♪♪♪ WELCOME TO LOVE WORTH
FINDING WITH PASTOR, TEACHER,
AND AUTHOR, ADRIAN ROGERS. REACHING OUT WITH GOD'S LOVE,
BRINGING PEOPLE TO CHRIST, TOUCHING LIVES AROUND THE WORLD,
AND HELPING YOU FIND
THE ANSWERS YOU NEED TODAY. JOIN US AS WE PREPARE TO OPEN
GOD'S WORD AND DISCOVER HOW YOUR
LIFE CAN BE CHANGED FOREVER BY HIS GREAT
LOVE WORTH FINDING. WOULD YOU TAKE GOD'S WORD? TURN TO HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 VERSE
32, "AND WHAT SHALL I MORE SAY? NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME
OF THESE NAMES IN HERE AND TODAY WE'RE GOING
TO BE TALKING ABOUT GIDEON. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT GIDEON
THAT IS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE TO ME IS THAT HE WAS AN ORDINARY
MAN AND GOD USED HIM MIGHTILY. THE TITLE OF THE MESSAGE
IS, "PEOPLE THAT GOD USES," OR, "HOW TO BE USED OF GOD."
WOULD YOU LIKE GOD TO USE YOU? I MEAN, WOULD YOU REALLY? WILL IT MAKE ANY
DIFFERENCE THAT YOU LIVED? LINUS KEPT AFTER LUCY IN
THE COMIC STRIP, PEANUTS. LINUS KEPT SAYING TO LUCY,
"TELL ME A STORY, TELL ME
A STORY, TELL ME A STORY." FINALLY, IN EXASPERATION,
LUCY SAID, "A MAN WAS BORN,
HE LIVED, HE DIED." SHE WALKED AWAY.
LINUS SAID, "KINDA MAKES
YOU WONDER, DOESN'T IT?" [ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ] IS THAT
GOING TO BE TRUE OF YOU? HE WAS BORN, HE LIVED, HE DIED.
YOU DRAW YOUR BREATH, YOU DRAW YOUR SALARY,
YOU EXIST TO LIVE, YOU LIVE
TO EXIST, AND THAT IS ALL? [ SILENCE ] I HEARD OF A MAN NAMED WILLIE
WHO WORKED FOR AN ORGANIZATION. AND WILLIE DIED AND SOMEBODY
CAME AND SAID, AH, "I'D LIKE TO
APPLY TO FILL WILLIE'S PLACE. I WANT WILLIE'S VACANCY." THE BOSS SAID, "WILLIE
DIDN'T LEAVE ANY VACANCY." AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE
ARE A LOT OF US WHO WILL NOT REALLY LEAVE ANY VACANCY
WHEN WE GO. WILL IT MAKE ANY
DIFFERENCE THAT YOU LIVED? WHAT IS YOUR LIFE REALLY,
ULTIMATELY, COUNTING FOR? WHO ARE THE KIND OF
PEOPLE THAT GOD USES? NOW LET ME TELL YOU
THE SITUATION FOR OUR
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. AND, BY THE WAY, TURN
BACK OVER, IF YOU WOULD,
TO JUDGES CHAPTER SIX. JUDGES CHAPTER SIX AND
WE'RE GOING TO FIND HERE
THE LIFE OF THIS MAN, GIDEON, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY
WHO IS LISTED AS A
CHAMPION OF THE FAITH. JUDGES CHAPTER SIX. AND LET ME
GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND NOW.
THERE WERE DARK DAYS IN ISRAEL. THE DEVIL WAS, AH, AH, GOING
ABOUT AS A ROARING LION, AND THE ENEMIES OF GOD WERE
GAINING VICTORY UPON VICTORY, AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD HAD
SEEMINGLY THROWN IN THE TOWEL. NO LONGER ARE THEY SINGING,
"ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS." THEY'VE HUNKERED DOWN. THEY'RE
SINGING, "HOLD THE FORT." THAT'S ALL THEY
WERE TRYING TO DO. NOW I BELIEVE THAT'S
OUR GENERATION TODAY. AH, WE, WE HAVE THOUGHT,
"WELL, PERHAPS TODAY WE CAN'T
HAVE ANY, AH, MIRACLES TODAY." THAT'S WHAT GIDEON SAID.
"WHERE ARE ALL THE MIRACLES
THAT WE USED TO HEAR OF?" WE HAVE A GENERATION
TODAY THAT REALLY DOESN'T
EXPECT GOD TO DO MIRACLES. "POOR GOD. HE'S NOT WHAT HE USED TO BE. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER
TODAY THAT HE USED TO HAVE. NO LONGER CAN HE SAVE
MULTITUDES, SHAKE CITIES,
TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. GOD'S KIND OF OLD, ISN'T HE? GOD'S KIND OF SICK, ISN'T HE? GOD'S HAND IS FEEBLE
THAT IT CANNOT MOVE. GOD'S EAR IS HEAVY
THAT HE CANNOT HEAR. GOD'S EYES ARE DULL
THAT HE CANNOT SEE." NO, MY FRIEND! GOD IS STILL GOD, AND WE NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NOT
ONE SHRED OF SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS WE CANNOT HAVE
A MIGHTY REVIVAL IN THIS DAY
AND AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE. [ AUDIENCE: AMEN ] MOST OF
US DON'T BELIEVE THAT. YOU TALK ABOUT REVIVAL,
ALL PEOPLE DO IS GIVE
A SYMPATHETIC SMILE. AND THEY'RE SIMPLY WAITING
FOR JESUS CHRIST TO GET HERE. I'M HERE AS YOUR PASTOR TO TELL
YOU THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A
GREATER DAY, A GREATER AGE, TO LIVE AND TO PREACH THE
GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. AND I'M GONNA TELL
YOU SOMETHING ELSE. GOD WANTS YOU, I SAID,
YOU, SIR; YOU, MADAM. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. GOD HAS A MIGHTY PLAN FOR YOU. AND WE NEED TO STOP MOANING
AND GROANING AND COMPLAINING
ABOUT LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS. NOW IN OUR PASSAGE
OF SCRIPTURE WE'RE GOING TO
FIND SOMETHING ABOUT GIDEON. HE'S KIND OF HUNKERED DOWN. JUDGES SIX VERSE 11, "AND THERE
CAME AN ANGEL OF THE LORD, AND
SAT UNDER AN OAK WHICH WAS IN OPHRAH, THAT PERTAINED UNTO
JOASH, THE ABIEZRITE: AND HIS
SON, GIDEON, THRESHED WHEAT BY THE WINEPRESS, TO HIDE
IT FROM THE MIDIANITES." NOW HE'S NOT UP ON THE
THRESHING FLOOR, HA, HA.
