JUDGES 7:7-11 "PHURAH"
* This is the well known story of Gideon and his battle with the Midianites.
* The Lord spoke to Gideon & God says, "Gideon, I got one problem, you’ve got too many
soldiers." * Gideon must’ve wanted to debate that with the Lord - already out numbered - v.2
A) Gideon made a feeble attempt to tell these folks if they didn’t want to stay, they could go home.
* 100,000 to 32,000 and Gideon said in v.3, Can you imagine it? * Gideon says,
* "I want to tell you yellow bellies, if you’re afraid we just don’t need you anyway; God told me
to tell you if you’re afraid, just go home; I dare you!"
B) 22,000 went home - 10,000 remained & God says, "Gideon, you still got too many."
* Gideon’s face? * In v.4-5 God says, "I’ll take care of it this time Gideon."
* In v.6 only 300 left. * In v.7 God promised to give the victory.
C) It’s easy to trust God after the fact! ( David and Goliath )
* Look at Gideon! * "There’s no way 300 will win over 100,000 plus, we’re dead meat!"
* Do you think Gideon was afraid? * Gideon was shaking in his boots; scared to death!
* In v.9 God promised again! * But Gideon was still afraid!
D) Can I tell you that leaders get fearful? * Can I tell you ladies that husbands get fearful?
* Can I tell you kids that Mom and Dad get fearful over your life & over their family at times?
* Can I tell you that your preacher has the ability to be afraid? * Notice v.10
E) This is the first time this man is mentioned in the Bible & one other time in v.11.
* Why did Gideon go down with Phurah? * I’ll tell you why; he was afraid!
* God says, "Gideon, get down there!" * Gideon must’ve been shaking & said, "But God, I only
have 300 men." * God says, "If you’re afraid Gideon, then take Phurah down there with you."
* The next thing I find, he’s taking Phurah.
F) I want to speak to you a few minutes on this person Phurah, one of the most amazing people
in the Bible! * There would’ve never been a victory with Gideon & 300 ... not been for Phurah!
* Gideon would’ve still been afraid & nervous, but there was someone who was standing
in the shadows!
G) I want to suggest to you that there are Phurah’s in this room today!
* You’re not the lead person; you’re the second person; you’re the harmony part!
* You’re the Phurah to the Gideon; Gideons stand in the spotlight;
(1) PHURAHS STAND IN THE SHADOWS! * Wives are Phurahs; make men look good!
* This doesn’t mean that wives are ignorant nor that they don’t have any ability!
* Phurah may have had more ability than Gideon! * Women are smart & intelligent and God has
given them the ability to think.
* Though you have that ability, you’re still to be in the support role!
A) Two young boys in orchestra ....... argued over who was to play the lead part.
* Women, you’ll drive yourself crazy if you try to lead that home when God asks that man to lead!
* "But Preacher, I don’t want to stand in the shadows!"
* If you don’t want to stand in the shadows, and build that man in the sight of your children, you’re
gonna cause disruption of peace in the home - no harmony in the home!
B) Women create harmony in the home or either agony in the home!
* Home is a happy place because of what you ladies do, you set the mood in the home!
C) There should be Phurahs in the home - ladies, that’s your job! * "But I don’t like it!"
* Phurah might have not liked it, but he did it - God wanted it that way!
* Prov.31:23 "Her husband is known in the gates." * Why? cause that wife was a Phurah!
D) She stood in the shadows and let her husband be the Gideon!
* Jesus said in Mt.20:16 "The last ... first ..." * That day when all the Phurahs will be rewarded!
* Husbands, be a Phurah for your wife! * Parents, be Phurahs for your kids!
* If you always have to be a Gideon, something is wrong with you! * Phurahs stand ... shadows!
E) The Church! * God help the church member who can’t be a Phurah!
* Stand in the shadows while someone else stands in the spotlight!
* Had there not been a Phurah ....... cause Gideon was afraid!
F) Wise women builds her home, not tear it down! * A good church member builds up their
church, not tear it down! * Phurahs stand in the shadows .......
* My preaching - spotlight! * What about the Phurahs who are praying for me?
* Treasurer; Sun. School Teachers; Deacons; Pew warmers are Phurahs! * Phurahs ... shadows!
(2) PHURAHS ALWAYS OFFER STRENGTH - v.11 * Every leader has weaknesses!
* Your husband ... * Your boss ... * Your Pastor - all have weaknesses!
A) But Phurahs never magnify weaknesses, they breathe strength where their leader is weak!
* A wife don’t say, "My husband this ... that!" * No! You breathe strength in him!
B) Why do we have to tear down leadership ...? * Why find weak places in your wife?
* Why find weak places in your husband and magnify it?
* Why find weak places in your boss, or in your Pastor? * Phurahs always offer strength!
(3) PHURAHS ARE ALWAYS SERVANTS - v.10-11
* The goal of every Phurah in life is, "How can I serve?" * Phurahs get up in the morning & say,
* "What can I do for someone today?" * Phurahs are always servants!
A) Phurah wives say, "How can I serve my husband, what can I do for him today?"
* My wife makes sure I’m not hungry - My shirts are ironed - Phurahs are always servants!
B) Phurah wives don’t say, "More stinking laundry for Ralph!"
* Instead she takes that laundry and says, "What a privilege to serve this man!"
* There are widows today who would love to be doing their man’s laundry!
C) You’ll never be a Gideon till you first learn to be a Phurah!
* Phurahs stand in the shadows, Phurahs always offer strength, Phurahs are always servants,
(4) LAST: PHURAHS ALWAYS STAND WITH THEIR LEADER - v.11
* Phurah said, "Gideon, I’m going with you!" * My wife stood by me when I was sick!
* Here’s Gideon shaking in his boots, scared, everybody had to see it!
* Phurah said, "Gideon, I’m gonna stand with you!"
A) When your Gideon is weak, that’s not the time to attack your Gideon!
* That’s the time to stand with your Gideon! * Look in John 10:12-13
* Why is it that sometimes people will stand with a hireling & not with their own shepherd?
B) I don’t understand why staff members don’t stand 100% with their Pastor!
* I appreciate my Deacons who stand with his Pastor!
* Church members, stand with your Pastor! * That’s not to say he is sinless or flawless,
* But he is your Pastor! * "But I don’t agree with him!"
C) I’ll tell you what you do! * Go down the road, buy you a field, clean it off,
* And raise you enough money to build a building & start getting your own people to come.
D) What I’m saying is, when God has given you a Gideon, stand with him!
* I appreciate all of you who has stood with me from the beginning of this church!
* There is a crowd of people that God has called to be Phurahs!
E) But you want to be a Gideon! * Don’t try to be a Gideon when God ask you to be a Phurah!
* In the home - In the church! * Phurahs say, "Maybe I can serve somewhere!"
* I can clean the church, cut the grass, work in the nursery, visit the sick & the lost, etc.
* Churches today need the Phurahs in their congregations!
CLOSE
A) Phurahs stand in the shadows! * Phurahs always offer strength!
* Phurahs are always servants! * Phurahs stand with their leader!
* Are you willing to be a Phurah?
