The Seed Blog: You Have My Sword

I read a news article: How long will I be allowed to remain a Christian? We are living in times when our faith is being ridiculed and attacked more and more frequently, and more and more aggressively, causing many Christians to even begin to doubt their own faith. Have you not had times of trials or difficulty and thought quietly: "I wish I didn't live in these crazy and dangerous times?" "Where is the God that I read about in Scriptures?" "Why do I never see miracles told about in the Bible?" "Why doesn't God still work like that now?" "If He were real, we would see more proof in His works!" God is real, and God does still care, and yet we don't see Him move as we read about. It's not because He has changed, and not because He is not able. That leaves one factor to consider: us.

God tells an incredible story in the Book of Judges that we can relate to very well, and also, can give us a very clear answer of why we don't see God working in our lives today and how we can be the ones who see His Hand move again. Let's see what kind of man/woman God wants to partner with in His mighty works. Our story starts in the time of Israel's young history, when they were freshly freed from Egypt's slavery and the Promised Land had been taken and filled by God's people. But a group of people called the Midianites (Nomads of the desert), were terrorizing them by stealing everything they planted and harvested, and taking all of their sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys. The Midianites were so brutal, many Israelites hid in caves and strongholds. This had gone on for seven years, as a direct punishment to the nation for turning against God and following idols. Now, the Israelites are finally calling out to God for Help and mercy. Even Gideon, the focus of our story, hid in a winepress, threshing wheat, in order not to be seen by the Midianites: Judges 6:11-16. (v.11: Theophany- none other than Jesus Christ, (we'll see why later)). v12: God sees what all of the best, smartest, most successful people around us cannot-the heart and potential of a man/woman. V13: Just before one of the biggest miracles of Scriptures, the man to be used was living in similar times, with no works of God visible because the people of his time had turned to their own ways—as we have—and he had his doubts, just as many here do today. V14: This adventure starts, as all adventures for you and I will start today, with a call from God to step out. Most won't get any further than this because you aren't even listening for that call (The world has your full attention and concern). And if you did hear it clearly, would you be willing to follow? In all honesty most of us, including me would probably give the same answer as Gideon: v15: Gideon said, "My family has amounted to practically nothing.” [Can you relate?] "And even my, ‘nothing-special’ family thinks I'm the least gifted of all.”
[And later, in Judges 7:9-14, a Midianite dreamed of a single barley-loaf rolling down a hill and destroying a whole tent of the Midianites. Barley was the poor man's bread, fit for animal feeding. It represented Gideon in the dream (the lowest of lows)]
[Please stop limiting God by your abilities, or lack there-of. And please stop thinking you are usable because of your abilities. (And stealing away God's Power and Goodness, and Love)].
God called Gideon a, "Man of Valor" for different reasons. Reasons only He saw in Gideon. Reasons that were about to be revealed. Let's learn what those traits were which were so invaluable to God, in hopes that you and I may be called, "Mighty Men and Women of Valor."
Gideon became the one to be used miraculously, powerfully, in a time when God was not working. Why?

