Looking through the lens of Gideon’s story, Pastor Rogers emphasizes the principles of vision, valor, vigilance, and vitality as essential for overcoming adversities. This episode challenges listeners to confront personal fears and embrace a transformative encounter with God, leading to a life of purpose and courage in the face of overwhelming odds.
Pastor, teacher, and author Adrian Rogers has introduced people all over the world to the love of Jesus Christ and has impacted untold numbers of lives by presenting profound truth simply stated. Thanks for joining us for this message. Here’s Adrian Rogers.
SPEAKER 02 :
May I tell you that our nation is in difficulty. America, I believe with all of my heart, IS A GOD-FORMED, GOD-BLESSED, GOD-PROTECTED AND GOD-DECREED NATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE DREAM THAT WAS PUT INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS AND BOSOMS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WAS PUT THERE BY GOD HIMSELF. AND I’VE SAID BEFORE, NO NATION EVER HAD SUCH A CHRISTIAN BEGINNING AS AMERICA. BUT I MUST CONFESS WITH A BROKEN HEART THAT AMERICA HAS FORGOTTEN GOD. WE HAVE LOST OUR GLORY. THEREFORE, WE’RE IN A SERIES OF MESSAGES ENTITLED, BRING BACK THE GLORY. AND THE BOOK OF JUDGES TELLS ABOUT HOW ISRAEL THAT NATION OF OLD, WHO BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD HAD BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE GAULING AND BITTER CHAINS OF BONDAGE IN EGYPT, BEEN BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT, BROUGHT INTO A LAND THAT FLOWED WITH MILK AND HONEY, HAD BEEN GIVEN SO MUCH. AND THEN IT TELLS HOW ISRAEL ALSO FORGOT GOD AND GOT INTO DIFFICULTY AND WERE JUDGED OF GOD. GREAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED AS WE STUDY UNDER THE THEME, BRING BACK THE GLORY. LOOK IN CHAPTER SIX VERSE ONE, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD DELIVERED THEM INTO THE HAND OF MIDIAN SEVEN YEARS. NOW NOTICE WHO DID IT. THE LORD DID IT. DID YOU KNOW OUR ONLY HOPE AND OUR BIGGEST THREAT IS GOD? OUR ONLY HOPE IS GOD, BUT OUR BIGGEST THREAT IS GOD. NOT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO TO US, BUT WHAT GOD WILL DO TO US. THE LORD DELIVERED THEM INTO THE HAND OF MIDIAN SEVEN YEARS. AND THE HAND OF MIDIAN PREVAILED AGAINST ISRAEL. AND BECAUSE OF THE MIDIANITES, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MADE THEM DENS WHICH ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND CAVES AND STRONGHOLES. THAT IS, THEY WERE INTIMIDATED. THEY HUNKERED DOWN. THEY WENT UNDERGROUND, INTIMIDATED. BY THE ENEMY. AND YET THE BIBLE SAYS WE ARE IN NOTHING TO BE TERRIFIED BY OUR ENEMIES. NOW NOTICE VERSE THREE, AND SO IT WAS WHEN ISRAEL HAD SOWN THAT THE MIDIANITES CAME UP, AND THE AMLECHITES, AND THE CHILDREN OF EAST. EVEN THEY CAME UP AGAINST THEM, AND THEY ENCAMPED AGAINST THEM, AND DESTROYED THE INCREASE OF THE EARTH. “‘Till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude. For both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, not only intimidated, but impoverished.'” BY THEIR ENEMIES. WHAT A PARALLEL THERE IS TODAY. IN THE FOES THAT WE’RE FACING, THEY SEEM TO BE GREAT IN POWER, GREAT IN NUMBER, GREAT IN WICKEDNESS, AND HERE ARE GOD’S PEOPLE, HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD, AND GOD HAS CAUSED THEM TO BE INTIMIDATED, AND GOD HAS CAUSED THEM TO BE IMPOVERISHED BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN. NOW NOTICE IN VERSE SEVEN, AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD BECAUSE OF THE MIDIANITES, THAT THE LORD SENT A PROPHET UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHICH SAID UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, I BROUGHT YOU UP FROM EGYPT, AND BROUGHT YOU FORTH OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE. AND I DELIVERED YOU OUT OF THE HAND OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND OUT OF THE HAND OF ALL THAT OPPRESSED YOU, AND DRAVE THEM OUT FROM BEFORE YOU, AND GAVE YOU THEIR LAND. GOD SAID, THIS IS ALL THAT I DID FOR YOU. DON’T FORGET YOUR HISTORY. AND NOW NOTICE VERSE 10, AND I SAID UNTO YOU, I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. FEAR NOT THE GODS OF THE AMORITES. IN WHOSE LAND YE DWELL, BUT YE HAVE NOT OBEYED MY VOICE.” INCREDIBLE, ISN’T IT? BUT WHAT A PARALLEL THAT WE HAVE TODAY. GOD SAID, I DID THIS FOR YOU, AND YET YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN ME. NOW, WHEN A PERSON FORGETS GOD, THEY LOSE THEIR POINT OF REFERENCE. THEY HAVE NO FIXED STANDARD OF RIGHT AND WRONG. AND THEY GO FROM AUTHORITY TO RELATIVISM. THEY GO FROM TRUTH THEY GO FROM REVELATION TO FEELING. THEY GO FROM CONVICTION TO OPINION. HERE IS THE THEME IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES, I BELIEVE, JUDGES CHAPTER 17 AND VERSE SIX. THE BIBLE SAYS, IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL, AND EVERY MAN DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES. THAT IS, EVERY MAN JUST DECIDED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS WRONG. SO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR ME, AND WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ME MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU. IT’S JUST A RELATIVISTIC MUSH. EVERY MAN DID THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES. A COLLEGE PROFESSOR SAID TO HIS STUDENTS, WE CAN KNOW NOTHING FOR CERTAIN. A STUDENT LIFTED HIS HAND. HE SAID, PROFESSOR, ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? HE SAID, I’M CERTAIN. YOU SEE HOW CONFUSING THAT IS? FRIEND, WE CAN KNOW SOME THINGS FOR CERTAIN. WE DO HAVE THE WORD OF GOD, BUT WE HAVE FORSAKEN THE WORD OF GOD, AND THEREFORE, WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF MORAL CONFUSION. SOME TEENAGERS WERE SURVEYED. THE QUESTION WAS, WHO IS YOUR LEADING ROLE MODEL? LET ME TELL YOU WHO THE FIRST SIX WERE. NUMBER ONE, MAGIC JOHNSON. NUMBER TWO, MY DAD. NUMBER THREE, MICHAEL JORDAN. NUMBER FOUR, MARTIN LUTHER KING. NUMBER FIVE, PAST PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH. NUMBER SIX, PRESIDENT CLINTON. NOW HERE’S THE QUESTION AGAIN, WHO IS YOUR CHIEF MALE ROLE MODEL? MAGIC JOHNSON, WHO HAS BOASTED THAT HE’S HAD SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS AND LIAISONS WITH LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. AND EVEN BOASTED ABOUT HAVING A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH SIX WOMEN AT ONE TIME. THAT’S THE LEADING ROLE MODEL WHEN THAT SURVEY WAS TAKEN. EVERY MAN DOES THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES. OUR KIDS DON’T KNOW WHAT THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE. THEY DON’T KNOW WHERE THE SIDELINES ARE. THE BOUNDARIES. THEY DON’T KNOW WHO THE UMPIRE IS. THEY DON’T KNOW WHERE THE GOAL LINE IS. THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A YOUNG MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR RAPE. THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERVIEWED HIM. HE WAS ACTUALLY A LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO THE REPORTER. THEY PASS OUT CONDOMS. THEY TEACH SEX EDUCATION AND PREGNANCY, THIS PREGNANCY AND THAT. BUT THEY DON’T TEACH US ANY RULES. THEY DON’T TEACH US ANY RULES. DO YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR SENSE OF MORALITY, A FIXED STANDARD OF RIGHT AND WRONG? EVERY MAN DOES THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD AND WE’VE GONE AFTER THE RELATIVISTIC GODS AND THE SYNCRATISTIC GODS OF THE NEW AGE. JOHN MCARTHUR HAS GIVEN SOME EXAMPLES. HERE’S ONE OF THEM. A MAN WAS SHOT AND PARALYZED WHILE COMMITTING A BURGLARY IN NEW YORK. AND HE RECOVERED DAMAGES FROM THE STORE OWNER WHO SHOT HIM. NOW HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENED. HE’S, HE’S ROBBING THE STORE. THE OWNER, DEFENDING HIS OWN GOODS, SHOOTS THE MAN. BUT THE JURY SAID THAT THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN SHOT, THE BURGLAR, WAS REALLY A VICTIM OF SOCIETY. BECAUSE HE’D BEEN RAISED WITH ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE. AND THEREFORE THE MAN WHO SHOT HIM WAS GUILTY OF INSENSITIVITY BECAUSE IN SHOOTING HIM HE HAD A CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE MAN’S PLIGHT AND PUT THE MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR. AND SO THE JURY AGREED AND THE STORE OWNER HAD TO PAY THE MAN THAT HE SHOT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. AND WHILE HAVING DONE THIS, IN JUST SEVERAL MONTHS THE MAN IN THE WHEELCHAIR WAS ARRESTED FOR COMMITTING ANOTHER ARMED ROBBERY. IT GETS WORSE. AN FBI AGENT WAS FIRED AFTER HE HAD EMBEZZLED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHICH TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS? HE TOOK TO THE CASINO AND GAMBLE. LOST TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN AN AFTERNOON. WHEN THEY FOUND OUT HE HAD EMBEZZLED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS, They fired him. Do you know what he did? He turned around and sued his employer for firing him because his gambling addiction was a disability. And because he had a disability, then for them to fire him, that made him a victim of illegal discrimination. And so not only was he given his job back, BUT THEY HAD TO PAY FOR HIM TO HAVE THERAPY FOR HIS GAMBLING ADDICTION, WHICH PAYMENT CAME OUT OF HIS EMPLOYER’S HEALTH INSURANCE, HUH, LIKE HE HAD APPENDICITIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IN THOSE DAYS, EVERY MAN DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES. FOLKS, WE ARE IN A MESS IN AMERICA. I MEAN, A MESS. WE’RE IN A BATTLE OF LIGHT AGAINST DARKNESS. TRUTH AGAINST ERROR, SATAN AGAINST GOD. AND, UH, YET, GOD WHO GAVE VICTORY IN GIDEON’S DAY IS THE GOD WHO WANTS TO GIVE VICTORY IN OUR DAY. I WANT TO GIVE YOU FOUR PRINCIPLES OF VICTORY. THEY COME RIGHT OUT OF THIS STORY, AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM. FIRST OF ALL, THERE’S THE PRINCIPLE OF VISION, OF VISION. