It's Not What You Know But Who You Know

House of Judah Ministries

1970 Parker Road

St. Louis Mo 63136

Pastor James Thomass Jr.

It’s not what you know but who you know

Judges 6:11-12 (KJV)

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

(touch your neighbor and ask them who is your corner man)

Many times great speakers and orators will draw from the life of David or the life of Paul to demonstrate great faith in GOD. They will often use the life of Moses to demonstrate the power of GOD. However there are two people in the bible who struggled with their faith (touch the person behind you and say I want new faith) Paul understood this in his writings to the churches that is why in Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. See I hope I can help someone this morning the devil likes to try to play tricks or mind games if you will , with us and tell us oh you are not this or you are not that but to GOD be the glory. It’s not what you know but rather who you know that will get you saved, and keep you saved . It’s not what you or I know about Jesus rather it is how well you or I know Jesus for myself that will keep you saved. (Tell your neighbor I want to know more about my Jesus) You can speak with the fluency and conviction that does not mean you know Jesus you can preach with the most impressive of dialect that does not mean you know Jesus. You can possess the credentials of a thousand colleges that does not mean you know Jesus. That however may mean you know of Jesus but does guarantee that you know Jesus. As a matter of fact if I read my bible correctly Paul told the church of Ephesus in Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (say use me Lord) This morning we find ourselves visiting Gideon. Gideon is hiding while beating flour. He has to hide because of fear of Israel’s enemies.

At that time Israel could not use the regular threshing floors for fear of their enemies attacking them. Israel had no grapes to make wine with because the

Enemies had taken all the vineyards. Israel had no grapes to make wine with so Gideon new they would not look for him there.

The problem with Gideon is that he is youngest son of the poorest family,

Of the weakest tribe in Israel. Gideon thought the Lord dialed the wrong number. (what a resume) Isn’t it funny how the Lord will find us hiding and running from him. Tell your neighbor use me Lord. Now if you look closely at the verse it says the angel of the Lord this is not an angel of the Lord but rather one of the GOD head Jesus we already know that whenever the Lord manifest himself in the flesh that, that is a form of Jesus. Look at how the Lord addresses Gideon by calling him a mighty man of valor.

Gideon answer to GOD was hold up wait a minute. Gideon asked a question

A lot of us ask GOD if you are with us why all this hardship. Wait a minute Lord you can do this you are all powerful you don’t need me.

Gideon ask where are all the miracles our father saw. I heard about you I heard how you held the sun and the moon still for Joshua. I heard how

You parted the red Sea for Moses I heard how you led your people through the wilderness. Friends have told me how you lead my people by cloud in the day and by fire at night. I heard how you spoke to Moses in the burning bush, I even head how you held back the waters so Joshua could cross the Jordan river but where have you been.

Psalms 77:9 (KJV)

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?

Job 30:20 (KJV)

20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

Gideon said I heard about you but why have you left us now. The Lord answer was go in thy might and thou shall save Israel. I can just hear Gideon