What to Do When the Odds Are Against You: An Unusual Battle Plan

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org hearing any and all the guys this is about where you want to run down the hill once it is morning in your little pond in the flames out in the trumpet. Pastor Greg Maurice's Gideons man, likely question, and they may have even a questions about this man, God sent them to be their leader. God often using unqualified to the unexpected and in is always much easier. You don't use a screwdriver to pound the NATO sands and furniture and you don't use trumpets to attack an immense Army elixir. Sent by Almighty God today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie continues his world changers examining the great leaders of the Bible will see what we can learn for our lives from the example you you look in the mirror you like what you see all the narcissists are like all the selfies, but to no what you see when you look in the merit up you have a magnifying mirror. It's almost traumatic. You don't I'm talking about a note to see you probably don't like what you see. Maybe some of you do. It's been said, quote mirrors don't lie. Lucky for you, they can't laugh either." That's true, is that we set up your mirror left that you let me tell you what God sees when he looks at you.

Please see things differently see what I look in the mirror. I look at my reflection I see flaws God sees things differently. I see weakness. God sees potential I see what I am God sees what I can be. I see the past God sees the future I see a lump of clay. God sees a beautiful sculpture.

I see a blank canvas. God sees a van Gogh I see a lump of coal.

God sees a sparkling diamond. I see him vacillating, unsure.

Simon God sees us. Simon Peter rock like man I see you persecuting Saul of Tarsus, God sees a great apostle Paul. God sees things differently than I see them and I will get a look at a man that had no potential that we can see whatsoever, yet he became a bona fide world changer and his name is Gideon. The reason I mention how God sees things as when he's initially greeted also see in a moment the angel says hello Gideon you mighty hero of courage and if there's anything he wasn't at that moment. It was a man of courage, but again God saw the potential is our story begins, we find Gideon trying to prepare a little bit of weeks hiding behind the walls of a small wine press. Hardly a picture of heroism and courage.

He was like the rest of Israel hungry, hurting and humiliated. The Lord said, there's my man, so the story begins. Judges 6 verse 12 and the angel of the Lord appeared and said I'm reading from the new living translation hey mighty hero, the Lord is with you. Gideon said to him, oh my Lord of the Lord is with us and while all these things happen to us and where all of his miracles which our fathers told us about same.

Not the Lord bring us out of Egypt and all the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us in the hands of the Midianite and then the Lord turned to him and said go and this might have yours and you will save Israel from the hand of the Midianite have I not sent you. There interesting response on the part of Gideon. He complains here is the Lord coming together and he says okay why is all of this happened to us and content of rebuke, Gideon got into so what are you talking about Gideon. You brought this on yourself.

You and your people with your idolatry. But yet the Lord did not do that effectively said look we we got a job, let's get going.

So like when you're trying to leave your house and get your kids ready and because she was missing and in your searching for a doll. Sadly, it's a dad looking for his golf so you know your lookout. We go to crazy kids just get in the car will sort it out later. We've got you just get in the car okay and the Lord is saying that the Gideon but don't have time to deal with your whining and your lame questions. It's going to happen and it's going to happen right now.

So let's get going now. Gideon immediately protests for safety, Lord, how can I save Israel. My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the least of my father's house modern interpretation of that would be a on the run to the letter on the lowest of the low and God said yeah and you're the guy want a brings us to point number one if you're taking notes number one God uses people who are humble. God uses people are humble event.

Gideon asked the Lord of verse 15 whom I call my that you would call me and I love the responsible Lord, Lord, in effect, says it's not about who you are. It's about who I am. So we say all my God says really nobody will my on the great I am and I'm the one that's going to do the work through you. So let's get going.

I love how is greeted initially verse 12 mighty hero. The Lord is with you. I don't think Gideon felt like a mighty hero.

I think he probably felt more like a pathetic zero, but yet God reassures him that he is the one.

But first, there's going to be a test before he leaves Israel in the battle and this can be a test in his own home.

God told Gideon to tear down the altar. His father Joash had erected to a false God's a good tear that altar down and kill you did with the Lord told him to do now is not easy bringing us a principal number two world changers are faithful and little thing world changers are faithful and little things. Listen if you want God to use you in big things.

