Go in This Strength of Yours

I will return later to this series we are busy with. The Lord gave me a few Golden Nuggets I would like to place first.

I would like to share an interesting revelation with you.

Gideon was threshing out some wheat in the winepress. He was dead scared of the Midianites when Jesus, called the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, visited him. You can read his history in Judges 6-8.

Throughout this passage it is clear that Gideon found it equally easy to panic and believe. When he had an encounter with the Lord, faith came easily, but when his bad self image and lack of confidence got the better of him, despair stepped in just as easily.

When Jesus appeared to him He greeted Gideon with the words: "The LORD is with you O mighty man of valour," (Judges 6:12). The Lord should have known Gideon's personality, which was characterized by fear, insecurity and lack of self-confidence. Why would He have greeted him this way?

A few verses later He ordered Gideon in verse 14: "Go in this might (or strength) of yours and save Israel from the hands of Midian; do I not send you?"

Many scholars take it that Jesus spoke faith over Gideon when He uttered the latter, in other words proclaiming Gideon's potential and what he was like at the time.

Usually it is a good idea to motivate people this way, especially those with lots of confidence. You tend to get results. But those suffering with a lack of confidence are not so easily fooled. They find it difficult to get past the barrier which was erected by a lack of faith in themselves. They need sufficient evidence that they are actually able to do it. If you have experienced this before, you will understand it. Therefore, even though the Lord believed in him, Gideon still had himself to encounter. You will find much evidence of it in this passage.

We said earlier that Gideon easily panicked and got into despair, but equally easily acted in faith after an encounter with the Lord.

I have mentioned two significant phrases the Lord had said to Gideon, which actually became quite famous throughout the ages and have been used in many messages. I believe they relate respectively to each of these two characteristics that Gideon displayed.

Firstly, when the Lord told Gideon to "go in this might of yours" He meant the strength and courage Gideon had at the time, which was not much. It is not easy for anybody to, in your own strength, be more than you are.

Gideon also proved this fact by immediately acting within character. He said in verse fifteen: “So he said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’” This is exactly the position the Lord wanted him in, for then the glory would be His and not Gideon's, which is why He comforted Gideon with the words: "The LORD is with you" (verse 12), "do I not send you" (verse 14) and "I will be with you" (verse 16).

It is of no use you try to pump up your self-confidence in order to become something you are not. It is better to step out saying: "I cannot do it, but God can do it through me." Then we go in the strength we have and the Lord does the part we cannot do.

Secondly, why did Jesus call Gideon a mighty man of valour? He did know Gideon's fearful personality, did He not?

If you display faith in the Lord God and through that please Him (make Him happy), He releases to you a lot of strength and power. "The joy of the Lord (in other words Him being happy) is my strength," (Nehemiah 8:10), and "without faith it is impossible to please God," (Hebrews 11:6).

The Lord knew Gideon's ability to easily trust Him, believe Him, and rely on Him. These virtues made Gideon mighty and powerful, not because of him, but because the Lord was to be with him. God's joy, as a result of Gideon's faith and obedience, released His might and power to Gideon.

How about you? In what manner is the Lord pleased by your faith and obedience? Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Gideon went out in the little strength he had, trusting the Lord, and had the privilege to see the Lord's power on display.

Which weakness currently stands in your way to step out in service to the King of kings?

Simply go out in the little strength you have available, and God's almighty power will be made perfect in it.

Jesus said that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you will do mighty things; “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20). That is all you need. The reason why many Christians accomplish very little is because they do not even have that amount of faith.

All you need is to start doing what you know God expects of you, even if it is with a throbbing heart, shaky legs, and breath that gets stuck in your throat when you try to speak. Believe me, that is probably how Gideon felt. As you start seeing the Lord's faithfulness and power in action, your boldness and faith will grow, until it is as big in comparison to your initial faith as a mustard tree is in comparison to the seed it came from.

The result - God's Kingdom and your heavenly treasure will prosper.

Lord, give me the courage to go out in the little strength I have and make you happy by acting in faith.

The Prostitutes Distracting God’s Soldiers (Part Four)

As you would recall, we are busy discussing the prostitutes that render the modern-day Christian inefficient. Today I address church leaders, any Christian in a leadership capacity, and those who adore church leaders.

Girl two - the lust for power.

One major task the Holy Spirit has is to keep us humble. We do enjoy being important, do we not? Because of our lust after power we often allow people to put us on thrones and give us titles. In some instances church has become a sort of kingdom of its own – leaders acting as the king with all his followers. The leader’s word and Bible interpretation are often the alpha and omega and should not be questioned. How often have you disagreed with the behaviour or teaching of a leader, but the system or the leader himself did not allow you the opportunity to sort it out with him. I have had many instances where I had to point out to church leaders the error in their teaching. Some have accepted it graciously and corrected their error, but others did not respond very favourably.

