Compromise: Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory Series

COMPROMISE…Snatching Defeat out of the Jaws of Victory!!!

Judges 8

There is a battle taking place for your home---An all out assault

-Your home is in this battle

-Ignore it you’re losing

-Christian homes are losing battle for marriages/children just like we lost battle against abortion – why—because we are ignoring it!!!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal they crawled into their tent and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, Holmes awoke and nudged his friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.? Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.? “What does that tell you, Watson?? Asked Holmes. Watson pondered a moment and then replied, “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is within the Leo constellation. Chronologically I observe it’s nighttime 3 a.m. on June 14th. Meteorologically, the air appears dry, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day. Why did you ask? What does it tell you?? Holmes says, “Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!

People-the moment you’re not watching – the moment you let down - Satan is ready to move in and to steal your home

Survey done among 286 Christian teens

59% said they harbor bad thoughts about God

43% said they find it hard to pray & read their Bible.

69% reported hearing “voices” in their head

22% said they had frequently entertained thoughts of suicide

There is an attack taking place on our homes

-We have let our guards down and as a result our homes and our churches have been broken into—We have Lost ground

-It is time for us as Christians to go to battle for our homes

Folks if we are to keep from losing our homes we must wage battle on our enemy

This morning Id like us to dive into the book of Judges Chapter 8 and examine the life of Gideon

Gideon was the 5th of 15 Judges that ruled Israel-He set Israel free from the oppression of the Midianites and brought relative peace to Israel for 40 years. He was a judge who knew how to do battle-He was a warrior ruler.

Over the last couple of weeks we learned that Gideon, even though he was (a) indecisive, (scared) and (c) lacked faith…he finally arose and became a great warrior for the Lord.

This Morning I want us to look @ 3 Battle lessons from the life of Gideon

-I believe if you can grasp these things-revolutionize your home

The first lesson we learn from Gideon concerning doing battle is

I- It takes a warrior not a wimp

Judges 6:12-When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, The Lord is with you mighty warrior

Vs 14-Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the Midians hand

Strongs Dictionary-A man or woman engaged in or experienced in warfare

Hebrew-Chayil-a force, an army, able, active, mighty, power, strength, of substance, trained, valiant, virtuous

Head of household-look at me

-If you are to fight the battle that is taking place for your home you must be a warrior not a wimp

A force, an army, able, active, mighty, power, strength, of substance, trained, valiant, virtuous

How could that ever be me

A – The angel here in Judges calls Gideon something he is not

When the angel of the Lord appeared before Gideon-he wasn’t this mighty warrior, but he was a scared farmer hiding from the enemy

Look where the angel finds Gideon

Later part Vs 11-Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites

-threshing wheat was always done outside

-He was cowering in a winepress

Angel says-Hey you mighty warrior

God is not as focused on who you were or who you are as he is on who you can become

Ephesians3:20 Now to his who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us

B – If you don’t stand up as a warrior in your home no one will

Leaderless, warriorless homes… I deal with Warriorless homes…they leave war torn children

-War torn country…-That’s what many of our kids look like

A home without a warrior leader is like:

a greyhound without a driver

A cargo ship without a captain

a freight train without an engineer

a 747 without a pilot

The one thing all these vehicles have in common? They are SIMPLY GONNA CRASH

C – Homes need a warrior because they have an enemy

God was calling Gideon because the Midianites were Plundering the people of Israel

-Midianites came every harvest time and would ruin crops and kill all the animals