Divine Assurance: The Strengthening Word for Gideon and Us
Judges 7:11
And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
Have you ever needed a word from the Lord? Have you ever felt at such a distance from God, that it felt even as if God had forsaken you, just to leave you dying in your own misery? Have you ever been to a place where you thought, "If I could just hear even a small hint of a whisper from Heaven, I could make it!"? I will have to admit that nothing can be more fearful or dreadful than to feel as if the Heavens have turned to brass against your agonizing prayers. This is a place that if you ever visit, you think you'll never come back out, and when you finally do come out, you'll never want to go back in a million years! When darkness sets in, fear is at an all-time high! Here, Gideon was taken out of his comfort zone. He was a simple farmer minding his own business, when all of the sudden God stepped in and called him to do something he had never been trained to do, nor planned on doing...leading an army! Gideon was so taken back by this new-found call on his life, he kept on second-guessing it! He kept seeking confirmation from the Lord, and the Lord graciously kept giving it to him! Yet, just before it was time for Gideon to step up and do battle at the Lord's instructions, he was given one more chance to strengthen his faith and confidence in the God who had called him to serve. The Lord said, "But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened..." In other words, "Gideon, I've got a WORD for you!" I remember what pulled me out of my dungeon experience; it wasn't my friends, it wasn't my money, it wasn't entertainment, it wasn't good times, it wasn't even good talented music or gifted speakers, teachers, or preachers. It was a divine Word from God! It's not until AFTER you hear from God that you are able to arise from your ashes, shake the dust of sorrow off, and move on! BUT, after you have heard from God, all I can say is "Watch out devil!" because not a demon in hell can stop a child of God filled with the Word of God and empowered by the Spirit of God! Today, allow His Word to fill you up!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
Have you ever needed a word from the Lord? Have you ever felt at such a distance from God, that it felt even as if God had forsaken you, just to leave you dying in your own misery? Have you ever been to a place where you thought, "If I could just hear even a small hint of a whisper from Heaven, I could make it!"? I will have to admit that nothing can be more fearful or dreadful than to feel as if the Heavens have turned to brass against your agonizing prayers. This is a place that if you ever visit, you think you'll never come back out, and when you finally do come out, you'll never want to go back in a million years! When darkness sets in, fear is at an all-time high! Here, Gideon was taken out of his comfort zone. He was a simple farmer minding his own business, when all of the sudden God stepped in and called him to do something he had never been trained to do, nor planned on doing...leading an army! Gideon was so taken back by this new-found call on his life, he kept on second-guessing it! He kept seeking confirmation from the Lord, and the Lord graciously kept giving it to him! Yet, just before it was time for Gideon to step up and do battle at the Lord's instructions, he was given one more chance to strengthen his faith and confidence in the God who had called him to serve. The Lord said, "But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened..." In other words, "Gideon, I've got a WORD for you!" I remember what pulled me out of my dungeon experience; it wasn't my friends, it wasn't my money, it wasn't entertainment, it wasn't good times, it wasn't even good talented music or gifted speakers, teachers, or preachers. It was a divine Word from God! It's not until AFTER you hear from God that you are able to arise from your ashes, shake the dust of sorrow off, and move on! BUT, after you have heard from God, all I can say is "Watch out devil!" because not a demon in hell can stop a child of God filled with the Word of God and empowered by the Spirit of God! Today, allow His Word to fill you up!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill