Sunday, May 1, 2016

Lappers and Slurpers


“Gideon brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. ~ Judges 7:5
  
Gideon finely has recognized the power of God! After asking God two times for confirmation, he is ready to do what God as asked him to do.  In these Messages from Judges 6 you will see that God wants to “Show Us His Way” in our life.  We are in a great warfare with the enemy of our soul, and those who seek to follow Him will experience Battles. I love this Passage of Scripture where the “Spirit of the Lord comes upon Gideon.”  He sounds the war cry upon the Trumpet, perhaps it was a shofar, and the troops are rallied.  Scripture tells us five companies of Israel gathered, some 32 Thousand men. This caused great concern for the enemy, the Midianites and the Amalekites, men of the east, who were gathered against Israel. When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon us, we are well able to stand against the devil. The Apostle Paul writes in, Eph 6:13 “Take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” God shows us the way to stand against the enemy, by arming ourselves with the Power of His Word. Note what God says to Gideon next; you have too many warriors!? I can’t even imagine what thoughts went through Gideon’s mind at this statement from God. As we follow this Account of Gideon: God releases the fearful, and 10 Thousand remain. God continues to test Israel until only 300 men of Israel are left for the battle against an enemy of 135 thousand. Are you being tested today?  Does your enemy seem bigger than life?  We have this sure Word from God:  Isa. 58:8 “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.”  Do not be detoured by the batter for the “Battle is the Lord’s.” We are His hands extended to declare to this Generation that Jesus is Lord of our battles! Loving you, Pastor ~Phil. 2:15