Judges Chapters 7-8 tell us of Gideon and the assembling, or rather disassembling, of His army, which was then put together according to God’s Guidelines. The result was totally amazing warfare waged, and the victory won, because Gideon’s Army, in essence, BECAME the Lord’s Army!!
Today I was considering a question that seemed to pop into my mind:
Will the Lord’s Army of these end times be like Gideon’s Army of old?
I reasoned as I read the passage:
“This is what happened concerning Gideon’s Army… perhaps it is, or will be, this way with the Lord’s Army during these end times.”
“If we can recognize what God is doing, then we can adjust ourselves, as to what we think or do or focus on, accordingly.”
The Holy Spirit instructed me years ago saying, “Ask not, Is My agenda God’s; Ask, rather, Is God’s Agenda Mine?” and I realized then that God desires the transforming of our minds and a conforming of our ways, so He can have us “do life” centered on His perspective and not our own. This is why we are given the Word and the Spirit. To acquire a new paradigm, so we CAN become THE LORD’S ARMY!!
So let’s begin…
First, please read Judges, chapters 7 and 8, in your bible… Then, follow along with me:
What was Gideon’s Army like?
To his amazement, God considered that Gideon had “too many” men, yet his original numbers were way lower than the opposing forces, to begin with. So, if God’s end-time army will be like Gideon’s army, then it really has nothing to do with “how many” believers are left to be in God’s hands. God’s not about numbers!! He is about the ones “He can trust”, though they may be few. Even if his modern churches are crowded with people, there may only be a few that will be able to meet these “qualifiers” that Gideon’s army had to meet:
First, those men AFRAID to face the enemy – were let go. The men themselves were told, “If you’re afraid, you can leave.” And they did. Each one of us must determine our own level of faith versus fear. I remember in my younger years when I was stumbling into sin quite often, even as a believer, God told me this: “Beth, you have more faith in the Enemy to take you down, than in Me to keep you and build you up!” I realized that loving rebuke was right on! …and so, I changed my stinking thinking, and the Spirit began to show me the areas in my life controlled by that former paradigm. This fear can be experienced in the natural, in regard to men, or in the supernatural, in regard to the unseen realms of darkness.
The Holy Spirit revealed to me that fear is essentially a lack of faith in God’s Ability, and stronger faith in Satan’s Ability… resulting in an inability to Take a Stand, be it with God or with Satan. Choosing Faith in God really does take the fear away, but these men chose to stay With Fear, but not so much so that they sided with the Enemy. They simply saw that the odds of “losing their lives” was “too great” and “wanted out” when given the opportunity.
Then, Those NOT ALERT to the enemy – were let go. A test was given to determine this, having to do with how they drank their water, whether lapping with their hands so their eyes could peer upward to keep alert to danger, or whether they laid down their weapons and put their face right into the water to lap it up. The ones NOT ALERT failed the test and were let go. God did not want them in Gideon’s army! Nor will He likely want people who are not alert to the enemy’s presence, in His army Today! Turning a blind eye will disqualify!
The army’s leader, Gideon, LISTENED and DID EXACTLY AS HE WAS INSTRUCTED! Leadership needs to be hearing and obeying God, in order to lead the people under them! Amen?! We have a Captain of the Hosts too, who leads us daily, and his name is Jesus Christ. He takes and leads us with what he hears from Father God just as Gideon led his men. And the Holy Spirit takes the orders He gives us straight to us, the men and women, of His Army! He wields the Word of God, which is referred to as the Sword of the Spirit, and we will too.
To Gideon and to the small number of men that were left God said, “Surely I Will Be WithYou.” He says this to all who are in His Army today too. We are “never abandoned” “left alone” or “forsaken”. His promise remains with us as it was with Gideon.
The men remaining in the army LISTENED to their leader, Gideon, and DID EXACTLY AS THEY WERE INSTRUCTED even though their orders may have sounded like “foolishness” to them. We too will hear instructions come our way, that may not make sense to our finite minds, but we must realize who our Leader is. He is chosen by God. Anointed. More than able to lead us. He, Jesus, the Leader of us, the Lord’s Army, already
“proved” that he listened and did exactly as He was instructed.
Now, will we? …Listen and Obey?
A “divine strategy” WAS given. The army of Gideon’s was not left to depend on themselves or their own numbers, their own wisdom, or their own strength. They were led by God and told exactly how to overthrow their enemies. So too, we who remain in God’s army, will have “a knowing” (a total awareness) that what’s coming is not of us, but of God. Not originated with us, nor played out totally by us, but that we have a part, that requires trust and obedience to God’s Plan, when it’s made known to us. God is a strategist every minute of every day, if only we would heed our orders, follow those promptings of the Spirit, obey what we know to be the Will of God, and seek His Ways within His Word.
