A Mighty Man of Valor

Judges 6:14 - And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Remember learning about Gideon in Sunday School? He is the man who defeated an entire army with only 300 soldiers. And they weren't trained soldiers at that but just everyday farmers who were desperate for a victory. You might also remember that Gideon was terrified of his enemies. He was threshing wheat at night to feed his family, too afraid of what the enemy would do to him if he was caught.The angel of the Lord appeared to him and declared, "hail, thou mighty man of valor."

What? I can just see Gideon looking around for someone else. But no, the angel was talking to him. Gideon, who was afraid of his own shadow, was commanded by God to go and lead an army against his enemies. He questioned the orders. If your are really from God then wait until I bring you something to eat. He quickly prepared a meal and brought it to the "man." But the angel told him to lay it out on a rock. When Gideon did so the angel touched it with his staff and it burst into flame as an offering unto God. When the man vanished Gideon realized he had been talking to an angel. After such a miraculous demonstration who wouldn't be ready to fight an army? Not Gideon. He was still afraid.

He questioned God again. If I put a piece of wool on the ground let it be wet with dew but let the ground be dry. It happened. The next day he asked the opposite. Let the ground be wet and the wool be dry. The Lord honored his request. Now the Lord was ready for Gideon to do something. The Lord had already spoken to him (after the angel's visit) to go in "this thy might." Seems strange doesn't it. The man who required three signs from God before he would obey was called a man of valor (courage) and told to go in his might (strength). But God sees differently than we do.

You see, God had already put the strength in Gideon to do what he was called to do. It wasn't in Gideon's nature (or so he thought) to lead an army. But something supernatural happened to Gideon when God spoke to him. The word of the Lord was sufficient to be Gideon's might and courage. All he had to do was obey. God had the rest in control.

So Gideon gathers an army of  32,000 men to go against several hundred thousand. Seems pretty brave, right? Wrong! God told him to send all the men who were afraid back home. 22,000 went home. So God, I am going to defeat an army this size with 10,000 men? Wrong again. While the men are down at a river drinking water God tells him to pick all the men who lap water like a dog and set them aside. All the rest can go home. He now has just 300 men. Seems like suicide. But it doesn't matter. This wasn't Gideon's battle anyway. God had it in control.

Now is Gideon ready to fight? Not quite. He is still afraid. So God tells him to sneak into camp and listen to what his enemies are saying. The first tent he comes to, he hears a big surprise. A man is telling his neighbor about a dream. "I dreamed a loaf of bread rolled into the camp and flattened us all." His friend knows the meaning. "It is Gideon because his God has delivered all of Midian into his hand." Now Gideon is finally convinced that God is for them.

He returns and tells the men to surround the camp. They each have a pitcher with a lamp inside and a horn. They blow the horns and hold up the pitchers shouting, "The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon." And what happens next? They really don't even have to fight. The Midianties are so frightened they began to turn and fight against each other. Mass chaos breaks out in the camp. The enemy flees before him. All Gideon and his men have to do is come along and pick up the spoils.

You see, God had the end in mind from the beginning. Gideon could have gone at the first word but he needed convincing. I don't think he really doubted God. He doubted himself. And the Lord knew that. That's why He gave Gideon so many signs. But Gideon didn't have to doubt. God had already put the abilities he needed inside of him to perform the task. We don't see his men questioning him. They gladly went along. Nothing short of a miracle. He was a natural born leader and didn't know it.

What about you today? Is there something you are fearful of? Has God spoken to you about doing something for him? You have doubts right? It's only natural. But our God is a supernatural God. If he has spoken to you, He has already given you all you need to fulfill the task. You must believe not only in him but in yourself. He knew what he was doing when he called you. He knew you were the one for the job. He doesn't make mistakes. You need to believe in yourself. If you can't do that, just trust God. He has it all in control. There is a victory just over the horizon with your name on it. So Gideon, go in "thy might" without fear. God has given you your enemies.

Trusting him daily,

Sullivan Jones 

Do you talk to yourself?

I Corinthians 2: 11 - For who knows a person's thoughts expect his own spirit within him.


Much has been written about the power of words. Our words can be used to wound and to heal, to tear down relationships and to build them up. Words have been used to inspire and to discourage. Messages sent in writing have started wars. Words have separated friends and love letters have started long and happy marriages. Words are powerful and can be beautiful.


