God At Work

God At Work

Judges 6-8

9-3-06 a.m. (PDBC) Commitment Sunday

Over the last several months we’ve been asking you to prayerfully consider giving sacrificially, not just over and beyond your tithe, but sacrificially beyond your tithe to help us achieve a plan we believe honors what God has been doing in our church and what we desire Him to continue to do. You’ve seen big plans and you’ve heard big numbers. What you haven’t heard is big encouragement and excitement. We didn’t want to overload your senses because we believed this is a purpose God has laid on our hearts and we trusted Him to do the same for you. In hindsight perhaps we could have done more but now that time has passed.

Today…in just a few moments you will have an opportunity to demonstrate what you believe God can accomplish through you. I wonder has the Lord challenged you and have you accepted the challenge to trust Him. Like me you have probably figured out what you think you are capable of doing. But I challenge you to say, “Lord I believe that you can accomplish more than the conclusion I have come to and I believe that somehow you will provide more. So I’m going to place my trust in You because this is beyond my ability. You provide it Lord.”

Some of you may want to reconsider. You’ll have that chance over the next several minutes.

I want to tell you about a man who had trust the Lord when the numbers didn’t add up.

Look at Judges chapter 7

1 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and everyone who was with him, got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ’I did it myself.’ 3 Now announce in the presence of the people: ’Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead. ’ " So 22,000 of the people turned back, but 10,000 remained. 4 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ’This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ’This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go." 5 So he brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to Gideon, "Separate everyone who laps water with his tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink." 6 The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was 300 men, and all the rest of the people knelt to drink water. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home." 8 So Gideon sent all the Israelites to their tents, but kept the 300 who took the people’s provisions and their trumpets. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley. 9 That night the LORD said to him, "Get up and go into the camp, for I have given it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go to the camp, go with Purah your servant. 11 Listen to what they say, and then you will be strengthened to go to the camp." So he went with Purah his servant to the outpost of the troops who were in the camp. 12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. 13 When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend [about] a dream. He said, "Listen, I had a dream: a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed." 14 His friend answered: "This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him." 15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, "Get up, for the LORD has handed the Midianite camp over to you."

Now that’s the story and chapter 8 goes on to tell us of the 135,000 strong army that these 300 men routed. It’s amazing what God can do and will do when we trust Him. I’m not trying to persuade you this morning I only want you to realize that many of your concerns are legitimate and reflect concerns of great men of the bible like Gideon.