The Hornet’s Nest – Part 2 (Part C)

Getting in the son of Joash is done. This thing is speaking is no way to hide it. May God always help us to be a step ahead of the lost and the pagans may we just out with them to the point made by the time we make our move. They don't know what hit with the truth in love, about destroying them visit, but to help her stay a step ahead of the enemy is that a bad thing to want Lord help me stay a step ahead of this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher.

Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with this passage called the hornets nest in Judges chapter 6 when it had to be had to face them head on right, of course, in the Philippines.

For example, he had to fight it out. My point for bringing up make authors to show you how much reading I do my vacation is not true at all.

I like people who aren't like by other people. When the people that I like that aren't like a really good got got so Gideon says is hidden with a eight why when I do this in broad daylight is just the home and he accomplishes the mission. God did not say Gideon I need you to do the day-to-day time when we can all see doesn't say just I just need you to take on that altar burn up the junk billed me and alter their what a lesson. If Christians would just say it's okay to think.

It doesn't block God out. It invites him in, I know, but we get emotional. We all have everybody it makes emotional mistake. Sometimes objective check in verse 28, when the men of the city arose early in the morning there was the altar of valve torn down and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down in the second bowl was being offered on the altar, which had been built. Verse 29 so they said to one another who has done this thing and when they reviewed the film footage and when they had inquired and asked, they said Gideon Gideon, the son of Joash is done this thing speaking no way to hide it.

May God always help us to be a step ahead of the lost in the pagans, may we just out with them and beat them to the points made by the time we make our move. They don't know what hit them the truth in love appetite about destroying them physically, but to help us stay a step ahead of the enemy is that a bad thing to want Lord help me stay a step ahead of them. There it is.

Verse 30 in the men of the city center Joash bring out your son that he may die because he has torn down the offer of bile because he has cut down the wooden image that was decided in his fingernails a dirty little like with legal like picking anything out, they can find. Well, Gideon's loyalty to his God got him into trouble but Gideon's God would get him through the trouble. So again, you know, Gideon. Your name came up last night and now we going to kill you. Will pagans take their religion very seriously.

That's another lesson in this I and when I was born again. I felt that everybody was little of what I had to preach. I didn't factor in that they loved what they did what they believed in.

In most cases they loved what they wanted because religion essentially is an extension of the self. At some point become your identity of who we are. That's why Christ is him to be like me to take me. Paul said, as I imitate Christ likeness of Jesus Christ our identity becomes us so they had felt they felt obligated to defend their God still happens in this day and of course that we believe that if you have to force your God on someone or if you have to defend his honor, violence then, but he's not God can't defend himself.

I'm not talking about upholding civil laws that may have come from your God. Such it was it was in Israel. I'm talking about the honor of the name of Israel's intolerance was to be strong to the point they would not honor any other gods they did not all of them but many of them and that's what we're dealing with right now. So according to these men. Gideon had to be executed for dishonoring and probably cost him a good penny to you know how much would we put into that.

You know the price of lumber so verse 31, but Joash said to all who stood against him. Would you plead for bile would you save him.

Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning. If he is God, let him plea for himself because his altar has been torn down is going always. Joash's name means Yahweh is strong is he saying this to protect his beloved son Gideon possibly is that the only reason why I don't think so II think that would for him to have a speech like this ready his conviction.

He probably really believe in Baller. Now he sees Ballard's been chopped up by his son who does not worship. Worship the God of their fathers, and probably is incentive if they didn't want to kill Gideon. We never maybe never. We would not of been pushed to the point of coming to this realization, which is very true in the in them. The men of the village that they signed off on his weenie got a good point there. Joash went to say that if we wanted to kill him like a mop and images everything. I will Christians have to learn early on that were not his lawyers were not trying to get God out of trouble were not prosecutors were witnesses. We tell what we saw only when it is based on love thou love for Christ. There is power in evangelism that that's contagious you so you just be careful with that that would not trying to force people into our views when the argument I mean I don't if I minute when I see argument on remaining heated discussion. I mean the exchange of ideas. I want to win them all of you pretty Tom if I want this one. When half of them when I want to win everything I do is why don't do somethings kiss me in the flesh I I had a pastor friend he still a friend if you played sports with him and you one. He was instantly in the flesh, he would talk to you just shut you right off. You look again you look the other way.

Wait a minute the pastor you can like that says right here here first. Really think will often come back and be his buddy buddy self again, but you remember that and I never forgave him, didn't get it is comical. It was worth seeing him drive. I'm not getting some and telling who it is that would make costs the lessons. The lessons is a great guy, great man of God I think. I mean, he loves the Lord let a lot of people to Christ and buddy had the that was his fight in the flesh. I don't know what that has to do anything except I got that shot in any way.

May we all I can say that there have been times that I've gotten the flesh, and I would think about human and say well you know yeah I know God loves him and I know God loves me to verse 32. Therefore, on that day, he called him Gerard Val saying let bow plead against him because he has torn down his altar so his pad gets Gideon out of the problem, God of course doing it all.

