Battle Tested for the Lord
Judges 7
What grade would God give you?
Unlike most grade cards, in this grade card A is bad and F is good!
1. What grade would God give you when it comes to your Heart?
A -Afraid or F- Fearless
Gideon- Anyone who trembles with fear may “turn back” and leave Mt. Gilead.
22,000 left.
I can remember my first fight. It was in the 5th grade against Wesley. We agreed to meet in the cemetery that was between our houses and the school.
It was to be just me and him. But when I showed up there was a circle of kids who had come to watch the big fight. Fear overtook me and I ran all the way home, chased by the crowd of spectators. I had to go and face those kids the next day.
As Christians, there are times when we are called to battle for the Lord and we must do so with great courage and not fear. There is no need for fear when we realize how awesome God is.
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but one of courage, power.
Too many Christians never reach their full potential because of fear.
Afraid to witness to co-workers
Afraid to get involved in ministry
Afraid to give God every area of their lives
Too many Christians play it safe.
Jesus- driving demons into pigs- people were afraid
Jesus- disciples- stormy sea- fear.
2. What grade would God give you when it comes to your Mind?
A- for Apathetic or F- for Focused
Gideon led the remaining 10,000 men to the water.
Some drank on their hands and knees with their face directly in the water.
Some drank by lapping the water out of their cupped hands.
Those who drank with their faces directly in the water were sent home.
It showed a lack of focus and a lack of
alertness.
More concerned with their physical needs than
with the battle
On their hands and knees, they were not
prepared for a surprise attack.
Earlier this week, I was wrestling my 14 year
old son. I accomplished the near impossible
feat of tackling and pinning him to the
floor. Just when I thought that victory was
mine, my 12 year son decided to jump in and
throw himself onto my back. I was not
prepared for his surprise attack. A lesson I
learned several cracked ribs later.
As Christians we must stay focused on Christ
and the victory we can have through him. And
even while Christ is giving us victory, we
must stay alert and realize that the enemy is
always on the prowl. He is waiting for us to
let our guard down and leave ourselves open
to his attack. The Word is right when it
compares Satan to a lion looking to devour us.
Too many Christians are apathetic…
They have walked the aisle, gotten dunked,
and now they spend their lives in quietness,
giving an hour a week to God, waiting for
Jesus to come get them.
Why give just an hour a week? They don’t
care to do more. They do not feel the
urgency to make more of their relationship
with Christ.
Why don’t you come to Sunday night or
Wednesday night?
There is no good answer.
Being here on Sunday nights and Wednesday
nights wont save you or make you a better
Christian.
It’s what God does through those times.
We don’t witness and outreach- we don’t feel
the urgency to reach out to the lost.
The battle tested Christian is focused.
He has a passion for the lost.
He has a sense of purpose for what God wants
to do through him.
He will not let anything keep him from those
two things.
He will not easily give in to the trappings
of this world and the temptations of the
evil one.
What grade would God give you when it comes to your trust?
A- Affirmation based or F- Fervent
Gideon often asked God for signs of affirmation.
Fleece-keep it dry while the ground is
covered in dew.
Cover the fleece in dew while the ground is
dry.
God gives Gideon yet another sign of affirmation. Go into the camp and listen to what they are saying and you will be encouraged to attack. Gideon goes into the enemy camp and listens to the story of a dream.
He is encouraged and goes and mobilizes his men for the attack.
Some Christians are constantly asking God for more
affirmation of his will.
They are afraid to do anything for the Lord, fearing it might be wrong.
God give me a sign, just one more sign.
Romans says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve of what God’s will is, his perfect will.
I have a vision for this church. I fervently trust that God has given it to me.
Outreach- “Why men hate going to church.”
Discipleship- more people involved in small
groups (not on Wed.)
Facilities- multi-purpose building
Worship- two services, worship minister
I shared this vision in my sermon “Pathway to
the Promised Land”
It was on the radio last Sunday morning.
People asked- do you really believe in that
vision?
What if other people don’t?
Here is what typically happens in the church
with ministers and visions:
A minister comes to a church and gets a
vision from God for what can happen in
the church. He shares that vision with
the church, and many times it upsets
people who do not like change. Arguments
ensue, committees are formed and instead
of seeing the vision become a reality,
the minister gets frustrated trying to do
what he feels God is leading him to do.
When the frustration gets to be too much,
he leaves and goes to another church and
the cycle begins again. I believe many
churches are struggling because they do
not trust that the vision of the minister
is from God. So instead of following the
lead of the man that God has given them
to lead, they get bogged down in by-laws
and debate.
I am thankful to have been in the ministry here at Peebles since 1998 and I plan on being here a long time. I trust that the vision I have is from God and that God can help us to accomplish it.
What grade would God give you when it comes to your Actions:
A- Appearances or F-Fruitful
Pharisees and teachers of the law did everything for appearance.
Where they sit
The title before their name
How they dressed
How they prayed
How they looked when “fasting”
How they gave to the Lord.
Very heavy in appearance, but very low in fruit
Jesus- being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Fruit-
I was a freshman at Bible College and a chaotic prank was played on us:
Pennies in our doors
Rocks in pop cans in the dryers
Phones ringing
It was utter chaos.
Imagine the scene-
300 men holding a jar covered torch and a
trumpet.
The loud noise of jars shattering
The sound of trumpets blowing
The screams – “For God and for Gideon.”
With trumpets and jar covered torches, God gave Gideon and his men victory.
God can use anyone and anything to accomplish his will.
Our Christian lives should be producing fruit.
God can use us where we are.
God can use us as imperfect as we are.
You and I need to ask ourselves- Is my relationship with God producing fruit?
Matthew 25- fruit was:
Feeding hungry
Giving thirsty a drink
Clothing the naked
Visiting the sick and imprisoned
