["O Come All Ye Faithful"]
Father God, thank you for this day. Thank you for this opportunity to hear your
words being preached. Please bless Pastor, bless this message. Open our hearts and
our ears to your word. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen. Amen.
Alright, we're there in Judges chapter number seven and I'd like you to look
down. Actually, before we get into Judges seven, flip one page over to Judges
chapter number six and I'd like you to look down at verse number one. Judges
chapter number six and verse number one. I want you to get a little bit of the
context of the story before we get into it. Judges chapter number six and verse
one. I want you to notice that the children of Israel were under the rule and
oppression of the Midianites and their allies. In Judges chapter six and verse
one the Bible says the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord
and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. Skip down to
verse number four, notice what it says. Here's the oppression. And they, the
Midianites, encamped against them, the children of Israel, and destroyed the
increase of the earth. That's what the earth had brought forth. That's what they
had brought, what they had had for food to be able to feed themselves and
their family. It says, till I'll come unto Gaza and left, notice what it says, no
sustenance. The word sustenance means nourishment. It means that they, that
which sustains life. It says that they left no sustenance for Israel, neither
sheep nor ox nor ass. So here you have the children of Midian coming and ruling
over and oppressing the children of Israel, taking their crops, taking their
animals, leaving them nothing to be able to feed themselves with. And I want you
to notice that the children of Israel were also drastically outnumbered. Look at
verse five. The Bible says, for they came up with their cattle and their tents, and
they, that's Midian, came as grasshoppers for multitude, for both they and their
camels were, notice what it says, without number. And they entered into a land to
destroy it. Look down at verse number 33, same chapter, Judges chapter 6 verse 33.
And all the Midianites, notice how many people, it's not just the Midianites, it's
their allies as well. And all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the
children of the east were gathered together and went over and pitched in
the valley of Jezreel. Notice chapter 7 and verse number 12, just to, to get the
idea of how these people were drastically outnumbered. They were not
able to fight against them because of the fact that there was so many of them.
There was the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east,
Judges chapter 7 verse 12. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all
the children of the east lay along in the valley, notice what it says, like
grasshoppers for multitude and their camels were without number as the sand
by the seaside for multitude. These were a lot of people. They would look down,
every time they look out into the fields they would see just a huge crowd and
usually when you see a crowd going far into the field they start looking small
because there's so many of them. They look like grasshoppers, we can't even
count them, there's so many of them. And here you have the children of Israel who
were being oppressed, who were being ruled, but they were not able to fight
them off because of the fact that they were drastically outnumbered. God raises
up a man by the name of Gideon, if you go back to chapter 6 verse 34, why don't you notice
the Bible says, by the spray of the Lord, Judges chapter 6 verse 34, but the spray
of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet and Abazer was gathered
after him. He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh who also was gathered after
him. He sent messengers into Asher and unto Zebulun and unto Naphtali and they
came up to meet them. This morning I'd like to preach a sermon and I'd like to
speak to you on the subject of how to win when you're drastically outnumbered.
How to win when you're drastically outnumbered. Because here we have the
children of Israel, God raised up a man by the name of Gideon, but by any human
logic, by any human understanding, we would look at it and say Gideon don't do
it. Gideon don't go fight these people because they've got more people,
they've got more resources, they've got more at their disposal. You are not
ready, you are not prepared, you do not have what it takes, you do not have what
is needed to be able to win this battle. Keep your place there in Judges chapter
number 7, that's our text for this morning, but go with me to the book of
Luke. In the New Testament you got Matthew, Mark, Luke, Luke chapter number 13
and I'd like you to look down at verse number 23. Here's what I want you to
understand, today you and I are engaged in a spiritual warfare, today we are
engaged in a battle against the world and against the devil, against the forces
of evil, but you need to understand something, we as Bible believing
Christians are drastically outnumbered. There is more of them in a human sense.
Now with God, you know if God be for us who can stand against us, but there be
more, there's more of them and in Luke chapter 13 and verse number 23 this
becomes real apparent, Luke chapter 13 and verse 23 the Bible says, then said
one unto him, Lord are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to
enter in at the straight gate. Why? For many I say unto you will seek to enter
in and shall not be able. In Matthew Jesus said, enter ye in at the straight
gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and
many there be which go in there at, because straight is the gate and narrows
the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. Here's what you
need to understand, most people out there are not saved. I always think it's
interesting how Christians will get saved and they just think everybody's
saved till they start going soul winning. You start going soul winning, you start
knocking on doors, you know you know you're kind of maturing as a soul
winner. I know a soul winner is developing properly as a soul winner
when after a few weeks of going soul winning they come back and they're like
pastor you know what I realized? Most people that say they're Christian aren't
saved and it's like yeah most are going to hell. There are few that are saved.