HE'S DOWN AT THE WINEPRESS. THE THRESHING FLOOR IS UP
ON THE HILLTOP SO THE WIND
WILL BLOW THE CHAFF AWAY. THE WINEPRESS IS DOWN
THERE TO COLLECT THE WINE. SO HE'S HIDING NOW
FROM THE MIDIANITES. "AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
APPEARED UNTO HIM, AND SAID UNTO
HIM, 'THE LORD IS WITH THEE, THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR.'" THAT'S ONE THING GIDEON WOULD
NOT THINK OF HIMSELF AS BEING,
FOLKS, A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
HE IS FRIGHTENED TO DEATH.
AND HE SAYS, "'THE LORD IS WITH THEE,
THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR.'
AND GIDEON SAID UNTO HIM, 'O MY LORD, IF THE LORD
BE WITH US, WHY THEN
IS ALL THIS BEFALLEN US? AND WHERE BE ALL THE MIRACLES
WHICH OUR FATHERS TOLD US OF, SAYING, 'DID NOT
THE LORD BRING US FROM EGYPT?' BUT NOW THE LORD
HATH FORSAKEN US.'" NOW THERE'RE MANY OF
US WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY. "OH, HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS BACK
IN THE OLDEN TIMES WHEN GOD WAS
MOVING MIGHTILY, BUT NOW GOD HAS TURNED HIS BACK ON US.
GOD HAS FORSAKEN US." UH, AND, AND HERE GIDEON IS
TRYING TO BLAME IT ON GOD. GIDEON HERE IS WAITING ON GOD.
GOD IS WAITING ON GIDEON,
AS WE'RE GOING TO SEE. "'THE LORD HATH FORSAKEN
US, AND DELIVERED US INTO
THE HAND OF THE MIDIANITES.' AND THE LORD LOOKED UPON HIM,
AND SAID, 'GO IN THIS THY
MIGHT,'" UNDERSCORE THAT, "'IN THIS THY MIGHT.'" NOW HERE'S A MAN
FRIGHTENED TO DEATH. GOD CALLS HIM A MAN OF VALOR
AND SPEAKS OF HIS MIGHT. "'AND THOU SHALT SAVE ISRAEL
FROM THE HAND OF THE MIDIANITES.
HAVE NOT I SENT THEE?' AND HE SAID UNTO HIM,
'O, MY LORD, WHEREWITH
SHALL I SAVE ISRAEL? BEHOLD, MY FAMILY IS POOR
IN MANASSEH, AND I AM THE
LEAST IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM,
'SURELY I WILL BE WITH THEE, AND THOU SHALT SMITE THE
MIDIANITES AS ONE MAN.'" GOD SAYS, "GIDEON, I'VE
GOT A JOB FOR YOU TO DO,
AND YOU'RE A MIGHTY MAN." HE SAID, "LORD, DO YOU
KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO? LORD, OF ALL THE FAMILIES
IN ISRAEL, ALL THE TRIBES, MY TRIBE IS THE LEAST, AND ALL
OF THE FAMILIES IN THAT TRIBE, MY FAMILY IS THE POOREST, AND
ALL OF THE KIDS IN THAT FAMILY,
I AM THE RUNT OF THE LITTER. YOU'RE SAYING THAT
GOD IS GONNA USE ME?" AND GOD IS SAYING, "YES,
GIDEON, I'M GOING TO USE YOU." NOW I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME.
ARE YOU LISTENING? DON'T YOU DARE INSULT GOD
BY SAYING GOD CAN'T USE YOU. DON'T YOU DARE DO IT!
DON'T YOU SAY, "WHO AM I? HOW CAN GOD USE ME?
I'M JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON." I WANT TO SHOW YOU TODAY,
FRIEND, THAT GOD CAN USE YOU,
AND YOU, YES, YOU MA'AM; YOU, SIR; YOU, TEEN, YOU CAN BE IN
GOD'S, AH, HALL OF CHAMPIONS. NOW LET ME GIVE YOU
FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PEOPLE THAT GOD USES. NUMBER ONE:
GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE.
GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE. LOOK AGAIN IN VERSE 14,
"AND THE LORD LOOKED UPON HIM,
AND SAID, 'GO IN THIS THY MIGHT, AND THOU SHALT SAVE ISRAEL
FROM THE HAND OF THE MIDIANITES.