I'm convinced that the most important words we speak are the words we tell ourselves. Its the conversations that we have with ourselves in our inner most beings, where no one else but God can hear, that have the most impact on the world around us. Do we build ourselves up or tear ourselves down? Do we believe in ourselves? Do we tell ourselves that we feel well and enjoy life or do we sit and meditate on all that is wrong with the world around us? Do we try to lie to ourselves or are we honest with ourselves about our state of affairs?


Words matter. If no one else believes in us, we should believe in ourselves. We should be confident and bold. We should understand that each one of us is important in his/her own way. I may not be able to do what others can do but I have my own talents and abilities. I am my own unique person; I am who God intended me to be. When I am confident in who I am I will have no need to ever put others down. I will have no need to be jealous. I will wish only good for others around me.


Words matter. Not only the words that I speak to others but those that I speak to myself as well. Do you feel tired and discouraged? Are you enjoying life to its fullest? Are you afraid to take a risk to better yourself for fear of failing? Nothing in life is secure but there are some things worth taking a risk for. "But what if I fail?", you ask yourself. "What if you don't?", comes back the reply.


Go ahead! Listen to the positive voice. Try something new and bold. Live life as God wanted you to live. If it doesn't work you will be one step closer to knowing what does work. Above all, don't give up. Keep telling yourself that you can do this. After all, your words do matter. And who else is listening but you!


Blessings,


Sullivan Jones

Judge not ...

Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood scriptures in the Bible is Matthew 7:12. "Judge not that ye be not judged." To many people it means that we can make no judgment at all about whether or not a person's behavior is right or wrong. However in verse 24 of the same chapter Jesus says not to judge according to appearance but "judge righteous judgment." So did Jesus contradict himself? Is there a contradiction when Paul tells us that a believer must go to court before the church and not world? (I Corinthians chapter 6) Obviously not. We must read the entire chapter of Matthew 7 to understand this verse in context. Let's look at it. Verse 2 says, "In the same way you judge others you will be judged." This is the key to understanding the whole chapter." Jesus is telling us not to judge other people with different standards than we judge ourselves. 

Our world would be in chaos if there was absolutely no judgment. If a judge and jury couldn't hear the evidence of a crime, people would literally get away with murder. (No pun intended,) If a skilled musician couldn't correct a student, the student would never become a master pianist. If a panel couldn't judge pies at the county fair, who would win the ribbon? I am glad someone judged whether or not my physician and nurses were ready to have a medical license. Someone judged that I was competent in my driving test and worthy of a license. You get the picture. 

What Jesus meant is that we should judge fairly. As the old saying goes, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Judgment in the right context is not only acceptable but necessary. It is perfectly acceptable for a father to correct his child from cursing. Now if the father is cursing but telling the child not to, this is not righteous judgment. But a father who doesn't use foul language might say this: You do not hear your mother and me use that kind of language and you will not be allowed to use that word either. If I hear you use it again you will be punished. He has taught a lesson and laid down the rules. Righteous judgment. 

The problem is that when it comes to spiritual things we can all get "preachy." It is easy to overlook our own faults and see only the faults of others. This is why we must all have accountability. We need fellowship with other Christians to remind us that we live to a higher standard than the unbeliever. We need to be inspired to do our best. And we need correction when we mess up.  We need someone that knows the word of God to be able tell us when we are doing wrong and show us how to do better. It must be done in love, yes, but it must be done. If not, how will we ever know what are and are not supposed to do? 

Many people expect the church members to be perfect. We all know better but somehow we expect it anyway. I'm glad that my fellow members are not perfect. If they were perfect I would not fit in because I am still struggling with some things. I have grown but I have a lot growth yet before I am mature (perfect). My fellow church members are patient with me and I must be patient with them as well. I do not want them to excuse my behavior. I want to be inspired, encouraged, and even compelled to do better. I will not ask them to do anything I am not willing to do. Why? Because the scales must be balanced. I must be judged with the same judgment I mete out. This is the real meaning of Judge not that ye be not judged. 

Is judgment necessary? Absolutely! But our judgment must always reflect the word of God and not our own opinions. We can all make mistakes but the word of God is perfect. So judge me preacher. Judge me, saint of God. Help me to grow but remember to do it in love. And when you need correction I will correct you in love. By doing this, we will all grow together into "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13). 

Blessings, 

Sullivan Jones