" EYES ON THE ENEMY "
JUDGES 7:1-7
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS ALWAYS INSPIRED ME ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, IS THE FACT THAT HE DOESN’T JUDGE ME BY MY FAILURES, HE DOESN’T JUDGE ME BY MY PAST AND HE DOESN’T JUDGE ME BY THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES I MIGHT BE FACING. WE ARE MOST COMFORTABLE JUDGING THOSE WE SEE AROUND US BUT IT IS COMFORTING TO ME TO KNOW THAT THE OPINION OF THE PEOPLE ISN’T A FACTOR IN MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
WHEN JESUS LOOKS AT US HE ALWAYS SEES WHAT WE CAN BECOME THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SOMETIMES HE SEES THINGS INSIDE OF US THAT WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WERE THERE.
1. ON OCTOBER 1, 1964 AT A LITTLE PAST MIDNIGHT IN BAPTIST HOSPITAL OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA THE DOCTOR HELD UP A NINE POUND BABY BOY BY HIS ANKLES AND SLAPPED HIM ON THE BEHIND…
A. HIS MOMA MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT’S MY SON
B. HIS DADDY MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT’S MY BOY
C. SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SAID IS THAT ALL THERE IS
BUT FRIENDS I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN JESUS LOOKED DOWN AT ME WITH A DIRTY DIAPER ON MY BEHIND AND A PACIFIER IN MY MOUTH HE SAID THAT IS MY FAITHFUL SERVANT WHO WILL ONE DAY PREACH THE GOOD NEWS THAT I DIED FOR SO MANY YEARS AGO. HE MAY NOT BE MUCH FOR THE WORLD TO LOOK AT AND MOST PEOPLE MIGHT NOT GIVE A PLUG NICKEL FOR HIM, BUT HE WILL ONE DAY STAND BEHING A PULPIT AND PREACH LIKE HIS WHOLE LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. JESUS KNEW FROM THE MOMENT OF MY BIRTH THAT HE HAD A MISSION FOR MY LIFE AND SOMEWHERE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE HE DECIDED BEFORE THE FIRST STAR WAS FORMED IN HEAVEN THAT ONE DAY MY FEET WOULD WALK THE GROUND I NOW STAND UPON.
GOD DOESN’T SEE WHAT WE ARE AT THE MOMENT BUT INSTEAD WITH HIS
WONDERFUL AND ARTISTIC HAND HE SEES THE END OF THE CREATION AND
WHAT WE SHALL ONE DAY BECOME.
1. IN FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER SIXTEEN THE WHOLE WORLD SAW A SHEPHERD BOY BUT MY FRIENDS GOD SAW A KING
2. JESUS WHEN HE LOOKED INTO THE FACE OF PETER DIDN’T SEE THE CURSES HE WOULD SPEAK OR THE DENIAL IN HIS EYES BUT INSTEAD SAW THE ROCK UPON WHOM HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH THAT THE GATES OF HELL WOULD NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT
3. MOSES WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO BE THE DELIVER OF THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE FROM THE HAND OF PHAROAH AND THE HARD BONDAGE IN EGYPT WAS ONLY A SHEPHERD BANISHED TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE WILDERNESS
4. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET WAS A BABY JUST AS WE ONCE WERE BUT IN THE BOOK THAT BEARS HIS NAME CHAPTER ONE VERSE FIVE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE GREAT I AM SAID: " BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN YOUR MOTHER’S BELLY I KNEW YOU JEREMIAH AND FROM BEFORE THE MOMENT YOU WERE EVEN BORN I SANCTIFIED YOU AND SET YOU ASIDE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO MY PEOPLE.’
IN JUDGES CHAPTER SIX VERSE TWELVE THERE IS ANOTHER MAN WE SHALL LOOK AT IN THE SCOPE OF HIS SERVICE TO THE MISSION OF GOD. WE NOW KNOW HIS NAME AS GIDEON AND WE PLACE SUCH GREAT HONOR ON THE NAME OF GIDEON THAT EVEN AT THIS MOMENT A GROUP OF MEN WALK THE FACE OF THIS EARTH BEARING HIS NAME AS THEY HAND OUT THE WORD OF GOD. GOOD MEN, CHRISTIAN MEN THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND SEEING THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST AS GIVEN TO US IN MATTHEW 28:18-20 CARRIED OUT BY THE WORK OF THEIR EFFORTS AND PERSEVERANCE.
GIDEON MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A MAN DON’T YOU THINK? SURELY HE WAS A FINE SPECIMEN OF A MAN’S MAN TO INSPIRE MEN WITH HIS LIFESTORY TODAY. THE ANGEL SENT BY GOD INTO HIS PRESENCE FELT SO AND CARRIED THE MESSAGE OF GOD STRAIGHT FROM THE LIPS OF THE LORD…" YOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR."