First, you gotta start with the little things he did with the Lord call them today.

Verse 27 says he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father's also in the people of the town and you know what happened after he tore down the altar of his dad, the people were so angry and they wanted to execute Gideon pretty harsh but amazingly interesting little twist in the story the father of Gideon the guy who set up the altar to bail is the one who defends up and the father says to the people who are you defending bail. Why do you argue his case bills related God to defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar so Gideon passed the first test with flying colors.

Now Lord says okay get an army together so Gideon is able to rally 32,000 men were good, but considering the Midianite said over 100,000 troops armed to the teeth that was in that many but at least it was a start. 32,000 men, and here's what happens. Judges 7 verse two the Lord said to Gideon, you have too many warriors with you if I let all of you fight the Midianite Israelites opposed to me and say they save themselves by their own strength.

Therefore, tell the people who's ever timid or afraid. Leave this mountain or go home so 22,000 of them went home and only 10,000 were left to fly on that must've shocked Gideon. I mean, he maybe thought he would lose a few. But 22,000, go all, it's interesting appraise go homeless from the Hebrew Momento return. This translates out to return the mommy dog. But here's what he effectively says will give you guys are afraid. Go home. The mommy okay by 22,000 guys walk up the deal.

What where when why way what are you serious 22,000 leave why did they leave the white of the Lord even want them to leave answer fears contagious. There is contagious and you know if you're looking for a life an easy street with no challenge or no conflict then go home to mommy right.

But if you want to be a world changer if you want your life to make a difference.

It's time to man up, it's time to wool man up, it's time to be the person God has called you to be in just a moment will follow Gideon and his men as they stage their attack and observe the only battle everyone not by instruments of warfare by musical instruments.

That's next everybody Greg Laurie here and finding you to join me every weekend for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a church service. It's a worship service. It's a Bible study and its wherever you wanted to be in your home in your car sitting on a beach walking down the street watching it on your phone wherever you are taken with you and be ministered to every weekend. Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org we are learning to follow the example of Gideon today as Pastor Greg continues his message from his world changer series. Gideon is about to be used by God in a mighty way.

Let's listen now there's one final test is 10,000 level one final test and I was telling this Bible story to my grandchildren. Recently and I don't know why but I left this next part out and my granddaughter Stella said probably forgot the part about when they drink from the spring on your right and I had to tell him that I left it out under the white sonic to leave it out today. Okay dessert… Maybe the best part of the story so Cinelli is 10,000 men.

Judges 7 verse four Lord told Gideon there still too many to bring him down of the spring and I'll sort out who will go with you and who will not.

Gideon took those warriors down to the water and the Lord told him to find a minute into groups and one group at all those who cup water in their hands, and then those who live put up with her tongue like dogs in the other group at all those who kneel down and drink their mouths in the stream. This test, the God is now giving will reveal their attitude toward the enemy your two groups. First are the people that just went in just basically drink the water and paid no attention to what was going on around them.

And then there's the group that were very careful to note what was happening around them. They were aware of the entity. I remember him where initial years ago and we went to Gideon spring probably where this happened, so I want to be illustrated tries a couple people if they would voluntarily know why won't want to be good.

I just drink the water know what some of the us to cut the water very carefully and so I got to volunteers and as I'm having them do it. I looked and there was a sign that says do not drink water poison cycle.

No someone's going to die for sermon illustration but virtually there were okay with this story really happened in now there's only 300 left only 300 left the number down to the cream of the crop. 3% of the original 10,000 now were dealing with Delta force, the Army Rangers. The seal seal team six.

Even the SWAT team. These are the elite okay Gideon tell the guys this is about when okay man 300 and 300 I guess 100,000.

Many like there's a plan all right disarm ourselves to the teeth and will use swords okay and want to give any Shields and Monica need home attorney that's up okay so were going to start with this torch cannot put a pot on the torch you beat the Midianite no-no delete was put the bottle towards right sure what else we have sorry big gnarly start catching little trumpet trumpet yeah I want to run down the hill. I want to the same for the Lord in Gideon, then crack your little pot, and the flames out and then blow your little trumpet that said that said, I love this crazy it's a logical it's biblical and they didn't and so become down the hills near the Midianites and start to know then you know what's going on with theirs. All of a sudden date they hear this noise and commotion and and then they see these torches suddenly and then they hear these trumpets and they think it's a massive army coming to destroy them, and they get so confused and discombobulated.

