God's Provision For Today's Challenges - 2 Chronicles 20:1-23, Hebrews 11:6

(The most recent time I gave this message was on November 6, 2016 at Christ Community Church in Miami Florida. You can view the PowerPoint slides of the message on Microsoft OneDrive HERE.
I also gave this message at Gospel Life Church in Sunrise FL on June 11, 2017. You can view it on YouTube HERE. The PowerPoint slides of this message are available on Microsoft OneDrive HERE)

As the title of the message suggests, we live in challenging days. Challenges of a personal nature: health issues, unemployment, financial uncertainty, perhaps marriage difficulties and so forth. Issues facing our nation: political unrest, the threat of global and domestic terrorism, corruption in government and Wall Street, a health care crisis, unprecedented government deficits, a volatile economy, and home foreclosures.

I want to look with you at the provisions God has given us for challenging times, by looking at King Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah as they faced a crisis in their day, a challenge that was humanly speaking insurmountable. Reading 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 (NIV)

"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, 'A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar' (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: 'Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 "If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us." 10 But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.' 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord."

Notice how King Jehoshaphat responded when faced with this massive army from Edom to the south headed his way. How we respond to life's challenges is critical. What we do when faced with adversity will determine whether we experience the presence, power and provision of God or limit ourselves  to our own human resources and ingenuity.

King Jehoshaphat responded in three ways to the crisis faced by his nation We can respond in the same three ways when facing a challenge. The first and immediate response of King Jehoshaphat was to call a prayer meeting. He called his people to prayer and fasting.

Fasting means to deny oneself something that is a legitimate part of your life for the purpose of seeking God. Fasting from food or drink is common. When I fast this is what motivates me: "I need God more than I need food." Why did Jehoshaphat call a fast? 

Note two reasons: Fasting communicates urgency of desire. In other words, it's like saying to God, “I’m really serious about this.” Verse three says Jehoshaphat was “alarmed” and “afraid.” In his book God’s Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis writes,

"When a man is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, he is demonstrating that he means business, that he is seeking with all his heart, and will not let God go unless he answers."

You see fasting is a picture of one who is diligently, earnestly and sincerely seeking God. The second thing we learn about fasting

is that fasting communicates dependence on God. Verse 20 in the New Living Translation, "O our God, won't you stop them?

We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help." In other words, King Jehoshaphat was saying to God, “We are helpless!” "You’re the only one who can help!” Jehoshaphat's father faced a similar crisis as recorded in chapter fourteen. When facing a similar threat, a vast army of Cushites, King Asa called upon the Lord, chapter 14, verse eleven, "...Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

After the Lord "struck down the Cushites," the prophet Azariah brought this word from the Lord, 2 Chronicles 15:2, “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you”

May I suggest to you that is the theological basis for fasting. Pastor K. Neil Foster writes, “Fasting is the quickest way to get yourself into the position where God can give you what He wanted to give you all along." Principle number one, fasting is an invitation for God's intervention. Fasting provides an opportunity for God to demonstrate His supernatural power. In other words do what only God can do. Through fasting God will bring His resources into our circumstances.

Through fasting God intervenes in our crisis. Through fasting God invades our lives with His presence. And in all of this God is glorified because He gets all the credit. Of all the spiritual disciplines, fasting is probably the most neglected and perhaps the most misunderstood, but it is the most powerful, rewarding, and fulfilling means of grace.

Notice Jehoshaphat's second response in the face of the crisis facing his nation. He responded in faith. Let’s define faith. 

 We come to Christ through faith Ephesians 5:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith." Then as believers we walk by faith. The Christian life is a life of faith. My favorite definition of faith is Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I believe this verse describes Jehoshaphat's faith. Jehoshaphat fasted. In other words, he was earnestly seeking God. He evidently believed that God existed, and that God would reward, or answer his prayer. Our faith is only as good as the object in which we place our faith. May I suggest to you that Jehoshaphat's prayer was a faith building prayer. We learn two things about faith from Jehoshaphat's prayer.

First, God is the object of our faith. You say, well tell us something new! That’s obvious! But I ask you, what kind of God is the object is the object of your faith? Faith depends on its object. If God is the object of your faith, the question is, what do you understand about God? How would you define the God who is the object of your faith? What kind of God is the object of your faith? How well informed are you about this God? How well do you know this God? I think it would be accurate to put it this way, our view of God, who is the object of our faith, will to a large degree define out faith.

