The 300
2Co 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
One weapon Paul is referring to is the declaration of truth
- The power of the truth of the Gospel and God's word is a supernatural weapon
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)
- Taking light into the darkness (Paul confronted by Jesus on the Damascus Way)
Ac 26:16 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Question:
Should we all engage in this kind of Spiritual warfare?
I. We Are Commanded to take Ground in this Battle
Mt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
- Not just for missionaries in India
A. Physical taking of ground establishes authority
- Israel built temple first when the returned
- Building of Mega Mosque two blocks from Ground Zero has been approved (Devils attempt to establish authority)
B. Spiritual taking of ground also establishes authority.
- Sharing of Gospel and the light of scripture will bring freedom from darkness
II. Lessons from Gideon
A. Background
- God called young Gideon to lead a broken down and fearful Israel
- Midian has demoralized Israel into hiding in fear
- Through a series of events the two armies gathered and were ready for battle
B. Israel had 32,000 soldiers
- Vastly outnumbered by Midian
C. God made an unbelievable statement to Gideon
You have too many soldiers
Jg 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,
3 announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink."
6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place."
D. Why 300
1. God didn't want Israel prideful
If they thought that the had won because of themselves...
If they thought they were the source of their victory, it would destroy them.
2. God wanted His name restored in Israel
God wanted the truth restored - confusion gone
– HE WAS THE ONE TRUE GOD
– HE WAS NOT BAAL
– DIDN”T WANT TO BE WORSHIPED LIKE BAAL.
Same in America Today:
Which Jesus?
Which God?
Which Christianity?
Which Bible?
Confusion today about all these things.
"So you will know that I am the Lord God!"
Repeated over and over again 28 places in the OT
We are taking the God/Jesus/Salvation of the Bible
III. Conclusion
Interesting process of elimination to get 300
A. Anybody afraid? Go home
This was commanded in the law in Deuteronomy chap 20 And the reason why:
De 20:8 Then the officers shall add, "Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too."
B. The drinking test
a.) Two kinds of drinking
#1. Head in the water gulping it down
#2.Water in palm lapping like a dog
- To the first water became to focus of the moment, anything else was secondary.
- To the second water was necessary, but the upcoming battle was their focus
Every athlete knows that you never gulp down lots of water whole the game is still on.
When the game is finished that is the time to drink your fill.
THEY STARTED WITH 32,000 and that was bad odds
NOW 300, AND THAT WAS CRAZY
BUT THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING MIRACULOUS - AND SO ARE WE.
God could be hinting at 3 levels of maturity:
Fearful:
- Young, fearful of the unknown
- Children are often afraid of things they don't understand
Unprepared to engage the enemy:
- Not afraid, but not really taking the battle serious
- Not ready, RIGHT NOW FOR AN ATTACK
Ready and prepared for battle:
- Eyes on the horizon
- Ready
- Know where their weapon is
(Honey have you seen my Bible I had it last Christmas, the JWs are at the door and I want to witness to them)
The 300 was not just an elimination process, it was a choosing process as well
- God was choosing His warriors
- The 300 were Ready for battle
Thomas Fuller, a theologian from the 1600’s says this about this passage: “There were fewer persons, but not fewer men”
So - Should you engage in this kind of spiritual warfare?
Is He choosing you to go out to an entire city to battle darkness with the light of the gospel?
Let's ask Him