The question are there few that be saved and the answer is yes and here's
what I need you to understand. We are outnumbered. We are our resource.
Satan and his forces have more resources than we have. They have more at their
disposal. We're in a battle but listen even just not as a movement in spiritual
warfare even just in your personal life when it comes to the Christian walk and
walking in the spirit you need to understand that we're drastically
outnumbered. What I'm just talking about walking in the spirit when the new
man that was created in you when you got saved that new man has to get up and
fight the old man every day but you know what he's not just fighting the old man
he's also fighting the world because the world is helping the old man the world
of society and our culture is helping the old man but you know what he's not
just fighting the old man he's also fighting the devil. It's a three-on-one
fight and I'm telling you in the Christian life and in the Bible there's
this theme all throughout the Bible that God's people are always drastically
outnumbered. I mean tell me of a story in the Bible where it says the children of
Israel were as grasshoppers for multitude but the Philistines there was
just a few. You never find that story. It's always less on the side of the Lord.
It's always less standing for God. It's always few that are trying to accomplish
anything for God but listen you and I have to win this battle. We must win it
for the next generation. We must win it for our children. We must win it because
it's right because it's proper that God would have an army that would win the
battle but here's the question how do you win a battle when you're drastically
outnumbered? How do you win a battle when you're out resourced? Out talented?
They've got all the weapons and we've got nothing. I think we can find these
answers in the Bible. Keep your place there in Luke chapter 13. We're going to
come right back to the this story in the Bible but I'd like you to go back to
Judges chapter number 7. I want to give you six thoughts this morning on the
idea of how to win a battle when you're drastically outnumbered. The first thing
I'd like you to notice in the story I'd like you to notice the purging that takes
place. I'd like you to notice the purging that takes place. Judges chapter 7 and
verse 1 the Bible says then Jerubabel which who is Gideon and all the people
that were with him rose up and pitched beside the well of Herod. Keep in mind
they're already outnumbered. There's already more of them. So that the host of
the Midianites were on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley
and the Lord said unto Gideon. Now keep in mind there's already a multitude they
can't even number. He gathered this small little army. He gathered this small group
of people. He gathered these individuals together. Later in the passage we find
out there's 32,000 of them. They're already outnumbered. They're already out
resourced. They're already can't win and here's what you need to understand. God
makes it worse by purging the 32. Notice what it says verse 2. And the Lord said
to Gideon the people that are with thee are too many. The people that are with
thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands lest Israel
want themselves against me saying mine own hand that save me. Now therefore go
to proclaim in the ears of the people saying whosoever. Now here's what he said
whosoever is fearful and afraid. Let him return and depart early from Mount
Gilead and the return of the people. Notice the return of the people 20 and
2,000 and there remain 10,000. They've got 32,000 people. They're already
outnumbered. They're already out resourced. The odds are already stacked
against them and God says no here's here's the problem Gideon. If you're
going if you want to win a battle when you're already drastically outnumbered
here's the bad news. The first thing we're gonna do is purge you. We're gonna
get rid of even more of you. There's going to be even less of you. You know
the first thing I want you to do Gideon is I want you to get up and say if you're
scared and we see this in Deuteronomy there's something they were supposed to
do before they go into battle anyway but he says I want you to get up and tell
the people tell the people if you're scared if you're afraid go home and
Gideon gets up and says hey listen guys if you're scared if you're afraid go
home and 22,000 men said I'm glad you said that Gideon you have a good day
Gideon. They grabbed their bags and they walked out and I'm sure Gideon thought
what in the world? He said how are we gonna win the battle today when we're
drastically outnumbered. Here's what you need to understand. God is going to have to
purge those that he can use and he starts he starts you want to disqualify
yourself from the battle you want to disqualify yourself from being mightily
used of God you want to disqualify yourself from being able to accomplish
great things for God it starts with this fear and being afraid. This week that was
a common theme through all the sermons and it was kind of a little bit of
bashing of the old IFB movement and I I felt like I kind of didn't get a chance
to put in my two cents on the old IFB movement so let me go ahead and explain
something to you the reason that the old IFB movement is dying the reason that
the old IFB movement is not being used the reason that the old IFB movement is
not leading the charge with soul winning not leading the charge with heart
preaching not leading the charge in the in the fight against the perverts and
the sodomites the reason that they're not being used of God it's one reason
they're scared they're afraid they're not willing to stand up and preach why
because God said if you're scared I can't use you go home they've got the
buildings and they've got the bus routes and they've got the resources and they've
got the colleges and they've got the young people but yet God says I'm not