Perhaps you have driven over the Intercostal on the 17^th Street Causeway Bridge in Fort Lauderdale. Most of us never give a second thought when we drive over that bridge. But each time you drive over that bridge, you are placing your faith in the bridge to get you safely over the Intercostal. That is because we have complete faith in the structural integrity of the bridge. We are placing our faith in the architect, engineers, and construction crew who designed and built the bridge.

We gain insight into Jehoshaphat's faith by looking at his view of God. If faith depends on its object, what did Jehoshaphat think about God? What was his view of God? What did he believe about God? In the face of this crisis how did he define God? We find the answer in his prayer, verses six through twelve. He asks three questions. And in answering them he defined the God, who was the object of his faith. You see, these three questions in Jehoshaphat's prayer are faith-building questions. Let's look at how Jehoshaphat defines God.

Are you not...? is the first question, ”O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in you hand, and no one can withstand you." (verse 6). Here he is focusing on Who God Is. In asking this question Jehoshaphat is proclaiming truth about God. Notice that he focuses on the transcendence of God - the “otherness” of God, “are you not the God who is in heaven?” God is unique and distinct from his creation. Nothing in creation is comparable to Him. The transcendence of God speaks of everything about God that separates Him from his creation.

Then he focuses on the sovereignty of God, “you rule over the nations.” God is in absolute control of his creation. He determines the end from the beginning. Thirdly, He focuses on the power of God, "no one can withstand you.”  In Jehoshaphat view God has no rivals. He rules supreme. Remember, “faith depends on its object,” Hebrews 6:11, ”And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists...'

The second question is Did you not...? "O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (verse 7) Here the focus is on what God did.  Not only is Jehoshaphat remembering the faithfulness of God in giving them victory over their enemies (verse 7a) He was addressing God as the God of covenant. (verse 7b) This was the God who had intervened in history, chosen a people as his very own and obligated himself to those people in a covenant relationship.

As Jehoshaphat called out to God in this time of crisis, he was not only mindful of who God was, he was mindful of what God had done. He is not only calling to mind what he knew about God, he was focusing on the intervention of God on behalf of His people in the past.

But there is more. He was focusing on the covenant relationship that Israel had with God. He refers to God as the “friend” of Abraham, verse 7. This speaks of God's revelation of himself to man. It speaks loud and clear of God' intention to live in fellowship with Abraham and his seed, through a divinely conceived and initiated covenant.

As he led his people in prayer at the Temple Jehoshaphat refers to the Temple as the dwelling place of God among his people, verse 9. This speaks of the presence of God in the midst of his people. He already noted the transcendence of God. Now he speaks of the immanence of God, the nearness of God. This speaks of the right of these chosen people to stand in the presence of God, that transcendent, sovereign and powerful God because of that covenant relationship.

Perhaps Jehoshaphat was reminded of the temple dedication by his great, great, great grandfather Solomon as recorded in chapter seven when the visible glory of God filled the Temple and God himself said, "Now my eyes are open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”  (7:15) If you are in Christ today, this is your privilege as well to know the immanence of God, the presence of God especially in your time of need.

Church are you getting the picture? Faith depends on its object! God has disclosed to us who He is. He has revealed himself to us in His creation. He has revealed himself to us through revelation, the written word, and through His Son Jesus Christ the living Word. So He stands before us today as the object of our faith, offering to have a dynamic personal relationship with us through faith in His Son. We have access to the very presence of God through our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.

But there is a third question, Will you not...? verse twelve, ”O our God, will you not judge them (their enemies)? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

The focus of the third question “Will you not?” is on what we can expect. King Jehoshaphat is saying; based on who you are, the transcendent, sovereign and powerful God; based on what you have done, you brought us into a covenant relationship with yourself and drove out the enemy from this land and gave it to Abraham's descendants. On that basis we call upon you; we ask for your help; we cry out for your intervention; and we expect a response!  Hebrews 11:6 describes Jehoshaphat's faith. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

You see, there is the expectation on Jehoshaphat's part that God would respond. The three questions Jehoshaphat asks in his prayer, are faith building questions. They were faith building because they reveal truth about the God who was the object of Jehoshaphat's faith.

I'm going to suggest to you that, principle number two, your faith will be defined by your knowledge and experience of God. And the two are related. Your knowledge of God will either limit or enhance your experience of God. How are you defining God this morning? How does your knowledge of him and your experience of him contribute to that definition? In other words, how well do you know God?

But there is another side of faith. Faith is acting or stepping out in obedience to God's Word.  Faith is trusting in God’s promises

and trusting the God of promise. Faith is an action word. Notice God's first response to Jehoshaphat's impassioned prayer.  He sent a word to the king and his people through the prophet Jahaziel. Jahaziel was a Levite, a descendent of Asaph. A singer, if you will.  His prophetic word brought instructions and a promise;  a promise from God that required a response of faith.