HAVE I NOT SENT THEE?' AND HE SAID UNTO HIM,
'O MY LORD, WHEREWITH SHALL
I [ TAP, TAP ] SAVE ISRAEL? BEHOLD, MY FAMILY IS POOR
IN MANASSEH, AND I AM
THE LEAST IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM,
'I WILL BE WITH THEE, AND THOU SHALT SMITE THE
MIDIANITES AS ONE MAN.'" HERE WAS A FEARFUL FARMER, BUT
GOD SAYS HE IS A MAN OF VALOR. WHY IS THIS? GOD DID NOT SEE GIDEON AS HE
WAS; GOD SAW HIM AS HE COULD
BE WITH GOD'S POWER UPON HIM. YOU SEE, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU
ARE IN AND OF YOURSELF. WE MIGHT BE COMMON AS SUCH.
LEEK, LOOK ON DOWN TO VERSE 34. THE BIBLE SAYS, "BUT THE SPIRIT
OF THE LORD CAME UPON GIDEON."
DO YOU SEE THAT? "THE SPIRIT OF THE
LORD CAME UPON GIDEON." IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE
IT LITERALLY SAYS, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CLOTHED
HIMSELF WITH GIDEON." HOW WOULD YOU LIKE FOR GOD TO
WEAR YOU LIKE A SUIT OF CLOTHES? AND, THEREFORE, IT IS
NOT NECESSARILY THE MAN;
IT IS GOD IN THE MAN. AH, GOD WILL WEAR YOU, FRIEND,
LIKE A SUIT OF CLOTHES. GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE. PUT IN YOUR MARGIN
FIRST CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER ONE VERSE 26. PAUL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS
TALKING TO THAT GROUP OF
CHRISTIANS THAT WAS GOING TO BE USED TO TURN THE
WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. AND HE SAID, "FOR YOU SEE YOUR
CALLING, BRETHREN, HOW THAT NOT
MANY WISE MEN AFTER THE FLESH," THAT IS, NOT MANY PH.D.S,
"NOT MANY MIGHTY," THAT IS, NOT
MANY, AH, PEOPLE WHO ARE STRONG PHYSICALLY, "NOT MANY NOBLE,"
THAT MEANS PEOPLE OF HIGH BIRTH,
"ARE CALLED; BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE
WORLD," THAT WORD, FOOLISH, IS
THE WORD WE GET OUR WORD MORON FROM, "TO CONFOUND THE WISE;
AND," UH, "GOD HATH CHOSEN THE
WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD," THAT WORD MEANS PHYSICALLY WEAK,
ANEMIC, SICKLY, AH, "TO CONFOUND
THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY." GOD TAKES THESE KIND OF PEOPLE.
FOLKS, THAT'S FOLKS LIKE US. WHAT IS GOD SAYING? IT IS NOT SCHOLARSHIP;
IT IS RELATIONSHIP! IT IS NOT ABILITY;
IT IS AVAILABILITY! IT IS NOT FAME; IT IS FAITH! GOD WANTS ORDINARY PEOPLE
TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS SO GOD HIMSELF CAN GET
THE GLORY FROM IT. YEARS AGO IN NEW JERSEY THERE
WAS A MAN ADVERTISED THAT HE WAS
GOING TO PLAY A CONCERT ON AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE VIOLIN. PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL
OVER TO HEAR HIM PLAY. HE TUCKED THAT INSTRUMENT UNDER
HIS CHIN AND BEGAN TO PLAY. YOU COULD HEAR THE LAUGHTER
OF CHILDREN AS HE PLAYED. YOU COULD HEAR THE SONGS OF THE
BIRDS IN THE TREES AS HE PLAYED. YOU COULD HEAR BABIES
CRY AS HE PLAYED. PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AT THE MUSIC
THAT CAME FROM THAT VIOLIN. WHEN HE HAD FINISHED THE
CONCERT, HE TOOK THAT VIOLIN
AND BROKE IT ON HIS KNEE. "AH!" THEY WERE AGHAST.
"WHY HAS HE DONE THAT?" THEN HE OPENED HIS
CASE AND BROUGHT OUT
THE EXPENSIVE VIOLIN. HE SAID, "THE VIOLIN THAT I'VE
BEEN PLAYING ON IS A FIDDLE I
BOUGHT FOR A FEW DOLLARS." AND THEN HE SAID,
"IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE VIOLIN
THAT MAKES THE MUSIC AS IT IS THE MAN
WHO DRAWS THE BOW." NOW YOU MAY BE JUST A CHEAP
FIDDLE BUT, FRIEND, GOD IS THE
ONE, THE MAESTRO, GOD IS THE ONE WHO CAN MAKE MUSIC OUT
OF YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE. GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE!
GOD CAN USE YOU. SAY, "AMEN."