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, NOW IN CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 11. AND THERE CAME AN ANGEL OF THE LORD, AND SET UNDER AN OAK WHICH WAS IN OPHRA, AND THAT PERTAINED UNTO JOASH, THE ABIZERITE, AND HIS SON GIDEON THRESHED WHEAT BY THE WINE PRESS TO HIDE IT FROM THE MIDIANITES.” NOW GIDEON IS OUT THERE THRESHING WHEAT, NOT OUT IN THE OPEN, BUT HE’S IN A WINE PRESS. HE’S SO AFRAID OF THE MIDIANITES. AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, THE LORD IS WITH THEE, THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR. NOW THE KEY IS, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. THAT IS, HE HAD A VISION. AND GIDEON SAID UNTO HIM, O MY LORD, IF THE LORD BE WITH US, WHY THEN IS ALL THIS BEFALLEN US? AND WHERE BE ALL HIS MIRACLES WHICH OUR FATHERS TOLD US OF, SAYING, DID NOT THE LORD BRING US UP FROM EGYPT? BUT NOW THE LORD HATH FORSAKEN US AND DELIVERED US INTO THE HANDS OF THE MIDIANITES. AND THE LORD LOOKED UPON HIM AND SAID, GO IN THIS THY MIGHT, AND THOU SHALT SAVE ISRAEL FROM THE HAND OF THE MEDEANITES, HAVE I NOT SENT THEE.” POINT. GIDEON, AN ORDINARY MAN, HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. AND HE SAW GOD, SPOKE TO GOD, AND GOD SAW HIM AND SPOKE TO HIM THROUGH THE ANGEL, THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH. AND AS A RESULT, GIDEON IS CHALLENGED. BEFORE THIS, GIDEON HAS HAD HIS EYES ON THE MIDIANITES. HE IS INTIMIDATED. HE IS AFRAID. BUT NOW HE SEES THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH. HE GETS A MESSAGE FROM THE ALMIGHTY. HE BUILDS AN ALTAR, AND THE NAME OF THAT ALTAR, IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ THIS PASSAGE, IS JEHOVAH SHALOM. WHICH IS GOD OUR PEACE. AND GOD GAVE TO THIS FEARFUL MAN A SENSE OF PEACE, A SENSE OF WELL-BEING. AND HE CHANGED HIM FROM A MAN THAT WAS FEARFUL INTO A MAN THAT WAS FATEFUL, A MAN WHO HAD HIS EYES UPON GOD. NOW BEFORE WE GO INTO ANY KIND OF BATTLE, BEFORE WE FACE THE FOE, WE MUST FACE THE FATHER. THE MAN WHO FEARS GOD CAN STAND BEFORE ANY MAN. WE MUST PUT GOD BEFORE OUR VISION. WE MUST SEE THE LORD. YOU SAY, WELL, IF GOD WERE TO APPEAR TO ME LIKE HE APPEARED TO GIDEON, THEN PERHAPS I COULD DO WHAT GIDEON DID. LOOK UP HERE AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, FOLKS. YOU HAVE FAR MORE LIGHT THAN GIDEON EVER HOPED TO HAVE. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU HIS WORD. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD SPOKE IN OLD TIMES BY THE PROPHETS, BUT GOD HAS IN THESE LAST DAYS SPOKEN UNTO US BY HIS SON. GOD HAS NOT ONLY GIVEN US HIS WORD, A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY, BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND NOT ONLY DO WE LIVE ON THIS SIDE OF CALVARY, BUT GOD HAS PUT WITHIN US THE HOLY SPIRIT. I MEAN, WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD. YOU HAVE NO NEED THAT ANYONE TEACH YOU. YOU HAVE AN UNCTION FROM THE HOLY ONE. SO DON’T GO AROUND WHIMPERING, SAYING, WHY DOESN’T GOD SPEAK TO ME? IF YOU WANT GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU, YOU GET YOUR HEART RIGHT AND GET IN THIS BOOK AND GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU. YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A VISION, THOUGH. IN ORDER TO HAVE VICTORY, YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A VISION. WHERE THERE’S NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH. AND THE PRINCIPLE OF VICTORY IS, FIRST OF ALL, NOT TO PUT YOUR EYES UPON YOUR ENEMY. I COULD STAND UP HERE TODAY AND TELL YOU STORY AFTER STORY LIKE SOME THAT I READ TO YOU, A LITANY OF TROUBLE AND WOE AND HEARTACHE. BUT FOLKS, DON’T FIX YOUR EYES THERE, PUT YOUR EYES UPON GOD. AND WHEN YOU PUT YOUR EYES UPON ALMIGHTY GOD, I WON’T ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, DO THE PROBLEMS LOOK BIG COMPARED TO GOD, COMPARED TO GOD? WE SEE GOLIATH, DAVID SAW GOD. PUT YOUR EYES UPON GOD, NOT UPON YOUR PROBLEMS. NUMBER ONE, THE PRINCIPLE OF VISION. GET ALONE WITH GOD. TURN YOUR EYES UPON HIM. AS THE POET SAID, LEAN YOUR ARMS UPON THE WINDOWSILL OF HEAVEN. AND GAZE INTO THE FACE OF YOUR GOD, AND THEN WITH THE VISION FULL IN YOUR HEART, TURN TO FACE THE DAY.” THE PRINCIPLE OF VISION. NOW HERE’S THE SECOND ONE. THE PRINCIPLE OF VALOR. VALOR. THAT MEANS BRAVERY. YOU SEE, THE ANGEL CALLED GIDEON A MAN OF VALOR. HAIL THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR. GOD IS LOOKING FOR COURAGEOUS PEOPLE. GOD HAD SAID TO GIDEON, GIDEON, GET YOU AN ARMY. GIDEON PUT OUT THE WORD, I NEED AN ARMY. TO GO AGAINST THE MIDIANITES. AND HE GATHERED AN ARMY, A BIG ARMY, THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE. NOW NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED IN CHAPTER SEVEN VERSE ONE, THEN