May the Force be with you! Captured the concept that there is more than what we bring to the fight. Without defining this force we understand it to be: an energy, insight, direction—reliance on a higher power.
The enemy to the force is the cunning, bold and vicious activity of superior military power intent on destroying everything not submitted to its control.
We’ve probably got a little of both in us. A desire to rely on God and the overwhelming urge to rule our own lives.
If it’s going to be, it’s up to me. What man can conceive, man can achieve.
But then I ask:
· Who am I?
· What am I bringing to the table?
· What is my contribution?
· What if my training, gifts, talents, experience don’t cover what I need to do?
David: Then one of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him." (1 Sam 16:18)
Series: The Secrets of a God is With Us Life
Gideon – Judges 6:1-16
Repeating scenario: In movies or novels they speak of the formula.
· Self-reliant
· Rejection of God’s right to rule
· An oppressor
· Oppressive actions
· Depressive conditions
· Inadequacy to change what’s going on
· Hopelessness
· Cry out to God
· God intervenes
· He raises up a champion
· By God’s provision the battle is won and peace returns
That’s where you want the movie to end.
Denouement: the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are tied together and matters are resolved. Which then leads to the conclusion: And they lived happily ever after.
· People get comfortable
· Become self-reliant
We have a tendency to forget Him unless we need Him.
When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Deut 8:10-14)
Secret of a God is With Us life is reliance.
Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have…you will lie down in torment. (Isa 50:10-11)
Torments: severe mental or physical suffering
Physical: the misery of pain and anguish of discomfort
Mental: no peace, no hope, no anticipation, no rest, distress of mind and heart
Hearts melting away: Where can we go up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, "The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there. Then I said to you, 'Do not be shocked, nor fear them. 'The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.' "But for all this, you did not trust the LORD your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go. (Deut 1:28-33)
I hear you, I just don’t see it.
When we can only trust in what we can see; can only defeat what we believe we are bigger than; can only win against what we know we can beat, then we’d better not face any really big problems.
Assyria was a really big problem. A larger army, led by a more successful campaign strategist, their king a more successful conqueror, they came against Judah to take them captive as they had Israel.
Then Rabshakeh [spokesman for the King] stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria, "Thus says the king, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from my hand; nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." (2 Kings 18:28-30)
The message of the enemy: reliance on faith is a false hope.
How did Hitler demoralize his enemy? He took away their reliance from what was their source of hope.
Options when hope is gone:
· Give in and give up.
· Trust in yourself. Fight in your own strength and be defeated.
· Trust in your God.
For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, and You have put to shame those who hate us. (Ps 44:6-7)
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. (Ps 56:3) When, not if!
Gideon’s lesson: what did it mean to be a man God is with?
Means that as doubt is crumbling away your hope, you refuse to let it remove your reliance on Him.
And with ultimate assurance you know that when you call out to Him, He will respond.
How do you demoralize someone? Take away what they trust in or take away their confidence in what they trust.
How do you keep from becoming disheartened? Keep your hope alive.
Secret of a God is With Us life – TAKEAWAYS:
· Outcome is not as important as the income
o The means out-values the end.
o The plans God wants to accomplish exceed the answer we believe we need.
o The insight we gain is precious to the process.
o The usefulness we acquire adds value to what we have experienced.
· The playing field of life is level to all who trust in God.
o He accomplishes all that concerns all of us.
o He works all things toward what He declares as good for all of us.
o He fulfills in us what can only be defined as abundant life.
o In Him all the promises of God are yes for all of us!
· The burden of life rests on Him not us.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matt 11:28-30)
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