We Need A Word From The Lord!

Sermon Song

Each time I stumble, Each time I failed Throughout my struggles, you were right there You never left me, although i failed you, You gave me hope, you love me still

So never again, will I stray Lord I'm living by your grace, Another Chance

So many problems, the nights were long, I was so angry, i felt all alone You showed me mercy, you gave me grace, You took my hand, you called me friend

You gave me, forgave me, You restored me, when you gave

you lifted me, from sinking sands

when you gave me, gave me another chance

And I thank you, and I praise you for

cause you gave me, another chance

Attention grabber

This past Christmas, we opened the floor for questions from the younger generations

we often talk about things like family history

also we have a lot of fun answering, “back in the day” questions

one question, “How did you all make it before GPS?”

we told them about these things called maps

we also told them about this concept called getting verbal directions

head down 30, pass two large building on the left, one of them has a Bank of America sign, take that next exit and hit that right, you’ll cross 2 or 3 streets, but look for that McDonald’s because you will hang a left right there, keep straight until you see this broken down playground, my street is about two streets after that, turn right and you’ll see my silver mini-van in the driveway

if you got lost, you stopped at a store, and used a thing called a pay phone

get more directions, “what do you see? . . . . you’re real close . . . just

you’re only about 5 minutes away, just stay there, and I’ll come to you

I was reminded of how the importance of getting good directions from someone who knows where you should be going

And this morning God wants to show you how to get good directions from Him, cause He knows where you should be going

in other words, we need a word from the Lord

This morning we will look at the story of Gideon to help us

Basic Story of Gideon

if you haven’t heard of Gideon, let me give you the cliff notes

the people of Israel stopped worshipping the true God, and and began to worship false gods

So God allowed them to be subjugated and oppressed by the Midianites, they are in a hopeless situation with no workable options

God calls on Gideon to rescue them

but the problem is that Gideon is a nobody, a nobody who is struggling, a guy barely scraping by himself

Yet God raises him up to lead win a great and improbable victory in battle

with only an army of 300, Gideon defeats thousands

Using mainly torches, trumpets, and a shout

How can I get that type of victory in my life?

I often feel like Gideon

I’m in trouble, my family is in trouble, and my people are in trouble, barely scraping by

barely scraping by, feeling hopeless, with no workable options, (other options all have jail time connected with them)

So we will not focus on the miracle, but instead focus on what led up to the miracle

Spoiler alert: You need a word from the Lord!

Gideon got a word from the Lord!

God spoke to Gideon, gave instructions to Gideon in . . .

Just in our our scriptures chapter today, in Judges Chapter 6: V. 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23

Key to the miracle/victory/success was instructions from God

We need a word from the Lord

Preacher, how can I get a word from the Lord?

The Scriptures will show us.

So, we are not going to focus on the miracle, we are going to focus on how Gideon got the Word that led to the miracle.

Judges 6:7–10 NLT

7 When they cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9 I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

Narrative

Trouble usually get us to pray, and the people of Israel were not different

The people turned to God and prayed to God in their distress

The Lord sent a prophet to remind them of what His Word said

words that were already written/spoken, this was stuff they had memorized

I was the God who delivered and helped you, so don’t serve other gods

but they did not listen and worshipped those other worthless gods

so the cause of the problem is your worshipping other gods, and thus the answer is to stop worshipping other gods

So in summary, here’s the word from the Lord: You have not obeyed the word you already have

Lesson - If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

Do you or don’t you want a word from the Lord?

If you really believe you need a word from the Lord, deal with what he has already written/spoken.

How can we say that we want a word from God, when we treat the word that we have, the Bible as nothing?

Illustration

Why would I continue to text you, if you haven’t responded to my first three texts?

Why would I continue to call to try to talk to you, if you won’t answer my call?

Ex. almost didn’t get married - Elijah and Josiah were one phone call away from not ever existing

Application

When God says listen . . . he means obey, not only hear but hear and obey

obey the word of God that you already know!

loving your neighbor, forgiving, tithing, putting God first, praising him, being thankful to him

learn your Bible

Learn the Bible!

men wrote the Bible, but they were men inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the words of God

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Peter 1:20–21 NLT

20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

there are way more written answers than most people realize

how to be a husband, wife, parent, how to have peace, words of wisdom

beginning of the year is a good time to start a Bible reading plan

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

Judges 6:11 NLT

11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.