Reading 2 Chronicles 20:14-17 (NIV),

"Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 15 He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Jahaziel gave the marching orders. He told them exactly what to do, the instructions and told them exactly what God would do, the promise. You see, God's provision always accompany God's instructions. When we step out in obedience to God, we always step into the provision of God. When we choose to walk in the will of God we will find ourselves walking in the presence of God. Notice the emphasis on God's provision, verse fifteen, “For the battle is not yours but God's,” and verse seventeen, “You will not have to fight this battle see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Go out and face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you." It's all about what God would do.                                                                                                                                                              

Principle number three, obedience to God always brings us into the presence and provision of God. When we choose to walk in the will of God, we will find ourselves walking in the provision and the presence of God.

Notice how Jehoshaphat and his people responded. 2 Chronicles 20:18-20 (NIV), "Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.'”

I think verse twenty contains the key to this test of Jehoshaphat's faith. Notice Jehoshaphat's final instruction to his people. You will find it toward the end of verse twenty. Two clauses, “have faith in the Lord you God and you will be upheld.” (NIV) or "believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established” (ESV). There is a command and a promise here. There are two clauses here with two different verbs. First the command, “have faith” or "believe.” Then the promise, “you will be upheld” or “established”. One clause contains a command and the other contains a promise. And the two verbs come from the same root word. Listen to G. Campbell Morgan's comment,

“The exhortation in our text...has, in the original, a beauty and emphasis that are incapable of being preserved in translation. There is a play of words which cannot be reproduced in another language, though the sentiment of it may be explained...and although we can only imitate the original clumsily in our language, we might translate in some way as this: 'Hold fast by the Lord your God, and you will be held fast,' or 'stay yourselves on Him and you will be stable.'” 

What is Jehoshaphat saying here? Remember in his prayer he painted a picture of the magnificence of God, His transcendence, His sovereignty, and His power, the binding of Himself to Israel in a covenant relationship. He has defined God, who is the object of their faith for his people, and now he is exhorting his people to respond in faith to this God. Here is the key. The way in which they are to respond to God in faith, is closely related to the way God has promised to respond to their faith.

Again, G. Campbell Morgan. He further describes the imagery that takes place. "Put out your hand and clasp Him, and He puts out His hand and steadies you. But all the steadfastness and strength come from the mighty Hand that is outstretched, not from the tremulous one that grasps it.”

I declare to you this morning, there is a promise from God for every crisis you face; there is a promise from God for every dilemma that is before you; there is a promise from God for every challenge, and adversity and trial and set of difficult circumstances that comes your way. But more important is the fact when we act in obedience, when we take God at His Word; when we embrace His promises; and reach out to God, it is His hand that reaches out and takes hold of our hand; It is the transcendent, sovereign, powerful hand of God that reaches out and grabs hold of our weak and trembling hand. That is the theological truth described here. Are you living in that truth?

What are the obstacles to walking in this kind of faith? Faith in God cannot be separated from our knowledge of God. And intimacy with God is inseparable from intimacy with His Word. Notice the last words of verse twenty, “have faith in his prophets and you will be successful”. God had responded to the fasting and prayer of Jehoshaphat and his people with a specific word through the prophet Jahaziel. Jehoshaphat embraced that word.

God has not left us without a word. The Bible is His word to us, a final and complete revelation. For many of us our view of God is impoverished because our knowledge of His Word is impoverished. We lack intimacy with God because we do not consistently fellowship with Him in His Word. When we fail to give ourselves to God's Word three things happen.

First, we don't understand the nature and character of God. Therefore our fellowship with Him is compromised. Secondly, we don’t know the will of God. Therefore we often live outside of the purposes and plan of God. Thirdly, we don’t know the promises of God. Therefore we miss the blessings and provisions of God.

Peter said it is through the promises of God that we participate in the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NV), "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises," Now listen, "so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."  

First, we can respond to adversity with prayer and fasting. Second, we can respond to adversity in obedient faith. Third, we can respond to adversity, and, this is going to surprise some of you, we can respond with praise. Notice Jehoshaphat's response to the word of the Lord spoken by Jahaziel, verse eighteen, an act of worship, praise! That was Jehoshaphat's third response. Notice 2 Chronicles 20:21-23, "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.' 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir                                                                       who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another."

Notice verse 21, Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army. The choir preceded the infantry. And, verse twenty-two, as they praised the Lord revealed his power. As they praised the Lord, he defeated their enemies. I’ve often said that praise is the threshold into the presence of God.

