Gideon tore down the altars. The enemy amassed. The people followed this man they had wanted to kill.To God be the Glory.

1. God called Gideon to deliver His people. May 16, 2010 I am the least. Tear down Baal's altar. Build an altar unto God.

2. 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. But God is at work here; He will raise Gideon up.

3. God was raising up Gideon to lead the Israelites and deliver them from oppression. This seems an odd way to do it.

4. 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. If Baal was a powerful god, he could defend himself . God has intentionally set Gideon against Baal. If Baal is strong, let him defeat Gideon. But Gideon had already defeated Baal.

5. 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerub-baal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. Don't be surprised; Jesus said it would be this way . His daddy saw the Truth here, and sided with Gideon and thereby with God. But many will hate us as we stand for Truth.

6. John 15 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own : but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you . 20 Remember the Word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for My Name's sake , because they know not Him that sent Me.

7. 33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. The enemy has come out against God's people. But things are different this time: Israel has a leader chosen of God .

8. Satan is the enemy of all that is good. He hates God and he hates God's people.

9. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer (A bigh ee zuhr) was gathered after him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. We have God's Holy Spirit within us. He is our Source: Wisdom Power Ability

10. His father's people were the first to follow Gideon. God took the least of all, filled him with the Holy Spirit , and made him the leader of all.

11. 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside , then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said. 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

12. 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

13. God was merciful unto Gideon and gave him three signs that He was God and He was with Gideon.

14. Romans 8 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Human logic is the devil's stronghold . Physical signs can be misleading. Jesus said that He would send the Gift of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth. May we depend solely on Him.

15. We don't need signs to believe God. We have His Spirit within us. God will speak to us through His Word and by His Spirit. Stay in communion with the Lord. You will know what to do.

16. I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet, The birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me, Within my heart is ringing. And He walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

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