going to use you why because you're afraid because you're scared see there's
a purging that must take place if we're going to win the battle when
drastically outnumbered God says I want you even more drastically outnumbered
everyone who's scared everyone who's afraid everyone who doesn't think it can
be done go home 22,000 men go home Gideon says well at least we got 10,000
and God says we're not done yet look at verse 4 and the Lord said unto
Gideon the people are yet too many I'm sure at this point getting thinking God
I know you wrote a book called numbers but you understand how this works we
need people to go fight we need people to go fight isn't it interesting how we
try to take out a calculator and show God where he's wrong we try to take out
a calculator that God do I don't understand maybe I realize you're the
creator of the universe I realize the fact that I can even count is because
you gave me a brain and you're the one that designed it but but uh what the
people are yet too many bring them down into the water notice what it says and I
will try I will try that would try there that would try is translated in other
places in our King James Bible the same word that's translated try there is
translated to purge away to refine to purify God says I'm going to purge and
I'm going to refine and I'm going to purify them they of them for thee there
and it shall be and then of whom I say unto thee this shall go with thee the
same shall go with thee and of whomsoever I say unto thee this shall not
go with thee the same shall not go so he brought down the people unto the water
and the Lord said unto Gideon everyone that lapith of the water with his tongue
as a dog lapith him shalt thou set by himself then he says this likewise
everyone that boweth down upon his knee to drink now I've noticed there's some
confusion with people on this passage so I want to make sure you understand he
says if you lap water he says if you want he says everyone that lapith of the
water with his tongue as a dog lapith put them on this side and everyone that
boweth down upon his need to drink put them on this side and what God means by
lapping down water like a dog lapith with his tongue it's defined in verse 6
notice what it says and the number of them that lapped notice what it says
putting their hand to their mouth and here's what I understand a dog will
often when he when he laps water he's using his tongue almost like like like a
ladle is that what those things are called ladles I don't know anything
about cooking or whatever and he he uses his tongue to kind of scoop up water and
bring it up into his mouth that's how a tongue a dog laps water and this is what
God is saying if a man goes and uses his hand in the same way that a dog would
use his tongue to lap up water and bring it up he said I want you to put those
guys on that side but then he says this if a guy puts notice verse 6 and the
number of them that lot putting their hand to their mouth as a dog lapith were
300 men but all the rest of people here's what they did bow down upon their
knees to drink water here's what happened though the 9,700 of them did
this they were thirsty they were in boot camp they were running and they
were doing push-ups and they were doing set up and then and and get inside hey
guys we're gonna take a break let's go get some water and 9,700 of them get
down on their knees and drink water and 300 of them 300 of them go like this and
God said send the name thousand seven hundred home say what happened here's
what happened these guys are not ready for battle these guys are gonna get
attacked by surprise these guys they're drinking water but they're also watching
they're drinking water but they're being vigilant let me tell you something you
might not be scared but if you're not ready see it's not just the
qualification to be courageous you also have to be ready you understand that
there are some people out there that the Bible tells us they have zeal but
not according to knowledge let me tell you what the pre-trippers are doing
here's what they're doing when the tribulation happens and the Antichrist
is gonna come up and go whack and they tell us they tell us you're paranoid
you're paranoid every time that some missile takes off somewhere you think
the tribulation is happening here's what we're doing look if you want to be used
of God you got to be ready you want to preach the Bible you guys start reading
Bible you want to go solo and you better start memorizing some verses see there's
a qualification to be used of God one is don't be afraid one is get ready be
vigilant be watchful watch out make sure you're not putting yourself in a
position where you can be ambushed how do we get drastically used by God
here's what God said I want to use people I want to use people the United
States of America there's a group of Christians that I want to use but the
first thing I've got to do is purge out those that are scared and the next thing
I've got to do is purge out those that aren't ready those that aren't watching
it's interesting because when you read the passages about end times doesn't
Jesus say watch doesn't he say pay attention doesn't he say that day is not
gonna come upon us as a thief in the night we won't be taken by surprise
why don't you notice number one we see the purging that takes place number two
there in Judges chapter 7 I like to look down in verse number nine we saw
number one the purging I'd like you to notice number two for those of you
taking notes the partnership the partnership and it came to pass the same
night that the Lord sent him to him arise thee get thee down unto the host
for I have delivered them into thine hand but here's what I love these verses
because God says to get in I want you to go down on a special mission go down to
the host of Gideon I want you to see what's going on down there and then in
verse 10 he says this but if thou fear to go down I thought that was
interesting because here's the thing here the bottom line is this the truth