[ AUDIENCE: AMEN ] NOW SECONDLY:
GOD USES CLEANSED PEOPLE. LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW IN CHAPTER
SIX VERSE 25, "AND IT CAME TO
PASS THE SAME NIGHT, THAT THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM, 'TAKE THY
FATHER'S YOUNG BULLOCK,'" THAT'S
A YOUNG BULL, "'EVEN THE SECOND BULLOCK OF SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND
THROW DOWN THE ALTAR OF BAAL.'" BAAL WAS A FILTHY
FERTILITY GOD. THEY SACRIFICED THEIR
CHILDREN TO BAAL. THEY COMMITTED FORNICATION
AND, UH, AND ADULTEROUS
ACTS IN THE NAME OF BAAL. THEY WERE, IT WAS
THE GOD OF SEXUALITY. IT'S THE SAME GOD THAT HAS
TAKEN OVER AMERICA TODAY. "AND THROW DOWN THE ALTAR
OF BAAL THAT THY FATHER HATH, AND CUT DOWN THE GROVE
THAT IS BY IT." THAT IS,
"THERE'S AN ALTAR HERE. YOU TAKE A BULL, HOOK A CHAIN TO
IT, AND PULL THAT ALTAR DOWN." "AND BUILD AN ALTAR UNTO THE
LORD THY GOD UPON THE TOP OF THE
ROCK, IN THE ORDERED PLACE, AND TAKE THE SECOND BULLOCK,
AND OFFER A BURNT SACRIFICE WITH THE WOOD OF THE GROVE
WHICH THOU SHALT CUT DOWN." NOW THEY WORSHIPPED
BAAL IN GROVES. SO HE SAYS, "YOU TEAR DOWN THE
ALTAR, AH, TAKE THE GROVE, CUT
DOWN THE TREES, BUILD A FIRE, AND OFFER A BLOOD
SACRIFICE THERE." POINT: IF YOU WANT GOD TO USE
YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO GAKE, TAKE
THE IDOLS OUT OF YOUR LIFE. IF YOU WANT GOD TO USE YOU,
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE
IDOLS OUT OF YOUR LIFE. YOU SAY, "WELL, AH, PASTOR,
THIS IS A MODERN DAY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDOLS." WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?
WHAT IS AN IDOL? SOMETHING MADE OF
STICK OR STONE? NOT NECESSARILY. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT AN IDOL IS. AN IDOL THING, IS ANYTHING YOU
LOVE MORE, FEAR MORE, SERVE
MORE, VALUE MORE THAN GOD. THAT'S AN IDOL. ANYTHING YOU FEAR MORE, LOVE
MORE, SERVE MORE, VALUE MORE
THAN GOD; THAT IS AN IDOL. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS. YOU CAN MAKE AN
IDOL OF YOUR JOB. YOU CAN MAKE AN IDOL OF
YOUR OWN, AH, PERSONA. NOW, GOD SAYS YOU'VE GOT TO GET
THE IDOLS OUT OF YOUR LIFE. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH, AH, GIDEON
AND THOSE AROUND HIM IS THEIR
LIVES WERE STAINED WITH SIN, AH, THEY HAD FORSAKEN THE
LORD THEIR GOD, AND THEY
WERE SERVING IDOL GODS. NOW YOU WANT GOD TO USE YOU?
LISTEN TO ME. GOD WILL NOT, HE WILL NOT, HE
WILL NOT, HE WILL, WILL NOT USE
YOU IF THERE'S UNCONFESSED, UN-REPENTED-OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE.
HE WILL NOT DO IT. YOU WANT TO KNOW,
"WHY GOD DOESN'T USE ME?" YOU ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION.
IS YOUR HEART CLEAN? FRIEND, THE BIBLE SAYS,
"BE CLEAN THAT BEAR THE
VESSELS OF THE LORD." I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO WASH
MY FEET IN A DIRTY VESSEL. NOW WE'VE GOT TO BE CLEAN
IF WE WANT GOD TO USE US. AND, AH, GOD IS NOT GOING TO
USE US IF, FRIEND, THERE IS
ANY IDOLATRY IN OUR LIVES. IS JESUS CHRIST NUMBER
ONE IN YOUR LIFE? IF HE'S NOT, YOU HAVE
AN IDOL SOMEWHERE. NUMBER THREE: GOD NOT ONLY USES
COMMON PEOPLE, AND GOD NOT ONLY
USES CLEANSED PEOPLE, BUT GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN VERSE 12,
"AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
APPEARED UNTO HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, 'THE LORD IS
WITH THEE,'" NOW WATCH THIS,
"'THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR.'" VALOR?
WE DON'T USE THAT WORD MUCH,
BUT IT MEANS COURAGE, COURAGE. NOW, NOT ONLY WAS GOD GOING TO,
AH, USE GIDEON, BUT GOD WAS
GOING TO MAKE GIDEON A GENERAL. AND HE SAID, "GIDEON, BLOW
THE TRUMPET, GATHER AN ARMY." AND HE DID, AND 32,000 PEOPLE
CAME TO HELP HIM TO DELIVER
ISRAEL FROM THE OPPRISH, OPPRESSION OF THE MIDIANITES. NOW BEGIN IN JUDGES CHAPTER
SEVEN VERSES TWO AND THREE, "AND
THE LORD SAID UNTO GIDEON, 'THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH THEE ARE
TOO MANY FOR ME TO GIVE THE
MIDIANITES INTO THEIR HANDS, LEST ISRAEL VAUNT THEMSELVES
AGAINST ME, SAYING, 'MINE
OWN HAND HATH SAVED ME.'' NOW, THEREFORE, GO TO,
PROCLAIM IN THE EARS OF THE
PEOPLE, SAYING,'" NOW UNDERSCORE THIS, "'WHOSOEVER IS FEARFUL AND
AFRAID, LET HIM RETURN AND
DEPART EARLY FROM MOUNT GILEAD.' AND THERE RETURNED OF THE PEOPLE
TWENTY AND TWO THOUSAND; AND
THERE REMAINED TEN THOUSAND." HERE THEY ARE: 32,000 PEOPLE. GENERAL GIDEON SAYS,
"LISTEN TO ME! I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. [ SILENCE ] IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE WHO
IS AFRAID, WE CAN'T USE YOU.