He makes a big deal out of this. It makes it you know the nomenclature of Gideon has changed is become rebuke. It's now an nickname Gerard about the ballot God prove it. Ballard's God prove it. That's his name every time someone was a Gerard about it was if your God bow than glad Pruitt. Gideon was proud where this nickname every mention of Gideon Woodmark bow from this day forward wherever there were those privy to this information, I think, assists you know I think when I worked steel. There were a lot of the old-timers had nicknames in the newer generation just never got into it. I thought it was a travesty.

I mean it was crazy.

Joe and Billy wooden shoes. I mean the skies.

They just out there were a lot more natives had these old eyes at these main you have to pay attention. You have to earn that nowadays. Everybody's just name. Whatever the night I met nothing mean none of it was mean it was not anyone name crazy Joe took pride in his name. He was crazy. Verse 33 then all the Midianites and Amalekites.

The people of the East gathered together and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of jazz real.

Now it back to the problem while the other problem I mean the one problem was the idolatry that was the spiritual problem that brought on these physical problems. We want God to bless us and what we better be doing our part as best we can, but here comes the Midianites and their allies. I guess were less for lack of a better name over 135,000 armed men for bringing their families with them which they likely were to glean and to do the work because you have to, you know, still got all watered just yet. Just good things you gotta do and they came like a human tsunami and they put their camps all over the place sizes as if they owned the place at night if you were Jewish, you'd look out you see all these campfires. They were your people. You couldn't just walk over to their hey how you guys doing minor thank you note just to chat with you.

Verse 34, but the spirit of Yahweh came upon Gideon and he blew the trumpet and the buyer's rights gathered behind him as kind of funny.

You know you just don't open the Bible and put your hand on the verse and just how that's it Gideon the spear looking upon him to blow the trumpet if I were trumpet player I would be I would have that engraved on my trumpet probably, but with my name anyway is a critical moment in God is now expanding Gideon's call because he was faithful. We know the verse Luke chapter 19 verse 17 Jesus in his parable says that the master said to the servant and he said to him, well done good and faithful servant because you were faithful in a very little have authority over 10 cities it's a mistake to elevate people to quickly Paul talks about that. Don't just go making about pastors. Do you think this guy zealous in into any of these got the aptitude don't do that with deacons. The servants don't do that were servants, let them first be proven. A lot of people get pretty indignant about that. I'm here sir well Monday to sit for a while and find out in the home with get to know each other. What's wrong with that.

Was sorry. Anyway, the spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon when these hordes are are in the land or just all you just got to him and in a righteous way. When I came to those verses of this morning just going over nice that's what I want still to this day. This is what I live for, is nothing more I want for myself and one salvation for others that I want that more than anything for me rather than a diamond ring on every finger of my hand.

I like the spirit of the Lord to be upon me. I met think David you have to disagree egregious any rights created in me a clean heart, O God, take not your Holy Spirit from me. I got to know teary-eyed thinking is what I want, what Christian would look at this and say there's other things I have on my list. I think of a nice floral arrangement. I want the spirit of Yahweh upon me. I want put my name on that verse. I really think of the words of Spurgeon. How true it is, you cannot always flame but you can always burn your heart rim of the disciples on the road from Emmaus did not our heart burn within us. When Christ was walking and he is giving the greatest Bible study ever known to man that no one puts the report button you little we want that sermon. Beginning at Moses through the prophets and nobody recorded a word the best they could do was wow put up with God. I think it's cute anyway. I don't think life is cute. I just think some of the lessons in the way it comes across from phages. This is ironic, the spirit of the Lord came in. He blew the trumpet. That's the rally to arms. He did something proactive this a powerful point here that I buy is rights were his people know the ones with the pagan altar that the pull down they rallied and says they gathered behind him. Instead of following bow there now following Amanda follows Yahweh is a little verses that are supposed to register with us this supposed to make us hunger and thirst want that I want to be. I want to have this kind of influence on others.

I don't want it self manufactured. I don't want to try to be this way. I want to try to do all that I can do so that God can use me this way is a difference when we pray, if you become preachy in your prayers you if you recognize it is shut up right away if you find that your scolding people are trying to direct them in your prayers. If you forget that you're standing before the throne of God or kneeling or sitting. Whatever positive urine you could be falling whatever position you are in your talking to God and not preaching to people when you pray Dr. preaching to people you preaching to people but you cannot or should not lose sight of this.

You can't force people or manipulate them into gathering behind you are all oral thought or an idea or just your presence and you happen to so many ways I think that sometimes you know there are those people in life you meet. You just love them.

And when when they go to to heaven.

