Mighty warrior(Judge 6:11~16)

Mighty warrior(Judge 6:11~16) 

The book of Judges chapter 6-8 is the story of Gideon 

He is one of the great Judge in Israel 

as you know, 

he defeated 130,000 Midian soldiers with only 300 israel soldiers 

and he restored civilization of Israel which was downfalling 

The story of Gideon started why Midianites controled Israelites 

the book of judges chapter 6;1 it say 

"Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, 

and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites." 

God used Midianites to strike Israelites 

Meaning there is God behind the Midianites 

in other word, God allowed this thing to happen 

then why God strike Israelites? 

because "Again" Israelites do the evil things in the sight of the Lord 

here the "Again" means they do the evil things repeatedly and continually 

actually "Again" is the key word in book of Judges 

you know in our life 

there is 2 life type 

one is repair system and the other is maintenance system 

for example someone has a car 

and he never go to auto shop unless his car is destroyed 

he does not make any routine check up 

even thou there is something wrong 

as long as the car is moving he still drives his car 

the only time he goes to the auto shop is when it breaks down 

like this style, we call it repair system type 

this type, when he drives and when suddenly the car stops 

he gets into big trouble (difficulties ) 

on the other side 

he always check engine oil, fuel and keep the car clean 

and if there is even a small problem, 

he goes to the auto shop for checking at once 

this style is what we call maintenance system type 

like this type can save repairing expenses and avoid sudden break down 

in our christian life 

we have also these two type 

after the punishment of God 

oh! Lord have mercy on me, please save me 

this type is repair type 

when everything is good, they do not care about their christian life 

they do not really pray, they do not really go to church 

they always make excuses 

they think, God is something like accessory  

but after God's punishment 

they come to God 

"Umay ak ken ke, umay ak apo." 

this type has a cycle 

Disobedience-God's punishment-Repentance-Disobedience again  (rotate) 

It always repeat the same cycle again and again 

on the other hand 

in good season or bad season they always go to church and pray 

and they always check their relationship with God 

this type is what we call maintenance system 

this type cycle is different 

in god's grace-Empowering-Serve God and others-More grace -More empowering 

so brothers and sisters 

what type do you want? 

what type are you? 

repair system or maintenance system 

yes, I want all of you to become maintenance system christian amen 

if you continue to read the book of Judge 

you will know that the Israelites are a model of the repair system 

disobey -punish-repent-and again disobey - 

this is the life system of israelites in Judge period 

that is why Gary Phillips said "The book of Judge is like rebroadcasting drama" 

It is always a replay, again and again. 

Then who is Gideon? 

you think Gideon is brave?  

but he is not 

actually he is a chicken hearted person 

judge 6;11 

"he is afraid of Midian so he hide in the winepress and working" 

6;15 

when angel of the lord told him to save israel 

"he answered "no, we are weakest tribe and I'm the least in my family" 

6;27 when the angel of God order to him to demolish Baal's altar 

and he did it in the night time because he was shy that somebody might see him. 

you see how weak he is 

Then how did he became mighty warrior and had a victory? 

1st) he knows God called him 

 brothers and sisters 

I believe that all of you are called by God 

and we have to know this one 

when God call somebody then God will use him 

if God will not use somebody then he will not call them 

so believe that surely God will use you 

and when God use somebody, God will give them victory 

1st thessalonians 5; 24 says 

"The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." 

we are called by God not to fail but to victory amen 

brothers and sisters 

God called Gideon, use him and give him victory 

You are here in ABC because God called you 

so believe that God will use you and he will give victory 

2)he dreamed for victory 

before he started to go to battle, he dreamed victory in his mind 

before he draw the sword,  in his mind, he flourish the sword of victory 

brothers and sisters this is the principle of faith 

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

so before you put into practise your faith, you have to picture in your mind to be done 

you know, when God bless Abraham, God told him look first 

"open your eyes and look around north and south, east and west 

all the land that you see I will give to you" 

it is the same, when God promise Abraham to give him child 

“Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. 

That’s how many descendants you will have!” 

you see, before God bless abraham, he always let him see first. 

so that he could draw in his mind 

so that he could dream in his heart 

brother and sister 

dream for victory 

dream that you will have a victory 

david defeated the goliath 

because he's thinking he will win over him 

in his mind. in his faith. he already have a victory 

so that he could defeat Goliath 

it is the same with Gideon 

before he has a battle he told his soldiers 

Judge 7;15 Gideon said 

"Get up the LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands." 

means he proclaim that he will have victory 

I tell you one story 

In korea there was one girl and her name is Jang miran  

and she is not pretty, in fact she is very fat 

and she does not even study well 

but she is strong like lalake 

and one day his father said 

you make your signature 

"I'm not movie a star or tv star who will get my sign." 

no, someday every body wants your signature so practice it 

so he practice her signature in the note book 

and when she became high school student 

her father bought barbell and said you practice to carry this one every day 

and she ask why do I have to carry this one 

and father said 

you practice your signature diba ? 

if you become a champion in weight lifting in the olympic 

then all the people will want your signature 

and I know you can do it because you are strong 

from that time she practiced every day 

yes  I want to become a world champion 

so I will sign to somebody 

she practiced every day 

and finally last year she got a gold medal in the Beijing olympic 

and she said in tv program 

"when I practice to lift up the barbel" 

"I always dreamed of signing autograph for somebody 

brother and sisters 

dream for victory 

dream that you will have a victory 

dream that you will become successful minister 

it will be done according to your faith amen 

  

3) he has conviction that God is with him 

the Book of Judge 6;16 

"I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." 

when we have conviction that God is with us 

we can become mighty warrior 

who can be against us if God is with us 

see Moses, see Joshua 

they became great leaders 

after God promised to be with them 

who is a good worker, those who work with God together 

who is a mighty minister, those who work with God together 

who is a good missionary, those who work with God together 

Robert Shuller once said 

there is Teheran palace  in Iran 

if you go inside you will be surprise 

because thousand of diamond are shining in the ceiling 

but they said that it is not diamond 

when they made that palace 

they ordered high quality mirror to France for the gate 

but when it arrive it was broken 

so they have to throw 

but one engineer suggested 

break this into bits and smash up 

and decorate it in the ceiling as mosaic 

and they did it 

when they finished 

and when the sun is shining 

it was sparkling like diamond  

  

brothers and sisters God's working is like this 

he will make great work through collected piece of our failure 

he will make a mosaic and make it shine 

so invite God in your life 

give our hand to the lord 

then our broken pieces of glass can be as bright as diamond 

I will conclude this sermon 

beloved ABC student 

we are God's mighty warrior 

not only by name, not only by figure, but truly live as mighty warrior 

you know, why non christian dislike christian? 

it is not because we are different from them 

it is because we are the same with them 

meaning when they see us, there's no difference at all 

our life is the same with them 

brothers and sisters 

we should be different from them 

because we have Christ in our lives. 

we should sparkle and shine like the diamond in the ceiling 

because we have Christ in us 

once again, I want all of you to be God's mighty warrior 

God bless you