GO HOME. YOU'RE EXCUSED." 32,000! AFTER THE STAMPEDE, GIDEON GETS
UP AND BRUSHES HIMSELF OFF. TEN THOUSAND ARE
ALL THAT'S LEFT. HE'S LOST TWO-THIRDS
OF HIS ARMY. THEY'VE GONE HOME. TODAY, IF YOU'RE A COWARD,
GOD CANNOT USE YOU. GOD IS LOOKING FOR
MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR. GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE
SIZE OF THIS CONGREGATION. WE CAN BE MANY AND NOT MUCH. GOD IS LOOKING FOR BRAVE SOULS. GOD IS LOOKING FOR
COURAGEOUS PEOPLE. GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
THAT CANNOT BE INTIMIDATED. GIDEON'S ARMY, HIS NUMBER
DIDN'T IMPRESS GOD. YOU SAY, "WELL, OUR
CHURCH IS GROWING." SO IS THE CEMETERY. GOD DOESN'T SAVE BY MANY. HE SAYS, "IF YOU'RE AFRAID,
I CAN'T USE YOU." FEAR FITS YOU FOR FAILURE,
NOT FOR FIGHTING. BESIDES THAT,
FEAR IS INFECTIOUS. DEUTERONOMY, PUT IT IN YOUR
MARGIN, CHAPTER 20, VERSE EIGHT, "AND THE OFFICERS SHALL SPEAK
FURTHER UNTO THE PEOPLE,
AND THEY SHALL SAY, 'WHAT MAN IS THERE THAT IS
FEARFUL AND FAINTHEARTED? LET HIM GO AND RETURN UNTO HIS
HOUSE, LEST HIS BRETHREN'S HEART
FAINT AS WELL AS HIS HEART.'" GOD SAYS, "IF THERE'S A WAR,
THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID,
JUST GET RID OF THEM. NOT ONLY WILL THEY NOT MAKE
GOOD SOLDIERS, BUT THEY'RE
GOING TO INFECT OTHERS." [ SILENCE ] TWO PREACHERS WERE TALKING.
THE ONE SAID, "DO YOU HAVE ANY
COMMITTEES IN YOUR CHURCH?" HE SAID, "I HAVE ALL KINDS
OF COMMITTEES," AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMITTEES.
ONE PREACHER SAID, "I DON'T, I BET YOU DON'T HAVE
A, A COLD WATER COMMITTEE,
A BUCKET COMMITTEE." HE SAID, "WHAT IS THAT?"
HE SAID, "WELL, ANYTIME ANYBODY
HAS A GOOD IDEA, THE, THE BUCKET COMMITTEE COMES
AND POURS COLD WATER ON IT."
[ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ] "OH," HE SAID, "YEAH,
I'VE GOT THAT COMMITTEE. I CAN
TELL YOU WHO THE CHAIRMAN IS." [ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ] THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT CAN'T
BE DONE, AND THEY'RE GOING AROUND TELLING EVERYBODY
ELSE WHY IT CANNOT BE DONE. NOW ARE YOU A FEARFUL PERSON? WELL, YOU SAY, "PASTOR
ROGERS, THERE'S SOME
THINGS TO BE AFRAID OF." I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NORMAL
FEARS, LIKE BEING AFRAID OF A
RATTLESNAKE OR GETTING IN AN AUTOMO, AH, IN, IN AN AIRPLANE
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS ROUGH
AND YOUR HEART RATE GOES UP. THOSE ARE NORMAL FEARS. THAT'S A, THAT'S A
SELF-PROTECTING, AH, INSTINCT
THAT GOD HAS PUT INTO US. BUT THE BIBLE SPEAKS
OF A SPIRIT OF FEAR. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN PEOPLE
WITH A SPIRIT OF FEAR? SECOND TIMOTHY ONE VERSE SEVEN,
"GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE
SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND
OF A SOUND MIND." WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OF FEAR?
IT'S LIKE A FOG. IT, IT JUST STAYS AND
IT LINGERS IN THE AIR. IT'S NOT LIKE A THUNDERSTORM AND
THEN THE SUN COMES BACK OUT. "GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE
SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER,
AND LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND." IF YOU'RE A CHILD OF GOD FILLED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU THE SPIRIT OF POWER. JESUS SAID, "YE SHALL
RECEIVE POWER AFTER THAT THE
HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU." GOD HATH GIVEN US THE
SPIRIT OF POWER AND OF LOVE. DID YOU KNOW LOVE
RE, REMOVES FEAR? THE QUESTION IS NOT ARE YOU
BRAVE ENOUGH; THE QUESTION
IS DO YOU LOVE ENOUGH? FRIEND, I TELL YOU WHAT.
I'M NOT, BY NATURE, COURAGEOUS. WELL, MAYBE I AM A
LITTLE BIT, BY NATURE. [ SILENCE ] BUT IF YOU COME AFTER
ONE OF MY LOVED ONES, YOU'RE
GOING TO FACE ONE OF THE BRAVEST MEN YOU'VE EVER SEEN, ONE OF THE
BRAVEST MEN YOU'VE EVER SEEN. IF YOU WERE TO START AFTER MY
WIFE OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN, FRIEND, YOU'D BE FACING
A BRAVE MAN. DO YOU KNOW WHY? 'CAUSE I LOVE THEM.
DO YOU LOVE THE LORD? "GOD HATH GIVEN US
THE SPIRIT OF POWER, AND OF
LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND." AND THAT WORD SOUND MIND
LITERALLY MEANS A MIND
THAT CANNOT BE STAMPEDED. IT MEANS A, A MIND THAT SEES
THINGS AS THEY ARE, NOT AFRAID
OF PHANTOMS, NOT AFRAID OF SPOOKS, NOT STAMPEDED BY
THE SINISTER MINISTER OF
FEAR, WHO IS THE DEVIL. GET FILLED
WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOT
ONLY AN ASSURANCE THAT GOD CAN USE YOU, BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO FIND YOURSELF
UNUSUALLY COURAGEOUS. NOW HERE'S THE NEXT KIND
OF PERSON THAT GOD USES. GOD USES, AH, CAUTIOUS PEOPLE.
