WEAPONS
1. WHAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE: a. No sword, b. No shield, c. No spear, d. No bow and arrow, etc. How could you fight a battle in those days without those weapons?
a. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:3-4).
b. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:10-12).
2. WHAT WAS GOD’S CHOICE OF WEAPONS FOR THEM?: an empty jar, a trumpet, and a torch. What do these represent?
ALL GOD NEEDS US TO BE IS:
a. A vessel willing to be filled…temples of the H.S.
b. To “lift up our voices like a trumpet” Isa. 58:1 in witness
c. To “Let our lights shine before men” Matt. 5:16
3. THE RESULT? “The LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.”(7:22) “Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again.” (8:28)
C. IT WAS TEAMWORK THAT DEFEATED THE ENEMY
1. Gideon could only do so much, but with 300 others, his efforts were multiplied. It shows how God can use anybody!
2. ILLUS. A one-legged school teacher from Scotland came to J. Hudson Taylor to offer himself for service in China. "With only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary?" asked Taylor.
3. "I don’t see those with two legs going," replied George Scott. He was accepted. – Source Unknown
D. SOME OF YOU MAY THINK IT’S YOUR BATTLE
1. You’ve got big troubles. It seems like God’s unconcerned. You wonder if God will really help you. Gideon felt the same way, but God was with him.
2. God says He has plans for you, "to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11).
3. Therefore, THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. This Gospel is the power of God to all who believe! Some people think they’re Christians, but aren’t quite sure.
2. Like the lady who told her doctor she thought she was a “little pregnant.” He said, “Maam, either you’re completely pregnant, or you’re not at all. There’s not anything half-way about it!” It’s the same with being sold out to Christ! You are or you aren’t. There’s POWER!
3. A woman was won to Christ from Islam. Her family threatened her in vain. Seeing their threats weren’t
working, they concocted a simple but deadly poison and secretly put it in her food.
4. When she’d eaten it, she realized that it was poison. She knew she was doomed to death. She was scared and terrified.
5. Without intending to do so, she began to repeat the name of Jesus over & over -- "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" For three days she continued repeating the name of Jesus, and gradually, the poison receded from her blood.
6. Her family was shocked; the poison had never failed before. She told the missionary, "Each time I said the Name, I felt as though there was a wave of life, and in between, a wave of death!" SD Gordon.
7. That’s how powerful God wants to be in your life!
B. THE CALL
1. Will you watch from the sidelines or join in the battle? Be one of Gideon's 300!
2. Jesus said, "Not all who say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of God, but only those who do the will of my Father." God says, "Repent!"
3. Are you relying on God to fight your battles? Or are you relying on your own resources?
4. God sees you differently than you see yourself. He says this morning, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” It’s up to you now to let Him direct your battle.
5. If you’re needing God’s help, stand to your feet & come to the front. Prayer.