is this we're all scared Gideon was scared but the difference is that some
of us act on our fear and some of us allow our fear to be turned into faith
some of us allow our fear to rely on the Lord and also to rely on others notice
what happens but if thou fear to go down go thou with Fuhrer who's Fuhrer thy
servant down to the host here's what God says I want you go down Gideon but if
you're afraid then take Fuhrer with you verse 11 and thou shalt hear what they
shall what they say and afterwards shall thine hand be strengthened to go down
into the host notice then went he down with Fuhrer you know what I wrote next
in the margins of my Bible next to that verse I wrote this I guess he must have
been afraid because God said if thou fear go down with Fuhrer and then we read
then he went down with Fuhrer he was afraid to go down by himself God said
it's okay I don't expect you to do this by yourself why don't you take Fuhrer with you
he says okay he takes Fuhrer with him why don't you notice a partnership in this
battle he had a Fuhrer Gideon had a Fuhrer and Fuhrer goes with him his
servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host keep your
place there in Judges go to first Samuel chapter number 14 you got judges
Ruth first Samuel first Samuel chapter number 14 let me say this every Gideon
needs a Fuhrer every Gideon needs a Fuhrer maybe you're here this morning
you say I'm never gonna be a Gideon God has not given me that a talent or that
aptitude of that desire maybe it's too late in my life I'm never gonna be a
pastor Anderson I'm never gonna be a pastor Romero I'm never gonna be a pastor
Perry I'm never gonna be a Joe major I'm just I that that that's not gonna
happen I'm not gonna be that guy but listen to me just cuz you can't be a
Gideon doesn't mean you can't be a Fuhrer because we can't do this as
pastors and leaders we can't do this on our own we need help and sometimes we
get scared and sometimes we need somebody to fellowship with and
partnership with and say hey would you help me would you go down with me God's
asking me to do something and I just don't know that I can do it on my own
every Gideon needs a Fuhrer oh maybe you're here this morning you say I'm no
Gideon but could you be a Fuhrer somebody needs to go home and become
your pastor's best friend somebody needs to go home and just say hey pastor you
know what I just want you to know if there's anybody that's for you it's me
if you ever need somebody it's me I'm here for you I might make I preach for
you and I'm not sure that I can help with all sorts of ministry things and I
understand that there are some things that you just have to carry that burden
on your own as a pastor as a pastor's wife but if there's anything I can do
I'm no Gideon but I can be a Fuhrer. 1st Samuel 14 look at verse 6 notice what the
Bible says here we find another story where the people of God are drastically
outnumbered notice 1st Samuel 14 6 and Jonathan said to the young man that
bears armor come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised
again it was two guys versus all of these Philistines I love what Jonathan
says it may be that the Lord will work for us for there is no restraint to the
Lord to save by many or by few right God can deliver the Midianites into your
hand with with with 300 as much as he could with 32,000 you're still
outnumbered over seven and his armor bearer and his Fuhrer said unto him this
must have been so encouraging for Jonathan to have a follower who says
this do all that is in thine heart turn thee behold notice what he says I am with thee
I am with thee I am with thee according to thy heart you know that every leader
needs a Fuhrer you know that every leader needs an armor bearer that says
hey you want to go pick a fight with those guys I'm with thee God laid that
on your heart you want to go over there on that continent you want to go do that
mission for you want to go start that church over there you want to go fight
that battle hey here you go here here's all I want you to know I'm with thee
I'm following you a little bit over a year ago many of you know we had a huge
protest here one of our sermons got picked up by the media and get went
viral the media reports that there was 1,500 protesters outside of our church
they were like grasshoppers for multitude we couldn't number them I
don't know that there was 1,500 out there I doubt that there was 1,500 but
I'm sure there was four five maybe six hundred people out there and on the
night before the make the big protests I remember getting several texts from
people and I'm not mad at people who did this but let me tell you something when
you're getting ready fight big battle don't text somebody unless you're gonna
say something positive I mean I got text messages from family saying we're
quitting the church I got text messages from problem from family saying we're
not we're not gonna come back and I knew there was gonna be people there but you
know your mind starts playing games with you start thinking I wonder if anybody
gonna show up they're saying there's gonna be 1,500 people out there I wonder
there's gonna be 1,500 people out there it's gonna be me and my wife and my kids
and we're gonna look like fools I remember I'm the type of guy I sleep
pretty hard you know I I need like two alarm clocks and my wife to push me off
the bed you know to get up I don't get up in the morning I got resurrected in
the morning but I remember that that Sun the Sunday of that of that of that
protest I remember I got up before the alarm clock went off I remember waking
up and I just had all sorts of knots my stomach was turning I remember opening
my eyes and the first thing I thought was what is gonna happen today but I
remember how encouraged we were when we walked in to the bill I remember me and
my wife and my children we came in through the side door we couldn't come
in through the front door because all the protests and everything and we were
escorted in through the side the back door remember walking in as I walked in