YOU SAY, "THAT'S CONTRADICTORY."
NO, IT'S NOT. LOOK NOW, IF YOU WILL, HERE
CHAPTER SEVEN VERSES FOUR
THROUGH EIGHT, "AND THE LORD ...SO THE PEOPLE TOOK VICTUALS,"
THAT'S FOOD,
"AND THEIR TRUMPETS. NOW GOD SAYS,
"ALL RIGHT, GIDEON,
YOU'VE SENT THE FEARFUL HOME. NOW, GIDEON,
THERE'S ANOTHER TEST. BRING THE PEOPLE DOWN HERE
TO THE BROOK OF HAROD AND
TELL THEM TO DRINK WATER." IT'S HOT IN THAT VALLEY.
I'VE BEEN IN THAT VALLEY.
I'VE BEEN TO THIS VERY BROOK. AND HE SAID, "ALL RIGHT,
MEN, BREAK RANKS AND
GET A DRINK OF WATER." NOW THE PEOPLE BEGAN
TO DIVIDE THEMSELVES, THESE
TEN THOUSAND THAT WERE LEFT. THERE WERE SOME MEN
WHO GOT DOWN LIKE THIS, PUT THEIR MOUTHS IN THE WATER, AND BEGAN TO SUCK UP THE WATER. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW VULNERABLE
A MAN WOULD BE TO THE ENEMY
LIKE THIS WITH HIS NECK BARED? AND THE BIBLE SAYS THE ENEMY WAS
RIGHT UP THERE. THERE THEY ARE. DOWN WITH THEIR MOUTHS IN THE
WATER, SUCKING UP THE WATER. THERE WERE THREE HUNDRED MEN,
HOWEVER, WHO DRANK LIKE THIS, [ SILENCE ] PUTTING THEIR HAND TO THEIR
MOUTH, LOOKING AROUND. THESE WERE CAUTIOUS MEN.
THEY WERE CAUTIOUS MEN. YOU SAY, "I THOUGHT WE
WANTED COURAGEOUS MEN?" YES, COURAGEOUS AND CAUTIOUS. I
LOVE THE BALANCE OF THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE SAYS, "IN NOTHING
BE TERRIFIED BY YOUR ADVER,
ADVERSARIES," BUT THE SAME BIBLE SAYS,
"BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL,
GOETH ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION
SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR." HOW CAREFUL WE NEED TO BE. AH, WE DON'T JUST, AH, SAUNTER
FORTH AND SAY, "THERE'S
NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF." FRIEND, WE HAVE A WICKED, CRUEL,
CUNNING, MALEVOLENT DEVIL, AND HE'S OUT THERE TO SABOTAGE
YOUR LIFE. SO THE BIBLE SAYS,
"WATCH AND PRAY." PAUL SAID, "I KEEP
MY BODY UNDER. I BUFFET IT.
I DON'T GIVE MYSELF TO THINGS." YOU NEED TO WATCH
WHAT YOU WATCH,
WHAT YOU SEE ON TELEVISION. YOU SAY, "WELL, THAT
DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I CAN LOOK AT NAKED WOMEN,
IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME." IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE, SIR? ONE OF THREE THINGS
IS ABOUT YOU. EITHER YOU'RE NO MAN, OR YOU'RE
SUPERMAN, OR YOU'RE A LIAR. I BELIEVE THE THIRD ONE IS TRUE. NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE A FIRE IN
YOUR BOSOM AND BE NOT BURNT. YOU WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.
YOU WATCH THE PLACES
THAT YOU GO. I HEARD BILLY GRAHAM SAY ON ONE
OCCASION, "I STAY FRIGHTENED." PAUL SAID, "I WAS WITH
YOU IN WEAKNESS AND FEAR
AND MUCH TREMBLING." THERE'S AN ENEMY, AND HE'S
REAL, AND YOU NEED TO STAY ON
GUARD OR GOD CAN'T USE YOU. WINSTON CHURCHILL ONE TIME SAID, "WE MUST BE READY AT OUR
WEAKEST POSSIBLE MOMENT TO MEET ANYTHING THE ENEMY
BRINGS AGAINST US AT
HIS STRONGEST POSSIBLE MOMENT." ARE YOU ON GUARD?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SIN OFTEN IS? SIN IS AN UNEXPECTED
OPPORTUNITY, AN UNPROTECTED LIFE, AND AN UNDETECTED WEAKNESS. YOU PUT THOSE TOGETHER
AND YOU GO DOWN. THE BIBLE SAYS, "LET HIM
THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH
TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL." WE MUST RUSH ON.