They start killing themselves. Some of the time is good for the camp. The Midianites of all killed themselves effectively. I mean this is an amazing drink of all the upsets celebrated by military historians, or even sports fans, none is more amazing than this one. The God accomplished through Gideon. There were basically outnumbered 450 to 1 get Gideon's army want a crushing victory over the Midianites, so that's nice of the Bible story.

Greg think you can we go home now. Not yet, because we read the stories for a reason, not just here to entertain us here to instruct us.

So what we learn from the story answer were in a battle where this spiritual battle and it's a war that is not bought with normal weapon. Ephesians 612 says when I'm fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world against those mighty powers of darkness to rule the world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realm to hear was the problem with those soldiers sent home. They underestimated the enemy. Don't underestimate your enemy, the enemy your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Don't underestimate but at the same time. Don't underestimate your God either your God is greater than your enemy but your enemy is powerful so you need to have a healthy respect for that and understand how to fight with this enemy. This war is not to be one by clever strategies or plans were not going to win this spiritual/culture war with boycotts or protests were not going to win it by withdrawing work in the witted by praying and preaching is a popular book out right now that I've talked about a little bit where this author talks about the time is come for the church to pull back and withdraw. He says the best way to fight the blood to stop fighting the blood, so he says withdraw can't win this battle.

I beg to differ. I don't think this is the time to withdraw. I don't think this is the time to retreat.

I don't think this is the time to back up. I think this is the time to step up our game and going to attack your great civil Greg you're scaring me at the test mode you tell your belly would you get weapons and no no no I'm say will you spiritual weapons. What are they the best weapons we have in this culture are praying for people start to change in the proclamation of the gospel. This is not the time for isolation.

This is the time for infiltration. This is the time for permeation using and so this is a real battle and we need to find it was spiritual weapons and do everything that we can do to make a difference. Assent. In closing, let me say make your stand in your home, make your stand among people that you know because Jesus is looking for men and women that he can use as an English preacher, John Wesley, once made the statement and I quote, give me 100 men who love God with all of their hearts, and for nothing but sin. And I will move the world." That's good thing about that. 100 men who love God with all their hearts, and fear nothing but sent hundred women hundred people. There's more than 100 people in the service right now. There's more than 100 watching in our other sites right out the back. There are thousands watching all of our harvest sites. But here's my question.

What we could find just 100 just 100 who would love God more than anything else and for nothing but sin. It's all right. Lord, I want to be a world changer all right.

Lord, I want to go out there and make a difference God can do a lot with a little God can do a lot with you got effectively change the whole culture through one man who is willing to stand in the gap and make a difference in the Lord can do the same today with an ordinary person just like you who will say Lord I am willing to be that man.

I'm willing to be that woman. God will often use the unqualified to do the unexpected will often use the unqualified to do the unexpected when you step forward knowing read in our story that Gideon tore that altar of his father down at night Wednesday of another story in the Bible of Nicodemus member him a religious man, a person that others looked up to, who came to Jesus by night and he said good teacher, we know that no one can do what you do unless God is with them and Jesus just said hey buddy, you must be born again. I love the way Jesus just cut to the chase indicative is Nicodemus let's just get out of the bottom line. You need to be born all over again. Yeah, Nicodemus came at night probably was afraid to be recognized as concern about the opinions of others. Not unlike Gideon but he came to Jesus and that's the most important thing I don't care when you come to Jesus, day or night. I don't care if you come because it's crisis or things are going well. The main thing is that you just come to Jesus all the matter. Just come to Jesus you know Jesus says see that would come to me I will in no way cast out.

I will turn you away.

You need to come to Jesus today. Do you need his forgiveness.

Maybe you are not even sure what will happen to you when you die you would like to know you'll go to heaven but you think that can't be known, yet can be through prayer by say, Lord. I'm sorry for my sin and I believe that your son Christ died for me on the cross and I want to believe in him and I want him to come in the my life and forgive me and God will do that for you right now to forgive you of all of your sin.