Why is praise so critical in the face of our crisis or adversity? Principle number four, in praise we surrender to God's sovereignty in our lives. As we face challenges and adversity one of God’s provisions is to respond in praise. You see in our praise we acknowledge that the transcendent, sovereign and powerful God is in control of our lives and our circumstances. You see, praise is rooted in our submission, obedience and surrender to God. It is at this point that it dove tails with faith. You cannot exercise biblical faith with out obedience to the will of God. And you cannot exercise biblical praise without surrender to the sovereignty of God in your life and circumstances.

Are you facing adversity today? Is there a trial or challenge that is overwhelming you? What has been your response? King Jehoshaphat and his people faced insurmountable odds, a vast and powerful enemy. In humility they sought the Lord with prayer and fasting. They expressed to God the urgency of their desire. They expressed their dependence on God. They responded in obedient faith.  And they praised God. God will reveal Himself strong on our behalf if we respond to our in this way.

I close with this illustration. I use Psalms in my personal worship and prayer. A number of years ago I memorized the first eight verses of Psalm 63. I was undergoing great challenges. As I read these verses one day, I found they expressed my heart and my desperate need of God in those difficult times. Here is the background of these verses. God anointed David to be King many years before he actually replaced King Saul. And for years after being anointed as the next king, David lived as a hunted man, the life of a fugitive often out in the wilderness being tracked down by King Saul and his army.  During those years of hardship David had several opportunities to kill King Saul. His faith in God's promise that he would one day be king was tested over and over. Again and again he faced the question whether to trust and obey God or take things into his own hands.

It is believed that while being hunted by King Saul he wrote Psalm 63. As you listen, notice the praise that springs from his heart in this face of his adversity. Notice the words that express his insatiable hunger for God in the face of the life threatening challenges he faced. Notice the words that express his intimate fellowship with God in the face of his trials. Listen carefully to the metaphors and the word pictures that he used to describe his faith and trust in the Lord in these difficult circumstances. May I suggest to you as I close, that his words embody how we are to respond to God in the face of every challenge and adversity.

Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV) "Oh God, you are my God, Earnestly I seek you; My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld you power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."

Do you think David fasted? He continues,

"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; With singing lips my lips my mouth will praise you; On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing under the shadow of your wings."

Remember verse twenty, God's outstretched hand? "My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

© James P McGarvey All Rights Reserved

Pro-Life Websites and Bibliography

Pro-Life Websites

The Church for Life pro-life resources by Pastor Jim McGarvey (see right sidebar for indexes)

The Case for Life - the scientific and philosophical case for life - Scott Klusendorf

Life Training Institute - website of pro-life apologist Scott Klusendorf

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (abortionno.org- resources, facts, abortion photos & videos

The National Right to Life

The Eternal Perspective Ministries - website of Pastor Randy Alcorn

Abort73.com - great source of information

Life Dynamics.com - produced video -  Maafa21: Black Genocide in 21st Century America

PassionLife Ministries - Pastor John Ensor

Crusade For Life - pro-life Scriptures, resources and more.

Live Action - see the "Resources" link at the top for a comprehensive list resources.   

Abolish Human Abortion - "Following in the footsteps of former abolitionist movements, we aim to end one of the greatest human miseries and moral evils ever to be entrenched in our world." - AHA

Human Coalition

Online Videos

A MUST SEE: DVD The Abortion Matrix: Defeating Child Sacrifice and the Culture of Death

Exposing the spiritual forces behind abortion. You can watch Abortion Matrix free in 21 parts on YouTube here.

The Church for Life YouTube Channel  - sanctity of human life messages by Jim McGarvey

What is Human? - Live Action Film's undercover video of America's late-term abortion industry

  

The Silent Scream - a film made with real time ultrasound imaging of an abortion narrated by former abortionist Bernard Nathanson MD, one of the founders of the National Abortion Rights Action League.

Leading Well: A Pastor to Pastor Talk about Abortion with Pastor John Ensor of PassionLife Ministries

Stand for Life 2014: Francis Chan, John Piper, John Ensor

"The Ransom 72 Story" an abortion clinic closes after prolonged prayer by God's people.