GOD SAW HIM AS A MAN OF GREAT COURAGE AND A MAN THAT COULD LEAD OTHER MEN AND THE WORD SPOKEN TO THE MAN GIDEON BEAR THIS OUT…
BUT…
IF YOU OR I WERE TO HAVE GIVEN OUR OPINION OF HIM IT WOULD BE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN.
A. THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS AT WAR AND HAD NEED OF EACH AND EVERY MAN THAT WAS ABLE TO CARRY A SWORD OR SPEAR TO FIGHT THE GREAT ARMY OF THE MIDIANITES WAS NEEDED.
B. GIDEON WAS THRESHING WHEAT BY A WINEPRESS, HIDING FROM THE MIDIANITES AND HIS OWN PEOPLE
C. GIDEON WAS A DESERTER
D. BUT GOD’S MESSENGER STRAIGHT FROM THE THRONE OF HEAVEN SAID, THE LORD IS WITH YOU, YOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR! I OFTEN WONDER IF GIDEON HAD ANY IDEA WHAT WAS IN STORE FOR HIM FROM THAT MOMENT ON?
TURN IN A FEW PAGES IN YOUR BIBLE TO JUDGES CHAPTER SEVEN ( PRAYER )
SOMETIMES I BELIEVE GOD REALLY HAS A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF HUMOR, DON’T YOU? I CAN ALMOST SEE HIM SMILING AND CHUCKLING TELLING SOME OF THOSE ANGELS STANDING AROUND THE THRONE, WHO HE HAS JUST SENT TO LEAD THE PEOPLE INTO VICTORY. YOU SEE GOD DIDN’T JUST CALL THE COWARD GIDEON TO FIGHT IN THE BATTLE BUT HE ALSO PUT FOUR STARS ON HIS SHOULDER AND MADE HIM THE GENERAL. I BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES HE LAUGHS OUT LOUD AT THE WEAKNESS OF THE PEOPLE HE PUTS IN LEADERSHIP BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT IT’S ONLY THE WEAK WHO WILL GIVE HIM THE GLORY.
1. DON’T SIT THERE TODAY AND THINK HE LAUGHING WITH US BECAUSE TO LAUGH WITH US WOULD REQUIRE US TO BE LAUGHING ALSO. WE USUALLY DON’T LAUGH ABOUT IT THOUGH BECAUSE WE’RE TOO PROUD OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ACCOMPLISHED THRU THE POWER OF GOD AND TRY TO TAKE THE GLORY.
2. WE HAVE PREACHERS NOW WITH MORE DESIRE TO GET THEIR EDUCATION THAN LEAD ANYONE TO SALVATION THAT IT’S ALMOST RIDICULOUS ANYTHING EVER GETS ACCOMPLISHED. I MEAN THEY HAVE SO MANY PH.D’S AND TH.D’S AND SUPS AND LUDS AND EF HUTTONS BEHIND THEIR NAME IT BAFFLES THE MIND
3. READ SOME PREACHER’S BUSINESS CARDS OR TITLES THEY PUT BEHIND THEIR NAME
A. SENIOR PASTOR
B. PASTOR / EVANGELIST
C. APOSTLE/PROPHET/EVANGELIST/PASTOR/TEACHER
THAT’S NOT BIBLICAL FOLKS BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS GIVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS IN THE MINISTRY NOW DOESN’T HE? IF MORE PREACHERS WOULD TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT GOD SAYS INSTEAD OF HOW THEY CAN FIT IN WITH THE GOOD OLE BOYS, SOMEBODY MIGHT GET SAVED ON A REGULAR BASIS. GOD SAYS THAT HE USES THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD AND THAT BY THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING PEOPLE ARE SAVED.
WON’T SEE ANYBODY HANDING OUT BUSINESS CARDS WITH THAT ON IT NOW WILL YOU? BECAUSE IT SMACKS OF THE TRUTH AND IF YOU REALLY LOVED THE TRUTH IT WOULD BE FINGER LICKING GOOD TO YOU BUT INSTEAD IT OFFENDS YOU.
GOD USUALLY SPELLS OUT EXACTLY HOW HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS THOUGH AND THE TESTIMONY OF ALL GOD’S SAINTS SHOULD BE THAT EVEN THOUGH I AM WEAK,
JESUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN STRONG, THAT IN MY INADEQUATENESS HE HAS
ALWAYS UPHELD AND EVEN THOUGH OTHERS MAY STAND ON PRESTIGE I
EVER STAND UPON THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION AND TRUST IN THE POWER
OF ALMIGHTY GOD TO DELIVER AND EQUIP ME.
