Gods blessings shall follow you, for taking the time to study.
TOPIC: GIDEON’S VALIANT ARMY OF THREE HUNDRED MEN
TEXT: JUDGES 7: 1-4
SUNDAY JULY 23RD
Key verse: Judges 7: 2 “And the Lord said unto Gideon. The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands: lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
God’s people turned to the religious practices learned from the Canaanites. As a result, for seven years God allowed the Midianites, the Amalekites and other tribes from the east, to invade and oppress Israel. They were forced to hide in caves and hide their crops and animals. Only when the situation became unbearable did Israel turn to God for help. God sent Gideon to lead the battle against their enemies.
Fear is a torment to those that have no faith in God; imagine sending people numbering thirty two thousand, out for battle but when announcement was made that, “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead and there returned of the people twenty and two thousand, and there remained ten thousand” and thereafter reduced to three hundred. This is the state of Christians today – fear. On a Sunday you could run up to two or more services, but call for crusade or evangelism, you will only see a scanty number.
God’s instruction to reduce the army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred gives us a picture of four Biblical truths: (1) Only God’s presence and actions can ensure victory for his people. God can work in powerful ways through a small number of dedicated people. It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). (2) Spiritual alertness and dedication are more important to God than great numbers. (3) Our greatest resource and strength to meet all of life’s challenges can be found in God alone. (4) Pride in our own accomplishments will defeat us in the end because it keeps us from receiving God’s power and help.
Fear has taken over the heart of Christians to preach the Word of God; to even give out tracks. Some do not want to be seen as Christians in the public or preach to people of other religion. Deal with that fear now before it destroys you.
Thought for the day: God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and love
Song for the day: Not by power, not by might, but by My Spirit …
Bible reading for the day: Psalm 38-40; Acts 23:12-35
#Horemow.
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