Babies Are Murdered Here  online video featuring R C Sproul, Jr., Rusty Lee Thomas and more

The Doctrine of Blood Guiltiness - a message by Pastor Rusty Lee Thomas

Choice,' a riveting Spoken Word poetry video by Living Waters President, Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne

Resources especially for pastors:

Forming a Gospel Centered Response to Abortion by Jim McGarvey

"A Different Approach for Addressing Abortions" a conversation recorded at a Just Gospel Conference sponsored by The Front Porch. You may watch the interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN15-jHEUQw

“The courts can make abortion illegal, but only God through His church can make abortion unthinkable.” Watch Pastor Tony Evans and others introduce Care Net’s Making Life Disciples resource for churches.

See a Study of Women Who Have Had an Abortion and Their Views on Church

a LifeWay Survey sponsored by Care Net

Human Coalition Pro-Life Pastor

Human Coalition The Church Tool Kit

President Reagan's Sanctity of Human Life Day Proclamation - 1984 - The first Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 22, 1984

LoveLife - “Creating a culture where families stop running to Abortion Centers and start running to the Local Church." 

Websites on Black Genocide:

A MUST SEE:  Maafa21 Black Genocide in 21st Century America exposes Planned Parenthood, the eugenics movement, the abortion cartel targets  the African American Community. Watch it free online.

National Black Pro-Life Coalition  

The Radiance Foundation -Ryan Bomberger 

Too Many Aborted Awareness campaign - Ryan Bomberger's Radiance Foundation, Black genocide, adoption

Issues 4 Life Foundation - website of Pastor Walter B. Hoye II

Protecting Black Life - an outreach of Life Issues Institute, Inc.

Black Genocide.com - founded by my friend Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr.

Bibliography

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life - Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims, Randy Alcorn EPM 2020 - FREE download Here

The Case for Life, Scott Klusendorf - Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture, Crossway, 2009

Answering the Call: Saving Innocent Lives One Woman at a Time, Updated Edition, 2012, by Pastor John Ensor

Innocent Blood: Challenging the Powers of Death with the Gospel of Life, Pastor John Ensor, Cruciform Press, 2011

Stand for Life - A Student's Guide for Making the Case and SAVING LIVES, John Ensor and Scott Klusendorf, Hendrikson Publishers, 2012.

Abortion Violation: America's Premier National Security Issue, Rusty Lee Thomas, Tate Publishing, 2013 (Order Here.)    

ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, Randy Alcorn, Multnomah Publishers, 2000 – the "Prolife Speaker's Bible"

Why Pro-Life, Randy Alcorn, Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2004

The Emerging Brave New World, Thomas Glessner, HighWay, 2008

The Ultimate Exploitation of Women Abortion, Brian E. Fisher, 2013, available online free here.

Compiled by Rev. Jim McGarvey  

The Church for Life Blog

The Church for Life Facebook

The Church for Life

Helping the church form a Gospel centered response to America's abortion crisis
as it:

•  leads the nation in prayer to end abortion

•  communicates the message of the sanctity of human life

•  ministers healing and restoration to the post-abortive

•  provides compassionate help to those at risk for abortion.

The Call of Gideon - Judges 6:1-35

(I gave this message at Pines Baptist Church, Pembroke Pines Florida on September 20, 2015. You can listen to the message online HERE.)

As we go through life year after year, God opens new doors placing new opportunities before us leading us to take on new responsibilities. A young person wrestling with the question "What does God want me to do with my life?" "Where do I go to school?" "What should I study in preparation for that calling?"

A young married couple about to have their first child. Excited in anticipation of the new arrival, yet perhaps a bit apprehensive of the responsibilities, challenges and sacrifices of becoming parents.

Perhaps you've just started a new job. The learning curve is steep. You find the assignment difficult, even overwhelmed with the unfamiliar. Perhaps you're a businessman, sensing God's leading to start a new business; to venture out on your own for the first time. Perhaps in following God's call you've accepted a ministry assignment but struggle with doubts and a sense of inadequacy. Maybe it's a person you need to speak with to make things right. Or the Lord has put His finger on a besetting sin in you life.

We could likely come up with as many different scenarios as there are people here this morning. Maybe you're waiting to get started, or you've already taken the first step. Perhaps you are well on your way but facing obstacles, even opposition, prompting doubts whether or not you should even continue.

Thousands of years ago God called a man by the name of Gideon to an assignment he felt woefully unprepared for. And in the Biblical account recorded in the book of Judges, we find principles that transcend time, culture and circumstances speaking to us today in the 21st century as we face new opportunities and assignments.

Note with me the historical setting. In a message from the book of Joshua a little over two years ago we learned that God does His work through His people, serving in His power, carrying out His plan.

