WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:00.400 Amen. 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:01.840 Amen. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:02.959 All right. 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.000 Well, before I dive into it, let me just tell you a little bit about myself, right? 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.240 For those who may not know me, again, my name is Nathan Rees, my wife and I, our son. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:17.679 We've been going here for what, about a year and a half, give or take, plus minus change or so. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.239 But we've been here because we know Holy Spirit's working in here. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.280 I mean, you don't have a church unless you've got Holy Spirit moving in the church, right? 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:28.640 You just simply can't. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:34.159 And we were in a season in our lives where we were just hungry, we were ready for something more, we were ready for something deeper. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:43.600 We've been ministered by many great pastors and theologians, but we we were in a season where we were doing a lot of online church. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:50.880 But then uh one day, it's kind of amazing, my wife just kind of out of the blue said, I really wish we could find a church service at 1030. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:54.719 They're always at nine, they're always at 11. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:56.159 What 10:30? 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.520 That's such a better one. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:10.640 And I gotta give her some credit here because she we were up on a Sunday morning, we were getting ready to maybe watch another another lesson, but she just started going through and she's like, I found a church. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:16.879 Let's go right now, like 30 minutes before the sermon started, before the before the service started. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.040 And we've been here ever since. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:24.640 So, with that being said, being up here really is a high honor. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:27.680 I thank you, Pastor David, for inviting me to come up here to do this. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.120 I'm I'm truly humbled by that. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.959 But as far as my day-to-day life goes, I'm a school teacher. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:38.879 Now, here's the real test. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:40.480 How many of you actually like history? 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:42.000 Okay. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:42.799 All right. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.000 All right, be honest here. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:45.680 If you don't like history, you can put your hand up. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:46.959 Okay. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.040 Okay, that's okay. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:49.920 I know I get it. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.680 Sometimes history is not your cup of tea. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.799 That's fine. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:57.760 But I I chose to go into education because I really do have a heart for the next generation. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:00.719 And how many of us know that there's a calling on the next generation right now? 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:01.840 Gen Z. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:04.799 Gen Z, I know there's a lot of things that have been spoken. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:10.960 We were, Catherine, you were singing some very powerful songs here because that's kind of the message that has been sent out there. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.520 There's been a lot of foul words spoken over against the youth. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:16.879 Now, this has happened before, but I think it's been a particularly hard on Gen Z. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:22.159 It's like y'all give them a break, they're they're entering into a season in this world that they haven't asked for. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.560 There's a lot of stuff going on right now. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:31.120 And yet there's so many of them that are just beating them down when instead they need to be preparing them for battle, right? 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:32.400 Get this. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:34.960 Gen Z is starting to answer that call. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:40.240 Bible sales are going up, church attendance is going up, and Gen Z is the one that is beginning to answer that call. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:49.039 So let's respect them because they are the ones getting ready to stand up for battle, and many of them are starting from the very bottom. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:53.280 You could say that they've been enduring a day of infamy on their own. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:57.840 Speaking of that, as a history teacher, I gotta pop quiz y'all for a moment. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:02.000 I feel the anointing of God that I have to pop quiz you on at least one history fact today. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:03.360 All right. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.560 Can't even get to it. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.000 On this day, 1941, what happened? 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:14.800 Pearl Harbor, yes. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.719 I am, if you ask me the question, what's your favorite history topic? 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:22.400 That's really a bad question to ask me, but I try to narrow it down to military history. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:25.039 And so when David asked me, how about December 7th? 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:26.400 I said, You're kidding. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.919 I had to, I had to say yes. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:37.280 Because I love teaching about military issues, but wouldn't you know throughout the Bible, God instructs through the military, right? 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:39.199 How many battles did he lead people through? 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.840 How many wars did he declare victorious? 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:48.719 We may not be in a physical war in the sense, but we're already, we are always engaging in spiritual warfare. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:49.680 Okay? 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:58.319 And like Pearl Harbor, oftentimes we just admit defeat when instead God has victory in mind, right? 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:04.319 So a little recap for those who may not know a lot about Pearl Harbor, that was truly a day of infamy. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:04.879 Okay. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:12.319 The president came out after the attack where 2,000 roughly individuals were killed on a Sunday morning, no less. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:13.520 Many of them getting up. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:14.960 They were ready to go to church. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:16.639 Get that? 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:21.360 They were attacked on God's day for us to go and rest. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:24.480 And the enemy decides to strike them. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:26.319 Make matters worse. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:26.800 The U.S. 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:28.959 was dealing with economic depression. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.360 Okay, stock market crash, 1929. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:37.680 Throughout the whole 1930s, there were breadlines, soup kitchens, relief efforts, because about a quarter of the U.S. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:39.199 population was unemployed. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.639 And how many of us are worried about economic fears, right? 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.680 There's a lot that was going on in the United States. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:59.759 Meanwhile, you've got the Axis powers that were rising, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, steamrolling across Europe and the Pacific, and meanwhile, the United States is just trying to get itself back up on its feet. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.040 Then, wham, the attack happens. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:04.560 Needless to say, the U.S. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:06.720 was far from prepared for that war. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:07.439 Get this. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.959 Out of all the armies in the world, you want to know how the U.S. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:12.160 ranked amongst them? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:13.839 We weren't very high. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.279 We were 19th. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.920 We had one of the smallest militaries. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:21.120 I know it's kind of hard to imagine today because we think of the U.S. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.120 as having this global presence, right? 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:25.680 We're the best trained, we're the best equipped. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:27.920 Well, that wasn't the case in 1941. 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:35.279 Even when we knew that the Japanese and the Nazis were rising, we still were kind of just tugging along a little bit. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:43.040 But then that battle, that that that quick attack on December 7th, 1941, that changed the game. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:44.879 That forced the U.S. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:48.319 to get it in gear and gear up for war, but not just any kind of war. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:50.560 One that's going to be waged on two fronts. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:53.439 By all means, something impossible. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:55.600 Something that should not have been accomplished. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.319 Something that could not be done. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.600 And yet look what happened. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:07.360 I'm a fervent believer that all in the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:09.199 Has he not used this nation for his purpose? 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:11.199 I believe that was a season when he did. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:15.519 And I believe right now God is ready to use this nation again. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:17.519 But we got to get it in gear. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:18.800 Amen. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.480 So before I get deep into the story, can we just pray real quick, Heavenly Father? 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:27.759 I just pray that there's a life-given word in this message today. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:35.680 I pray that there is a word that is uplifting the hearts and minds of the people in here to get them ready for the warfare that you are assigning them to. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:40.079 Yes, Lord, that you assign them to in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:41.360 Amen. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:43.680 Alright, let's get into it. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.680 So if you have your Bibles with you, you can go ahead and turn to the book of Judges. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:53.279 I'm going to be hopscotching around, or shall I say, island hopping for those who know that history. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:57.040 I'm going to be moving around chapters six and seven. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:06.399 We're going to be looking at the tale of Gideon, a mighty anointed man of God who was raised up to lead Israel in its darkest hour, its infamous moment. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:12.959 So I just gave you the whole introduction of Pearl Harbor, right? 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:18.240 Not just because it's December 7th, but because there is a real biblical parallel here. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:18.800 Okay. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.399 Just as the U.S. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:30.879 was on its knees, down on the ground, reeling from this attack that should have kept us from fighting, Israel was experiencing a season of its own. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:31.360 Okay. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:39.120 In Judges chapter 6, the Bible describes this scene that Israel is at a low point. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:39.759 Okay? 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.319 Israel's at a low low point. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.319 They are surrounded by a group known as the Midianites. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.480 This is one of the many Canaanite groups. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.920 For reference, Israel has already moved out of Egypt. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:54.800 They've already moved into the promised land with God. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.439 They've already settled. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:04.720 But there's a problem Israel frequently faces in judges, and that's they get comfortable with the people they're around. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:10.000 See, when God moves you into your promised land, he's expecting you to be separate. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.920 That's what being a holy, that's what being a holy follower of God is like. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:14.800 You have to be separate. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.720 You can't conform to the world. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.439 But unfortunately, Israel was doing just that. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:22.879 Before Pearl Harbor, in a way, the United States was doing that. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.800 Y'all familiar with the Roaring Twenties? 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:30.240 Oh, there were some lifestyles that were being embraced during that time that were far less than holy. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:38.399 We think about the things that we hear about today and that we see on TV and some of the things that are tolerated, not all that different back then. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:40.960 And guess what? 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:46.639 When you choose to embrace that lifestyle, God's gonna allow the consequences follow. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.159 Actions have consequences. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:56.480 Next thing you know, when the enemy takes advantage of your weak point, you get overcome, you get consumed. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:00.799 Case in point, Israel endures seven years of torment. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:07.679 The Bible says that the Midianites tormented them, and the Israelites were impoverished for seven years. 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:09.600 They were at a low point. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:12.399 They were at the bottom. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.039 But our God is a redeemer, right? 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:20.799 He does not allow consequences to follow without an opportunity to redeem you and build you back up. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:33.679 Which is why the moment the Israelites realize I'm wrong, I'm sorry, and I turn back to you, God, God immediately sends a holy prophet to give a word. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:39.519 And as long as the Israelites follow the word of that prophet, they will be risen back up. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:47.360 And not only will they be redeemed from the sin that they have been committed, but God is also going to vanquish the enemies that were invited because of it. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:53.519 So it doesn't matter how far you've gotten, how low you've gotten, how much sin you've committed. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.799 There is not a sin that the blood of Jesus cannot redeem you. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:58.960 And we see that happening here. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.240 God is taking Israel where they're at, which is the lowest. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.639 Again, I love what you were singing earlier, Catherine. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:05.360 Perfection. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.320 I was expecting someone who wanted perfection. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:11.279 God does not care about perfection because nobody can be perfect in him. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:12.639 Only God is perfect. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.159 But he'll take you where you're at now and he'll fulfill his perfect plan through it. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.639 Amen. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.919 So Israel's at that low point. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:21.200 Midianite army. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:22.799 Got him gripped out. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.720 But a prophet of the Lord comes and says, I'm going to raise up a man. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:29.039 That man ends up being Gideon. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:35.120 Now, there's a reason why I'm focusing on Gideon because I just love his story. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:35.600 Okay? 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:44.000 A lot of times when people think about mighty warriors being raised up by God, they often think of, you know, some guy with a real deep voice. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:45.200 He might be a little bit much. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.360 And a lot of times they think of someone who's the most scholared, right? 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.320 I mean, they can whip out scripture like it's nothing, right? 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:59.919 And we often we often get that vision, but Gideon, I'm gonna tell you, Gideon, he's far from that. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:00.399 Okay. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:12.480 In fact, Gideon doesn't even know what he's stepping into, but God is gonna raise him up to be the leader of an Israelite army to overthrow the Midianites. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:13.039 Okay? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.320 He's described as a mighty man of valor. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.480 But you tell me this. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:23.840 If you're living in a circumstance like this, would you feel mighty? 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.159 This right here is a threshing floor. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:26.799 Okay? 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:34.000 In biblical times and in some cultures today, people still harvest grain the old-fashioned way. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:42.159 Okay, so what they would do is they would take the wheat and they would bring it to the threshing floor, and then they would bash the stalks of grain on the ground. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:44.240 It was it was heavy labor. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.039 You can see there would be oxen there to help out as well. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:54.799 They would stomp on the grain so that way they could sift the nutritious grain from the stalks, what the Bible calls the chaff. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.120 So separating the wheat from the chaff, right? 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.000 So Gideon's doing this day in and day out. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:05.279 And in Judges 6, it says he's doing this next to a wine press. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:10.559 Now, how many of y'all know that the Bible's got a lot of symbolic meaning behind things? 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.759 I bet Gideon didn't know this. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:21.039 But there's a reason why those details are included in the scripture because to be raised up as a judge, you first have to learn to separate. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:24.080 And then you need to know how to enact judgment. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:36.320 Every day with Gideon separating the wheat from the chaff, he is learning how to separate those who are true believers versus those who are not going to be willing to follow. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.480 Jesus does the same thing. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.840 He describes this in the Gospels. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:41.919 I'm going to separate the wheat from the chaff. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.679 I'll gather the wheat in my barn. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:49.919 I'll gather those who said yes before the harvest, and then I'll take the chaff and I'll burn it in an everlasting fire. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.279 They will not participate. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.360 But he's doing this also by the wine press. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:13:04.399 In the book of Revelation, there's a there's a there's a scene where it talks about a wine press where this is God's wrath about to be poured out. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.399 When there is a separation, God's wrath shortly follows. 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:10.799 But that wrath is not going to fall onto the believers. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:13.440 Oh no, that's going to fall on the enemies of the Lord. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.399 But how do you get there? 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.080 Well, first it takes an anointed leader. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:25.679 It takes someone who is willing to say yes to God despite what their present circumstances are. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.879 Gideon, in this case, you know, he's he's in a humble position. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.679 In fact, he's fearing for his life right now. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:34.799 Remember, the Midianites are tormenting these people. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:39.840 He's hiding behind the wine press, hoping they don't see him, so that way he can sneak the grain. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:42.799 The Bible says the Israelites are hiding in the caves. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.960 I mean, they're they're at their they're at their wit's end. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:54.639 And Gideon has a hard time believing of the anointing God has on his life. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:14:01.279 An angel of the Lord came to him and had to convince him, Have I not walked with you, you mighty man of valor? 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:11.840 You're being called mighty man of valor, and I'm having to work and labor beside barn animals and sift weed so I could hopefully eat for the next day. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.320 Tomorrow was not guaranteed. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.639 Yeah, God is calling him a mighty man of valor. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:25.600 See, how many of us are afraid to move forward because we can't take God's perception of us and begin applying it? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.919 So many of us are looking at us in our own position. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:37.279 We're looking at ourselves in our own present circumstances, weak, lowly, downtrodden, surrounded, about to be devoured. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.240 And yet God is looking at you, saying, I'm calling you up, I'm raising you up. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:48.000 How many of us is God calling on us? 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.799 I bet every one of us in this room has a calling on their life. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.840 Yet there's something up here that's telling us otherwise. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.919 We have to learn to cast that thought down. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:03.519 We have to learn to move beyond what our present lowly circumstances and begin accepting what God has commanded on our life. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.320 He's got great things in store for you, amen. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:15.039 But you've got to accept God's word. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:22.559 Throughout the Bible, bread, which we know is made through the grain, that's often symbolic for word. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:30.240 Gideon is harvesting this grain, but while he's doing it, he's also having to ingest a new fresh word for himself. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:35.039 He's got to change his perception, and he's got to believe in the Lord to do this. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.840 Now, throughout chapter 6, there's this struggle. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.840 He's always constantly going back to God. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.080 He's saying, Lord, show me, show me. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:47.759 This is where, this is where uh fleecing God comes from because he's asking the Lord for a sign. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:53.120 And it's not so much because he's doubting, but it's more because he wants to draw in closer to God. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:16:00.879 There are times when God's going to put the anointing on our life and he's gonna raise us up, and it's gonna feel heavy, it's gonna feel hard, but the Lord wants to walk you through it. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:05.279 He wants to keep giving you the sign, he wants to let you know hey, this is what I've intended for you. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.480 Don't back out of it. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.759 I'm with you in this. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.840 Get ready to move. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.720 And he wants you to move. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:20.240 So he's taking these signs, and slowly but surely he ingests it, and he begins to accept his calling. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:24.559 And finally, the day comes when he does. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:28.639 Gideon's first assignment is not going to be the Midianites. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.360 Okay? 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.720 They're gonna, they're gonna they're gonna show up eventually. 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:37.360 But we have to remember Israel was in judgment. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:39.360 The Midianites were judgment over them. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:39.679 Okay? 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:44.080 It was their sin, it was their rebelliousness, it was idol worship. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:49.200 It's not the first time they've done this, but the idol they've been worshiping was Baal. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.320 This is a Canaanite god. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.919 Remember how I said earlier they got comfortable with the people there around? 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.240 That's why you got to stay away from bad company because eventually it can corrupt your good character. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.080 You've got to learn to separate from that. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.840 If you don't separate, you become what they are. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.279 And that's what the Israelites did. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:10.160 They started raising an idol on an altar. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:18.559 They created an altar of Baal, worshiping an idol, which we know is a big no-no when it comes to God's people and God's kingdom. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.079 We are not to conform but be transformed. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.920 Israel is conformed right now. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:37.039 So before Gideon can do anything about the Midianites, before he can go after the judgment over Israel, first, the thing that needs to be rid of is the very thing Israel embraced that got them there. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:46.000 He leads a team at night, busts in, and tears down the idol. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:52.079 Now, when people realize what happened, they chase after him, they almost get him killed. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.519 But enough soon realize this was the Lord's will. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.519 The stronghold over Israel's life had to be tear down. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.079 What strongholds might we be dealing with? 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:11.119 You allow God to change your perception of you just like Gideon, he will raise you up to tear down the stronghold. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:20.160 We're a church that believes in deliverance here, and there's a good reason because the calling God has on your life, he wants to raise you up, but he also needs to tear down the stronghold that's in your life. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:25.839 You gotta let him change you, change you from within. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.920 Because the moment you do, then the mighty things can be done. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.039 And even then, God's gonna work in a miraculous way to do it. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:36.240 So it doesn't, so I want to make this very clear to every one of us in here. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:41.599 It doesn't matter where we've been, where we've gone, what we've done, how much we've done it, and how bad it was. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:52.000 Whatever that was, God is ready to raise you up and ready to tear down that stronghold in your life so that way greater evil around you can be subdued. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.480 Amen. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.440 That's what he wants. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:57.759 That's the kingdom of God, that's spiritual warfare. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:03.359 Allow me to deviate just for a little bit, okay? 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.559 I'm relatively young, okay? 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.319 I'm 32, I'm a millennial. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.519 And since I was young, I've I've been somewhat observant, okay? 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:18.880 But as I've gotten older, I've become and I've become very well aware that unfortunately too many churches have gotten comfortable. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.400 Okay? 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:25.200 I don't want to get too hard here, but it has it has to it has to be made clear. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:31.599 If you want to know why some of the lawlessness is being embraced today, it's because there weren't enough within the church to stand up and say no. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:39.920 Now we're in a season right now that I firmly believe God is raising up some mighty men and women of God. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:45.599 Where God is raising them up to get ready to lead and tear down strongholds. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.960 We need to let that play out, ladies and gentlemen. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.759 Because it is time, it is necessary. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:58.000 And we can't be surprised if some of these people aren't necessarily the most ideal. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.920 How many years did they go to Bible college? 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.480 How many years have they been in church? 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:15.839 You know, there's a lot of churches out there where you can have thousands, tens of thousands of members, but many of them may not be spiritually growing. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.160 That's changing. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.960 And God's going to use whomever he sees fit. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.279 Why? 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.400 Because he's looking for people who have a heart towards him. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.640 1 Corinthians 1 28. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:40.000 And the base things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:47.039 We need to take what Pastor David has been saying the past few weeks, and we need to be discerning the hearts of people. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.119 We need to be discerning those who truly have a reverent fear of God versus those who don't. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:57.039 And I can guarantee you, it's going to come from surprising places. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:02.000 They may not be the most biblically educated, but they've got a heart on fire. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:08.079 They may not have had years of experience, but they are dedicated to the Lord. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:14.400 Those are the people that are going to be raised up for this war. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:17.119 Because God can do something with that. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:24.960 Sometimes it's the status quo and repeat that makes us weak and makes us stale. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:29.279 We shouldn't be surprised then that we have a younger generation that is ignited and on fire. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.680 And they're not going to do things the same way previous generations have done. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:37.519 That's because God is wanting to do something new. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.599 He's always about doing something new. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.880 And Gideon is a case example of that. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.599 If you read in the scriptures, he says, But I'm the least of my household. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:50.319 I'm the least of the tribes of Israel. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:53.599 God is there like, did I stutter? 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:57.200 Mighty man of valor. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.839 Take the word God has spoken to you. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.880 Over on you and begin chewing on that. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.559 Because that's what matters most. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.920 That's what's more important. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:13.519 Let God raise you up like a Gideon to tear down the strongholds that's causing ailment in your life, and He can do it. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.440 The power of God is real, folks. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.559 Holy Spirit is real. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:27.839 There's plenty of people I've heard in this church alone with testimonies overcoming all kinds of problems: alcoholism, drug addictions, addiction to pornography. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.640 They've torn down those altars and they've begun living transformed lives. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:38.799 If you're in a moment in your life right now where that is a time you need, it can happen right now. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.599 You just got to believe what God says about you. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.839 Believe He's called you, mighty man or woman of valor. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:54.400 This is the challenge that Israel's dealing with internal issues. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:58.240 And so God had to raise up a leader to tear down that altar. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:04.960 But remember, the Israelites are pleading that the Ahmidianites are eventually broken off their back. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.559 God's going to answer that, but the altar had to come down first. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:13.200 But now that the altar is gone, it's time to start facing the enemy. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.920 Real quick, I'm going to kind of get ahead of myself. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:23.519 Don't be surprised when God makes you do unconventional things to tear down enemies and strongholds in your life, physical or otherwise. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:26.960 Let's talk about Gideon's army. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.960 Now, again, I'm a military history buff. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:33.680 So pardon me if I throw out a little bit of terminology. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.680 I'll kind of explain as I go. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:38.480 But this is Gideon's army, okay? 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:43.920 According to the Bible, his army numbered at about 32,000 individuals. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:48.720 In military terms, that's about the size of a division, give or take, right, Pastor Pete? 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.599 Division size? 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.759 Yeah, maybe a slightly larger one. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:57.200 Divisions can range from 10,000 and kind of just depends on which army you're looking at. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.039 Doesn't sound bad, right? 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:03.039 But compare that to the Midianite army, 135. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:08.079 That's the size of a corps or even a field army, depending on which army you're looking at. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.880 Needless to say, the odds were not in their favor. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.960 That's how God likes to do things. 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:19.200 He likes to lead you in things where he knows the odds are not in your favor because he's going to use that to show off his might and glory. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:27.119 In fact, that's what he tells Gideon, that 32,000 man army that you have, Gideon, yeah, that's too much. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:33.359 He says, I don't want y'all going into battle with that many men, lest you think you get the glory. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.920 No, I want you to know this is my doing. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.359 And so he tasks Gideon. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:42.559 He tells him, You need to go and you need to thin that herd down. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.400 You need to wither that army down. 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:46.400 It's amazing how he does this. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:46.960 Okay. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.000 Here's how he does this, okay? 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:59.759 So in chapter 7, verse 3, he says, Now therefore proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.920 Now Gilead is where they assembled. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:07.839 And 22,000 of the people returned, 10,000 remained. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:20.240 You see, this is what I was talking about earlier. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:20.880 Okay. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:25.200 You can have the largest congregations in the world. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.599 You can have the largest church. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:30.799 But are your congregants really growing spiritually? 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.839 I think we're coming to an awakening on this. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:36.880 Quantity does not equate quality. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.480 Right now, what God is wanting is quality. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.319 You know, in the Marine Corps, they say a few good men, right? 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:46.400 Anybody anybody who served in the Marine Corps here? 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.519 Anyone in here? 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.359 Thank you for your service, sir. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:50.720 Amen. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.079 Give them a route, give them a route. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.799 Give them a route. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:58.160 In case you don't know, I have a heart for the veterans. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:01.839 I actually invite them to come and speak to my class every now and then when I can. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.920 I love hearing their stories. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:09.599 But where the Marine Corps says, I need a few good men, God is up there saying, I need a faithful few. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:16.720 Those 22,000 men that left, they were they were told up front, hey, this is gonna be a hard task. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.000 You know it's gonna be a hard task. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:21.039 135 men, can't guarantee that y'all are gonna make it back home. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.880 22 said, Well, actually, I am gonna go back home. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.920 And so they left. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.759 No hard feelings, right? 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.839 10,000 men are left. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.599