I looked at the in the auditorium and there was people everywhere there was
our church people and people from Arizona and people from Washington and
people from all over that it came out to support and to help us and here's all
I'm telling you sometimes a leader needs a Fuhrer sometimes a Jonathan needs an
arm of air you say well you guys are just you get up there and you're
preaching you seem so strong you seem to courage hey we all bleed like the same
way you do we have fears and emotions just like you do the best thing that you
could do for your leader if we're going to win this battle against the world and
against the devil against the perverts and the sodomites you say we're
drastically outnumbered I know but here's what we need we need to purge
some people but some of you need to get up and stand up and say I'm no Gideon
but I can be a Fuhrer I'll partner with you and I'll be with you and I won't
leave you and I'm gonna we're gonna stick this thing out pastor how do you
how do you win a battle when you're drastically outnumbered why don't you
notice first the purging we saw secondly the partnership I can notice thirdly if
you go back to judges seven I can notice the plan the plan judges chapter
seven in verse 16 what's the game plan and he divided the 300 men into three
companies and he put a trumpet not a sword not a shield not a spear and he
put a trumpet in every man's hand and empty pictures and lamps within the
pictures and you got to think that these guys are thinking themselves what
is this you don't win battles with trumpets and empty pictures Gideon I
don't know what military school you went to I don't think this is what they teach
at West Point I don't think this would you get the Air Force Academy you you
know we need bazookas you know we we need we need something better than a
trumpet and a picture and a lamp but here's what I understand Gideon got this
plan from God you know what's interesting about God he always gives
us plans that don't make sense isn't that true I mean God says you want to be
financially blessed yes God I like to be financially blessed first thing I hear
you do give 10% your income to the church wait well God how does that make
sense I'm broke I don't need to give I need
somebody give me money and God says I know it doesn't make sense but here's
the thing you want me to bless you financially you want me to help you
financially you want me to make it so that your vine is not cursed so that
what you produce is not go by the wayside give 10% of your income to the
house of God you say well that doesn't make any sense and God said here's the
Bible says trust in the Lord with all thine heart lean not until I don't
understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy
path the Bible says blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord and whose hope
the Lord is and listen to me sometimes the plans of God just don't make sense
here's another plan that doesn't make sense you take a child and you spank
them and they'll actually love you more who has children has found that to be
true I mean you take a child they're being they're being angry and they're
being right there they're being bad and then you spank him and also in the
attitude gets fixed and they want to just cuddle with you and be with you now
logic says if I spank him they're gonna hate me but here's what happens parents
you don't spank end up producing children who hate them when you spank
your children and discipline them the way that the Bible says they end up
loving and respecting you say that makes no sense I know but you just trust in
the Lord it's like going into battle with a trumpet in a pitcher here's
another way it makes sense preach hard and God will bless your church well
wait a minute God if I preach hard people are gonna leave if I preach hard
the church isn't gonna grow you think it's not our job to grow the church
that's God's job the Lord added unto the church daily such as should be
saved but he says you you preach hard and here's what happens here's what you
understand you preach hard and people start getting sin out of their life and
the less sin there is in the church the healthier it is and anything that's
healthy will grow and the guys that get up and say no no I want to grow it so I
don't want to offend people so I don't want to preach hard and then they've got
a church filled with a bunch of people they're all sitting there fornicating
they're getting drunk they're getting divorced and you say how does this work
God here's the thing when God gives you a plan you just follow it you don't sit
there and strategize you don't sit there and think it through and well get
in let's get a second opinion no no God said God said I mean imagine Joshua when
God comes to Joshua says we're gonna take Jericho praise the Lord God what
would you like us to do just go walk around that city seven times and do what
that's it so God doesn't make any sense often the plans of God don't make sense
see the plans of God don't make sense and the world looks at it and says
that's foolishness you know God has chosen the foolish things of this world
to confound the wise like you to notice the fourth thing go back to Judges
chapter 7 verse 12 we saw number one the purging we saw number two the
partnership saw number three the plan
notice judges 7 in verse 12 in the Midianites and the Amalekites and all
the children of the East lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for
multitude and their camels were without number as the sand by the sea side for
multitude and when Gideon was come behold there was a man and told a dream
unto his fellow and said behold I dream a dream and lo a cake of barley bread
tumbled into the host Midian and came unto a tent and smote it and it fell and
overturned that the tent lay along and his fellows answered and said this is
nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash this is what God wanted
