The Shrinking Army

Judges 7:4-7 NLT
(4) But the LORD told Gideon, "There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not."
(5) When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, "Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream."
(6) Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.
(7) The LORD told Gideon, "With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home."

Have you ever felt your list of friends get shorter as God leads you into a deeper understanding of what He wants to do in your life? The response of many would be that of defense but it is true. It doesn’t mean those who are unable to follow aren’t friends, some you would even consider close, it just means God says that they can’t go where you are going. Like Gideon the first group that went home before the battle began was 22,000. This group was allowed to leave because they feared for their lives and after that 10,000 remained but God said there were still too many so He tested them. After the test only 300 hundred warriors remained, the other 9,700 were indeed warriors and were ready to fight but God did not choose them. In the same way there are casual friends (the group of 22,000) who are scared of the places God leads you and there are friends who would go into battle by your side but God says they cannot go where you are going (the 9,700) but God has reserved a remnant that will work with you side by side until the victory is revealed. Your job is to allow God to do the selecting, trusting that He knows what He is doing. It’s not an easy process as I am sure Gideon watched a lot of people leave that he didn’t want to let go of but he chose to trust God. The 10,000 weren’t the only ones tested for Gideon’s test was the most difficult but did you notice the relationship between Gideon and the Lord? That’s where each of us needs to be if we are to ever hear God lead us into battle.

A similar situation happened to me recently. I do not think any less of this friend from my youth but have high regards for him. In typical fashion I needed to know it was God that I was following and three times a test came and three times God said no. I do not understand what God has planned but I do trust Him completely and I pray that He shapes me and molds me into the person He has purposed for me to be. 

To Fight Fear

To fight fear three things are required: Know who God is, be obedient to His call, and trust Him. It is that simple but those three things are the most difficult things to you’ll ever do.

Genesis 22:9-14 NLT
(9) When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.
(10) And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
(11) At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!"
(12) "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son."
(13) Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
(14) Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Here we see first of all Abraham had relationship with God and he communed with God and God with him. What does that look like for us? It begins in our hearts, our hearts hunger to know more about who God is and then the Holy Spirit of God leads us to pray. Asking that He reveal more of Himself to us and we take the time to open the Word of God and we pray for understanding. God is faithful and if we seek Him our understanding of who He is will grow. That is the first step of conquering fear.

Matthew 14:24-30 NLT
(24) Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
(25) About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
(26) When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"
(27) But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," He said. "Take courage. I am here! "
(28) Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water."
(29) "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

Like Peter we do many things wrong as followers of Christ Jesus but he was the only one willing to trust Jesus while the others were filled with fear. For all Peter has been criticized for he got this one right in that he was obedient to God’s call for him to step out of the boat. It was only after he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances surrounding him that he began to sink.

Jonah 2:1-10 NLT
(1) Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
(2) He said, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and LORD, You heard me!
(3) You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.
(4) Then I said, 'O LORD, You have driven me from Your presence. Yet I will look once more toward Your holy Temple.'
(5) "I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
(6) I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But You, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
(7) As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.
(8) Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
(9) But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone."
(10) Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Though Jonah tried to run from God he knew deep within there was no escaping God’s call on his life. He then told the sailors to toss him into the sea and the storm would cease and it did. However for Jonah he had to learn his lesson in the belly of the great fish but even then Jonah could hear the call of God on his life. In the midst of his desperation Jonah stopped trying to run from God and decided the best thing to do was to instead trust God. I believe the moment he had experienced a true heart change the fish spit him out on dry land.

As God’s people we are not perfect and even in the midst of our failures, if we know Him, we can hear His call on our lives. That can either bring great misery or great joy but that depends on our willingness to trust and obey Him. In all three of these accounts fear had to be overcome; it wasn’t overcome by running away but instead running to God and in turn God was glorified through that individual for all the world to see! You want to do something big for God, you want to tear down the walls fear has built in your life, then know God, be obedient to His call, and trust Him in all things.

