Arise, Awaken

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was north of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. 2 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own [a]power has rescued me.’ 3 So now, proclaim in the hearing of the people, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men returned [home], but ten thousand remained. 4 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many people; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there.

Therefore it shall be that he of 5 So he brought the people down to the water, and the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels down to drink.” 6 Now the number of those who lapped [the water], putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people kneeled down to drink water. 7 And the Lord told Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will rescue you and will hand over the Midianites to you. Let all the other people go, each man to his home.” 8 So the three hundred men took people’s provisions [for the journey] and their trumpets [made of rams’ horns] in their hands. And Gideon sent [away] all the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but kept the three.

Here are some facts:

• 20k men when given the opportunity tuned back to their homes because of fear.

• Even though their homes and families were in danger year after year they chose to run from a danger they were faced with, as opposed to one they knew was there, but wasn’t having to deal with it at this moment. Selah!

• Most are content to give up a little ground, a little peace and a little part of themselves as opposed to confronting a situation head-on and bringing it to a swift end minimizing lose.
• 9700 men were brave but lacked the discernment or discipline to advance to victory with God. They Bent over and lost sight of the terrain and the enemy to fulfill their desire
• Even though bravery is honorable; dying needlessly in the battle because of a lack of training is not what God desire is for you.
• The Foundational Gifts in ministry are given by God to “Equip” Saints for the assignments ahead. Eph. 4:11“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
• Equip or Perfecting (KJV): complete thoroughly, repair or adjust, frame, mend, join together, prepare, restore.
• Look at the work that goes into perfecting one “for the work of ministry”. This isn’t how modern-day Church functions.
• I literally believe that when (and if) you have received the message of the Gospel you are brought into a Kingdom with everything of that Kingdom at your disposal. However; the Knowledge you have of the Kingdom is the level in which you operate.
• Many are being sifted and stolen from because they refuse training or they sit deceived under Leadership that will not recognize Spiritual Warfare.

Here is another fact:

• All of these things can be found at one time or another in every believer. Fear, Self-desire and a lack of discernment.
• Being able to see the Lord in truth will allow one to overcome in these areas.
• Most fear because they cannot see what is ahead of them, so they only connect with what is in their now. Others fear because they cannot see themselves the way God created them to be.
• Those who struggle with Self-desires will never overcome until they realize the power of dying to the flesh to live.

300 have their senses trained.

“But solid food belongs to them that are of full age (Mature), even those who by reason of use (continual practice) have their senses exercised (trained)to discern both good and evil.” Heb. 5:14 

We have to discern the time we are in. We are at war with an adversary that does not sleep or need a break. This teaching of self-gratification is costing the saints everything.
Even though I might go on vacation; I never let my spiritual guard down. Every time we draw back the enemy is maneuvering to take ground. We know it!