The Narrative

The Midianites would destroy their crops to keep the Israelites weak and helpless

So Gideon is trying to hide the little food his family has, so that it doesn’t get destroyed or taken away from him

they will never suspect that I am hiding the wheat in the wine press area

so he sneaks out by himself to thresh the wheat

The Lesson: God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

Here God speaks to Gideon while he’s working by himself

God spoke to Moses while he was working in the desert by himself

God called David while he was working in the field by himself

God spoke to Zechariah while he was working in the temple by himself

God spoke to Daniel and gave him great revelations - Daniel would get by himself 3 times per day to pray

Illustration

How many of you have called someone who was at a party or gathering or meeting?

it’s a waste of time - what? . . .I can’t hear you . . .say that again . . .hold on just one minute

when we really want to talk someone about something important, we want their undivided attention, and that happens best when we are by ourselves

Application

Some of you would hear from God more if you got by yourself

yes, I am talking about what we called “Devotion time” or “quiet time”

the problem is that many of us don’t look forward to devotion time

we do it out of a sense of duty

we are not really expecting to hear anything

we are not focused on God, focused on getting through with devotion, quiet time

every talk to someone who is ready to move on from you?

or how would you like to call someone who answers, “You told me to call, so here I am”?

you rather hear

what’s good!

what’s going on!

I know you got the good stuff!

thank you for taking my call, you talk and I’ll listen

Start having enough faith that God will speak to you

Start having enough faith that you switch your attitude about devotion time/quiet time

not a duty but a need

not boring but an exciting time . . . have faith in one of my wife’s favorite scriptures

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

Jeremiah 33:3 NASB95

3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

approach quiet time like this!

Then would make sense to have as many quiet times as possible! (Daniel -3 times)

set some time in the morning before the day gets started

use your lunch time, go to the car if you can

have a good, long, hot shower and ask God to speak to you

I hear from God at the gym on the treadmill

surrounded by people, but the Christian music shuts everyone else off, this sermon

Judges 6:12 NLT

12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

The Narrative

when Old Testament says, “angel of the Lord”, instead of just angel, it often represents the Lord taking on a form that the people could see

and the Lord says some strange words, “Mighty hero, The Lord is with you”

Gideon doesn’t seem like a mighty hero or valiant warrior

strange words because he seems scared, timid

looks shaky guy that doesn’t have the Lord on his side

The Lesson - When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

You are not who you feel like.

you might feel like Clark Kent, but in God’s eyes you are Superman.

Don’t let your circumstances and your surroundings dictate who you are.

You are who God says you are

forgiven, redeemed, child of the most High God, overcomer, the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, royal priest, more than a conqueror

Don’t be thrown off when God’s words don’t match your surroundings. He is well aware of what’s going on in your life!

Illustration

Remember the illustration with the dollar bill

No matter where I put his dollar bill, do to this dollar bill . . . it is still a dollar bill

it still maintains its worth

I can fold it up, but it’s more than regular paper

I can put it on the floor, but it’s not lint

I can wipe my face with it, but it’s not a rag

I can put it in the trashcan, but it’s not trash

it still has and holds it’s value

and that’s why you need a word from the Lord, because you will be reminded of who you are, whose you are, and who is walking with you!

Application

since God’s words will often contradict with what you are experiencing, feeling, your natural emotions

you will be presented with a choice: believe the Word from God or believe your current situation

believe what you hear or believe what you see

before you make that choice, remember that we walk by faith and not by sight

be prepared to believe what God says about your situation

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

Judges 6:13 NASB95

13 Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The Narrative

Gideon asks the classic questions we have all pondered or asked at one time or another

“If the Lord is with me, why am I suffering so much?”

“People talk about miracles, but I haven’t seen any (in a long time)”

“it seems that God has abandoned, forsaken me, forgotten about me . . . whyyyyyyy”

but “why me” is not the emphasis for this sermon . . . the interesting thing is that when you read Judges chapter 6, you realize that this is a stupid question! (not trying to insult, I’ve asked my share of stupid questions)

Why did Gideon ask this question when the answer was given earlier? Remember, God sent them a prophet who explained the answer to this exact question. . . .(you all started worshipping false gods. God didn’t abandon you, you abandoned God!)

The Lesson - When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

Gideon asked the question because he did not believe the man of God

The Bible doesn’t say why Gideon didn’t believe the prophet, but often, we don’t listen because . . .

we don’t like the message

don’t want to admit fault, repent, share in blame (preachers said, “y’all messed up”)

don’t want to make changes (they would have to get rid of their idols)

we don’t like the messenger

what can some man tell me!