Unusual warfare was fought! Gideon’s army surrounded the enemy, blowing trumpets and breaking pitchers with torches lit, then shouting loudly; therefore, this indeed was not your typical warfare! It was ingeniously master-minded! God knows how to use his army! But afterward, when we read of it, we think “wow” that was so smart! Their enemies thought they were surrounded by huge numbers! Their enemies were put into confusion by the unusual noise and light!
Believers, if we’d only realize that if we all start shining our lights and making noise unto the Lord in way of testimonies and sharing and helping and loving on each other, the enemy will go bonkers! We can really cause those in Satan’s camp to go into hysterics as they become surrounded and unable to go forward in their evil ways. If they can’t turn their frustration on to us, they’ll turn it onto each other.
As they obeyed their unusual instruction, they shouted and declared: “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” This was repeated in the chapter, as if for emphasis… and I wonder if God is indeed saying to us in the modern day, from even this simple declaration, that His Sword today is the same Sword Gideon operated in days of old. The sword stands for the “real truth” … wielded on the “right side” …the side that GOD is on! This sword will penetrate through the enemy lines with ease. Nothing can stand in its way.
Now note this: It says that Every man STOOD in His Place and he just did what he were told…while the Enemy’s Camp became hysterical and panicked!
Interestingly, a passage in the New Testament, Ephesians 6:13, says:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I can’t help but see that this is exactly what Gideon and his army did. They did what they were told, and they STOOD, each in his own place! And they watched God fight the battle “for them” … yet they actively participated… by taking their stand! This stand, in essence, allowed God to fight “with them” and “for them”.
He chose to use their participation in His accomplishment of The Victory! He chose to do this with His Army!
The result? The Enemy, which was of a great number, began to destroy one another, for confusion came upon their camp! They turned on one another! Hallelujah!!
Oh wow, I love that! They got so frightened by God’s army taking a stand, letting their lights shine, and letting the trumpet sound be heard, declaring the words about the Sword of the Lord, and they simply didn’t know who they were “taking out”, as in destroying. It ended up it was their own men! They destroyed themselves!
When Gideon and his army’s victory was become known and they crossed over the Jordan, while yet still in pursuit, other rulers were asked to feed Gideon’s army and they defiantly refused, and Gideon destroyed their defiant leaders as “enemies” as well. It tells us they were Ishmaelites! (Yes, as in modern-day ISIS-Islam). Their leaders’ words of challenge to Gideon were: “Rise yourself and kill us, for as a man is, so is his strength.” Well, Gideon did kill them, for they only looked at men as men, and they didn’t see It was the TRUE GOD who gave Gideon all ability. Just as Gideon took out these “leaders” for their defiance, so The Lord can easily “take out” the leaders of ISIS and other evil armies that would be anti-Christ as their root nature.
Do they not challenge God?… as these leaders challenged Gideon? They’d better begin to tremble!! But they won’t (tremble), for they have the same mindset as these men of Judges 8. Yet Gideon’s men knew what was coming down, and knew the danger their open and direct defiance put these Enemies of God in. So too, The End Time Battle is about Good versus Evil. God knows His Enemy is Our Enemy. He knows how to bring victory! Our part, in His Army, is to listen and obey our Commander in Chief, as we deal with the hordes from hell influencing those who set themselves against God to do evil. Our battle is not against flesh and blood.
Be aware, a person isn’t automatically our enemy because of the color of his skin or where he is from! I believe many have been “caught up in the evil” and Christ’s light will shine upon them. The atrocities committed by mankind’s evil enemies is becoming more Vile and Violent, greater and more widespread! It’s so bad that I believe that the people of other faiths will begin to open their eyes to their false gods and beliefs and put their eyes onto Jesus! …God that gave himself for them, from love. They will recognize the dichotomy between the faiths and be given the grace to make the choice for Jesus! I’m praying for the Light of the World to shine upon them! That Jesus would reveal himself to people of all faiths… and that He represents freedom from the demonic hordes that are affecting all of society.
Why would people continue to serve gods that take life from them, when they can serve a God that gives life to them? Why would they choose bloodshed and hatred, over love and peace? God’s Army, following God’s Divine Strategy, remains the winning side!
Many may even be joining our ranks, while their brothers are killing one another in confusion! It is better for us to desire to “save” our enemy, rather than for God to one day destroy them, because if they stay attached to their evil and refuse to release from the demonic entities ruling over them, they will one day be destroyed. Scripture tells us so!
Well, in the end, Gideon took no glory or rank, but declared to Israel:
“I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you:
THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU!!”
All of this…warfare…in the spiritual realms and in the natural realms, comes to an END. And we in the Lord’s Army know that end! Jesus, Our Leader, will reign… and ultimately will turn over the Kingdom of God to The Father and God will be all in all!
I Corinthians 15:24-28 says:
“Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His Feet. But when He says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.”
But now for a final, sobering observation after reading to the end of Judges 8… I must share the whole of the story:
Note…Though their enemy was quieted, a stumbling block was created, by taking the plunder from the Ishmaelites…their golden earrings…which was made into an ephod… hung in the city of Ophrah, which caused all Israel to play the harlot… and it became a snare to Gideon.