Gideon to hear a man of Israel for into his hand how God had delivered Midian
and all the host and it was so when Gideon heard the telling of the dream
that the interpretation thereof and he worshipped them returned into the host
of Israel and said arise for the Lord have delivered into your hands the host
of the Midians let me say this about the plan do you realize that God has already
given Gideon the victory they're already scared they're already afraid they're
already having nightmares about Gideon and this barley coming down God has
already delivered the victory all he needs is Gideon to step out my faith and
let me tell you something God has already given us the victory we are
already we have already overcome we have already won God just needs us to stick
to the plan to follow through notice verse 16 he divided the 300 men into
three companies and he put a trumpet into every man's hand with empty
pictures and lamps within the picture and he said unto them now notice this
we saw the purging in the partnership we saw the plan but I like to notice a
pattern notice what Gideon says and he said unto them I love this that's why my
favorite part of this story and he said unto them look on me and do likewise and
behold when I come to the outside of the camp it shall be that look notice it as
I do so shall ye do when I blow the with the trumpet and I had all that are with
me then blow ye the trumpet also on every side of all the camp and say the
sword of the Lord and of getting go to 1st Corinthians chapter 4 1st Corinthians
chapter 4 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1st Corinthians 1st Corinthians
chapter number 4 1st Corinthians chapter 4 I want you notice the pattern 1st
Corinthians chapter number 4 and verse number 16 1st Corinthians 4 16 1st
Corinthians 4 16 says this wherefore 1st Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 16
wherefore I beseech you notice what Paul said wherefore I beseech you be ye
followers of me well I don't believe that we should follow men I'm gonna go
to some home church and just we're all gonna sit around on a couch and you know
we're all the elders no no you understand that Paul said hey follow
somebody he said he said be followers of me you know what he's saying he's saying
look on me and do likewise as I do so shall ye do when I blow the trumpet you
blow the trumpet he says wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me go 1st
Corinthians 11 in verse number 1 notice what he said 1st Corinthians 11 and
verse 1 be ye followers of me so why are we just supposed to blindly follow a man
no notice what he says be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ
well you understand the Bible has put the Bible says that God has put in
leadership has put leadership in your house and in your
church and in your in your job or whatever God gives us human leadership
why so that we can follow them so that we can be patterned after them so that
they can say look on me and do likewise as I do so shall ye do go to Philippians
chapter 3 you're there in 1st Corinthians you're gonna go past 1st
Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Philippians chapter 3 verse
17 1st 2nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Philippians chapter 3
and verse 17 Philippians 3 17 Philippians 3 17 says this brethren be
ye followers of me and mark them which walk so as ye have notice for and and
sample you see that he says God has given you human leadership for and and
sample do you understand that God gave you a pastor God has ordained churches
and pastors and one of the tasks of a pastor the Bible says that a pastor is
to be in an example or an example excuse me I want you to notice what the Bible
says he says that you are to be an example of the believers now here's what
it doesn't say it doesn't say be an example to the believers like the
pastor is supposed to be an example to the believers so the believers look at
him and say wow what an example no no the Bible says that the pastor is to be
an example of the believers so that way the believers in the congregation if
they're wondering what am I supposed to be doing with my life how am I supposed
to be doing church life and family life and finances they can look at the pastor
and say oh that's it see the pad the qualifications of a pastor are there the
reason they are so strict is because God says I want you to follow my plan to a
key why because I want the followers to look at you and not see an example to
them but an example of them or for them they are supposed to here's what he's
saying you're supposed to look at your pastor and do likewise you're supposed
to see what your pastor is doing how he raises his children how he has his
marriage what he does with his finances how he goes so away and you look at him
and then you do what he has told you to do doesn't the Bible say remember them
which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God whose
faith follow considering the end of their conversation see the Bible says
that you are supposed to look at your pastor and do likewise and listen to me
I've met a lot of people this week and if you told me this because I've had
people taught me this and I'm not trying to offend you and I'm not trying to hurt
your feelings I'm just trying to help you out if you're in this boat and I
appreciate your zeal and I appreciate your fervor but if you're in this boat
where you're like well you know I'm going to this church and I'm trying to
get the pastor to go soul winning with me there's something wrong with that
picture it's not the follower telling the pastor do what I do follow me and do
that likewise you're not supposed to be setting the example for him he's
supposed to be setting the example for you now if you got a pastor who's a soul
winner who breeds a Bible who prays who lives righteously hey praise the Lord
for it you get sold out to him you tell him I'll be your Fuhrer and only you
follow and not leave but if you're leading your pastor you may need to just