I am better off than them, and they are trying to lecture me

I am older than them, and they are trying to tell me something!

We grew up on the same block, how are they going to share something with me

the Bible teaches that prophets are not often accepted in their home town

Illustration

I have been guilty of this too

famous preacher and local preacher say the same thing, but people fall out for big name

Application

if you don’t like the message, but the message lines up with the word of God, then listen anyway, obey anyway

we don’t listen to God on how to treat each other, love our neighbor

cause this is the age of going off on folks, reality show fighting, and world star fighting

we don’t listen to God on marriage, sex, abortion

cause we don’t want any restraints on our urges

we don’t listen to God on fair business practices (it’s in there)

cause we don’t want any restraints on our love for money

if you don’t like the messenger God uses, but their message lines up with the word of God, then listen anyway

Children - obey your parents in the Lord, that’s God speaking through your parents

If you are in the place where a man or woman of God is speaking the Word of the Lord - listen and respond to it

doesn’t matter if it’s a co-worker, family member, preacher at a small church

God speaks through people, don’t be so easily put off

contrary to a lot of art - the Bible says there was nothing about Jesus’ looks to make you notice him

Isaiah 53:2 NLT

2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

Judges 6:14 NLT

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Narrative

The Lord ignores the stupid question, turns to Gideon, and says, “I am sending you to fix the situation.”

Lesson - When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

you bring the situation to God, and God might bring the situation toyou

the breakthrough/miracle/the way out will happen through the faith of somebody, and the Lord will often turn to you to be that somebody

Illustration

Like when teenager ask for some money, and the parent says say, “Sure you can have some money . . . Just go get a job, and they will give you some!” . . . wait . . . hold up . . . I just wanted some help . . . I wasn’t asking to help

Application

Many miracles are not sit around and wait

they are go ye therefore

God will bless the work of YOUR hands

he will tell you do do something

you are waiting on a check, and God will tell you to write a check

Gideon, you go rescue

Moses, you go to Pharoah

Esther, you go before the King

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

Judges 6:15–16 NLT

15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

Narrative

Gideon reasons that he is the wrong person from the job

His clan is the least respected in the tribe of Manasseh

He is the least respected in his family

no influence, no resources

But God responds that Gideon will be able to win because God will be on his side

There was a huge Midianite army, but with God on Gideon’s side, the odds swing in Gideon’s favor

Lesson - God doesn’t speak and leave, He speaks and stays.

You will have divine companionship.

You will have divine help.

Illustration

God is not a delivery person, who delivers the package and leaves

God is that friend who says you need to do this or that, let me get my stuff, I’ll be right over to help

the Grandparent that says, you need to go buy my grandbaby this or that . . . I’ll send you the money, you just need to go to the store and pick it up

God doesn’t speak and leave, he speaks and stays

Application

When God speaks, shows you something, reveals something, tells you something to do

whether through a preacher, reading the Bible, a dream, a vision . . . it also serves as a notice that God is there with you

so have faith

he wouldn’t give you the vision, if he wasn’t going to help

plan . . .

idea . . .

inspiration . . .

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

God doesn’t speak and leave, He speaks and stays.

Judges 6:17–19 NLT

17 Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. 18 Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.” 19 Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree.

Narrative

Gideon is asking, God is this really you?

I don’t about your ability, but is it you?

And though Gideon is asking for a sign, Gideon demonstrates faith by preparing a meal

that cost time (cook a full meal)

that cost money (in a time of scarcity)

Lesson - Respond to God’s instructions with faith.

as you start this, you will wonder, “God, is this you?” . . . you will have to step out on faith

it’s ok to ask for signs, but let faith be demonstrated in your asking

test the waters in faith

Application

some of you are going to eagerly begin some alone time with God

don’t give up after 5 minutes, show your faith by staying awhile, doing it again the next day, and the next day

if God tells you to do something, but you are not sure . . . test the waters . . . try it

don’t be stuck for weeks on end, “Is this God or not?”

step out on faith on something you think he has told you, or move on!

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

God doesn’t speak and leave, He speaks and stays.

Respond to God’s instructions with faith.

explain verses 20-24

Gideon put food on a rock

angel touched the food with his staff and fire burned up the food, and then angel disappeared

Gideon is scared because he thinks he has seen the Lord face to face

Judges 6:23 NLT

23 “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.”

