Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Sunday, November 12, 2006.
California Conference 2006. Part 5.
Many are willing to fight or to serve or to give, but they are simply unprepared or untrained.
A willingness and desire to serve and fight the good fight of faith is no substitute for a prepared soldier.
The Jerusalem translation –
“Cursed be he who does the work of Yahweh half-heartedly.”
NUM 32:6 Shall your brethren go to war and shall you sit here?
The Septuagint –
“It is because there is a lie or false doctrine in their mouth.”
The N.E.B. –
“You are no more to them than a singer of fine songs with a lovely voice or a clever harpist.”
You can give a lot, you can minister, sing, pray, witness, etc., but if you are not prepared it is all kalous – worthless.
Now that there are only 300 men left who are prepared and ready for battle, it is time to take the offensive.
Arise – kal imperfect – Qum = to get up.
Once you are prepared and ready to go you do not sit around, you move.
REV 3:2 “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”
The promise is given not only to Gideon but to the 300 men who associated with this spiritual champion.
Phurah is one of his executive officers in the army of 300.
Gideon is going to listen to the enemy and he will hear what they say.
Afterward he would be strengthened to go down to the enemy’s camp (an idiom for battle courage and nerve).
Human viewpoint says it is a hopeless situation – also demonstrated when 10 of the 12 spies returned from the land of milk and honey to report to Moses that the giants were too powerful! They operated according to human viewpoint!
Divine viewpoint says the more the Arabs the bigger their casualty list will be.
In the confusion of a night attack, in their panic they will be killing each other.
They lack unity and oneness.
No disorganized group is an effective group, spiritually, militarily, or professionally.
Barley bread was food for the poor classes in the ancient world.
“Arise” – indicates Gideon’s courage, his professional ability, leadership, nerve, battle courage, etc.
He worshipped – that is his spiritual life.
Gideon’s faith is also manifested by the fact that he thanked the Lord before the attack.
He realizes the victory was given to all the men, all the spiritual champions.
Many battles have been won before the first shot because of the rotten M.A. in the losing army.
In this situation, the odds are so overwhelming that only God will get the credit for the victory.
Being on the offensive is the only way a decision is ever gained for victory.
In the midst of the night the Midianites would be awakened by the sound of the horns and at the same time would see sudden bursts of light in the darkness.
Though the victory was to be from the Lord, yet he knew that he ought to use prudential or wise means.
Sometimes, even in working a miracle, God will have natural means used.
JOS 6:4 Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
2KI 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him [Naaman], saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you and you shall be clean.”
JOH 9:7 “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”
The blowing of the trumpets signify the believer living the spiritual life, while at the same time the shattering of the pitchers represent our earthen vessels being shattered as we live the spiritual life.
2CO 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;
2TI 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
2TI 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these {things}, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
1CO 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1JO 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
California Conference
Lord’s Supper,
Sunday November 12, 2006
The Lord’s Supper is our opportunity to practice Occupation with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest soldier, the greatest conquering Hero.
Minchah – offering of propitiation honoring the person who would go to the Cross, TLJC.
We were delivered from our sins during those three hours of darkness at Calvary.
God does not intend to use miracles to deliver His people.
Doctrine is much more powerful than miracles.
The whole reason why man was created is for man to fulfill God’s will.
There were no miracles on the cross.
The God-man would go to the cross and redeem us from sin, propitiate the justice and righteousness of God, and reconcile us to the Father.
He used the same power options that we have: the filling of the Spirit, and metabolized doctrine in the soul.
When the Lord delivered us from the grip of the kingdom of darkness, He used 1 man.
The greatest risks in the will of God are the places of greatest safety in life.