get yourself into another church if you're trying to encourage your pastor
you're giving him preaching tips you're explaining to him Romans 1 if you're
trying to you know I'm discipling my pastor there's a problem there I'm
teaching my pastor how to go so winning no no that's not how leadership works
be followers of me even as I also am of Christ
brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have for
as an example see Gideon said look on me and do likewise as I do so shall you do
you know what I tell very back to church look at me as I go so winning you do the
same thing the way the way our marriage works you try to follow that example the
way we raise our children and we're not perfect and we make mistakes and we're
training them and we're helping but you know what we're trying to do the best we
can and you ought to be trying to follow that example if we're going to win
listen to me if we're going to win the battle when we're drastically outnumbered
we cannot have we cannot have these young punks going around and thinking
well I know better than the pastor dies I got a secret revelation and I spent 37
hours on YouTube and now I've got it all figured out no no you follow your pastor
and you just submit yourself and say I may be a Gideon one day but today I'm a
Fuhrer I may be a Jonathan one day but today I'm an armor bearer today I'm just
gonna help Jonathan carry his weapons while he fights the battles how will we
win how will we win when we're drastically outnumbered go back to
judges chapter 7 we saw the purging we saw the partnership we saw the plan we
saw the pattern I'd like you to notice number five this morning I'd like you
notice the position judges after 7 in verse 19 notice what the Bible says so
Gideon and the hundred men that were with him came unto the outside of the
camp in the beginning of the middle watch and they had but newly set the
watch and they blew the trumpets and break the pitchers that were in their
hands and the three companies blew the trumpet and break the pitchers and held
the lamps in their left hand and the trumpets in the right hands to blow
with off and they cried the sword of the Lord notice the human leadership and of
Gideon you know the home church people they just want to say the sword of the
Lord where's your Gideon and of Gideon notice verse 21 and they notice these
words notice this word stood notice they didn't advance they didn't fight they
stood and they stood and they stood I want you to know their position they
stood every man in his place right about the camp what happens and all the hosts
ran and cried and fled and the 300 rule the trumpet and the Lord notice what
says and the Lord said every man sword against his fellow they blew the
trumpet they broke the pitcher they shouted the Lord the sword of the Lord
and of Gideon and then they stood and watched the people fight themselves
destroy themselves they watched the Lord win the battle it's kind of like the
story pastor Romero was talking about when the queers from Fort Worth and the
queers from Dallas were saying we're gonna come out and fight against you as
a great multitude but then they started fighting each other that's what happened
he was with Gideon they're watching this multitude just start fighting each other
but I want you to notice the Bible says they stood they stood every man stood
you know it's interesting doesn't the Bible say finally my brethren be strong
in the Lord and the power is mine put on the whole armor of God that you may be
able to stand against the walls of the devil before we wrestle not against
flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the
rulers of darkness of this world against spiritual witness in high places where
for take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day and having done all to stand stand therefore it's interesting that
God gives us this entire passage about all those armor that we're supposed to
carry and put on and he says do this and do that and get ready for battle but
then all he ever tells us to do is to stand he just says stand he just says
stand why don't you know their position was they just stood they just stood
people say why do you guys have to try to go fight the sodomites of these old
IV why do you guys have to try to pick a fight with them I'm not picking a fight
with them I'm standing where I've always done just because society changes and
just because culture changes just because the old IV movement changes
doesn't mean we're gonna change you say what do we do to win the battle when
we're drastically outnumbered it's one word stand stand stand you say what do
you do you say what do you want from these old IV here's all I want from them
would they just stand could they just stand I'm not asking them to preach
the service I'm not asking them to be on YouTube I'm not asking them to go viral
and do the interview I'm just saying could they stand up and say hey here's
the position here's where God said we stand here's where the Bible doesn't I
will say remove not the old landmarks so how do you win a battle when you're
drastically outnumbered you fix your position and stand you stand doesn't I
will say therefore my beloved brethren be you steadfast unmovable always
abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labor is not
in vain so how do you win how do you win here's how you win you stand you
stand you stand see some of you need to go home and just stand you've got some
kids are going wayward you're thinking of giving up you're thinking of calling
quits you just stand right there I'm talking to the wife whose husband doesn't
come to church and you think I'm just calling in the towel and saying you know
what I'm done with it listen to me please please just stand just stand but
I'm drastically outnumbered and everybody's against me and nobody's
helping me just stand fix your position and stand judges chapter 7 like verse 23
is the last one so how do we win when you're drastically outnumbered we saw