As Joshua lead Israel across the Jordan River into the promised land, Israel began to take possession of the land God had promised their forefather Abraham hundreds of years before. Under Joshua's leadership they began the daunting task of defeating and driving out their enemies as the Lord had commanded them. Judges 2:8 records the death of Joshua. The period of the judges that follows covers the next 300 or so year from the time of Joshua's death to the beginning of the monarchy in the mid 11th century BC.

Under Joshua's leadership, Israel began to conquer and take possession of the Promised Land. But when we come to the book of Judges a very different story emerges. As John McArthur writes, "Judges is a tragic sequel to Joshua. In Joshua, the people were obedient to God in conquering the Land. In Judges, they were disobedient, idolatrous, and often defeated."

Therefore John Davis notes, the contrasting themes of the two books. The book of Joshua, "Victory Through Faith." The book of Judges, "Failure Through Compromise." And David Howard writes, "The theme of Judges is the downward spiral of Israel's national and spiritual life into chaos and apostasy...." (ESV Study Bible pg. 433)

In this regard, Judges 17:6 could well be the key verse in the book, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (ESV)

Judges 2:10-19 provides us with a summary of this period in Israel's history.

"10 And all that generation [the generation of Joshua] also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.  11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. 16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways." (ESV)

Remember God had established a covenant with Israel through Moses at Mt. Sinai. After wandering in the desert for forty years, Moses renewed the covenant with the people before he died Deuteronomy 29. Joshua then renewed the covenant with the people after they entered and began to take possession of the Promised Land.

But the generations that followed Joshua grew up oblivious to God and oblivious to what God had done for Israel in the preceding years. This new generation lost sight of the unique identity they had as the people of God. Verse 10 they "... did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel." Verse 12, "... they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt."

 They settled in the land and became attached to the Canaanite people. They embraced the immorality and gods of the pagan culture around them. The book of Judges records seven seasons of such apostasy. A sequence of four events was repeated over and over again in these seven cycles of apostasy.

First, Israel would abandon God. They turned from the Lord and served other gods. Two, the Lord chastised them. He brought judgment upon His people subjugating them to their enemies. Three, Israel would cry out to the Lord for deliverance. Four, God raised up a judge to deliver Israel from their enemy oppressors. The title "judge" means savior or deliverer.

The issue in the book of Judges is the repeated rejection of the Lordship of God in Israel, and His gracious response to the repeated cry for deliverance by his wayward people.

The first judge Othniel delivered Israel from the oppression of Mesopotamia, chapter three, followed by 40 years of peace. Ehud then delivered Israel from the Moabites followed by 80 years of peace. Brief mention is made of Shamgar who defeated 600 Philistines. The prophetess and judge Deborah delivered Israel from the Canaanites, followed by 40 years of peace. Then the cycle started all over again. Judges 6:1-4,

"1The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. [In other words they were hiding in the mountains.] 3 For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 4 They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. Verse 6, And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord."

Again, Gideon's generation turned from the Lord and followed the pagan gods. Then after the Lord caused their enemies to oppress them they cried out for His mercy and He once again raised up a judge to deliver them from their enemies. This is the world in which Gideon lived. This is the context in which God called this man to deliver Israel from the oppression of their enemies.

I want to look at God's call of Gideon and note the process that followed the call. The process that prepared Gideon to both accept and carry out the assignment God had called him to. In other words, I want to note the steps it took to get Gideon "on board" and in particular how God worked with Gideon through out that process to bring him to a place of obedient faith to the calling God had placed on his life.

And I believe we will find principles in this process that apply to you and I in the here and now. I want you to know that in deciding to bring this message a degree of selfishness came into play. For I recognized that I need this message. Therefore what I share this morning is first and foremost for my benefit if for no one else!

God calls Gideon. Judges 6:11,12, Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him,  “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

Perhaps now you understand why I have taken the time to place the call of Gideon in its historical context. An entire nation is in distress. The Midianites had been plundering them for seven years. They are desperate. The supermarket shelves were bare so to speak. The commodities necessary to sustain life were vanishing as the enemy repeatedly devoured "...the produce of the land...leaving...no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey," verse 4. 

And a very ordinary man, evidently a farmer, is winnowing wheat in a wine press of all places, so as not to be discovered by the Midianites, when God appears to him and gives him the assignment. The call of Gideon itself is unusual. He is not approached by a prophet; he is not anointed by a priest; he is not elected by the people. No, God appears to Gideon in the form of a man, a theophany it is called, and calls him to deliver his nation from the enemy who had been plundering them for seven years.

As I've said before, God often chooses ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary, here a middle-aged wheat farmer. You remember, God called Elisha while he was plowing his fields. Amos was a sheepherder from Tekoa; David a shepherd boy the youngest of all his brothers; Peter, James and John were fisherman when Jesus called them. You can add to the list.