JERUBBAAL, WHO IS GIDEON, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH HIM ROSE UP EARLY AND PITCHED BESIDE THE WELL AT HAROD. So that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them by the hill of Morah in the valley. So here is Gideon’s army and there’s the Midianite army. They’re looking at each other across there. Some by the well and others of them up there on the hill of Morah. NOW NOTICE VERSE TWO, AND THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH THEE ARE TOO MANY FOR ME TO GIVE THE MIDIANITES INTO THEIR HANDS, LEST ISRAEL VAUNT THEMSELVES AGAINST ME, SAYING, MINE OWN HAND HATH SAVED ME. NOW WHEN GOD GETS THE VICTORY, HE’S GOING TO ALSO GET THE GLORY. AND SO GOD SAYS TO GIDEON, GIDEON, WITH 32,000 PEOPLE, YOU MIGHT THINK, THAT IF YOU WON THE VICTORY, YOU WON IT WITH YOUR GREAT ARMY. NOW, THEREFORE, GO TO PROCLAIM IN THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE, SAYING, WHOSEVER IS FEARFUL AND AFRAID, LET HIM RETURN AND DEPART EARLY FROM MOUNT GILIUD, AND THERE RETURNED OF THE PEOPLE TWENTY AND TWO THOUSAND, AND THERE REMAINED TEN THOUSAND.” GIDEON SAYS, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. EVERYBODY WHO IS AFRAID MAY GO HOME. AND AFTER THE STAMPEDE, GIDEON DUSTED HIMSELF OFF. I MEAN, TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND LEFT. ONLY TEN THOUSAND REMAIN. TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND WENT HOME BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID. GOD CANNOT USE YOU IF YOU’RE AFRAID. THE BIBLE SAYS IN SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER ONE VERSE SEVEN, GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND. SUITS YOU FOR FAILURE. FAITH SUITS YOU FOR TRIUMPH. AND FEAR AND FAITH CANNOT DWELL IN THE SAME HEART. EITHER FEAR WILL SUBDUE FAITH, OR FAITH WILL TRIUMPH OVER FEAR. OVER AND OVER AND OVER IN THE BIBLE, GOD TELLS US NOT TO BE AFRAID. IN NOTHING BE TERRIFIED FOR YOUR ADVERSARIES. GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I’M WITH THEE. WHAT TIME I’M AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN THEE. 365 TIMES, ONE TIME FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, SOMEWHERE IN THE BIBLE, GOD HAS SAID, BE NOT AFRAID, OR THE EQUIVALENCY OF THAT. AND SO GOD SAYS, I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE VICTORY. I WANT PEOPLE OF VISION, AND I WANT PEOPLE OF VALOR. I WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AFRAID. THAT SOME OF YOU COULD WITNESS, BUT YOU DON’T WITNESS BECAUSE YOU’RE AFRAID. SOME OF YOU COULD TEACH, BUT YOU DON’T TEACH BECAUSE YOU’RE AFRAID. SOME OF YOU COULD TESTIFY, BUT YOU DON’T TESTIFY BECAUSE YOU’RE AFRAID. SOME OF YOU COULD SING, BUT THE ICY FINGERS OF FEAR WOULD GRIP YOUR THROAT, AND THEREFORE YOU DON’T SING. SOME OF YOU OUGHT TO TITHE, BUT YOU’RE AFRAID YOU WON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IF YOU TITHE, AND SO FEAR, KEEPS YOU FROM DOING THAT. SOME OF YOU COULD LAUNCH OUT INTO SOME BUSINESS VENTURE OR TO SOME EPISODE THAT GOD HAS FOR YOUR LIFE BECAUSE GOD HAS CALLED YOU AND GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU, BUT YOU’RE LIKE THAT MAN IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 25 WHO BURIED HIS TALENT IN THE GROUND AND WHEN HIS LORD ASKED FOR AN ACCOUNTING, HE SAID, I WAS AFRAID. FEAR AND SIN ARE INSEPARABLY LINKED AND THE FIRST WORDS THAT ADAM SPOKE IN THE GARDEN AFTER HE SINNED ARE THESE, I HEARD YOUR VOICE AND I WAS AFRAID. I WAS AFRAID. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE IS GOD LOOKING FOR TODAY? GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF VISION AND MEN AND WOMEN OF VALOR. DON’T LET THE DEVIL INTIMIDATE YOU. NOW WE HAVE TO KEEP TELLING OURSELVES THIS. I HAVE TO KEEP TELLING MYSELF THAT. BUT FRIEND, HERE IS GOD’S RATIONALE. IF GOD BEFORE US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? AND SO THERE’S THE SECOND PRINCIPLE, AND IT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF VALOR, THAT WE ARE NOT TO BE AFRAID, WE ARE NOT TO BE INTIMIDATED. NOW HERE’S THE THIRD PRINCIPLE. IT’S THE PRINCIPLE OF VIGILANCE. BECAUSE IF WE’RE NOT CAREFUL, THE PRINCIPLE OF VALOR CAN KEEP US FROM BEING WISE AND DISCREET. LOOK IN JUDGES CHAPTER SEVEN NOW IN VERSE FOUR. AFTER THESE 22,000 HAVE GONE HOME, LOOK IN VERSE FOUR, AND THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, THE PEOPLE ARE YET TOO MANY. BRING THEM DOWN TO THE WATER, AND I WILL TRY THEM FOR THEE THERE. AND IT SHALL BE THAT OF WHOM I SAY UNTO THEE, THIS SHALL GO WITH THEE, THE SAME SHALL GO WITH THEE. AND OF WHOMSOEVER I SAY UNTO THEE, THIS SHALL NOT GO WITH THEE, THE SAME SHALL NOT GO.” SO HE BROUGHT DOWN THE PEOPLE TO THE WATER. NOW HE’S GOT TEN THOUSAND LEFT. HE BRINGS THEM DOWN TO A STREAM. I’VE BEEN TO WHERE THEY SAY THIS HAPPENED. I’VE BEEN TO THIS VERY STREAM IF THE GUIDE WAS CORRECT. BROUGHT THEM TO THIS PLACE. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, EVERY ONE THAT LAPPETH OF THE WATER WITH HIS TONGUE AS A DOG LAPPETH, HIM SHALT THOU SET BY HIMSELF. LIKEWISE, EVERY ONE THAT BOWETH DOWN UPON HIS KNEES TO DRINK, AND THE NUMBER OF THEM THAT LAPPETH, PUTTING THEIR HAND TO THEIR MOUTH, WERE THREE HUNDRED MEN. BUT ALL OF THE REST OF THE PEOPLE BOWED DOWN UPON THEIR KNEES TO DRINK WATER. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, BY THE THREE HUNDRED MEN THAT LAPT WILL I SAVE YOU AND DELIVER THE MIDIANITES INTO THINE HAND AND LET ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE GO TO HIS OWN PLACE.” AND THE PEOPLE TOOK VICTUALS IN THEIR HAND AND THEIR TRUMPETS, AND HE SENT ALL THE REST OF ISRAEL, EVERY MAN TO HIS TENT, AND REMAINED THOSE THREE HUNDRED MEN. AND THE HOST OF MIDIAN WAS BENEATH HIM IN THE VALLEY.” NOW WHAT’S HAPPENING? GOD IS STILL THINNING THE RANKS. GOD SAYS, YOU’RE NOT GONNA GET THERE BECAUSE YOU’RE GONNA STUMBLE OVER YOUR OWN PLAYERS. I DON’T WANT 9,700 OF THESE MEN. YOU CAN TELL THEM TO GO HOME TOO. NOW GOD PUT THEM IN A TEST. HE SAID, GIDEON, BRING THEM DOWN AND TELL THEM TO DRINK. THERE WERE TWO CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHO DRANK OUT OF THE BROOK THAT DAY. THERE WERE THOSE WHO GOT DOWN ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES, PUT THEIR BELLIES IN THE MUD, PUT THEIR SNOUTS IN THE WATER, AND SUCKED UP THE WATER. NOW YOU TALK ABOUT BEING VULNERABLE TO THE ENEMY, WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN LIKE THAT, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING, GETTING A DRINK OF WATER, AND HERE ARE ALL THESE MIDIONITES OVER THERE ON THE HILL. THAT’S A TERRIBLE POSITION TO BE IN. HOW CAN YOU DEFEND YOURSELF WHEN YOU’RE FLAT OUT SPREAD EAGLE WITH YOUR FACE IN THE WATER? THERE WERE THREE HUNDRED, HOWEVER, WHO SIMPLY GOT DOWN ON THEIR KNEES, TOOK THE WATER IN THEIR HAND AND BROUGHT IT TO THE MOUTH AND LAPPED THE WATER AS A DOG WOULD LAP WATER OUT OF A STREAM. NOT ON THEIR BELLIES, BUT ON THEIR KNEES WATCHING AND VIGILANT. HERE’S THE BALANCE. AND I LOVE THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS SO BALANCED. ON THE ONE HAND, UH, HE’S LOOKING FOR MEN OF VALOR, BRAVE MEN. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, HE’S LOOKING FOR MEN OF VIGILANCE, WISE MEN. NOW YOU SEE THE BIBLE SAYS, BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT. FOR YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL GOETH ABOUT SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.” NOW THE BIBLE SAYS WE’RE NOT TO BE TERRIFIED BY THE DEVIL. GREATER IS HE THAT’S IN US THAN HE THAT’S IN THE WORLD. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS WE’RE ALWAYS TO BE VIGILANT OF SATAN AND WHAT HE’S DOING. DO YOU SEE THE BALANCE THERE? GOD CANNOT USE THE COWARDS AND GOD CANNOT USE THE CARELESS. GOD WILL NOT USE THE COWARDS AND GOD WILL NOT USE THE CARELESS. GOD SAID TO THE COWARDS, GO HOME. GOD ALSO SAYS TO THE CARELESS, GO HOME. SHOULD YOU, BECAUSE YOU TRUST IN GOD, NOT PUT LOCKS ON YOUR DOORS? ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW YOUR FAITH? ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, I’M NOT AFRAID, I’LL JUST OPEN THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS AND GO TO SLEEP? NO. OF COURSE YOU’RE TO SECURE YOURSELF. OF COURSE YOU’RE TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO TAKE PROTECTION. THAT’S NOT A LACK OF FAITH. FAITH THAT WORKS IS DEAD. THERE’S A WONDERFUL BALANCE IN THE WORD OF GOD. AND SO, GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF VISION. PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THE LORD, AS GIDEON DID. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF VALOR. PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AFRAID, WHO ARE NOT COWARDS. AND GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF VIGILANCE. NOW, WHEN GOD BROUGHT THEM DOWN THERE TO THE BROOK TO DRINK, GOD SAID, I’LL TEST THEM FOR YOU THERE. I’LL PROVE THEM. I’LL SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS. NOW, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THIS, THAT WHILE THEY WERE DRINKING, THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE BEING TESTED. NOBODY SAID, HEAR THIS, THIS IS A TEST AND ONLY A TEST. THEY DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS A TEST, JUST A DRINK OF WATER. DID YOU KNOW YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT WHEN YOU’RE BEING TESTED? DID YOU KNOW WHAT GOD DOES? GOD WATCHES US, NOT IN THE BIG THINGS, GOD WATCHES US IN THE SMALL THINGS. WHAT YOU ARE IN SECRET, WHAT YOU ARE IN THE LITTLE THINGS IS THE PROOF OF WHAT, HOW GOD CAN USE YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS, HE THAT IS FAITHFUL IN THAT WHICH IS LEAST IS FAITHFUL ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS MUCH. AND GOD SAYS, IF YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL IN THAT WHICH IS LEAST, I WILL