Narrative

God tells Gideon that he will not die, it’s ok

but wait . . . I thought the angel disappeared, how is God still talking to Gideon

God is now communicating through another method . . . voice . . . thought . . . we don’t know

but he is still talking to Gideon

Lesson - God speaks through various methods.

God will not use the same way to speak all the time

just know the more you hear his voice, the more you recognize him, however method God speaks

preacher, family member, person at the job, situations, circumstances, strange coincidences, dreams, visions, thoughts

Illustration

Since I really know my wife, and have communicated with her for almost 25 years of marriage, I can recognize when it’s her speaking

on the phone with a bad connection, sick, tries to change her voice

I can recognize her text messages (honey, hearts . . . it’s her, it better be her)

someone hacks her FB account, I will know it by the type of stuff they post, cause I recognize her voice

I recognize her handwriting

dirty dishes, I can recognize if it’s her or one of the boys (type of residue, where it was left, (sherry is more of an oven person, Josiah is more of a pan person)

the more you talk to God, communicate to God, the more you recognize him

Application

If you got a dream, don’t expect a dream every time, He will change it up

Don’t have him speaking to you and you don’t recognize it

don’t trust the method, trust God

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

God doesn’t speak and leave, He speaks and stays.

Respond to God’s instructions with faith.

God speaks through various methods.

Judges 6:24 NASB95

24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Narrative

Gideon responds by worshipping

he has peace that he will not die

Gideon has peace God is on the case

Lesson - If you learn to hear from God, you will have peace.

peace is what we are searching for

things will be ok

God will work things out

this will benefit me in the end

i am strong enough to handle this

I will grow from this

God’s got my back

this too shall pass

trouble doesn’t last always

weeping may endure for a night

Illustration

I have fun watching old games that my team (Aggies, Cowboys) came back and won in the last minute

no agonizing

no worry

just peace . . . because I have some information about the situation

and if you get a word from the Lord, you will have information about the situation!

Application

Listen to God, and you will have peace

Listen to God, and you will make wise buying decisions - peace

have you ever bought something you thought you needed, and see it 1 year later and you only used it once?

found a pair of beats head phones - $150 on ebay, lost for over a year, Sister found them

Listen to God, and there will be no suffering because of bad choices(cut out about 3/4 of your suffering) - peace

warnings about danger - peace

you know what to pray for . . . prayers answered left and right

Example of getting a word to wait

Example of needing money and not I owing how to utilize the little we had. “It will be revealed tomorrow “

If you need a Word from the Lord, listen to the Word (obey) that you already have.

God often speaks to us when we are by ourselves.

When you get a word form the Lord, remember that His words won’t match what you see.

When you need a word from the Lord, God will sometimes speak through people.

When God speaks about a problem, he often commissions YOU to solve the problem.

God doesn’t speak and leave, He speaks and stays.

Respond to God’s instructions with faith.

God speaks through various methods.

If you learn to hear from God, you will have peace.

Closing Illustration - Peyton

try to keep children happy, busy, and quiet

I have so much knowledge that will be beneficial to her

as her grandfather I would love to share it all

she would love to play with my phone

had to convince her to let show her some phone things on the phone besides swiping

I had to convince her to go to the ipad (bigger)

I had to convince her to watch more than one video on YouTube

I had to convince her to watch Netflix

I’m hoping that as she matures, Peyton will wise up and realize that I have some good information for her

her life will be so much better

A wise person realizes that they don’t have all the answers, in fact we don’t have most of the answers

we need someone wiser than us, more knowledgeable than us, higher than us, smarter than us

and that person is the all-wise God

And the all-wise God has instructions for you and your situation

what to do, what to say

which direction to go, where to look

how long to wait, when to move on

What we need is divine direction

We need a word from the Lord

Invitation

in these New Testament times, it all begins with Jesus

Jesus’s disciples said, “Lord you have the words of life!”

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me

The bible says in Roman 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

You must start with the words already written to get where you are supposed to be!

Give your life to Christ!

Speak to my heart

Speak to my heart, Holy Spirit Give me the words that will bring new life Words on the wings of the morning, the dark nights will fade away Speak to my heart

Speak to my heart, Holy Spirit Message of love to encourage me Lifting my heart from despair, how You love me and care for me Speak to my heart

Speak to my heart, Lord, give me Your holy word If I can hear from You, then I'll know what to do I won't go alone, I'll never go on my own Just let Your spirit guide and let Your word abide

speak to my heart, speak to my heart