GOD USES A CAUTIOUS PEOPLE. FRIEND, GOD ALSO USES
A CONFIDENT PEOPLE,
A CONFIDENT PEOPLE. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, NOW IN
CHAPTER SEVEN VERSES 12 THROUGH
15, "AND THE MIDIANITES... NOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THIS;
NOW HERE IS A MAN. HERE'S A MAN WHO'S A COMMON MAN. HERE'S A MAN WHO IS
A COURAGEOUS MAN. HERE'S A MAN WHO
IS A CAUTIOUS MAN. BUT NOW HE NEEDS TO
BE A CONFIDENT MAN. HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT GOD IS WITH HIM. SO THE LORD DOES
SOMETHING FOR HIM. HE SAYS, UM, "GIDEON, I WANT YOU
TO GET A, A, BUDDY, AND I WANT
YOU TO GO INTO THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY, AND I WANT
YOU TO RECONNOITER." "I WANT YOU TO GO DOWN
THERE INTO THE CAMP. I WANT YOU TO SEE
WHAT IS HAPPENING." AND SO, HERE GOES GIDEON, AND HE
SOMEHOW SL, SL, SLIPS PAST THE
GUARDS, AND HE GETS RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMP
OF THE MIDIANITES. AND HE COMES UP TO
A TENT AND HE HEARS TWO
PEOPLE IN A TENT TALKING. AND GIDEON IS EAVESDROPPING. ONE MAN SAID TO THE OTHER
MAN, "I HAD A TERRIBLE
DREAM LAST NIGHT." HE SAID, "WHAT WAS IT?" HE SAID, "THERE WAS A, A,
A LOAF OF BARLEY BREAD, A BARLEY ROLL OF BREAD, AND IT
CAME TUMBLING DOWN THE HILL." AND HE SAID, "IT HIT A TENT.
[ SLAP ] AND WHEN IT DID,
IT KNOCKED THE WHOLE TENT DOWN! THE WHOLE THING COLLAPSED!
JUST A, A ROLL OF BARLEY BREAD." THE OTHER MAN SAID,
"YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WAS?
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SAW? THAT ROLL OF BARLEY BREAD,
THAT WAS GIDEON. THAT WAS GIDEON."
GIDEON HEARD ALL OF THIS. AND THE MAN SAID,
"THE, WE'VE LOST. WHY, WHY, WHY THAT'S,
THAT'S JUST GIDEON! WE'VE LOST." NOW THINK ABOUT IT;
BARLEY BREAD. FRIEND, BARLEY BREAD
WAS THE POOREST BREAD
YOU COULD GET, HA, HA. IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T,
AH, WHOLE WHEAT. IT WASN'T VITAMIN ENRICHED. THAT WAS POOR MAN'S BREAD. AND IT, IT COMES TUMBLING DOWN
AND DESTROYS THE WHOLE THING. WHEN GIDEON HEARD THAT,
HE WENT BACK AND SAID,
"FELLOWS, WE'VE WON. WE HAVE WON." LISTEN, LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING. THERE IS A DREAD
IN HELL OVER YOU. YOU SAY, "ME? I'M JUST BARLEY
BREAD." THAT'S THE POINT. THE DEVIL HOPES THAT YOU NEVER
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU HAVE
IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU SAY, "I'M JUST A
PIECE OF BARLEY BREAD."
THAT'S RIGHT. LISTEN TO ME. I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE TOO BIG IN
THEIR OWN SIGHT FOR GOD TO USE;
I'VE NEVER SEEN A MAN SMALL IN HIS OWN SIGHT THAT
GOD COULD NOT USE. GOD WANTS TO TAKE ORDINARY
PEOPLE AND DO EXTRAORDINARY
THINGS THROUGH ORDINARY PEOPLE. NOW YOU MAKE CERTAIN THAT
YOUR HEART IS CLEAN; YOU'RE
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. A TIGER MET A LION AS THEY SAT
BESIDE THE POOL, SAID THE TIGER
TO THE LION, "WHY ARE YOU
ROARING LIKE A FOOL?" "HA, HA, THAT'S NOT FOOLISH,"
SAID THE LION
WITH A TWINKLE IN HIS EYES, THEY CALL ME THE KING OF ALL
BEASTS BECAUSE I ADVERTISE.
[ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ] A RABBIT HEARD THEM TALKING,
RAN HOME LIKE A STREAK, HE THOUGHT HE'D TRY THE LION'S
PLAN, BUT HIS ROAR WAS JUST A
SQUEAK. [ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ] A FOX CAME TO INVESTIGATE,
HAD HIS LUNCH IN THE WOODS, AND SO, MY FRIEND,
WHEN YOU ADVERTISE,
BE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE GOODS. [ AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ]
NOW LISTEN, LISTEN. YOU DO HAVE THE GOODS
IF YOUR HEART IS CLEAN. IF YOU'RE FILLED WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU MAY BE
ONLY A PIECE OF BARLEY BREAD, BUT GOD IS GOING TO USE YOU. THERE IS A DREAD IN HELL THAT
ONE OF THESE DAYS GOD'S PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO WAKE UP AS TO WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT WE
HAVE IN THE LORD JESUS. THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT
TENT WERE ALREADY AFRAID. THAT'S THE DEVIL'S CROWD. [ SILENCE ] THEY KNEW GIDEON. GIDEON WAS KNOWN IN HELL.
ARE YOU KNOWN IN HELL? I WANT MY NAME TO BE ON THE
BULLETIN BOARD IN HELL. I WANT IT TO BE
IN HELL'S POST OFFICE. "THERE HE IS ADRIAN ROGERS!
HE'S DANGEROUS. HE'S JUST BARLEY BREAD,
BUT HE'S DANGEROUS." FRIEND, YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR
NAME POSTED IN HEAVEN'S HALL
OF CHAMPIONS UNLESS YOU HAVE IT POSTED IN HELL'S POST
OFFICE OF ENEMIES. GIDEON WAS KNOWN IN HELL. THERE WAS A MAN TRIED TO CAST
SOME DEMONS OUT IN THE BOOK OF
ACTS, WELL, ACTUALLY SEVEN OF THEM, SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA,
SCEVA AND SONS, GOING OUT THERE,
EXORCISTS TO CAST DEMONS OUT. AND THEY CAME AGAINST A MAN
WHO WAS FILLED WITH DEMONS. AND THE MAN IN WHOM THE DEMONS
WERE TURNED ON THIS MAN, AH,
ON THESE MEN, STRIPPED THEIR CLOTHES FROM THEM, BEAT THEM UP. THEY RAN LIKE WHIPPED
PUPPIES, NAKED, FLEEING. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THIS: THEY
SAID TO THIS DEMON-POSSESSED
MAN, "WE ADJURE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOM PAUL PREACHES,
COME OUT OF HIM." THAT'S SECOND-HAND RELIGION.
