4 kinds of Christians
In the 4 tribes Gideon targets for calling men there were many men available for fighting. See the census #s. See Numbers 1. 144,000 plus in 1400 BC Later passages say over 220,000 Gideon lived in 1200 BC 32,000 show up tp fight - only 16%! 84% stayed home!
The Complacent:
Why did they not come out to fight? Scared, lazy, Complacent, distracted, selfish Isa.14, Ezekiel 28 - God made us for His glory. There is a REAL battle going on. Spiritual forces are in raging battle right now! God has gifted each believer to fight in the battle. The reality is that most believers are satisfied and complacent and not in the battle.
Some say.. I'm just one person. What can I do? Start & find out. If you are in this group ... Change!
The Cowardly
32,000 came But 22,000 were cowards! They left when they had the chance. What changed their mind? Gideon had moved his army within sight of the Midianites. Reality set in. The well of Harod (trembling) - this has been a problem since the beginning. The disciples ran as soon as Jesus was arrested. We hear a firey message and get out to the battle but there is a big temptation to give in to fear. Fear is natural! Don't be controlled by fear.
The Careless:
10,000 left! God comes and says still too many. Undisciplined/Careless (not cowards, not complacent) But the attack depended on very disciplined men. We can't walk with God w/o discipline. 1Peter 5:8, 1Cor.9:24-27 The disciples were supposed to watch & pray, but they slept. It takes discipline to pray, to read Bible, to witness, etc.
The Champions
300 vs. 185,000 Champions God's soldiers had specific places to be, specific tasks to do, and they did it. And what a Victory! Israel was free from oppression for 40 years.
In the day that Ceasar was over Rome he had 40 champions who wrestled and fought for him. Vespacian heard that some of his men had received the Gospel in Gaul and would not bow. Vespacian gave them a chance to recant. It was winter and every man was given the chance. Every man who will not bow to ceasar take two steps forward. 2x all 40 men did it. All 40 were commanded to march out on the frozen lake to die from exposure. Only one came back to the camp fire. Vespacian was so moved he took off his armor and went out himself to complete the cry "40 wrestlers, wrestling for thee O Christ!"
Created over 1 year ago
