SERVANTS OF THE LORD<\/p>\n
Judges 6: 7-7: 1-22<\/p>\n
Those God uses to spread his gospel are called through the gospel by which Christ is made the Power and Wisdom of God to us. We do not turn from that which pleases God to the strength of our flesh, of our wisdom, or our power lest we make the cross of Christ of none effect, making the faith of men to stand in the wisdom of men (1 Co 2: 1-5.) It is glorying in the Power and Wisdom of Jesus Christ our Lord when we are determined to preach Christ, not with excellency of speech, not using the natural wisdom that appeals to the flesh, but in the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Co 1: 18, 24-25.) Therefore, we use no other method but the preaching of the gospel comparing scripture to scripture, spiritual things with spiritual things. How will the Lord prepare us for this work?<\/p>\n
God Chooses Weak Things (Judges 6: 12-16)<\/p>\n
Each time the LORD delivered Israel from their captivity he did so through a prophet or judge (Judges 6: 7-8.) The Lord is calling Gideon. When Gideon was referred to as \u201ca mighty man of valor,\u201d Gideon did not answer \u201cIf the Lord be with ME\u201d but with \u201cus.\u201d He counted himself a sinner (Judges 6: 13.) Gideon saw himself as poor, the least in his father\u2019s house (Judges 6: 15.) That is the spirit God puts in the servant he uses. God does not use mighty \u201cI\u2019s\u201d only powerless \u201cus\u2019s.\u201d We are strong and wise in spirit when God has made us weak and ignorant in the flesh so that the Lord is our only Power and Wisdom (1 Co 1: 25.) The wisdom and strength of the servant of God is the Lord who calls him. The LORD told Gideon \u201cgo in this thy might\u2026have not I sent thee.\u201d (Judges 6: 14-16; See other examples: Ex 4: 10-12; Jeremiah 1: 6-10.)<\/p>\n
That No Flesh Should Glory in his Presence (Judges 7: 1-8)<\/p>\n
Those who served with Gideon in his army are a type of believers united together to publish the gospel under the immediate direction of Christ Jesus the Captain of our warfare. God will see to it that no flesh shall glory in his presence. All the servants of God shall know that it is by Christ alone that God conquers and saves his own (Judges 7: 2; Isaiah 45: 25; Jeremiah 4: 2.) Therefore, the LORD whittled the army down. Notice the three kinds of trial the Lord used to do so.<\/p>\n
First, the greater part went away at the trial of the word (Judges 7: 3.) They had the very word the others had yet they departed because of the word of the Lord. A great part went away from the Lord because of the word Christ preached (John 6: 66-69.) The gospel of Christ and him crucified is foolishness to the intellectual and a stumbling block to those looking for life by their own works (1 Co 1: 22-23.) Many will go back because of this one message of salvation accomplished by Christ alone, delivered through this one method of preaching. But unto us who are saved this is the power of God (1 Co 1: 18.)<\/p>\n
Secondly, the Lord said, \u201cI will\u201d try them. (Judges 7: 4-5.) We cannot discern what is good or bad in these men by the way they drank. That seems to be the point. The LORD did not tell Gideon which of these two styles of drinkers he was choosing; he just told Gideon that the Lord would do the choosing. It is the Lord who puts a difference between his people. You and I cannot tell who the Lord has chosen by looking at him. God chooses whom he will and passes by whom he will and God alone makes it known (Ex 11:7; 1 Co 4: 7.)<\/p>\n
Thirdly, we see a trial of faith. Though facing a host of enemies that far outnumbered them, when the Lord told Gideon to send home the greater part of his men, believing on the Lord, Gideon did so. Likewise, believing God, that small remnant who remained went into battle looking to Gideon. So it is that God chooses and strengthens his saints by his word so that we believe God is able to perform that which God promises. Therefore we go forth with God\u2019s remnant against a host of enemies looking to Christ alone (Judges 7: 6\u20148.)<\/p>\n
Victory by the Gospel of Christ (Judges 7: 16-22)<\/p>\n
Gideon and his small remnant of soldiers won the victory against a mighty enemy through a light (Christ), a trumpet and a shout (the gospel preached), and broken vessels (the sinner God uses). Those God uses are vessels with Christ the Light in our hearts (2 Co 4: 7.) But before the light shines forth, the vessel in which the light is has to be broken. God\u2019s servants shall each be broken in the flesh so that we see that we have absolutely no strength, no sufficiency of ourselves for the work to which God has called us\u2014that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. When Christ is made the Power and Wisdom of God unto us then shall we be made willing to go forth as the Lord has commanded, using the means God has ordained (1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 1: 18, 24-25, 29.) So is it that God allows no flesh to glory in his presence and brings his children to glory in the Lord (1 Cor 1: 27-31.) Clay Curtis.<\/p>\n
Judges 6:24\u2013\u201dThen Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom.\u201d (The Lord is my Peace)<\/p>\n
