Text: Judges 7:1-6
Topic: Called by the Spirit but rejected by…...
The charge
In these days and ages,
different people are called by different things/persons/spirits to carry out
different assignments, but our focus for tonight is to consider how God’s
spirit inspired Gideon to gather a group of people and they were also rejected
by Him, what are the things that made this so, are there others? Can we mitigate
this? we are blessed in Jesus’ mighty name.
Amen
We will drive further
with the following subheading:
Background
Gideon’s visitation
Rejected for the following reason.
Conclusion
Background
The book of Judges is a twenty-one-chapter book that was written by Prophet Samuel according to Jewish tradition, it details the journey of the children of Israel between the conquest of Canaan and the birth of Monarchy/kingship or autocracy.
The book records many prodigal excursions of the children of Israel and attending punishment by God little wonder one of the most popular and pitiable statements in the book is “in those days there were no kings in Israel everyone did as she/he pleases”, may we never find ourselves or may God’s people under our tutelage never get to this junction in Jesus mighty name.
Gideon’s visitation
It is God’s plan to continue to visit/fellowship with men starting from the Garden of Eden, Gen.3, Abraham Gen.18:17, etc. the issue of separation from God’s presence has always been caused/initiated by men, are we different from this ugly trend, i.e., available, making our lives attractive for His visitation.
Gideon the fifth of the twelve judges of Israel was privileged to have divine visitation even in the confused and exploited state of the children of Israel and the visitation had a lasting impact on him some of which are:
1.
It
made Him conscious of the presence of God vs.12-14
2.
revealed
God’s assignment for His life to Him vs. 14
3. God gave him signs to drive home the point to him.vs.17-21, this was an old covenant event we may not need such signs today we have the bible and the Holy Spirit.
if we sense we lack or lagging on any of the aftermaths of God’s divine to Gideon in our life it’s a sure sign that we need an encounter, a touch, a personal retreat, let’s seek for him all these will burst forth.no matter the situation/trials, we must never lose the presence and the consciousness of His presence Ps.23:4.
Rejected for the following reason.
The spirit of God on Gideon attracted men to Him for battle in great numbers Judges 6:34ff, but they were also reduced by God for the following reasons amongst others, (we should, however, note that we can be called by the Spirit of God into warfare against Hell too but we must watch and pray like Jesus said not to be rejected too):
1.
God
will never share His glory 7:2, Is.42:8
2.
Fear Vs.3
3.
Not
be alert
Vs.5-7
4.
Lust Judges 16:20
5. Disobedience 1 Sam.15:22
Conclusion
Our obedience to God, our relationship with Him, our continual return of Glory to Him, and our faith in Him alone is not only more important than what we do for or in His name it is a prerequisite to it. May God help us in Jesus’ mighty name Amen.
Shalom.
