|
| |
Judges 7:1-8
The 300 men Gideon had was less than 1% of the people he started out with.
(Actually 0.009375)
God will work things out so we will know where the power is and it isnt
with us!!
I Samuel 4 Israel depended on the ark of God instead of God, lost it
and the battle. David finally brought the ark back.
I Samuel 8:10 there seems to be a total of 135,000 soldiers of the
children of the east. (120,000 + 15,000). This does not count the other two
armies the Midianites, or the Amalekites. If we use a total of 200,000
enemy soldiers, the Israelites were outnumbers 200,000/32,000 to begin with
or a little over 6 to 1. After the 22,000 went home (leaving the others to
fight the battle alone) the odds were 20 to 1. The 300 that were victorious
left the odds at 669 to 1. The odds increase dramatically if each army has
135,000 soldiers, or 405,000 soldiers.
God did not choose those soldiers who had proved themselves in former
battles, but those that were looking for the enemy now.
I think most people believe a large church is better than a small one, that
large churches can do more. There are some things large churches can do that
smaller churches cannot do, but every church can serve God effectively. All we
have to do is what God tells us, not what he has told some other church.
Can God count on me?
1. To be a Christian?
Rom.. 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Gideon started out with 32,000, but 22,000 went home because they were
afraid. (It must be noted that Gideon was also afraid, but he did not go
home!) When Gideon had 10,000 left against an army numbered as grasshoppers,
he was instructed to take those to battle that drank water from their hand.
Those soldiers who were not afraid, yet got down on their hands and knees to
drink water had to lay their weapons aside. They were more concerned with
their physical well-being than the upcoming battle. If they did not lay
their weapons aside, they had to put the weapon down into the dirt. The
point is: they were not aware of their surroundings. Those that lapped would
probably kneel beside the water, continue to look around and have hold of
their weapons so they could fight at an instant.
32,000/22,000 means .6875 of the soldiers were afraid and went home. More
than 2/3rds.
10,000/300 means that Gideon retained only .03 of the soldiers.
God used only 0.009375 of the soldiers that came to the battle.
Which group would you be in? Are you afraid, but stay, like Gideon? Are
you prepared for battle, watching for the enemy to come against you, or are
you more concerned youre your personal well-being? There are not many who
are ready to fight, most are afraid, and most are taking care of this world,
instead of the world to come.
2. To be a witness - You will be a good or bad witness.
Acts 1:8 - Ye shall be witnesses.
3. To be faithful in one of his churches - Eph. 3:21
4. To lead your family in the ways of the Lord. Joshua said, "As
for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
5. To be a Bible defender - II Tim. 3:16-17 "All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
6. To be an example of His love.
II Tim. 3:16
I John 4:8,10,11 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God
is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so
loved us, we ought also to love one another."
|