Maybe this does not apply to you or maybe it hits right on the spot, but I want to ask why we accept this glorification? Why do we enjoy it when people worship us? Why do we strive for positions of importance? Does the Word not teach us the contrary?  “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all,” (Mark 9:35). This is mentioned five times in the New Testament. Have a look at Luke 14:7-11. It concludes with the words: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

"Beware of the teachers of the law (maybe certain church leaders?). They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most  important seats in the synagogues (churches?) and the places of honor at banquets,” (Luke 20:46). This is mentioned five times in New Testament.

“He called a little child and had Him stand among them.  And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:2-4).

What does it mean to become like a little child? Have you ever seen a proud and blown up four year old who ignores those not beneficial to him and who loves and smiles at only those whom he considers worthy? Have you ever seen one with hidden motives and false pretenses, or one who decides which skin colour,  physical appearance, or social standing is acceptable to him whilst the others he considers inferior or not important. No, a child spontaneously loves and accepts anybody. He gives and gives abundantly, has none of the adult pride mentioned above and forgives automatically. He never accuses or keeps grievances, like many adults do.  

“Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, And whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many," (Matthew 20:25-28).

Do I hear you protest: “But it is not me who lifts myself up, it is the people.” It may be so, but why do we accept it, why do we accept the title and in the end introduce ourselves as such? Why do we accept the important places and positions? Is it not for enhancing in ourselves a feeling of importance, or maybe for using the position of authority to our own benefit and for the presentation of our own ideas? Come; let us look deeper than the obvious!

Should we not set an example of humility and service? The senior leader of a mega church once admitted in a sermon he had marital struggles and next thing all the leaders in the church with marital problems came out for counsel. In another church the leader was very humble with regard to his struggles and weaknesses and the anointing of God was powerfully on that church.

Do you know the acronym WWJD (what would Jesus do)? Have you ever taken the trouble to study Jesus’ lifestyle and personality; “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’  On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,’" (Matthew 9:10-13).

“Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,’” (Matthew 8:19-20).

How do you compare with Jesus in the context of above scriptures? How would you picture Jesus if He would live today? Maybe He would live in a luxurious home. On Sundays He would polish himself into a tailor-cut suit and drive to His church building of architectural beauty in His luxury car to treat the folks down there with a smooth sermon from His pedestal. Would He?

Or would He maybe be on the dusty streets of the ghetto in His casuals loving, feeding and healing people? At night He would be invited to sleep in a shack or a small flat with those who cannot afford and extra mouth to feed, but would leave them with a blessing from the Almighty God the next day.

How do you compare with Jesus in the context of the above scripture examples?

Lord, help me to become like Jesus.

(To be continued)

Part Three – Following on ‘Prostitutes Distracting God’s Soldiers Part Two’

Real Christianity

Have you ever taken a look at the Christian world today in comparison with Christianity in the book of Acts and the Epistles? Paul stated to Timothy the following: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Timothy 3:12).  I see no ‘maybe’ or ‘possibly’, but only a definite ‘will’. The apostles and other godly men of the Bible ... “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground,” (Hebrews 11:33-38).

This is the guaranteed consequence of living a godly life – an obedient life by faith. Of how many of today’s Christians can this be said? Do most of us not keep ourselves busy with comfortable living, entertainment, business, sports and fitness – in essence self gratification? How much of what we do are aimed at building the Kingdom of God? What percentage of our time and money are devoted to the command in Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,’” and to Mark 16:15-18: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”

How many pastors and church leaders prepare their entire flock to reach out and make a change to the world? Are most Christians and their leaders not basking in the sun of comfort and self-indulgence whilst a handful of faithful ones desperately try and bring the world to Jesus?

What do you think? Could this be considered a sign of self-centredness, of satisfying the flesh - prostitutes keeping the soldiers’ minds occupied with carnal desires so they are not able to see the true plans the Holy Spirit has for their lives? Meanwhile the Holy Spirit keeps calling over the two-way radio... (See earlier messages)

Have you ever imagined the power of God’s Kingdom here on earth if all of His children minimized on personal and carnal needs and maximized on the development and application of their Holy Spirit given (1 Corinthians 12) and motivational (Romans 12:6-8) gifts? Have you noticed that none of these gifts is meant for personal satisfaction or enrichment?

Maybe we should sit still for a moment and picture a force of thousands of imitators of Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, Timothy, and so on - no-one owning much materially, but all accomplishing the same as is recorded in the Bible? (To be continued)