1. Gideon was actually interested in following whatever God would have him to do, with no reservation about the cost to his own life.
2. Listen to Gideon's first response to a request from God to take on a pretty much, impossible task: Judges 6:22-24. Instead of wringing his hands, and complaining about the terrible task ahead, Gideon set up an altar and worshiped God. He worshiped Him for being called to serve. He worshiped Him for his confidence that God would prevail, calling the place, “Jehovah Shalom", having full rest in God even before the battle began. He worshiped Him as an act of consecration (dedication, committal) to the task. In effect, Gideon said, "You have my sword, My King. I give you all that I have, joyfully, knowing you will be victorious." Gideon received peace that he might go to war in confidence. Could there be any greater compliment to Glorify God than this? Could there be any greater strike against Satan's than this? When we are in God's will, we can—we should—confidently worship in excitement and peace over what He is about to do (not agonize and whine).
3. Listen to the third thing Gideon does: Judges 6:25-32. God says to immediately (same night), tear down everything that was standing against Him, and destroy it, and then to replace it with an offering to Him. The seven-year-old bull, having been born at the first year of their oppression, probably representing their freedom which would begin with this obedience. If we want to be used of God—see His miracles in our lives today—we must be willing to set ourselves apart—consecrate our minds, lives, and wills to His will—then He has something that He can, and will work with, in power. How many times does Scripture repeat this step when wanting a His Will or power in our lives? Many still choose sin. What is not consecrated to Him? Goals, emotions, relationships, lifestyle, sexuality, family, ministry? If we are serious about wanting to be used, these things will be a joy to part with, even if it is difficult. The willingness here, tells the truest tale of whether we are wanting to be used of God or not (no exceptions, no excuses).
4. Judges 6:34: the Hebrew word used for, "The Spirit came upon Gideon" is labash. The verse says that the Spirit wore Gideon like a garment as He worked. Gideon gave full control to the Spirit, who worked through Him. Do we surrender to God doing things His way, when we are doing His will? Or do we freak out and complain when we are not in control?
5.  This next one is major, and hard to do wholeheartedly: Judges 7:2. Everything must be done with 100% belief and desire that it is all God; that He alone is worthy of all Glory for what is occurring; that He alone brought the passion, courage, opportunity, power, and love to accomplish the task. It is His Word, working through His Spirit to give us the will and the strength to accomplish any good thing, and even then we are in danger of ruining it with pride. We want to show people His love, His sacrifice, His glory—not ours. This may often mean that the circumstances turn against your favor—don’t go smoothly, don't go as you plan—cause pain, hardship, struggle because God has to set the stage to show us (as participants) that it really is all Him, and because God wants to show the world His love and power, which can only occur when the circumstances are completely out of your control. So, rather than panic at the loss of control, see God's Hand.
6. God's testing of those whom Gideon chooses: Judges 7:3: Of 32,000 men—22,000 walked away. Everyone feels fear and anxiety to a degree when you step into a dangerous or unknown situation—that is natural. But God says to Gideon: ‘Anyone who is ruled by that fear—controlled by that fear, focused on that fear rather than focusing on Me—go home. You are not ready to be used in My Army.’ Did you get that? We hurt the Name of God when we are openly controlled by our fears, while proclaiming an Almighty Captain of the Army, to the world. Fear happens, but focus on Him, not the Fear.
7. God says there are still too many for Him to get the Glory, so He gives one more test to separate them further: Judges 7:5-7. The Israelites were constantly stalked and attacked unexpectedly by the Midianites. This was to show who among them put vigilance against the enemy, above even their own comforts and needs, in the smallest of ways: Luke 16:10. God wants to know that we are more serious about winning this war, than we are about our own comfort and needs. That is not selfish of Him; that is necessary. Every army that ever put a soldier in the field expects the same, and God requires it out of His passion for those being rescued, not out of illogical demands and power-crazed actions. God is simply saying He must have a passion from His warriors—a readiness and willingness to fight—not just submission, or they do not need to be in the field, and He will not equip or use them. Are you passionate and ready? Or reluctantly submissive? Imagine starting with 32,000 and being one of the last 300 remaining to be placed against an opposing army of 135,000 men. These were passionate, faith-filled men.
8. Look at how God equipped the men for combat: Judges 7:16-20. 300 men surround an army of 135,000, with a torch in one hand, and a trumpet in the other. That left which hand for a sword? (None). They completely trusted the Lord to win their battle (knowing it was not in their own strength). Did that mean they just sat at home and prayed, doing nothing? Absolutely not—just the opposite—they had to join in the battle, go to fight, but do so, with absolutely no power to win alone; trusting Him only for the victory. How often will you and I not join in a fight, unless we can see clearly how we could win it? Or else we'll say it must not be God's Will. Only when we have no sword with which to fight, does He truly fight for us. Go to battle anyway and expect to win.
9. Judges 7:21-22: These 300 men, stood fast in their positions, unarmed. As 135,000 men fought one another all around them and fled passed them in the night in a panicked stupor. When it all comes unraveled, and there is unexpected chaos or danger all around, hold the line. Persecution, loss, pain, injustice, urges, addictions, doubts, fear—hold the Line. You wonder why God can't move in big ways anymore; you wonder what happened to the miracles of power and deliverance—so does God. He wonders why we don't want Him, believe in Him, have a passion to be used of Him as men and women once did. He is just looking for a few—maybe the one—who will give Him their sword. And He will get the job done, through them.