LOOK IF YOU WILL AT VERSES TWO AND THREE ( REREAD )
1. GOD DOESN’T LOOK ON THE QUANTITY OF PEOPLE WE HAVE
A. AND TO GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE, BUT THAT COMES LATER
B. WHY
1. BECAUSE HE KNEW IF THEY WON THAT BATTLE WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE THEY WOULD STEAL ALL OF THE GLORY THAT BELONGED TO HIM
HE LET ALL THOSE WHOSE HEARTS WEREN’T REALLY IN THE BATTLE RUN ON HOME, IF THEY WERE AFRAID OR JUST DISSATIFIED WITH THE ACCOMADATIONS OR NOT TO HOT ABOUT THE GENERAL GOD HAD GIVEN THEM. GOD GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO DRAG UP.
THEY’RE STILL DRAGGIN UP TODAY AND WE THINK THAT WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND CHASE EM BACK INTO THE BATTLE. IF THEIR HEART’S NOT IN IT, WHAT GOOD ARE THEY TO THE BATTLES WE HAVE TO FIGHT? LET EM GO, I’M NOT CHASING EM DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN’T TELL EM TO LEAVE AND I DIDN’T ASK EM TO LEAVE, THEY SIMPLY CHOSE TO LEAVE.
BUT EVEN WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO LEFT, TWENTY TWO THOUSAND, GOD LOOKED AT THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND SAID EVEN THOUGH THEIR HEARTS MIGHT BE IN IT AND THEY WANT TO FIGHT THE BATTLE…
I WANT TO CHOOSE A CERTAIN KIND OF WARRIOR TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE. DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY ALL WEREN’T SAVED OR THAT THERE HEARTS WEREN’T RIGHT OR THAT MAYBE SOME OF THEM DIDN’T QUITE STACK UP JUST A FEW FRIES SHORT OF HAPPY MEAL.
IT MEANS THAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN WARRIOR TO FIGHT IN THE GREAT BATTLES AND IF YOU’LL GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE TIME I CAN DESCRIBE HIM TO YOU.
1. GOD SAID THAT GIDEON WAS TO SEPARATE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE BY THE TEST HE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE
A. THOSE WHO LAPPED LIKE A DOG WITH THEIR HANDS
B. THOSE WHO JUST WALLERED ON THE RIVERBANK
WELL WHY DID HE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN BROTHER MIKE? COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND I’LL TELL YOU… NO I’M JUST KIDDING. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHERE THIS ARMY WAS AT AND WHAT THEY WERE PREPARING TO DO JUST BEFORE THIS TEST.
THEY WERE JUST ACROSS THE VALLEY FROM AN INNUMERABLE MULTITUDE OF ENEMY SOLDIERS AND THEY HAD GATHERED THERE TO FIGHT THE GREATEST BATTLE THEY HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED SINCE JOSHUA LED THEM ACROSS THE JORDAN RIVER. THEY WERE PREPARED FOR BATTLE AND EVERY MAN HAD BEEN ISSUED HIS WEAPONS AND THE REASON THEY WERE SEPERATED IS BECAUSE OF HOW THEY REACTED TO THE THREAT.
A. THEY WERE CERTAINLY THIRSTY BECAUSE OF THE DESERT HEAT AND THE FACT THAT AT ANY MOMENT THEY MIGHT BE PUSHING UP DAISIES
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MOVIE IN HAUNTED HOUSE WHEN MONSTER TOUCHES COSTELLO… JUST WHISTLE IF YOU NEED HELP. HIS THROAT WAS TOO DRY FROM FRIGHT TO WHISTLE
B. THEY ALL HAD THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS MET AT THE EDGE OF THE RIVER BUT ONLY THREE HUNDRED WERE CHOSEN…WHY?
C. THEY NEVER TOOK THEIR EYES OFF THE ENEMY
ONLY THREE HUNDRED MEN NEVER FORGOT THE REASON THEY WERE THERE, TO FIGHT IN A BATTLE THAT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER THEY AS A NATION LIVED OR DIED. 9,700 MEN WALLERING ON THE RIVERBANK AND ONLY THREE HUNDRED WITH THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO REALIZE THAT THE ENEMY HAD THEM IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
D. THAT’S STILL THE KIND OF MEN GOD IS LOOKING FOR TODAY. MEN AND WOMEN WHO WON’T FORGET THAT EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING MIGHT APPEAR TO BE RUNNING BETTER THAN NORMAL, THE ENEMY IS JUST OVER THE HILLSIDE PUTTING HIS BATTLE PLANS TOGETHER.