THEY DIDN'T SAY, "IN THE NAME
OF JESUS, WHOM I KNOW." "IN THE NAME OF JESUS,
WHOM PAUL PREACHES,"
THAT'S SECOND-HAND RELIGION. YOU CAN'T SAY, "IN THE NAME
OF JESUS THAT ADRIAN PREACHES." YOU HAVE TO SAY, "IN THE
NAME OF JESUS, WHOM I KNOW." DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THE DEMONS SAID? HAH, HAH, THIS IS REALLY FUNNY. THE DEMONS SAID TO THESE SEVEN,
"HUH, YEAH, JESUS I KNOW
AND PAUL I KNOW; WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU!" AND THEY'RE RUNNING
BECAUSE THEIR NAME
WAS NOT KNOWN IN HELL. YOUR NAME NEEDS TO
BE KNOWN IN HELL. THE DEMONS NEED TO KNOW THAT
YOU'RE SOMEBODY, AN ORDINARY
PERSON, BARLEY BREAD, COMMON, COURAGEOUS, CAUTIOUS, CONFIDENT
THAT GOD CAN USE YOU. GOD GAVE VICTORY THAT DAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN
VICTORY, OR YOU JUST WANT
IT WRITTEN OF YOU, "THERE WAS MAN BORN,
HE LIVED, HE DIED?" [ SILENCE ] FOLKS, WHAT [ SLAP ] DIFFERENCE
[ SLAP ] IS IT [ SLAP ]
GONNA [ SLAP ] MAKE? WHAT IS YOUR LIFE
GOING TO COUNT FOR? DON'T YOU GIVE ME THAT
BUSINESS THAT YOU'RE
JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON! DON'T YOU TELL ME YOU'RE
TOO OLD, TOO YOUNG,
TOO POOR, TOO UNEDUCATED! "YOU SEE YOUR CALLING,
BRETHREN, NOT MANY MIGHTY,
NOT MANY NOBLE ARE CALLED." NOW GOD MAY NOT USE YOU THE
WAY HE USES SOMEBODY ELSE. YOU LET GOD DECIDE THAT. YOU DON'T CHOOSE YOUR
PLACE OF SERVICE. BUT YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE
TO GOD AND GOD WILL USE YOU. I BELIEVE THAT. DO YOU BELIEVE
IT? [ AUDIENCE: AMEN ]
LET'S BOW OUR HEADS. FATHER GOD, I PRAY IN THE
NAME OF JESUS THAT YOU WILL
HELP US LORD, AS A CHURCH, AS INDIVIDUALS.
LORD TO BE SURRENDERED TO YOU. LORD, USEABLE IN THE BATTLE. AND FATHER TO BRING
GLORY TO JESUS. NOW WHILE HEADS ARE BOWED
AND EYES ARE CLOSED, I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TODAY
TO GOD'S CHILDREN. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TODAY
TO THOSE WHO ARE SAVED, NOT TO
THE UNSAVED, BUT TO THE SAVED. NOW BEFORE YOU CAN BE
USED OF GOD IN ANY OF THESE
OTHER WAYS I'VE MENTIONED, FIRST OF ALL YOU'VE
GOT TO KNOW JESUS AS YOUR
PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD. LET ME TELL YOU THIS,
THAT WE'RE SINNERS; SINNERS BY BIRTH, BY NATURE,
BY CHOICE AND BY PRACTICE. OUR SIN DESERVES JUDGMENT,
BUT GOD WANTS TO SAVE US AND GOD WILL SAVE US;
ANYBODY WHO WILL TRUST HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS IT CLEARLY
AND PLAINLY, "BELIEVE ON
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED."
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS? THAT HE DID FOR YOUR SINS,
THAT HE SHED HIS BLOOD FOR YOU. THAT HE WAS RAISED
FROM THE DEAD. THAT HE IS WILLING AND ABLE TO
SAVE YOU AND WILL SAVE YOU. WOULD YOU PRAY A
PRAYER LIKE THIS? "OH GOD, I AM A SINNER,
I AM LOST, I CAN'T SAVE MYSELF. BUT NOW TODAY WITH ALL OF MY
HEART, LIKE A LITTLE CHILD,
I TRUST YOU TO SAVE ME. COME INTO MY LIFE. FORGIVE MY
SIN, CLEANSE ME AND SAVE ME.
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. AND HELP ME NEVER TO
BE ASHAMED OF YOU. TAKE ALL THERE IS OF ME
AND USE ME FOR YOUR GLORY."
AMEN. ♪♪♪ WE PRAY GOD HAS BLESSED YOU AS
YOU'VE WATCHED THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU'D LIKE ADDITIONAL COPIES
OR INFORMATION ON OTHER
RESOURCES, WRITE US AT: LOVE WORTH FINDING
P.O. BOX 38800
MEMPHIS, TN 38183 YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OUR ON-LINE
BOOKSTORE AT LWF.ORG. IN THE U.S., YOU CAN PLACE VISA
OR MASTERCARD ORDERS BY CALLING: 1-800-274-5683 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8:30 AM
TO 4:30 PM, CENTRAL TIME. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD RICHLY
BLESS YOU. ♪♪♪