So let's pray father I pray now for any person here or any person watching and listening. Who does not yet.

Lord, help them to come to you and believe in you and be forgiven of all of their sin. Jesus name we pray. A Greg Lord important prayer and if you'd like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes if you missed any part of today's message. You can hear it again@harvest.org.

The study is called what to do when the odds are against you or ask for a permanent copy on CD. When you call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here to take your call 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 what were pleased to have Sally Lloyd Jones with us today. She's just released her new resource for the holidays called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection and we're happy to make that available to our listeners today? Sally the Christmas story is obviously so familiar.

Maybe we've heard it so many times we stopped hearing it and II. What I love about what you've written here is as I read it I was just carried away with that. It was delightful and and you seem to have a way of coming at things not in the predictable way.

One always expects and so when you put this project together and and wrote these words, what was your objective well. I love the idea that really united when it is Christmas begin.

If we think it begins on Christmas morning. We've missed this incredible lead up because Christmas begins even before the world was made in God's heart because he knew along everything and he ate. He went ahead and made it all knowing that even though we would break it. He would send his rescuer to save us and redeem everything and make everything look beautiful for having been so sad right now. When a time when we need to hear that, especially that Christmas isn't just about Christmas Day Christmas is about every day because God can come into the darkest place and bring life and I think you know with the coronavirus were going into our first Christmas with covert, 19 children have been dramatically affected by this many cases not being able go back to school their whole life is been upended and so would. But you know you can cancel Christmas.

I mean, maybe we won't have all of the pressure in the shopping issues and all the things that can kind of clutter Christmas that we've had in the past but maybe in the way will see it with new eyes and get back to the essential message of why Jesus came to this earth in the first place. I think that would be an amazing good coming out of such suffering, because I think this yeah where all longing so going back to normal, whatever that is that perhaps what we can get back to something more amazing and will come out of this time been changed so that we can just get back to normal week we move on with the terrace view of what this life is because what's really happened is we've everything that we relied on is been taken away and I had someone say this funny thing that God sent his soul to my rooms to think about things kind of funny but enough we have the luxury of being able to be well during this time.

Perhaps there is an opportunity can and so I had. I had Christmas for children this year is much more amazing than Appa because it will address for is that they have in their hearts, and was not the message of the angels to the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. Fear not good. Send again angels often said fear not because I think when angels appeared people were fretting to ship his angels. A magnificent being that we need to hear that you're not message, maybe more than ever. Don't wait. Yeah, I always think it's funny that when you know whenever God shows up on this and Angela something they didn't say hello how are you yes so God loves you they always say freight yeah and that's the thing they say maced and it's kind of comforting because it's not surprising to God that we scanned with very scanned.

When little sheet. We don't know and we got very scared, but he knows he knows that that's to me that's a big comforting message of Christmas don't be afraid that's right.

So if you want to bring that comforting message of Christmas to not be afraid to your family to your children. We are offering a resource we've never offered before. It's called the Jesus storybook Bible, a Christmas collection beautifully written amazing illustrations and a little button you can push on various pages to hear the voice of actor David since Jay read to you Scriptures. This would be quite expensive if you went out into a store and purchased it. But we are offering it to our listeners for your gift of any size. We ask it is then the generous gift because it helps us continue on to bring this radio broadcast, teach the word of God proclaim the gospel and for your gift of any size will rush to your copy of the Jesus storybook Bible Christmas collection written by our friend Sally Lloyd Jones.

Yeah, that's right. And we hope you contact us today and thanks so much for your investment in touching lives, especially here is the holidays approach and of the Lord is leading you to support this outreach on a regular basis.

Ask about becoming a harvest partner you can write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org yesterday just before we go. Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today, and their relationship with the Lord.

I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today. Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need or to state more accurately.

This is who I need I need Jesus. And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come in to my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen. I know there was a relatively short prayer.

Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life.

So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord to help you as you follow the Lord would like to send you some resource materials recolor new believers growth packet it will answer many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for the Senate, free of charge. Write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and click the words know God when next I miss Pastor Greg continues his series called world changers will consider the strong man named Samson. It's a story of God's providence, the power of sin and how to find redemption better next time. Beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email devotions and harvest.org