What place did God hold in their hearts as to the “glory given”? Evidently not too much! Victories of the past were not regarded as God’s but Gideon’s maybe…and not sure really how harlotry played out, but harlotry meant they weren’t loyal to God…nor, to Gideon.
And we see this horrible insight:
Near the end of Judges 8, verses 33-38 it tells us that when Gideon died, the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals and did not remember the Lord their God, who delivered them from their enemies on every side, nor did they show kindness to the house of Gideon in accordance to the good he had done for Israel.
The people both ignored God, who had delivered them, and forsook their leader, who had led them and fought on their behalf.
Is The Church, who is considered The Lord’s Army, doing this today? Are we holding God preeminent in our hearts and lives, and giving Him the Glory, for everything? Or are we playing the harlot in our daily lives?
Are you drawing any parallels to modern-day events, in our own land? God did so much for the USA. We were small at our beginnings, but God fought with us for our independence. We erected glory unto ourselves and now we have forgotten God. The next step, returning to Baal?
Warning: The church will be “weeded out”, as was Gideon’s army, so only those faithful will remain in God’s Army. So, give some pondering to your position. Please.
I don’t know about you, but I’m choosing to be part of God’s Army, RIGHT NOW, today!
I do not desire to be one of those who turn away and forget who God is… Or who, when we’ve already experienced victory, believe we’ve overcome all the obstacles along life’s way ourselves. We can confidently do our part… taking our stand for truth, and righteousness, and exalting Christ our Lord… But let’s give the glory to God! Amen?!
As we take our stand, remember the size of our army to the enemies’ armies may look small… But We Have the One True God! And it is our Heart That God looks at. He can wage war with us. And, He is also Captain of the Hosts, and commands angels to fight on our behalf!
Hallelujah!
So, to capsulate these truths, let me just say this: Wow! I’m getting excited!! I’m Seeing God’s Agenda, not mine!
I want to be as one in Gideon’s Army!!! or should I say “The LORD’S ARMY”
- No Fear!
- Alert!
- Listening!
- Doing Exactly as I am Instructed! (Whether it makes sense to me or not)
- Standing in my Own Place
- Seeing the Lord fight the Battle, of which I’ve done my part by cooperating with known strategy.
- Pursuing the enemy until he is destroyed.
- Giving God all the Glory!
- Not setting up monuments onto ourselves and taking credit for our own victories, but realizing God is all in all!
Are you heeding the commands of Christ the Lord, your Leader?
Fight the Good Fight of Faith!
Stand in Your Place!
And Declare “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”
I desire to encourage you further with a song that The Spirit gave me called “We’re the Army of the Lord”! It is a fun repeat-after-me song, so as you play it now, go ahead and repeat after me! (smile) Let your spirit get excited! Sing Shout! Let the vision of being a part of His Army get within your own mind and heart! Even stand up and do a marching as you repeat after me! My prayer is that you’ll get “Fired Up!” I had written this song originally for a March For Jesus our local church was doing in a local parade. We had a caller, an actual army man with the big strong voice, at the side of the group…and the church people were in rows repeating after him…as we marched down the street of our city with smiles on our faces, voices loud, and confident in what we were saying… We were declaring who we were in Jesus! It was so awesome! It impacted the community, and we who participated were all “on a high” because HE SHONE, as WE LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE! As the song declares: He Shines, We Shine, Together!
Here is the link! Enjoy! (smile)
We’re The Army of the Lord – Elizabeth Ann Smith – Receive From Me
For those of you who can’t go listen to the song now due to no sound, I at least want you to have the lyrics, so I have cut and paste them below:
Lyrics
We’re the army of the Lord
With a shield of faith and a mighty sword
We will walk in His authority
Claim this land as a victory
Tell them
About Him
Tell them about Him
Tell them about Him
Jesus!
Jesus is the Son of God
He leads us with his staff and rod
When we put our trust in Him
He keeps us away from a life of sin
He saves
He forgives
He saves, He forgives
He saves, He forgives
Completely!
Many days are up ahead
When He’ll want to be “The Head”
If I let Him control me
He’ll make me who HE wants me to be
He frees
He leads
He frees, He leads
He frees, He leads
Daily!
Jesus loves us more each day
As we walk His narrow way
If we put him first in our life
He’ll keep us from the world of strife
He loves
He cares
He loves, He cares
He loves, He cares
Always!
Tomorrow is a brand new day
We can choose to go His Way
This will mean obedience
Which will give us a radiance
He Shines
We Shine
He Shines, We Shine
He Shines, We Shine
Together
Yes,
We’re the army of the Lord
With a shield of faith and a mighty sword
We will walk in His authority
Claim this land as a victory
We will walk in His authority
Claim this land as a victory
We will walk in his authority
Claim this land as a victory!