G. Campbell Morgan, "God almost invariably discovers the man of the hour where no one else is looking for him."

You and I are included in that list. True, God might not be calling you to deliver your nation from an oppressor. On the other hand, maybe he will! God knows how much we need one. But in the world in which you and I live, a stay at home mother caring for or perhaps even home schooling her children; a postal worker delivering the mail; a physician tending to the sick; a sales representative marketing your companies product. You fill in the blank.

Never minimize where God has placed you. Never underestimate the value and significance of your calling. Never think, no matter how old you are, that there will never be new assignments God is calling you to. Reaching out to your new neighbor down the street who does not know Christ; discipling or mentoring a new believer in your church; becoming a foster parent to an orphaned or abandoned child.

Back to Judges. The NIV Topical Bible, "None of the major judges was a likely candidate for leadership in that society. Ehud was left-handed, Deborah was a woman, Jephthah was not only an illegitimate child but the son of a prostitute, and Samson was a Nazirite dedicated to living a simple religious life." (page 262)

God is not concerned about the pedigree, position, prestige, or power of those he chooses to use. Education, wealth, status and abilities are not what determine usefulness, as we will see momentarily.

Notice Gideon's response, verse 13, "And Gideon said to him, 'Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

Fred Young writes, "In talking with the angel, Gideon questioned the validity of the stories he had heard about the power and presence of God in the experience of his ancestors...He hesitated to accept the offer of leadership the divine messenger made." (The Biblical Expositor page 251)

One word characterized Gideon's initial response to the Lord. Doubt. Are you familiar with that word? Has it ever popped up in your mind in the face of something the Lord has asked you to do or is asking you to do today? Apparently Gideon doubted the relevance of God in light of the dire circumstances facing Israel. Evidently, he had difficulty gaining encouragement from God's miraculous intervention in the distant past. His generation had not yet experienced God's intervention as his ancestors had.

You see, God's call often comes in the darkest hour; in the midst of trying circumstances. In that setting it is easy to respond to God as Gideon did. "Where have you been God?" It is always easier to jump on the "band wagon" when there is blessing and success than it is to stay on the sinking ship where the only challenge is to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Listen to God's response, verse 14, "And the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?'”

In essence God is saying, "Get busy doing what I've called you to do!" And here's the key to that command. We learn in book of Joshua that God's plan always depends on God's power. Verse 14 - "Go in this your might." God is referring back to what He had said to Gideon in verse 12, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” In other words, God is challenging Gideon to go in the strength he has been given because the Lord is with him!

The German commentators, Keil & Delitzsch, "The demonstrative 'this' points to the strength which has just been given him through the promise of God." You see, God had called Gideon to a task, the success of which did not depend on Gideon.

Friends, nothing has changed over the years. What is God asking you to do? What is God speaking to you about today? His expectation is the same as it was for Gideon - Go! Do it! And the premise of the call is the same as for Gideon,"The Lord is with you, O mighty man of Valor!" verse 12, "Do not I send you?" verse 14.

Well, evidently Gideon had difficulty getting hold of this truth. Listen to his response, verse 15, And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”

"How can I save Israel?" he asked. Gideon still didn't get it. He proceeds to give the Lord two reasons why he was not the right person for this assignment. "I don't have the right pedigree." He reminded the Lord that he was from the weakest clan in the tribe of Manasseh.

Secondly, he insisted, "I'm not qualified." "I feel inadequate." After all, I am the least in my family. I don't think God objected to Gideon's self-assessment. It's as though the Lord was saying, "That's precisely my point Gideon! That's exactly how you should feel. That's why I called you. You are not qualified for the job and you know it! But I am!"

"The Lord is with you...Go in this might of yours...Did not I send you!" were His words to Gideon. Centuries later, God said the very same thing to the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” To which Paul rightly responded Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Notice God's specific response to Gideon's doubt. If I can read between the lines, "Gideon you don't quite get it yet! Let me spell it out for you again." Verse 16, "And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” Taking down the Midianites will be a simple task FOR ME. But I intend to do it through you.

Listen, God can use us even in our weakness. If we feel inadequate to the task, from God's perspective that's a good place to be! Because whatever assignment He gives to us depends on His power and resources not ours!

Note how the Lord then prepared Gideon for the assignment. First of all there was an encounter with God, verses 17 - 24. Gideon wanted to be sure he knew who had commissioned him. Verse 17, "And he said to him, 'If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.'"