A dark cloud had gathered upon Israel\u2013they had forgotten the wonders of the Lord, and His mighty doings in their behalf. The hosts of Midian prevailed against them, and the last ray of hope seemed to have vanished. Their cry for help and deliverance, sent up in the hour of extremity, was answered by the Lord, in reminding them of their transgressions, and of His patience and forbearance. No promise of immediate help was given. But now, as ever, \u201cman\u2019s extremity became God\u2019s opportunity\u201d\u2013an angel appeared unto Gideon, \u201cas he threshed wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites,\u201d and revealed the purpose of the Lord, to make him the deliverer of Israel. Poor, and without influence, Gideon feared to occupy this high and responsible position, but he was cheered by the promise, \u201cI will be with you.\u201d A sign was granted, to assure him that he was the appointed messenger of God. Upon the offering which he presented to the angel, fire descended from heaven, \u201cand consumed the meat and the unleavened bread.\u201d Need we wonder that, when entering on the great undertaking, his heart, oppressed and downcast, at the thought of Israel\u2019s woes, and of the horrors of war, which wrung from them the cry of bitterest anguish, the altar-stone should be inscribed by Gideon, \u201cJehovah-shalom\u201d\u2013\u201dThe Lord send peace!\u201d<\/p>\n
Christian! have you no stones of remembrance? Along the pathway of your life are there no memorials of Jehovah\u2019s love? Ah, yes! You, too, can tell of seasons of danger and distress\u2013when prayer prevailed on high\u2013when, from the depths of your troubled soul, the cry ascended heavenward, \u201cLord send help out of Zion,\u201d and deliverance was given. The enemy came in upon you like a flood; but even then, when the contest was fiercest, and the battle raged hottest, \u201cthe Spirit of the Lord\u201d lifted up His standard, and the victory was yours. Surely, in such an hour, this was the language, of your soul, \u201cJehovah-nissi\u201d\u2013\u201dThe Lord my banner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Or, look backward again. Remember that time, when some heavy trial was impending over you, some sore bereavement was dreaded, at the prospect of which, your very heart failed you, and the sunshine of your life was wrapped in deepest gloom. But your God in mercy spared the blow\u2013the trial came not\u2013the bereavement was stayed, and again the voice of rejoicing was heard in your home. And, if an anxious thought still lingered in your heart, and the shadow of the cloud still darkened at times your pathway, oh! was not this, to you, a cheering and consolatory thought, that come what may, He who listened to your prayer for deliverance, would also listen to your prayer for grace, and that the covenant between you and your God, permitted you to utter these blessed words \u201cJehovah-jireh\u201d\u2013\u201dThe Lord will provide?\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, believer! and times there may have been in your past history, when the burden of sin was peculiarly oppressive, when your soul was bereft of comfort and peace, and as, with trembling step and aching heart, you pursued your weary journey, the language of your burdened spirit was that of David, \u201cMy soul is cast down within me.\u201d For you, there was no comfort in the Word, no joy in the means of grace, no happiness in prayer. Like a benighted traveler, you were groping in darkness, and, all the while, the whispered inquiry and taunt of the great adversary was, \u201cWhere is now your God?\u201d<\/p>\n
But your trial hour came to a close. The Comforter\u2019s voice again was heard; the light of your Father\u2019s countenance shone upon you; and, once more glad and joyous, the prayer of Gideon became yours, \u201cJehovah-shalom\u201d\u2013\u201dThe Lord send peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reader! you have entered the sanctuary; you have taken your place at the communion table. Has the language of your soul been this\u2013\u201dJehovah-shammah\u201d\u2013\u201dThe Lord is there?\u201d Trusting no longer in yourself, but coming to the mercy-seat, poor, hungry, and penitent, was this your prayer?\u2013\u201dO God, have mercy upon me a miserable sinner. Pardon and accept me, for the sake of Him whom You have revealed as \u2018Jehovah-tsidkenu,\u2019\u2013\u2019The Lord our righteousness.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
John MacDuff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SERVANTS OF THE LORD Judges 6: 7-7: 1-22 Those God uses to spread his gospel are called through the gospel by which Christ is made the Power and Wisdom of God to us. We do not turn from that which pleases God to the strength of our flesh, of our wisdom, or our power lest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-author-john-macduff","category-gospel-preaching"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3875"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3876,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions\/3876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}