Bread from Heaven

Exodus 16:4 NLT
(4) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions."

So God brought you out of Egypt, freeing you from your bondage but all you can think about was how good you had it then. Without knowing it your thoughts have blinded you from the miracles that surround you now and change, even though it is good, feels like the enemy. It seems unimaginable but the Israelites own thoughts were leading them down a path of destruction but at any moment all they had to do was look up to see what God had provided for them and accept the challenge to be different. Strangely enough there was a comfort in being a victim because your outcome wasn’t your fault but to follow an invisible God into the wilderness who then could you point your finger at if things didn’t turn out good? 

Just the thought of failure immobilizes your legs and feet until they feel like cinder blocks and your thoughts begin to overwhelm you with ideas of returning to the way things once were. Fortunately, unknown by you God has a plan much like the Promised Land waited for the Israelites but to reach it you have to take your eyes off of yourself and look to Jesus and even though you may want what God wants your flesh will fight you every step of the way, even to the point of being self-destructive. Yes your own flesh will sabotage the efforts of the spirit within you all because of the fear of the unknown. The only defense against such behavior is to see and understand your own desperation for God to lead and guide you every step of the way, even when it feels like you’re headed the wrong direction.

Exodus 16:35 NLT
(35) So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

I don’t want to waste time in the wilderness because I was afraid to trust God fully but even if I do God is faithful to provide until such time when I step foot in the Promised Land.

Not my strength but Yours

I know the popular saying, “if God brought me to this place then He will take me through it.” But it can be misleading. This paints a picture in my mind that I will come out of the storm stronger than before but that is not always the case. Lately, I’ve come to realize that God brings me to the storm so that on the other side I come out broken thus more dependent upon whom He is, not who I am or even hope to be. In every situation where Jesus heals someone we see what is expected – the physical healing but we also see something that isn’t expected – a spiritual connection that speaks to the individual more deeply than anticipated.

Mark 5:18-19 NLT
(18) As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him.
(19) But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been."

The demon possessed man whom Jesus delivered begged Jesus to go with Him but Jesus said no. What was going through his mind at the time Jesus denied him? I would have been crushed but the Holy Spirit of God gave him power to obey.

Mark 5:33-34 NLT
(33) Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done.
(34) And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over."

The woman with the issue of blood was healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment but when Jesus asked who touched Him the woman was frightened knowing Jesus could easily condemn her but trusting that He was good she confessed and God was glorified.

Mark 5:35-36 NLT
(35) While He was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
(36) But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."

The man who’s daughter was dying had to wait on Jesus as He tended to others and when the message came it seemed Jesus was too late but Jesus told him to have faith. What that father went through on the remainder of the journey home is difficult to imagine but once again God’s Holy Spirit enabled him to remain with Jesus and trust Him.

In all these instances there was faith, brokenness, trust, and strength but the strength was not from the individual but from Jesus’ voice and the Holy Spirit. Once we become broken we never forget it but we also never forget God’s ability to bind us together again and what we become on the other side is something previously unobtainable because it didn’t come from us and what binds us now is stronger than if we had never been broken.

Tentmakers

Acts 18:1-3 NLT
(1) Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
(2) There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
(3) Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

We, being children of God are called to be tentmakers as Paul was for several reasons. First because we are to work for a living, being idle brings about selfishness, laziness, and a judgmental attitude but there is more to it than that.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
(10) Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."
(11) Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business.
(12) We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

Many pre-Christians today know of someone who refers to themselves as being a “Christian” and the one that acts the least like Christ is usually the one set as the standard by which all other followers of Christ are judged. People do not go to church because they are afraid of being judged or they see the church building as a place that harbors hypocrites. Whatever the reason it’s no wonder the world builds up a defense whenever someone mentions the Bible. The true followers of Christ know this is a snare from the enemy of God so people will turn from the truth and we know that the truth will break their chains of bondage which they so desperately want to be rid of but the question is what do we do about it? Paul used tent making not only to support himself but also to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Though many rejected Jesus as the Christ whom they had not seen they could not reject or deny the change that had taken place in Paul’s life, who was Saul. It was the power of his testimony bearing witness to the change in his life that attracted others to Christ Jesus, even though initially they would have rejected Jesus because of what others had said about him.