You missed and you say there will be another one like that in my lifetime unless God does something miraculous. That's a person who through agape gathered people behind them not to lead them in their lives but just them a beautiful things there remain you making too much of this I don't make enough of the Holy Spirit is detailed when he lays out something. It's detailed he has baked into it every single scenario and meaning that can be extracted for human beings to the glory of their God and is up to us to get it out. Well the spirit of the Lord came upon the Old Testament saints came upon people on behalf of people, people of God for the preservation of the people for Messiah to come in the promises to be fulfilled all the way through the millennial kingdom, millennial age in the New Testament the spirit comes upon us to reach the lost and strengthen the saved not to draw attention to oneself unduly. So he blows the shofar first 35 he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh also who also gathered behind him and he also sent messages to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali and they came to meet them. I mean you just the spirit alone is on the sky. They know it is as easy this is the thing when God is moving you don't have to do that much blood-borne binges that happens every revival has been something humans have stumbled into not like okay plan one okay will put Bibles in every does this plan. It's something to work of God to be ready when it happens but here in verse 35 when he invites them. Somebody didn't get an invitation. This is a problem if Earl is not invited.

Abram is going to protest when we get to chapter 8 they going to be limited because they missed the spoil the spoils of war. I don't think their hearts are right Gideon deals with it properly tactfully successfully but isn't that how it is you know you start you get into a pattern of catering to peoples of social expectations and the next thing you know you're in trouble, you invite me unify my uncle whatever and oftentimes in a very forgiving either. And if you do it twice as personal 40 years ago Zebulun and Naphtali distinguish themselves on the battlefield on the borrower there at the picture Sean the battlefield of Kushan judges. 517. Asher continued at the seashore and stayed in his inlets.

That was a rebuke from Deborah this time Asher says no we going to war and they go they show up they rally at Gideons call 32,000 show up, and his own clan following close behind him as he follows Yahweh verse 36 Gideon said to God, if you will save Israel by my hand. As you have said verse 37. Look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor if there is due on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand. As you have said a lot of people pick on Gideon for this will result faithful silent dieter to just take them and put them in his spot going to war within God's will. You can you think about that ordering people to their deaths of your commander. So, understandably, he's. He pauses, he's got the calling from God, but he's got fear to and he's not going to ignore is nothing to pretend I'm not afraid I'm I'm okay. Is it legal to deal with this. He goes to God's drives him to the Lord. Such fear is the fear that God uses when it drives us to him.

God is able to say okay is not with me not get let's get rolling into you going to do in his own way. So he asked for signs, and they were granted to him, without rebuke from Yahweh. And that means no rebuke from people I think nobody should review Gideon for this Gideon is saying to himself, whom I to lead the army of all these people coming on this probably would that he saw everybody responding at all. I can command these guys look at some of them that that's a warrior over there who am I to lead them. I think every pastor should have that view me if he has a faithful flock as I do live you should have that view, I mean night I see with the people.

Do I are humbled by I will conclude something else but a better man come in my spot understands okay all right that's anyway so before stepping out in the faith. He looks up in faith steps up to the Lord in the ass God to give him an answer to miracles, not New Testament method except the part about seeking the Lord we don't we don't encourage all putting fleeces out. We don't encourage casting lots that is been phased out in the New Testament as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God will lead by the spirit spirit led Fed. Verse 37. Look, I shall put a fleece of wall on the threshing floor and if there is due on the fleece only and of course we know the story. This is not a fairytale.

Gideon actually existed. Gideon actually did this and God actually responded to him this was walking by miracles, not by sight. The Jews request to sign Jesus said, no sign shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah is that this is the big one, but he said that in the presence of signs already committed to done so many signs.

There was no way you could miss it. No way you would have to look at the signs of Jesus sends his blows away anything about Jonah that we know so much so John writes this in John 21. There are also many others things that Jesus did, which if they were written. One by one. I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. John says Jesus did so many signs, wonders and miracles.

He just we just lost count to stop the whole thing about Solomon losing count about how much bronzes using the temple is nothing but how many signs Jesus did on people just touching him being healed again.

My favorite goddess. He healed the hypochondriacs I was thought that's much more funnier than what people seem to get anyway. Verse 38 and it was so when he rose early the next morning and squeeze the fleece together. He wrong the do out of the fleece and a bowl full of water.

Then Gideon verse 39 said to God, do not being here with me, but let me speak just once more. Let me test. I pray just once more with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece but on all the ground, let there be due when the lesson God teaches us through Gideon that he's patient is patient with us in our difficulty.

Gideon knows he supposed to trust he knows God is called him when the spirit of the Lord filled his heart he knew that was God. And yet, now is having second thoughts and instead of telling men about August 2 thoughts. He goes to God and he says Lord I'm just not sure I'm I'm afraid. Psalm 103 verse 14 for he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust, and we should to. I love this. How many times have we found ourselves in situations in life when were terrified and the what-ifs begin to to gnaw on us with this one was this and that we get together. Gideon verse 40, and God did so, that night dry on the fleece only.

There was due on all the ground right Gideon God's given you your request, Showtime move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

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