COMMIT TO YOU THAT WHICH IS MUCH. I, I THINK I READ IT WAS HENRY FORD OR SOMEONE LIKE HIM WHO, WHEN GETTING READY TO HIRE SOMEBODY, TAKE HIM OUT FOR LUNCH AND WATCH AND SEE IF THE MAN WOULD PUT SALT ON HIS FOOD BEFORE HE TASTED IT. THE MAN WOULD SALT HIS POTATOES WITHOUT TASTING THEM. HE SAID, I DON’T WANT HIM. WHY DON’T I WANT HIM? BECAUSE HE DOESN’T KNOW WHETHER HE NEEDS MORE SALT OR NOT. HE’S NOT A THINKING MAN. HE OUGHT TO TASTE IT FIRST. HUH. WELL, WHO WOULD THINK WHEN HE’S HAVING DINNER THAT PUTTING SALT ON HIS VEGETABLES IS A TEST? IT’S JUST A SMALL THING. BUT DON’T YOU THINK THAT GOD IS TESTING US IN THOSE THINGS? WHAT WE WATCH, WHAT WE SAY, WHERE WE GO, HOW WE REACT. AND GOD SAYS, IF YOU’RE FAITHFUL IN THAT WHICH IS LEAST, YOU CAN BE FAITHFUL ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS MUCH. GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE OF VISION, PEOPLE WHO’VE SEEN THE LORD. GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE OF VALOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AFRAID. GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE OF VIGILANCE. BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT. YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, THE BIBLE SAYS. PETER TELLS US THIS. GOES ABOUT AS A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. AND NEVER TAKE A CAVALIER ATTITUDE TOWARD THE DEVIL OR THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, BUT YOU ARE TO TRUST IN GOD, BUT TO ALWAYS BE VIGILANT, TO BE VIGILANT. NOW, HERE’S THE FOURTH THING I WANT YOU TO SEE, AND THAT’S THE PRINCIPLE OF VITALITY. WHAT’S THE FIRST ONE? VISION. WHAT’S THE SECOND? VALOR. WHAT’S THE THIRD? VIGILANCE. BUT HERE IS THE ONE THAT REALLY BLESSES ME THE MOST, THE PRINCIPLE OF VITALITY. WHAT DOES VITALITY MEAN? IT MEANS INNER LIFE AND STRENGTH. LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW AS WE CONTINUE TO READ IN JUDGES CHAPTER SEVEN AND VERSE NINE, AND SO IT CAME TO PASS THE SAME NIGHT THAT THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM, ARISE AND GET THEE DOWN UNTO THE HOST. NOW THE LORD SAID TO GIDEON, GO DOWN THERE WHERE YOUR ENEMIES ARE, FOR I HAVE DELIVERED IT, THAT IS, THE HOST, THAT ARMY, INTO THINE HAND. BUT IF THOU FEAR TO GO DOWN, GO THOU WITH PURA, THY SERVANT, DOWN TO THE HOST. AND THOU SHALT HEAR WHAT THEY SAY. AND AFTERWARDS SHALL THINE HANDS BE STRENGTHENED TO GO DOWN UNTO THE HOST. THEN WENT HE DOWN WITH PURAH HIS SERVANT UNTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ARMED MEN THAT WERE IN THE HOST. MIDIANITES AND THE AMLECHITES AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF EAST LAY ALONG THE VALLEY LIKE GRASSHOPPERS FOR MULTITUDE. AND THE CAMELS WERE WITHOUT A NUMBER AS THE SAND BY THE SEASIDE FOR MULTITUDE. AND WHEN GIDEON WAS COME, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN THAT TOLD A DREAM UNTO HIS FELLOW, AND SAID, BEHOLD, I DREAMED A DREAM. AND, LO, A CAKE OF BARLEY BREAD TUMBLED INTO THE HOST OF MIDIAN, AND CAME INTO A TENT, AND SMOTE IT, THAT IT FELL, AND OVERTURNED IT. THAT THE TENT LAY ALONG. AND HIS FELLOW ANSWERED AND SAID, THIS IS NOTHING SAVE THE SWORD OF GIDEON, THE SON OF JOASH, A MAN OF ISRAEL. FOR INTO HIS HAND HATH GOD DELIVERED MIDIAN AND ALL THE HOSTS.” GOD IS GETTING HIS MAN READY. HE SAYS, GIDEON, GET YOUR FRIEND, IF YOU’RE AFRAID, AND GO DOWN THERE AND RECONOIT HER. JUST SLIP OVER TO THE ENEMY’S SIDE. GET OUT THERE IN THE EDGE OF THE CAMP AND JUST LISTEN. SO THERE’S A CAMPFIRE OR SOMETHING OUT THERE, AND GIDEON IS STANDING OFF BEHIND A TREE SOMEWHERE, AND HE’S LISTENING. AND A COUPLE OF MEN SITTING BY THAT CAMP, AND ONE OF THEM SAYS TO THE OTHER ONE, SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAD A STRANGE DREAM LAST NIGHT. I DREAMED THAT I SAW A PIECE OF BARLEY BREAD COME TUMBLING TOWARD OUR CAMP. NOW YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BARLEY BREAD WAS. BARLEY BREAD WAS THE CHEAPEST, THE COARCEST BREAD. IT WAS SOMETIMES FED TO ANIMALS, SOMETIMES FED TO SLAVES. IT WAS NOT WHOLE WHEAT. IT WAS NOT A CROISSANT. BARLEY BREAD. HE SAID, I SAW THIS, THIS BARLEY BREAD, THIS ROLL OF BARLEY BREAD. AND IT COMES AND IT SMITES A TENT, ONE OF OUR TENTS. AND THE TENT JUST COLLAPSES. ANOTHER FELLOW SAID, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS. WHY? THAT PIECE OF BARLEY BREAD, THAT REPRESENTS A MAN NAMED GIDEON, THE SWORD OF GIDEON. BECAUSE WE’RE GONERS. GOD HAS DELIVERED US INTO HIS HAND.” THAT’S AN INCREDIBLE STORY. NOW, HUH, HUH, HUH, WHEN GIDEON HEARD THAT, HE BEGAN TO SHOUT. HE BEGAN TO SEE THE FEAR AND THE DREAD THAT WAS IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP, NOT BECAUSE OF GIDEON, BUT BECAUSE OF THE GOD OF GIDEON. HERE’S A PRINCIPLE OF VITALITY AND WHAT GOD WAS SAYING TO GIDEON, GIDEON, I KNOW YOU’RE NOT MUCH. YOU’RE LIKE THIS PIECE OF BARLEY BREAD. GO BACK TO CHAPTER SIX NOW AND, AND LOOK IN VERSE 15. God called Gideon a man of valor. If there’s anything he wasn’t at that time, he was a man of valor. I mean, he’s down in a winepress threshing wheat because he’s scared stiff of the Midianites. And yet the Lord says, you’re a man of valor. Now, Gideon, look in verse 15. And he said unto him, that is, Gideon says to the Lord, Oh, my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. Now, what he’s saying is this. Look, God, My family is the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh is not such a hot tribe to begin with. And in Manasseh, of all the families in Manasseh, my family’s the poorest. And of all the kids in the family, I’m the run of the litter. I mean, you can’t use me. But now go over to verse 34. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. Now let’s just stop there. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. MAY I GIVE YOU A, A TRANSLATION OF THAT? IT LITERALLY MAY BE TRANSLATED THIS WAY, AND THE LORD CLOTHED HIMSELF WITH GIDEON. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON GIDEON, IN, ENVELOPED GIDEON. I BROUGHT MY MAGIC COAT FOR YOU TO SEE TODAY. I, WHEN I DRESSED, I SELECTED THIS COAT BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS COAT. NOW IF YOU DON’T SEE THIS, IF YOU MISS THIS, YOU’RE GOING TO MISS SOMETHING VERY WONDERFUL. SO EVERY EYE FRONT AND FORWARD. BOYS AND GIRLS, DON’T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THIS COAT. THIS IS PHENOMENAL. WATCH THIS COAT. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THINGS YOU NEVER DREAMED THAT YOU’VE EVER SEEN, I MEAN, THAT YOU COULD SEE BEFORE. ARE YOU READY? WATCH HOW MY COAT, WATCH WHAT IT CAN DO. COAT, STAND ERECT. OH, WAIT A MINUTE. COAT, WAVE YOUR ARMS AROUND. MM, WAIT A MINUTE. COAT, HOLD UP MY BIBLE. THEY SAY, ADRIAN, IT WON’T DO IT. WELL, WELL, WAIT JUST A MINUTE. I’M NOT FINISHED YET. I’VE JUST BEEN DOING IT WRONG. WATCH THIS. ARE YOU READY? UH-HUH. COAT, STAND DIRECT. HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? COAT, WAVE YOUR ARMS AROUND. PRETTY GOOD, HUH? WATCH THIS, COAT, HOLD UP MY BIBLE. THERE’S A PASTOR, THAT’S DUMB. THAT’S NOT THE COAT, THAT’S YOU IN THE COAT. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU. IT’S NOT THE MAN, IT IS GOD IN THE MAN. THE BIBLE SAYS, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CLOTHED HIMSELF WITH GIDEON. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE FOR GOD TO WEAR YOU LIKE A SUIT OF CLOTHES? IT’S GOD IN YOU. YOU’RE ONLY THE SUIT OF CLOTHES THAT GOD IS WEARING. AND THE BIBLE SAYS, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON GIDEON. GIDEON IS JUST BARLEY BREAD. YOU SEE YOUR CALLING, BRETHREN, HOW THAT NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE ARE CALLED, BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO CONFOUND THE WISE. IT’S NOT YOUR FAME, IT’S YOUR FAITH, IT’S NOT YOUR ABILITY, IT’S YOUR AVAILABILITY. LISTEN, FOLKS, DON’T YOU INSULT GOD BY SAYING THAT GOD CANNOT USE YOU. GOD’S PLAN IS TO TAKE ORDINARY PEOPLE AND OBEDIENT PEOPLE AND DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THROUGH ORDINARY PEOPLE AND THEREFORE GET THE GLORY TO HIMSELF. THAT’S THE REASON GOD SAID, YOU’VE GOT TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE, I CAN’T GET THE GLORY. I’M GOING TO JUST TAKE ORDINARY PEOPLE. I’M GOING TO TAKE BARLEY BREAD AND I’M GOING TO, I’M GOING TO TAKE NORMAL PEOPLE AND I’M GOING TO GAIN THE VICTORY. NOW LOOK AT HOW HE GOT THE VICTORY. AND, AND LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW IN CHAPTER SEVEN, AND SEE WHAT HE SAYS TO HIM. THIS, THIS IS SO GREAT. VERSE 15, AND IT WAS SO WHEN GIDEON HEARD THE TELLING OF THE DREAM THAT, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF, THAT HE WORSHIPPED. WELL, YOU OUGHT TO WORSHIP TOO WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU. IT’S NOT JUST THE PREACHERS. UH, UH, GIDEON WAS NOT AN ORDAINED MINISTER. AND THAT HE WORSHIPPED, AND RETURNED UNTO THE HOST OF ISRAEL, AND SAID, ARISE, FOR THE LORD HATH DELIVERED INTO YOUR HAND THE HOST OF MIDIAN. AND HE DIVIDED THE THREE HUNDRED MEN INTO THREE COMPANIES, AND HE PUT A TRUMPET IN EVERY MAN’S HAND WITH EMPTY PITCHERS, AND LAMPS WITHIN THE PITCHERS. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, LOOK ON ME, AND DO LIKEWISE. AND BEHOLD, WHEN I COME TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP, IT SHALL BE THAT AS I DO, SO SHALL YE DO. WHEN I BLOW WITH A TRUMPET, I AND ALL THAT ARE WITH ME, THEN BLOW YE THE TRUMPETS ALSO ON EVERY SIDE OF, OF ALL THE CAMP, AND SAY, THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON.’ SO GIDEON AND THE HUNDRED MEN THAT WERE WITH HIM CAME UNTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MIDDLE WATCH, AND THEY HAD BUT NEWLY SET THE WATCH, AND THEY BLEW THE TRUMPETS, AND BREAKED THE PITCHERS THAT WERE IN THEIR HANDS. AND THE THREE COMPANIES BLEW THE TRUMPETS, AND BREAKED THE PITCHERS, AND HELD THE LAMPS IN THEIR LEFT HAND, AND THE TRUMPETS IN THEIR RIGHT HANDS, TO BLOW WITH ALL. AND THEY CRIED THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON.” NOW HERE IT IS, FOLKS, LISTEN. HERE IT IS. THIS IS SO NEAT. HE HAD 32,000. HE’S ONLY GOT 300 NOW. HE SAYS, YOU 300 GET OVER THERE. YOU 300 GET OVER HERE. YOU 300 GET OVER HERE. NOW WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN THEIR HANDS? THEY HAVE GOT A, A TRUMPET. WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE? THEY’VE GOT A PITCHER MADE OUT OF CLAY. WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE? THEY HAVE A TORCH. THE TORCH IS INSIDE THE PITCHER. YOU CAN’T SEE IT. THEY’VE GOT A TRUMPET HERE IN THEIR LEFT HAND. AND GIDEON SAYS, NOW YOU WATCH ME, YOU DO WHAT I DO. NOW INSIDE IS THE HOST OF THE MEDEANITES. And he said, when I blow the trumpet, you blow. When I break the pitcher, you break the pitcher. When I hold up my torch, you hold up your torch. And then we’re all going to shout the sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Just 300 people now. I mean, these other fellows out there like the sand of the seashore for multitude, camels without number, and, and, and ferocious, bitter enemies who have had their way for seven years. Three hundred men. Gideon says, all right, we’re ready. BLOW THE TROMPET! TA-TA-TA-TA! BREAK THE PITCHERS! CRASH! THERE’S A NOISE! HOLD UP THE LIGHTS! A GLARE OF LIGHTS ALL AROUND THE CAMP! SHOUT! THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON! AND FOLKS, THOSE MIDIANITES WENT BANANAS. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I MEAN, THEY COULDN’T FIGURE IT OUT. GOD TOOK THESE 300 PEOPLE. THEN YOU SAY, WHY DID GOD DO THAT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, TO SHOW US THIS, THAT THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD. MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN THE STRONGHOLDS. WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT? WHEN THEY BLEW THE TRUMPETS, PUT DOWN THE WORD BOLDNESS, BOLDNESS. IF THE TRUMPET GIVE AN UNCERTAIN SOUND, WHO SHALL PREPARE HIMSELF TO THE BATTLE? WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO PUT THE TRUMPET TO OUR LIPS AND SAY, WE’RE HERE FOR OUR GOD. THAT’S BOLDNESS. WHEN THE PITCHERS WERE BROKEN, THAT’S BROKENNESS. IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE MATCHED WITH BOLDNESS. BROKENNESS. THAT CLAY POT REPRESENTS YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE LIFE OF GOD THAT’S IN YOU, WE HAVE THIS GIFT IN EARTHEN VESSELS. THIS TREASURE, JESUS, IS IN AN EARTHEN VESSEL, ME. BUT THE TREASURE WILL NEVER SHINE UNTIL THE VESSEL IS BROKEN. THE TREASURE WILL NEVER SHINE UNTIL THE VESSEL IS BROKEN. PEOPLE THROW BROKEN THINGS AWAY. GOD ONLY USES BROKEN THINGS. THERE’S BOLDNESS, THERE IS BROKENNESS, AND THEN THERE’S BRIGHTNESS. LET THE LIGHT SHINE. LET THE LIGHT SHINE. I MEAN, GOD’S JUST GOT THESE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO ARE OBEDIENT PEOPLE. AND THERE IT IS, BOLDNESS, BROKENNESS, BRIGHTNESS. THE BIBLE SAYS THEY STOOD. EVERY MAN IN HIS PLACE. HEY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU AND YOU, SIR, AND YOU, MR., EVERY ONE OF US IN OUR PLACE TOMORROW, BOLD AND BROKEN AND BRIGHT FOR JESUS? I MEAN, EVERY MAN IN HIS PLACE, NOT AFRAID, PEOPLE OF VISION, PEOPLE OF VALOR, PEOPLE OF VIGILANCE, PEOPLE OF VITALITY THAT GOD IS WEARING LIKE A SUIT OF CLOTHES. GOD GAVE THE VICTORY AND GOD GOT THE GLORY. AND YOU KNOW HE STILL WANTS TO DO THAT TODAY. THIS IS NOT JUST WHAT GOD HAS SAID, IT’S WHAT GOD IS SAYING. WOULD YOU SAY TO GOD, DEAR GOD, HELP ME TO SEE YOU ANEW AND AFRESH TODAY. I’VE BEEN LOOKING TOO MUCH AT THE ENEMY AND TOO MUCH AT MY PROBLEMS AND NOT ENOUGH AT YOU. WOULD YOU SAY, DEAR GOD, FORGIVE MY FEAR? YOU DIDN’T GIVE ME THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. YOU GAVE ME THE SPIRIT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND. FORGIVE ME FOR LETTING THE ENEMY INTIMIDATE ME. HELP ME TO BE A MAN OF VALOR, A WOMAN OF VALOR. WOULD YOU PRAY, LORD, FORGIVE MY CARELESSNESS AND HELP ME TO BE A PERSON OF VIGILANCE, TO BE WATCHFUL, TO BE SOBER, AND TO BE VIGILANT. AND, LORD, I WANT YOU TO WEAR ME LIKE A SUIT OF CLOTHES. I’M ONLY BARLEY BREAD. I’M NOT WHOLE WHEAT. I’M MAYBE JUST HALF A LOAF OF BARLEY BREAD. BUT, GOD, YOU’RE GREAT. AND, LORD, AS YOU CAME UPON GIDEON, COME UPON ME. Lord, may there be in my life that boldness and that brokenness. Forgive my unbroken spirit, God. You’ve said a broken and a contrite spirit thou wilt not despise, O God. And Lord, because of the boldness and the brokenness, let my light shine. Lord, let me hold forth the word of truth in a dark world. AND FATHER, GIVE THE VICTORY, PUT THE ENEMY TO SHAME, PUT HIM TO FLIGHT. SEND CONFUSION, LORD, IN THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY AS YOUR PEOPLE TRIUMPH. AMEN AND AMEN.
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