All who follow Christ Jesus faithfully are tentmakers in one way or another and we know that we are not to beat pre-Christians over the head with the Bible hoping to see them submit but instead it is by working with them as we make a living, allowing them to watch us live out what it means to be a follower of Christ Jesus, and to offer our testimony as God’s Holy Spirit leads us. As tentmakers we come alongside them and show them the way rather than simply telling them the way. This is the meaning of true leadership, just as those who have gone before us and taught us right from wrong so are we to show the way to others who have not yet believed.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 NLT
(13) As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

If I am to be Your ambassador

Lord if I am to be Your ambassador please remove this complacency within me. Cause me to be filled with anticipation for the moving of Your Holy Spirit; cause me to come alive and awake my soul. Help me to be aware of Your moving through preparation and study of Your Word, let not my heart grow faint or weary but wholly trust in You. Burn within me Your desires so that I might please You in all I do and say and forgive me when I fall short. I believe You have prepared this path I am on just for me and as I walk it blessings abound but there is more to it than simply being blessed, for You have created purpose in each step I take. I do not know Your plans, only that You said to go. As you prepared Your disciples for the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two so do You now prepare Your people if they will seek Your face. We know that all these things must happen for Your purpose through us to be complete so that we may prepare for the return of Your Son Jesus the Christ.

Acts 2:17-21 NLT
(17) 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
(18) In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
(19) And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
(20) The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.
(21) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'

Help me not to be easily beset by the desires of my flesh but strengthen my spirit so my feet may step on solid ground. Help me to live for You with consistency so my faith may grow and ultimately become who You’ve purposed for me to be. As always Lord thank You for Your mercy and grace, for I am nothing without Your love.

Stepping on the Water

Matthew 14:28-30 NLT
(28) Then Peter called to Him, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water."
(29) "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

How many times I’ve been in this situation with enough faith to step out on the unknown but then finding myself in trouble and calling to Jesus for help? If I can train my eyes to remain on where I want to go (Jesus) and not on the places I don’t want to go (fear) how much better my life would be. 

Those who know about riding motorcycles, as I do, know this unhealthy fear of looking at where you don’t want to go is called “target fixation” and it leads to trouble every time. Go to YouTube and type in the key words “motorcycle target fixation” and watch videos of crashes where for no apparent reason the rider just doesn’t make it out of trouble without serious injury to themselves and their bikes. It happens mostly in curves where the rider sees a tree or parked car on the outside of the curve that they don’t want to hit but do just that instead of simply leaning more to make it through the curve. In the same way we go through life looking at what causes fear instead of keeping our eyes on where we want to go! The Bible gives us another example where the Israelites were complaining about God’s provisions after bringing them out of Egypt, where they lived as slaves.

Numbers 21:4-8 NLT
(4) Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
(5) and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!"
(6) So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.
(7) Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people.
(8) Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!"

It was the act of looking away from their fears that saved them; to be obedient to God’s instructions, realizing they can’t do both ~ follow God’s leading and allow your heart to be filled with fear. A side note the Israelites being led out of bondage in Egypt and being brought to this place where they had to look at an image of a poisonous snake on a pole represents Jesus taking our ugly sin and being lifted up for all to see and if we allow our hearts to be set on Him we would be saved and the bondage of our sin would be broken. 

What happened to the Israelites and Peter and to every other person who learns what it means to follow their hearts in spite of the fear that surrounds them still happens today with us. So don’t become fixated on fear but step out of the boat in faith, not blind faith but a faith in the One Good Shepherd who leads His sheep and keep your eyes on Him. Jesus tells us this…

John 10:27 NLT
(27) My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.