the purging we saw the partnership we saw the plan the pattern the position I
want you to notice the third thing I can know the sixth thing excuse me I
ignore this of pursuit judges 7 verse 23 and all the men of Israel gathered
themselves together out of the Tali and out of Asher and out of Manasseh and
pursued after the Midianites look at chapter 8 in verse 4 chapter 8 in verse
4 and Gideon came to Jordan and passed over he and the 300 men that were with
him I want you to notice notice once you notice faint yet pursuing them faint yet
for pursuing them we all get tired we all get to the place in our lives where
we say is it even worth it I'm thinking just just letting it go is it worth the
battle is it worth the fight is it worth the argument my family thinks I'm crazy
my family thinks I'm gonna call I mean is it worth it I want to encourage you
this morning you're here and you're faint to not stop pursuing Gideon was
faint just how do you point about when you're dressed about number when you're
faint you just keep going faint yet for suing Bible says be not deceived God is
not much for what so ever man saw it that shall he also read he that saw it
to the flat shell of the flesh read corruption he that's so to the
spiritual spirit revive everlasting and let us not be weary in well-doing for in
due season we shall reap if we faint not so how do you want about it when you're
dressed about it here's how you want a battle you just keep pursuing even when
you're faint you keep pursuing even when you're tired you keep pursuing even when
it seems like you're going to lose even when it seems like nothing's gonna
happen even when you'd rather take a nap even when you'd rather put in a throw in
the towel listen to me they try to get us they try to get us to back up and
back off and back down but listen to me you may be tired you may be faint but
just keep say faint and keep pursuing keep going stay at it don't quit don't
quit on God the Bible says this but we have this treasure in earthen vessels
that the excellence in power may be of God and not of us I love what the Bible
says it says we are troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed but
not in despair we are persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed you
say what do you what do you do when you're battling and you're fighting and
it just seems like the forces of evil are coming against you how do you
continue and how do you go on here's how you do it you just keep at it you just
keep going we see their pursuit go back to Judges chapter 7 look at verse 2
we're done right here it's okay about three matters what's the point of all
this what what's the point of all of it the purging and the partnership the plan
and the pattern the position and the pursuit why why would we fight why would
we fight when we're drastically outnumbered it all comes down to one
thing and we find it in verse 2 look at it will be done judges 7 verse 2 and the
Lord sent him to get in remember when the story first started and the people
that are with thee are too many for me to give to the Midianites into their
hands why God why why do you want us to fight when we're drastically outnumbered
here's why lest Israel vaunt themselves against me the word vaunt means to boast
how are they gonna boast saying mine own hand has saved me when these protesters
showed up a year ago they told us we're not leaving till you shut down
we're not leaving till you close your doors and you know what they stuck
around for like 12 weeks and 12 reasons sound like a long time but 12 weeks of
Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night being heckled at having
protesters out there we don't have 1,500 protesters all 12 weeks but we had you
know we have 120 the first night on Wednesday 500 600 on the main day and
then we have probably 30 20 30 protesters almost every service about
12 weeks after that we're the guys were talking about I remember the first the
first Wednesday night that we walked out of church and there's nobody in the
parking lot we're like wow I I'm just gonna go in my car I don't have to like
you know try to get away from these people or you know or stop a five years
or something like that they said they're gonna stop us they said you're weak they
said we're gonna sue you they sued us say you don't have the resources you're
not gonna make it say pastor miss you think you won that battle I don't see
that you know what we're still doing what are you still doing we're still
standing did you change your position no are you standing where you stood before
we're sending exactly where we stood before we're winning the battle when
we're outnumbered you say how do you do that why do you do that what's the point
why go through all that here's why because when people watch the story when
they see the testimony they don't look at this guy and say well obviously it's
because of I mean look at look I understand you know they're not saying
it's because he's so charming now I am charming but that's not what they're
saying they're not saying it's because we'll look at how tall he is don't laugh
they're not saying well look at our mate look you know they're saying they're
saying God did that they're saying God was with them they're saying God won
that man how do you win a battle when you're drastically outnumbered you do it
by relying on God it's my head tonight what a prayer father we thank you for
these stories in the Bible these examples you give us to encourage us to
keep fighting you know what I understand that there are all sorts of
churches represented here all sorts of ministries and different things great
works of God that are being done all throughout the country and even the
world and father I just pray that we would all be encouraged when we look at
their numbers when we look at their resources when we look at the things
that they are accomplishing help us not to be scared and to run off help us to
just trust in the Lord stick to the plan and maintain our position in the name of
Christ we pray amen