LET’S US KNOW WHERE OUR PLACE SHOULD BE DOESN’T IT? DOESN’T MATTER WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING, YOU BE FAITHFUL TO MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. DOESN’T MATTER WHAT NOBODY IS DOING, YOU BE FAITHFUL TO MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. I WONDER HOW MANY WOULD BE CHOSEN FROM THIS HOUSE TODAY? WE ALL HAVE A PLACE TO FILL IN THE ARMY OF GOD BUT HOW MANY WILL PUT THE MISSION OF GOD OVER THEIR OWN PERSONAL PLEASURE?
ONLY 3% DID IT HERE. BUT GOD’S STENGTH IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS MY FRIENDS BECAUSE IN VERSE 12 GOD MARCHED THE WEAK RIGHT UP TO THE MIGHTY AND HE IS STILL IN THE DESTRUCTION BUSINESS. DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY DEMONS HAVE STRONGHOLDS IN YOUR CHURCH, IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR SCHOOL OR EVEN IN YOUR CHURCH GOD IS STILL ABLE TO DESTROY THE STRONGHOLDS THAT CHOKE OFF OUR VICTORY. GOD IS STILL ABLE TO DESTROY THE STRONGHOLDS IN OUR LIVES NO MATTER HOW HOPELESS IT MAY SEEM AND ALL HE LOOKS FOR IS A MAN OR WOMAN WHO WON’T TAKE HIS EYES OF THE ENEMY. FAITHFUL SERVANTS TO MANIFEST HIS STRENGTH THROUGH.
VERSE 16 TELLS US THAT THE WAY HE MAY GIVE US VICTORY MIGHT EVEN SEEM FOOLISH TO US. 300 MEN ARMED WITH FRYING PANS AND HARMONICA’S GOING OUT AGAINST A GREAT ENEMY WITH NOTHING BUT A PENLIGHT IN THEIR POCKET KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A SUICIDE MISSION DOESN’T IT?
BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENED FOLKS BECAUSE WHEN WE PUT OUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AND GIVE HIM ALL OUR CONCENTRATION SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL HAPPENS. IF WE’LL JUST FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN INSTEAD OF OUR OWN, WE CAN SPEAK TO THE STRONGHOLDS IN OUR LIVES AND THEY’LL GO RUNNING, THAT’S JUST WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
" SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON "
WOULD YOU FEEL KIND OF SILLY SAYING THAT? I THINK I MIGHT BUT WHEN I REALIZE THAT THE SWORD OF THE LORD IS THE WRITTEN HOLY WORD OF GOD, THEN I CAN SPEAK TO THE OVERWHELMING PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN ME. JUST LIKE 300 MEN DID THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO ON A HILLSIDE I CAN SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD AND BREAK DOWN THE STRONGHOLDS IN MY LIFE.
PHILLIPIANS 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME
HEBREWS 9:14 HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WHO OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT BLEMISH CLEANSE YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD
ROMANS 10:9 IF YOU WILL CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD YOU SHALL BE SAVED
ACTS 16:31 BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED AND YOUR WHOLE HOUSE SHALL BE SAVED
AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST…
1. GOING ON YOUR WAY BECAUSE YOUR HEART’S NOT IN IT
2. SENT ON YOUR WAY BECAUSE YOU FORGOT YOUR PURPOSE
3. EMPOWERED BY GOD TO WIN THE BATTLE
I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY TO LEAD SOMEBODY INTO A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST TODAY. IF YOU’RE HERE AND YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN IF YOU DIED RIGHT NOW, JESUS WANTS TO SAVE YOUR SOUL TODAY. TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION FRIEND BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT HAVE TOMORROW. IF GOD IS MOVING ON YOUR HEART DON’T LET SATAN WIN THE BATTLE BY TELLING YOU GOD DOESN’T LOVE YOU OR CAN’T LOVE YOU. YOU CAN’T GO BACK AND CHANGE THE PAST AND YOU CAN’T EVEN CHANGE YOUR PRESENT BUT BY THE POWER OF GOD YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR FUTURE.
CHRISTIAN IF YOU’RE HERE TODAY WONDERING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO REKINDLE THAT FIRE AND GET YOUR EYES BACK ON THE ENEMY… WHY NOT PUT DOWN THE WEAPONS YOU’VE MADE FOR YOURSELF THAT YOU THINK WILL GIVE YOU PEACE AND VICTORY AND PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD AGAIN. PICK UP THE TRUMPET AND THE PITCHER AND JESUS HIMSELF WILL LIGHT THE CANDLE INSIDE AGAIN TO TEAR DOWN THE STRONGHOLD YOU’RE FACING.
LET’S DO WHAT GOD LEADS US TO DO THIS MORNING. INVITATION.