He then asked the Angel of the Lord if he would wait until he brought him a present. And he prepared a meal for the visitor. At the request of the Angel the meal was turned into an offering, as Gideon was instructed to place the meal on a rock. Verses 21 - 22, "Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, 'Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.'"

At that moment Gideon knew he had come face to face with the Lord Himself. Therefore the "expression of alarm," "Alas, O Lord God!" His response is reminiscent of Isaiah's words when he saw the Lord sitting upon His throne, "Woe is me! For I am lost; I am a man of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5) But the Lord calms Gideon's terror with these words. Verse 23, "But the Lord said to him, 'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.'”

Peace! That is what God offered Gideon! Having come face to face with Me, you will not die! Said the Lord. Perhaps before this experience Gideon knew of God. But in this encounter, he came into the presence of God. And he would never be the same. This was the first step of Gideon's preparation. Knowing the presence of God is the context in which we respond to the call of God.

Do you know God this morning? That's not the same question as, do you know about God? There is a difference between knowing God intellectually and knowing God experientially. The first step in responding to God's call is knowing the One who extends the call. If you do not know Jesus Christ this morning He invites you to put your trust in His death and resurrection.

His work of redemption on our behalf is complete. As our substitute, He paid the penalty for our sins when He shed His blood on the cross, reconciling us to God. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is proof that when we repent of our sin and trust in his Son for salvation, God will declare us righteousness in His sight and we will have peace with God. This is the clear witness of Scripture, "Therefore, since we have been justified (been made right with God) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Verse 24, "Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace." If you do not know the peace of God that comes from the forgiveness of your sins hear the Lord's invitation today and call out to Him in faith for salvation!

There was a second step of preparation. Gideon was consecrated to God verses 25-27. There was something in Gideon's household that needed to be cleaned out before Gideon proceeded. In a sense it was his first assignment but also a necessary step of preparation.

Verse 25, "That night the Lord said to him, 'Take your father's bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.”

As we have already noted, idolatry filled the land. And some of it was in Gideon's own backyard. There was something in Gideon's life that displeased the Lord. God put His finger on it, and asked Gideon to remove it. That's what consecration is. It means to take remove the idols in our lives.

Sin is inevitably an obstacle to both hearing God's call and responding to God's call. At a men's retreat years ago, Pastor Ron Walborn said that consecration means, "to get rid of the mixture in your life." Idols compete with the will of God in our lives. He said consecration means "to live in a constant state of repentance." It's like keeping short accounts with God.

This step of consecration was followed by the third step of preparation. Gideon was, empowered by God. Before God used Gideon to deliver Israel from their oppressors we read the following, verse 33, "Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel."

The enemy once again gathered to attack Israel. But this time, verse 34, "...the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. His mission began only after one last preparation. "...the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon."

The implication of the verb "clothed" is to have "complete possession" of. (Arthur Cundall IVP) As an army of 135,000 enemy soldiers crossed the Jordan River into Israel, Gideon became the "mighty man of valor" verse 12, as he was clothed with God's power verse 34.

As Jacob Meyers observes, "The spirit of the Lord became incarnate in Gideon, who then became the extension of the Lord."

A number of years ago now, a freighter being towed to Fort Lauderdale broke free from the towboat and drifted onto a sand bar, three hundred yards off Port Everglades. For days it languished on the sand bar completely immobilized stuck in the sand, unable to reach its intended destination.

You see, once the ship was disconnected from the tug boat it lost both its sense of direction and its source of power to get to its destination. That's the risk each of us face. That "mixture in your life" Pastor Walborn spoke of can easily side distract us from the call of God no matter what that may be, and disconnect us from experiencing God's power necessary to complete the call.

We're like that stranded ship. Out of its element grounded on a stretch of sand, immobilized, having lost the power and ability to get to its intended destination. Have you ever had that experience? I have, more times than I would like to admit.

God gave Gideon a glimpse of who He was. Had him deal with the idols in his life. And now He filled him with His power. You say, "God has never appeared to me!" I have not had a visitation by the Angel of the Lord calling me to do this or that.

Listen, friend, if you are in Christ this morning; if you have been born again by the Spirit of God, the same God who appeared to Gideon as a man in a theophany indwells you. God doesn't need to visit you in a theophany. Jesus indwells you in person of His Holy Spirit. As Paul gave witness, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20a  (ESV)

Paul gives us this command, with a promise. Perhaps we could call it the New Testament version of Judges 6, Philippians 2:12,13 (ESV). I like the NLT version, "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."

That pretty much covers it all. As we step out in obedience to God's call, He will give us both the desire and the power to do His will.

© James P. McGarvey All Rights Reserved